The Guardian by Diana Knightley

Sixty-one - Magnus

Twas morning and I was in the wheelchair once more. I was fine tae walk. I told the nurse I was fine tae walk, and she said she dinna care what I thought, I was on medications that might cause me tae fall and she asked, “Do you want to fall, the king, to fall on the ground, and then it will be my fault, is that what you want to have happen?”

I got into the wheelchair, though I felt much better. Almost well enough tae walk, though I did feel a bit faint when I was up tae relieve m’self, when I had tae lean on her shoulder tae steady m’self as I walked, so I believed she was correct in her demand.

I was alone as Kaitlyn was with the bairns, and so I wheeled toward Fraoch’s room.

Hayley came out. “I need to use the bathroom. Can you sit with him while I go get my clothes changed and freshen up?”

“Aye.”

She left the infirmary and I sat looking at the once virile and powerful Fraoch, lying flat upon his back in a bed.

“Och we are a mess are we nae?”

He dinna answer.

“Twas a terrible battle, they were aimin’ tae take the upper hand. The castle was burned. Twas a tragedy. The people scattered tae return tae the villages. Those that live in the castle will hae much tae do tae make it livable.” I shook my head. “I am sendin’ money and supplies for them tae rebuild, but twill take a great deal of work for them.”

I watched him.

“How are ye doin’, Fraoch? I daena remember if ye ken how much we need ye in our family — ye hae become our strongest guard. Ye must nae evade yer duties. And what of fishing? Who will I go fishin’ with? It canna be James, he is too serious about it. Ye must continue tae fish or else I winna get tae do it anymore.”

I stared out the window. “Twould be a travesty.”

I watched the machine drippin’ the medicine intae his veins.

“Did I ever tell ye how grateful I am that ye saved my life that day long ago in the swamp? If ye hadna saved me I wouldna have gotten tae ken m’son. I wouldna hae had Isla. I wouldna have had these years with Kaitlyn. Last year when we spent the year in the past, twas a long trying time, but one I wouldna trade. And then ye guarded the mountain for me, and the vessels I—”

His hand twitched on the bedding.

“Fraoch, are ye waking?”

He mumbled, “Aye.”

“Och, ye hae given us a fright.”

“I ken.” His words sounded like a groan.

“Ye caught me sayin’ kind things tae ye.”

“Is this what ye do, talk tae a man when he is near dyin’?”

I chuckled.

He said, “I heard ye anyway. Ye canna live without me, I am yer hero.”

“Tis a good thing ye heard it, cause I winna say it tae ye again.”

He asked, “Where am I?”

“You are in the kingdom of Riaghalbane, where we are now safe because Kaitlyn has killed the enemy. I will let her tell the story, but in the meantime, I must call Hayley. This is important for Hayley, she needs ye tae be all right.”

I pushed the intercom button and an image projected upon the wall. “Yes?”

“Master Fraoch is wakening.”

“I will be right there.”

Fraoch asked, “Why are ye in the chair?”

“I hae had a surgery on m’heart. Come tae find out, twas all I needed tae be well. All the talk of ‘Magnus ye need tae rest,’ was nae correct.”

“Och, who wants tae rest — tis a boring man who rests.”

The nurse entered the room, followed by the physician, and while I rolled away from Fraoch’s bed they set about testing and checking him.

Hayley came in a moment later.

She whispered, “What is happening?

“He is awake, briefly, they are checking him. But he sounds good, Madame Hayley.”

We both clung tae the wall tae stay out of their way while they began tae examine him. I patted her hand. “I will give ye some privacy,” and I rolled back tae my own room.

* * *

Quentin, followed by Hammond and Chef Zach, came intae my room. Zach asked, “We’re still meeting in hospital rooms, aren’t you free yet?”

I said, “They winna allow me tae leave until I am well. Tis a travesty.”

He asked, “How ya feel though?”

“Good, I feel as if I am healed. I had forgotten how weak I had become, or I dinna realize. Now I am strong, my hands work.” I clenched my fists. “I feel energetic. I could fight, if I must.”

Zach said, “Or dance, probably a better thing to do.”

They all sat down in chairs in front of the window of my hospital room. I asked, “You retrieved the vessels?”

Quentin said, “About that… yeah, they’re all accounted for, mostly. We have the monitors, the metal chest that we can’t figure out how to get into, that other machine that makes no sense, and the vessels. Except a few are missing—”

“How many are a few, three?”

“A few more than that.”

“How many more?”

“We have twenty-three vessels.”

“Tis including Lady Mairead’s? The same amount as before?”

“Yes.”

“I feel I hae taken one step forward tae end up in the same spot. What of the Trailblazer?”

Quentin shook his head.

“Och, nae. And has Master Cook returned from searching for Madame Sophie?”

“Aye, this morning, he’s in his rooms. He searched the castle, asked around the villages. Nae one has seen her since the battle.”

I shook m’head, I had been in this situation before with Kaitlyn, but then I had a path tae find her. Madame Sophie wasna a time traveler. I couldna think of a way tae advise Master Cook. “What is he tae do tae find her?”

“I don’t know, he left messages with villagers. He left a letter at the cave. There is a letter in your office at Kilchurn and he even left a letter at Balloch, with messages for Lizbeth and Sean as well. They asked after you, he told them you were doing much better and that you would visit soon.”

I thought for a long moment. “What do ye think, Colonel Quentin? I ken she has been abducted but tae what end? What dost ye think her captors want from us?”

“I have no idea. There must be something, but until we have some kind of message, there’s nothing we can do but look for her and wait.” He looked down at his hands and shook his head. “We have nothing to go on.”

“I will talk tae James later today. She was from Edinburgh. Next time he might search there. Perhaps I will be well enough tae travel with him. We should also check with Rob Roy.”

“Sounds good. Until then we need to keep our eyes open, looking for messages.”

Hammond said, “I will send men to check the caves on Ben Cruachan, regularly.”

Zach said, “Check the stones of the castle, too.”

I said, “Aye, tis how I got a message tae Kaitlyn once.”