The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

13. Chapter 13 - Archibald

CHAPTER 13 - ARCHIBALD

NEAR CROFT MORAIG STONE CIRCLE - OCTOBER 9, 1683

W e walked, as quietly as we could, and so far there were nae drones.

Ash asked, “You really think there will be a vessel here?”

I said, “Aye.”

“How do you know?”

“I daena ken… because we canna die here now, after I hae risked m’life tae rescue ye. Twould be a terrible endin’ tae my heroics.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

From far behind us on the castle walls we could hear a commotion and faint yelling.

She asked, “Are they coming, you think?”

Uncle Lochie said, “Aye, likely. I wish we had gotten Finny from the stable.”

I said, “We could put Ash on Mario, she could ride tae?—”

She said, “No way, I’m scared of horses. I cannot ride alone.”

“Och nae, of horses ? What is there tae be afraid of?”

“They’re big and alive and they are mistrustful of me, you can see it in their eyes.”

“Tis too bad Mario has tae hear ye besmirchin’ him.” I added, “And ye arna thinking on it right, ye wouldna be askin’ Mario tae trust ye, he is my horse. If he gives ye a ride, twill be as a favor tae me, ye daena hae tae think on him at all. He is my horse, nae yers.”

“Oh, sure, yeah, that might help. But still...”

Uncle Lochie said, “Tis fine, Ash, I am nae goin’ tae put ye alone on the horse. If we are chased, Archie will ride Mario tae the stone circle, he’s the only one who kens where the vessel is.”

I turned around tae watch behind us as we walked. “Unfortunately I daena remember where the stone circle is. We need tae pray they...”

I glanced at Ash and dinna finish.

She asked, “They... what?”

I said, “Naething, I daena want tae scare ye.”

“It’s fine, I’m not scared, I’ve served in the military.”

Uncle Lochie said, “Archie is worried they will catch up and kill us or kidnap us.”

“Oh,” she looked behind us, “and we’ve got no weapons, that is scary.”

I said, “Told ye.”

We could hear the rumble of horse hooves approaching.

We all looked at each other and began tae run.

I called tae them, “Who dost ye think tis, time travelers or the men of the castle?”

Uncle Lochie called back as he raced, “I think tis time travelers!”

“Aye, I think so too, I am goin’ tae fight! Protect yer lass, if I daena return?—”

Uncle Lochie said, “I daena ken where the other vessel is, daena die!”

“I will do m’best!”

I mounted Mario, turned him around, and raced away, barreling toward the men followin’ us. Mario’s hooves thundered against the earth, matching the frantic beat of my heart.

“Mario, we are goin’ tae fight, ye ready tae kick some arse?”

He whinnied.

Branches whipped at m’face as we weaved around trees. I could hear shouts from the men ahead.

“Almost there, Mario! They’re in m’sights.”

I drew my sword and raised it above me as I charged against five men — they suddenly turned and raced away.

I slowed, stunned, then made chase, but finally drew Mario tae stop.

We couldna catch them, there was nae reason beyond a death wish tae chase them, they might be planning tae entrap?—

Ahead of m’position, a large storm grew in the sky above. The wind whipped so hard that I pulled back and took cover behind a stand of trees and sheathed m’sword.

I covered m’head and held Mario still as he was verra frightened by the thunder so close.

As soon as the storm died down and I was able tae move I raced through the woods tae meet up with Lochie once more.

“What the hell happened?”

“I daena ken, they were chasin’, then they changed their mind. I would like tae say twas because of m’terrifyin’ charge but twas more likely they were given an order tae retreat.” I dropped from the horse and we all began tae walk again.

Ash said, “Does that storm mean our vessel works again, theirs works, does ours work?”

Uncle Lochie pulled a vessel from his sporran. “Nae, not workin’.”

I pulled my vessel from my sporran. “Mine is still dead.”

“How come their vessel works and ours doesn’t?” Ash looked behind us. “I do not like this at all.”

Lochinvar said, “Welcome tae time travel, wife, tis always terrible and tis always unexplainable.”

I said, “At least now we arna being chased.”

“They might be comin’ back with more people.”

“Then we ought tae walk faster.”

Lochie sighed. “I miss Finny. Once we rescue Quentin and get weapons, we hae tae come back for him, it daena sit right with me that I am leavin’ a man behind.”

The trees began tae thin as we approached a field with small ancient stones jutting from the ground. Beside them was nothing, just a few short trees. Och nae.

Ash asked, “Where’s it buried?”

My eyes scanned the field. “I canna remember.” I turned and looked on the path behind us. Naething.

“Uncle Lochie, ye ken where the tunnel door will be?”

“Aye, in the future it will be there in front of that stone.” He walked toward it.

I followed him. “Right, right, ye are certain tis this stone?”

“Aye.”

“Then I think…” I turned, scanning the field.

He said, “We might want tae go fast, now that the time travelers hae left, the men of the castle might come tae see what caused the commotion.”

I looked south. “When I was wee I ran this way tae the trees, and then Ma sat there…and she was facing this direction and…?”

I strode about six paces to a small boulder and crouched beside it. It was old and covered in lichen, but I could make out an engraving of an M.

Lochie walked over. “Magnus was here.”

“Aye, ye were right, he put the chest farther back even before the guardian tree was planted so we could find it.”

Ash said, “Unless it’s not, could it be a gravestone?”

Uncle Lochie said, “Nae, tis m’brother’s marker, he has tae put his name on everything, tis his way. Though I am grateful for it in this instance.”

I said, “Now we need somethin’ tae dig with.” I started rummaging through Mario’s packs.

Uncle Lochie said, “I need ye tae watch out, Ash, while I try tae move this boulder, we canna let them find this vessel…”

Lochinvar dug his fingers in under the side, forcin’ it up. “Tis heavy, hard to lift.” He put his arse against it and dug in with his heels, pushin’ until it rolled tae its side.

I found a square tin, a prized possession, left over from our modern supplies, and pried off the lid. I bent it a bit. “Will work for a shovel.”

I began tae dig in the indent that the boulder had left.

After a few moments I clipped my nail on a rock with a jolt of pain.

Memories flooded m’mind: my wee hands diggin’, pain in my fingers, panic in m’heart. Ma was near holding a wee Isla. There was a helicopter comin’— Och nae, twas not something I wanted tae think on, but twas clear as if it had just happened. I was in the moment, the little boy, tryin’ tae protect m’mother, tae get word out that m’da was injured and captive in a dungeon. I felt an urge tae look over my shoulder tae see her, Ma, who I hadna seen in long years, as if she would be right there.

I glanced, willin’ it tae be m’family, but twas Uncle Lochie and his wife — disappointment washed over me. I longed tae go back, perhaps not tae that time, twas too dangerous, but tae a time where Ma and Da were alive and well.

I put my fingertip in my mouth tae try tae soothe it.

Lochie said, “Ye well, Archie?”

“Aye.” I began tae dig some more.

Finally, I sat back on m’haunches. I had cleared the top of a lid, but though I pulled on a corner I couldna lift the box from the hole.

Uncle Lochie asked, “Want me tae try?”

“Nae, I think we can leave it in the hole, the lid is clear.”

I investigated around the front edge and found a pad, and pressed m’hand tae it. The lid clicked open, loose dirt cascaded off.

Inside was a vessel, some loose blank paper, a few pens, and a couple of guns. I picked up the vessel and felt it in my hand. “I think tis alive.”

Uncle Lochie said, “As James would say, ‘Hot Damn!’” He reached down and grabbed a piece of paper and two pens, stuffing them in his sporran, saying, “In case.” Then he took one of the guns. I grabbed the other.

I closed the lid on the box, kicked dirt on it, and shoved the small boulder back over it.

Uncle Lochie said, “Remember tae put a vessel, some pens and paper, and a couple of guns back in there, in case.”

I said, “Ye ought tae remember, Uncle Lochie, tis unlikely I will be this way again.”

His brow drew down. “Och, I suppose tis true.”

Ash asked, “Why, what’s going to happen to you?”

I dinna reply, I dinna ken how tae reply. I said, “We need tae go fast, we daena ken how many trips we will hae with this?—”

The vessel began tae vibrate. It grabbed hold of my hands and felt as if it yanked me from m’skin. I yelled, “Let go!” But I also meant “Hold on!” But both were terrible ideas. I had nae choice — I was ripped through time, seein’ Uncle Lochie and Ash yellin’ as I left them behind.