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

20. Chapter 20 - Archibald

CHAPTER 20 - ARCHIBALD

THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - 2391

L ady Mairead said, “It has been nice tae hae ye here, I enjoy the company.”

I patted m’stomach. “I enjoyed the meal.”

“Good. This has been one of the great pleasures of time traveling, the opportunity tae meet our descendants. I am always impressed by the men and women they hae become such as this young man afore me with the Scottish brogue and the verra fine way of kneeling tae ask for what he?—”

The room interrupted with, “Lady Mairead, there has been a discrepancy discovered in the historical record.”

She walked tae the wall. “What is it?”

Tae the side of the cityscape a large projected image of a handwritten journal page appeared.

“We have found the name Magnus included in one of Thomas Jefferson’s journals. Beside it is the name Kaitlyn.”

Lady Mairead’s eyes went wide. “Both of them! Hallelujah!”

“Yes, Jefferson met them in a tavern called the Coachman’s Rest. He also wrote at length about a modern pen.”

Lady Mairead’s eyes shifted back and forth as she read. She exclaimed, “Look at the date! They escaped from Asgall! Then they traveled east and hae met Thomas Jefferson, och, well done! Dost ye see, Archibald, we ken when tae rescue them?—”

“I see, Grandmother, I see they are out of the way. I winna hae tae worry about them when I kill Asgall.”

“Ye haena changed your mind?”

“Nae, tis a good decision, we ought tae keep it.”

I rubbed m’hands on my thighs. Then smacked them down. “Ready tae go.”

She huffed. “Nae shower first — a nice sleep in a comfortable bed?”

“Ye ken, Grandmother, I daena think I ought tae do too much. I daena ken if I can bear tae leave the comfort and luxury behind.”

One of her assistants walked in, bowed, and passed her a thick folder. Grandmother asked, “Hae ye included this recent information, Thomas Jefferson’s journal?”

Her assistant bowed again. “Of course.”

Lady Mairead flipped through the pages. “Very good… We hae an empire tae defeat. Ye will go tae get Asgall at a brothel outside of Staunton. Asgall will deserve the assassination ye deliver tae him for spending time in such a place.”

She placed the folder down in front of me. “There is a map. And we ken he is here on this date. Ye will lay in wait, try tae get him as soon as he arrives, or the following day before he leaves. Ye will not cross paths with yer mother and father, ye are not tae rescue them. Twill be better not tae see them at all.”

“I ken, I winna.”

She watched me, her eyes piercing. “I wish I could help. I wish I could do it in yer stead.”

“Ye canna, I am the one. I am already out of time, I might as well continue on.”

Then I howled, “Arhooo,” but it was low and sounded weak and a little melancholy.

She nodded and placed the papers in the folder and put it on the table. “I will hae this packed in yer bags and yer supplies brought tae ye in a moment. While we wait we will go tae the range.” She stood. “Ye dinna hae a horse with ye?—”

Och nae. I felt a pang in my heart. Mario had been left behind at Balloch with Uncle Lochie. How could I hae left him behind? But I did, and I wouldna get tae see him again. He was going tae be rescued years earlier. “Mario, I… he has been my favorite horse for a verra long time.”

She nodded. “I am sorry, my grandson, this is a great deal tae bear.”

There was a long pause where she watched me, my face fallen, struck by the loss of Mario.

Then she swept from the room. “Follow me, we will go tae the stables. Ye will need a horse. I will give ye one of yer father’s favorites, sired by Sunny. I believe Magnus would want ye tae hae him.”

I followed her from the palace.

A few hours later, I was standin’ on a rooftop, surrounded by bags, a gun box, a horse I had just met, and a device called the monitor that I had received verra quick instructions on using. I had looked in the boxes, and felt incompetent about most of the equipment. I had been told a great deal, learned verra little, therefore everything required a manual tae use.

I was good at aimin’ the crossbow, but not as practiced at arming it. The rifle had been easier tae use, but my aim was not as good. I had both, and a large bag of ammunition. A couple of swords, some knives. A few bombs. Grandmother offered a drone but I dinna ken how tae use it. Lastly she gave me a vial of poison in a wee metal box, even though I told her twas a cowardly way tae kill someone.

She shrugged. “Sometimes tis the only way tae accomplish the task, and tis non-violent. I am, at heart, a pacifist. I will always want tae keep the peace, and sometimes it requires killing yer enemy tae calm the situation.”

“A dagger through the heart might do the same.”

“Unless ye are in a crowd. Och nae, there hae been many times in which a man with a blade causes more trouble than he solves. Yer father is a prime example. A well-placed drop of poison might hae solved many of his battles with much less fuss.”

She zipped up the last bag and continued, “...and tis not cowardly. Some men are so vile and horrible, they cause so much death and destruction, that tae fight them with honor means tae risk yer life. It also risks their escape. Instead, a drop of poison saves everyone’s life.”

“What’s brave about it?”

She chuckled. “I suppose the bravery is that in doing it ye realize how easy it can be done, from then on ye canna trust the world.”

She then grinned. “I packed ye some food.”

“Can I trust ye?”

“Of course ye can trust me, I am yer grandmother! And if that werna enough ye hae just decided tae become my assassin. Why, under the heavens, would I cause a bit of harm tae ye?”

She said, “The thing is, Prince Archibald, Magnus wanted ye tae hae a secure throne and a safe kingdom. I wish I could hae delivered it tae ye.”

I nodded. “Tis fine, Grandmother, I ken everyone wanted the best for me. I am doing what needs tae be done tae make the world secure for the rest of m’family and my young self. This is not so dire.”

She nodded and tapped a box with her toe. “There is also some whisky in this box. And a first-aid kit.”

I also had a new pair of boots. I was decked out in an outfit that befitted the year 1775: Beige wool breeches tailored close, with buckles at the knee. A deep blue frock coat over an embroidered waistcoat. A white linen shirt with a cravat at m’neck. I was wearing a pale white powdered wig, tied back with a black ribbon.

I scratched my scalp up under the wig.

Grandmother smacked my hand. “Ye canna touch yer wig, ye must behave like a gentleman.”

She sized me up. “Ye look verra well, Prince Archibald, ye ought tae hae bathed, but ye will match the odor of the time.” She pulled a perfume bottle from a waist bag and spritzed it around my head. “Perfect. Tis always important tae dress like a gentleman, and ye can never go wrong with a powdered wig. Ye look aulder, learned, and distinguished. Ye will win allies tae yer cause.”

She pointed at my bag. “Inside is yer folder, everything I can think of, maps and lists, calendars of where he will be, but if ye canna find him tae kill him, return, we will plan anew.”

“Thank ye. I winna need tae, consider it done.”

“Once Asgall is dead, ye will come here and tell me of yer success, then ye will return tae Innis Chonnel and I will begin the overwrite.”

“I dinna get tae say goodbye tae anyone. If I had known twould be the last time I would…”

“Tis the human condition, Prince Archibald.”

I nodded and gathered up the strap that was wrapped around all my supplies and armaments. I held it in one hand, and the reins of my new horse, a fine black horse by the name of Stormy, in my other hand.

Then I looked down on her. “Speaking of the Human Condition, Grandmother, ye are lonely, ye ought tae marry.”

“Archibald, I daena marry on principle.”

I raised my chin and looked down my nose. “Ye hae been taking care of yer family for a long time. Ye should marry. I think ye deserve some pleasure for yerself.”

“Dear God, I am not speaking of pleasure with my grandson!”

I grinned. “Ye are too beautiful tae waste it on being a grandmother who worries all the time. Ye ought tae hae more fun.”

“Tis hard tae hae fun, Archibald, when everywhere there are malicious enemies and grandsons who believe themselves tae ken more than I about how tae carry on.”

“We hae always had malicious enemies. I think ye ought tae take a husband anyway, someone who will look after ye.”

“Ye do ken, Archibald, that I daena hae tae marry? I can just take a lover anytime I want!”

I teased, “Dear God, Grandmother, daena speak on lovers in front of yer grandson!” Then I added, “I ken ye can, but a husband is a different kind of man. He might care for ye, be devoted, and ye deserve it.”

“Yer father, King Magnus, would never allow it…”

“Da inna always right, we hae established that. Sometimes ye hae tae look out for yerself. Do it for me, tis my last wish.”

She nodded, “Ye expect me tae marry because ye wish it?”

I leveled my eyes at her.

She said, “Fine, Archibald, I will consider it.” She put a vessel in m’hand. “Tis set. I hae written the coordinates on yer list in the folder, there is another on the yellow paper within the leaves of?—”

I said, “I ken, ye hae said it three times already. Ye are fussin’ over me.”

“I am worried, because ye are foolhardy like yer father, and overly certain of yer success, and I am also verra proud of ye, ye are a fine man, and I wish I could give ye the world.”

“I will see you soon. Asgall daena ken it but he is already dead. Ye winna hae enough time tae even miss me.”

“Good.” She turned and swept away, stalking toward the door, refusing tae continue tae say goodbye.

I watched her go and then twisted the vessel tae leave for the battle.