21. Chapter 21 - Archibald
CHAPTER 21 - ARCHIBALD
NORTH OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA - 1775
I opened my eyes and looked all around tae make certain I was safe. It looked tae be before midday, then I lay there for a long time in the dirt of an unfamiliar forest, thinking about what a sad story this was. Twas a ‘damn tragedy,’ as Uncle Zach would hae said.
Finally, I lumbered up and made certain Stormy had recovered well.
I checked the vessel with relief. It was still vibrating with life in my palm, I would be able tae get out of here when twas time.
I secured my gear, hidin’ it, and set the lock on the strap. There was a beacon that connected tae a device in m’pocket, and it took getting the instructions from the folder and a couple of tries tae arm it for when I left.
This took a great deal of time. Then I realized I wanted more ammunition. I dismantled the lock, dug out a box of ammunition, and had tae reset it all. I spoke tae Stormy through it, “I ken, ye see me doin’ it again, I forgot something… and I daena ken how any of this works.”
He whinnied.
I looked at the horse. “Good for ye, Stormy, thank ye for talkin’ tae me, ye remind me of Mario.”
Stormy shook his head as if proud.
I smiled. “Och, tis hot as a witch-tree aflame at noon.” I mopped my face with a cloth and took off my coat, put it folded into a saddlebag, and loosened my shirt collar. I mopped my face again.
“The wool breeches are heatin’ the berries.”
I said tae Stormy, “If Ben were here he would hae laughed.”
Stormy looked at me and dinna laugh at all.
“Tis fine, ye daena hae tae think I am funny.”
I managed tae get it all locked up and set the alarm and beacon. I would be able tae return tae this spot, and nae one else would be able tae get intae my gear.
I climbed tae the nearest rise and looked out over the horizon: tae my right, west, there were mountains, hills tae my left, a river tae the south. I checked the map, then I climbed on Stormy, and we headed toward our destiny.
I arrived at the brothel at dusk. I dismounted Stormy and crouched behind a large boulder and peered through the binoculars I had been given.
All around me the air hummed with a chorus of crickets, helping tae keep m’presence in the woods secret.
I mopped my face again and whispered tae Stormy, “Ye would think that at dusk the air would cool instead of continuin’ on as if twas a doorway tae hell.”
Stormy stamped.
Then a group of six men on horses rode up in front of the brothel.
One man, dressed like a gentleman much like m’self, dismounted, but in the waning light I couldna make out his features. He went up tae the porch and entered the front door. The other five men stationed themselves around the outside of the house.
A light went on in a downstairs room. It seemed electric, brighter than it ought tae be for an oil or candle flame.
The man had been Asgall, I felt certain. I dug through the bag and got out Grandmother’s monitor. Twas too dark to read it so I ducked behind a tree and doin’ my best tae block the glow, turned on m’flashlight for just a moment. I directed the beam at the monitor. There was a second vessel here.
I turned it off, blinkin’, tryin’ tae readjust tae the darkness. I whispered tae Stormy, “Tis him, but how will I get inside?”
He whinnied.
The men turned and looked in m’direction.
I whispered tae Stormy, “Och, they heard ye over the incessant buzzin’ of the wee beasties.”
The men were far away and twas dark, but they were focused on our direction.
I whispered, “Run if I tell ye tae.”
Then I howled like a wolf, low and long. “Arhooooo!”
The men stepped back, closer tae the house.
“It worked, the howls of the Wolf King will always drive fear intae man.”
I trained my binoculars on the house again.
A great deal of time passed while I considered my options. The men grew bored and relaxed a bit.
I crept silently tae another part of the woods and howled again, low and long — the guards seemed agitated by it and moved even closer tae the house.
I walked tae another part of the woods and howled again.
The guards drew back, closer tae the back of the house. Twas fun tae agitate them. Ben would hae enjoyed it, but it wasna helping me get inside.
I would need tae approach the brothel from the road, as if I were a customer. I could tie Stormy tae the rail and go in and procure a room.
And pray Asgall wouldna recognize me.
I led Stormy around the perimeter of the property, through the woods, and mounted him once I was out of the trees on the road that led tae the house.
But then the front door of the brothel slammed open and a man jogged out. Carrying a torch, he took the stairs at a fast clip, and raced across the grass. He was looking right and left as if terribly frightened.
He untied his horse from a hitching post, stuffed papers intae a saddlebag, mounted the horse, and headed up the road toward my position. He held the torch flame up, wavin’ it around tryin’ tae see in the woods.
I pulled Stormy around and began walking along the road, keepin’ pace tae stay just ahead of him until we would be well away from the brothel and I was certain we werna followed.
I wanted information from him. I was disappointed I hadna gotten intae the brothel, and I prayed this stranger might be an opportunity.
I slowed Stormy and allowed the man tae approach.
He hailed me, his torch high in the air, “You there in the darkness! Sire! Have you heard any wolves?”
“Nae… but I doubt there are many here. Likely the bears hae eaten them.”
He came verra close, looking frightened over his shoulder, waving the torch all around with a whoosh, whoosh.
He said, “My name is Greyson. I just left the bawdy house and…” He shifted in his saddle looking all around. “Perhaps we could ride along together to keep them at bay.”
“Who?”
“The bears — or the wolves!”
I chuckled. “I think we ought tae be much more concerned about the men.”
He was startled. “That is good advice…” He pushed the torch forward, illuminating my face. “What is your name, sire, what is your business out here in the woods?”
“My name is John Smith.” I turned Stormy and set him walking.
Greyson kept up. “Of the Winchester John Smiths?”
“Nae.”
“You hail from Scotland?”
“Aye, my family moved here years ago.”
He spooked and turned tae see if someone was followin’ us. “What was your business back there?”
“I was goin’ tae visit the brothel, I do sometimes, but there looked tae be too much trouble about. Were ye part of the large group of men?”
“Me, no, I just had a business meeting.”
“Business in a brothel?”
“Yes, I’m the secretary of an important?—”
I nonchalantly said, “Asgall,” as I used the reins tae walk Stormy around a puddle.
He steadied the torch tae peer at my face. “You know Asgall?”
“Everyone in these parts kens of Asgall. He is notorious, tis why I hae turned around tae head back tae the village of…”
He said, “Staunton, yes, I will be getting a room there and leaving at first light.” He swung the torch around, checking the woods.
I pulled my damp shirt away from my sticky skin. Twas hot as the breath of Bram the cook after a night of stirring garlic soup. “Ye ken, yer torch flame might attract the wolves and bears... also the witches.”
He looked over his shoulder. “It will not, everyone knows that wolves prefer the dark.” He added, “So do witches. I do not know about bears.”
I slowed so he could ride in front of me. Our pace was slow, a rhythmic clopping of Stormy’s hooves, creatin’ a steady, soothing beat. I considered what I would do tae this ally of Asgall.
I casually asked, “What kind of business did ye hae with Asgall? Twas about his empire?”
He held the torch toward me and looked back over his shoulder. “You seem to know a great deal about his business.”
“Tis true, I ken he owns land here in Virginia?—”
“And other parts of the world.”
I said, “Aye, he is verra important. I am usin’ the term ‘empire’ loosely, he inna an emperor… he just has some land, and ye are just his lowly secretary?—”
“What if I told you he was a king?”
“Really now? Of where?”
“Scot — I should not say, just… he is .”
I humphed, “Well, I stand corrected, yer job is much more important?—”
Just then, verra far behind us we heard a thunder clap, howling wind, and another loud clap.
I turned Stormy around tae see lightning sparking over the trees. My heart sank, was he leavin’?
Och nae, did I miss him?
I needed tae check the monitor, I had tae get information from this man, and I was losin’ my patience.
“Ye ken, some say that when Asgall embarks on a journey, there will be a storm.”
“This is...” He scowled. “I do not know.”
“Where was he goin’?”
He scowled even more.
I said, “We are just havin’ a conversation, since we hae a long ride ahead of us. I winna tell anyone. Tell me.”
He said, “He mentioned New York, then he will go to England, please, sire, let us speak of something else.”
“Nae.” I thought over my list of places tae visit tae try tae assassinate Asgall. “Dost ye ken where he will be staying in New York?”
His eyes darted tae the saddlebag on his horse.
I needed the information he held there.
For fun, I asked, “Och, did ye hear that?”
“What…?” He swept the torch around.
I let him suffer for a couple of minutes then said, “Twas nothing, sorry, thought twas something over there.”
Then I asked, “If ye’re so important, why did he let ye leave without a guard?”
He remained quiet.
I said, “I bet ye’re carryin’ papers and plans for him…”
“I do not like this line of inquiry…”
“...And they are likely important, we established it already, as the secretary tae the emperor, who is actually a king, about tae meet with a king.”
“What are you saying, sire?”
“It seems Asgall’s left ye unprotected and here I am, wantin’ the papers ye are carryin'.”
I drew my sword and pointed it at his back. “Hand me the torch and dismount yer horse. Did he ever give ye a vessel?”
He shook his head. “He will not let me touch it, sire, I do not know anything about it!”
His hands shook as he passed me the torch. His horse began to stomp and stamp as Greyson climbed down. “Sire, why are you…?”
I dismounted and grabbed his horse’s reins. “Can ye tell me the advice ye were givin’ Asgall just now?”
“Who are you?”
I dropped the torch tae the ground, and raised my sword tae his chest. “Tell me the advice ye were givin’ Asgall. Now. ”
“I was advising him to take the throne from the Scottish King, Mag Mòr — do you know him?”
“Aye, I am his son. I just spent ten angry years deciding how I was goin’ tae kill the men who took him away.”
He took a step back. “You do not need to kill me, I will tell you anything you want to know?—”
“Really? Did ye advise him that he ought tae kill the members of Mag Mòr’s family? Did ye tell him tae take Mag Mòr from his children?”
He shook his head, lookin’ completely frantic. “No never, what do you want me to tell you?”
“Ye are saying that ye will tell me anythin’ I ask just tae keep on livin’?”
“Yes, and I will give you all the files, there are treaties and leases and?—”
“All here? Right here on yer horse?”
“Yes, just?—”
I lunged forward, piercing his heart through with my sword, shoving him down. I watched him as he died, unable tae speak, then I stepped upon his chest tae pull m’sword free. “Ye are a sniveling frightened man who fancies himself the secretary tae a monster, well, ye hae harmed m’family for the last time.”
I dug through all his clothes, stuffin’ everything I found intae my own pockets. Then I pulled out my monitor and turned on a flashlight tae see.
The second vessel was gone. Och nae. Would Asgall return, later? I could return tae the brothel on the morrow. That was what I needed tae do.
I grabbed the body by the feet and, in the dim light of the low torch, dragged him tae the bushes on the side of the road. I kicked him intae a ravine.
Twas difficult tae tell if he would be hidden in the morn because twas pitch black now, but twas fine. I wasna goin’ tae stick around.
I plucked up the torch, grabbed his horse’s reins, mounted Stormy, and rode at a fast clip tae get as far away as I could get.
I said, “Stormy, he underestimated how many years I spent angry that Asgall took Da away.”
I rode for about an hour in the thick heat, growin’ more exhausted by the minute. “When did I last sleep, Stormy?”
I smacked m’face tae wake m’self up. “Ye only just met me, how would ye ken? But I tell ye… Stormy… I haena slept since medieval times.” I shifted in the saddle, but then a moment later, my head drooped so far forward I was lyin’ on Stormy’s mane — I jerked up. “Twas about… many centuries ago. I must stop.”
I directed Stormy intae the woods, drew both the horses tae a tree, and pulled a blanket from a saddle bag. I spread it out, crashin’ ontae it, and fallin’ intae a deep exhausted sleep.