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

22. Chapter 22 - Archibald

CHAPTER 22 - ARCHIBALD

THE THREE NOTCH’D ROAD - 1775

I woke at dawn and rifled through all the bags on the dead man’s horse. There were folders and stacks of papers. I poured over my map, finding the general location where I was, and noting how far back I had dumped the body. It looked tae be about four miles back. I noted the exact location of my supplies and gear; I had left the pile about twelve miles away as the crow flies.

I stuffed his paperwork in with m’own and reorganized my packs so that Stormy carried all the important things, the other horse carried blankets and less important gear. “What’s your name, boy?”

The horse just gave me a look.

“Did ye see me murder yer rider? My apologies, horse, I hope ye werna rider and horse for long. I hope ye daena feel his death too keenly.”

I ran m’fingers over the letter A stamped ontae his saddle. “Are ye one of Asgall’s horses? The man was named Greyson, so this is not likely his markin’. My guess is ye dinna ken him well and tis not a bother tae ye that he is gone, but as any proper horse would want tae ken the morals of their rider, I will tell ye. I am a proper Scottish Prince, meant tae be a king, and I am generally well thought of. I daena lie in wait and kill people on lonely highways in the night, my apologies, tis not my way. I ken, twas nae a verra good look, but I tell ye, he deserved it. He was goin’ tae give me all I wanted tae ken, and then he was goin’ tae tell Asgall all about me. The only thing I hae workin’ for me is m’stealth.”

I tightened the strap on his saddle. “I ken, he might not hae seen Asgall again, but I couldna take the chance. Ye ken, he advised Asgall tae deal with Mag Mòr harshly, I could see it in his eyes. Tis always the frightened weasel-men who will advocate for the most egregious violence.”

I pulled out the monitor and checked. The second vessel had returned tae the brothel while I had been sleepin’.

I said tae the horses, “Tis good news, we hae tae return tae the brothel.”

I climbed on Stormy. “Right boy?” I patted his neck. “I got a bit of revenge and I did the world a favor. Now I got a wee bit of sleep, and Asgall is waitin’ for me, likely he has Ma and Da there now too. Tis fine, I will go back and get him. I am the wolf, he is m’prey.”

I turned the horses and directed them back the way I had come.

I rode for an hour, drawing near, when I heard gunfire from ahead of me on the road. I drew the horses tae the woods and listened.

The sound of shots reverberated off the mountains nearby and made it hard tae tell how many guns were involved, but I guessed it was the men who had been guardin’ the brothel.

Was this the moment when Ma and Da escaped?

I checked my map tae look for a different approach, and had m’focus down on the paper when ahead of me I heard a large clap of thunder. My eyes drew up tae see a large billowing storm cloud, and lightning sparking from the heavens tae the ground.

Och nae. I rifled through my bag for the monitor once more and confirmed what I had already guessed — I had missed Asgall once more.

Nae.

I dismounted from Stormy and stood watching the storm dissipate with my hands on my hips, furious that I had been too far away tae get him. I was feelin’ angry with m’self that I had become distracted by that Greyson fellow.

That had been my chance and I had allowed it tae disappear, I had allowed Asgall tae escape.

I stalked out intae the middle of the road and looked in all directions. Then I looked at the horses. “I hae allowed him tae get away, och I am relieved Ben inna here tae see it.”

I mounted Stormy again. “Though I do wish Ben was here tae talk this out.”

I directed the horses intae a walk down the road in the opposite direction of the brothel. “We are goin’ tae ride for about four miles, then we will come tae a fork.” I turned tae look behind me. “I daena ken if he will return tae the brothel, I might hae missed m’chance.”

I rode for a half hour mullin’ over what I had done, then I broke the silence by talkin’ tae the horses again.

“I need tae hunt Asgall, as ye ken. I need tae go through the loot and I would greatly like a soft bed tae sleep on. Tis likely that the next town will hae better beds than the ones back in the year 1301, and the stable would hae food for ye, some water, and… here is the issue: Ma and Da are here, they hae escaped from Asgall and are headed tae Charlottesville, maybe down this verra road.” I turned and looked behind me. “I am ahead of them, likely, but I ought tae keep movin’ and keep an eye out.”

A traveler approached from ahead, so I stopped talkin’ tae the horses and moved them tae the edge of the road so he could pass. I nodded.

He tipped his tricorn hat tae me.

I said, “Good day, sire, hot weather we are havin’.”

“Yes, are you headed to Wayland’s Crossing?”

I said, “Further along I think, just passin’ through.”

“You have a long day ahead of you, do not melt before you arrive.”

“I will do my best.”

He tipped his hat again and continued down the road.

He seemed a respectable man and I realized he had just passed the place where I had killed the secretary. I continued on until I came tae it, a blood stain on the ground, flies buzzin’ around, but twas darkened and looked like mud. I glanced tae the edge of the road, a bush that was crushed, a smear of blood, but naething else.

“Could hae been an animal,” I said, and kept goin’, pickin’ up my pace tae get farther away.

I finally came tae a fork in the road. I perused m’map again and looked up and down in both directions. If I went left I would be headed toward m’gear. I could jump tae the next location on my list for Asgall, but…

If I went tae the right I would end up in Charlottesville, eventually.

I said, “Horses, I hae a question: tomorrow Ma and Da will be at an inn, meeting with Thomas Jefferson, I do not want to interfere with their meeting. The following day they will arrive in Charlottesville. Ought I tae go? Before ye answer, by the map, tis a long ride, and I decided not tae rescue them, so twould be a long and pointless ride. And it might risk my entire plan. And twould waste time. But… I am a time traveler.”

I dug in my pocket and took out the vessel. “The vessel is still alive. Asgall daena ken that I am here and that I hae it. And he is gone now, anyway. I could go tae Charlottesville and stay at the Oakhurst Inn. I could get a couple nights sleep, look through the secretary’s papers, formulate a plan, and then jump tae New York tae kill Asgall. Nae one would even ken I had taken a few days.”

I pulled out the monitor to check it again. It only showed my vessel. I tucked it away. “It might be a good idea tae wait and watch the monitor in case he returns. I ken Charlottesville is a lot farther down the road, I ken I am not being reasonable. If I were goin’ tae wait I ought tae wait in the woods right beside the brothel. Or in the brothel. Though that would ruin m’element of surprise.” I exhaled. “Truth is I would like tae see Ma and Da.”

Stormy turned his head and whinnied.

I said, “Aye, ye are correct, boy, tis up tae me tae avenge my family and kill Asgall, I am taking it all upon myself. If I want tae see Ma and Da, who is tae stop me?”

The other horse beside me nudged my thigh. “Ye hae an opinion on it, boy?” He stamped his feet, facin’ tae the right. “Ye both think I should go see Ma and Da?” I took a deep breath, “Good…” I spurred them on.

“I think I will name ye, Captain, like Captain America, because we are in America right now, and tis from a movie I saw a long, long time ago.” I shook my head. “Och, I would like tae see a movie again.”

I added, “The next location for huntin’ Asgall is in New York, so I could stay in a hotel there, and I could watch a movie. Twould be easy. I shouldna waste anymore time… I canna risk it. I need tae go fast.”

I turned Stormy and Captain and headed the opposite direction toward my gear. “I am decided. I winna see Ma and Da. I will jump tae New York. It looks like a place with some comforts. I wouldna hae tae carry a sword everywhere I go.”

Stormy stopped. I spurred him on but he wouldna go. “Och nae.”

I pulled the reins of Captain, he dinna budge.

“Ye hae tae go because I said so! I am the rider, ye are the horse. Ye must listen tae me in everything!”

From behind me I heard a cart comin’. It had just passed the spot where I killed the secretary and if the driver saw me with an extra horse he might hae questions.

I ought tae go and I ought tae go fast.

I said tae the horses, “Fine, ye win, I promised ye a stable, tis not polite tae change m’mind after tellin’ ye that’s what I was goin’ tae do. I will go tae Charlottesville. There I will rest and formulate m’plan and if I see Ma and Da, then good. Twould be nice tae see them. I am not there tae rescue them though. I will just explain it, they will understand.”

I turned the horses and headed tae Charlottesville.