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

23. Chapter 23 - Archibald

CHAPTER 23 - ARCHIBALD

OAKHURST INN - CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

I rolled intae Charlottesville verra late at night and procured a nice room at the Oakhurst. The next day I sat in my room with the folders spread across the bed, makin’ my plans for revenge on Asgall.

I felt irritated that I had been a hundred yards away and haena killed him already. The brothel had been the most certain place and he had been there. I ought tae hae chased him up the steps tae the house with m’blade swinging, or shot him with the crossbow from across the field, but instead I just watched him from a distance as he entered the brothel.

It felt cowardly.

I worried that I was in over m’head.

Uncle Fraoch would hae killed him already. Uncle Wallace would hae whipped me for not accomplishin’ it.

I chuckled at the thought. I had only been whipped by Uncle Wallace once, and Aunt Hayley had yelled at him so loudly and for so long that he finally begged for mercy. She had said, “If you lay hands on Archie again, I will seek a vengeance that is so cruel you will be begging for your life! ”

And he had held up his hands, “Och nae, Madame Hayley, I winna!”

He never did it again, and I had learned my lesson by then, anyway, not tae mouth off tae m’elders. I dinna want tae get whipped, and I dinna want tae see Uncle Wallace get beaten by Aunt Hayley.

Now I was too big tae be whipped, but worse would be tae see the disappointment in their eyes.

Imagine what Aunt Emma would think that I had a first-aid kit and hadna returned home yet tae see tae her wound? That I was goin’ tae kill Asgall first, yet when I had a shot I dinna take it?

I poked my vessel, it still worked. I checked the monitor and dinna see another vessel nearby.

I flipped through the scattered papers. I had a chance tae kill Asgall in New York, but then he would head tae England, he would ally with Edward, then they would be attacking Mag Mòr.

I had blown my best chance.

The wheel of time was spinning.

I could go tae Scotland and warn Da, but I would be looping. Grandmother could do it, but I dinna want tae tell her I had missed my best shot.

New York would hae tae do. I wracked my brain for what I remembered of New York: twas busy, it wouldna be easy tae kill him there. I would hae tae sneak intae his home tae do it without being seen.

I had a great deal tae accomplish and a long ride tae return tae my gear, but I… I lay back on the bed. Ma and Da would arrive soon.

I was so close tae seeing them. I ought tae stay: I would never get the chance again.