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

36. Chapter 36 - Archibald

CHAPTER 36 - ARCHIBALD

LEAVING CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

T was verra dark at first, until I got out of town and was able tae turn on m’lantern. I would need tae get well away afore morning, so I would be ridin’ all night.

I wondered when was the last time I had slept, well, and through the night?

It felt like days.

I asked Stormy, “Ye exhausted, boy?”

He whinnied, low, as if he were answering.

“Aye, me too. How about ye, Captain?”

Captain looked at me and shook his head.

“So what we are sayin’ is we are all tired, so we will need tae talk tae each other tae keep ourselves awake.”

I exhaled long. “I just saw m’parents, they were well. Thank ye for askin’, Stormy, twas good tae see them and I am glad I went.”

Tae Captain I said, “I also killed Asgall, Captain, just like I killed his secretary. I ken ye forgive me, because I hae established that they were villainous, but I want ye tae ken, I daena kill many people. Usually only in battle, and never by poison, but… it worked, Grandmother was right. Twas effective and we survived, that is what is important.”

We rode in silence then I said, “Thank ye for asking, aye, we are goin’ home, tis a castle on the edge of Loch Awe, called Innis Chonnel. Ye will hae a verra fine stable, and I will make certain ye are treated verra well. Uncle Wallace is plannin’ a battle, ye will accompany me, and we will fight for my throne. Or… if not my throne, Wallace’s cause.”

Stormy picked up his pace. “Ye like that plan, boy? Good, ye will make a good warhorse.”

Up ahead I thought I saw a movement, so I clicked off the lantern. “Did ye see something up there?”

We rode for a while in complete darkness. There was a wind in the upper branches of the trees and naething else, the horses dinna notice anything. I pulled them tae a halt and we listened, and the horses smelled, then finally we got back on the road and walked some more, but now I kept the lantern off.

Once I felt certain nae one was near, I asked, “Dost ye think Ben and Isla and Zoe and Jack will be there when I get back?”

The horses were quiet.

I said, “Aye, I daena ken either.”

As dawn came upon us I came tae the fork in the road and headed northwest, twould take a couple of hours tae make it tae the woods.

I smacked my cheeks tae stay awake. I checked the radio signal of the beacon. I was headed in the right direction, toward my gear, and I kept riding, even though I folded forward fallin’ asleep, I woke m’self up and continued on.

Twas midmorning when I found my gear and supplies. I was so exhausted I wanted tae sleep, but I needed tae jump out of here tae the past afore any time shifts began. I dinna want tae get stuck here where I dinna ken anyone.

I pulled my vessel out, and my list of notes given tae me by Lady Mairead and compared them, though m’sight was bleary. I rubbed my eyes and peered at it again. I checked the numbers and repeated them, twas right, I was certain twas right. It had tae be right.

I was wearin’ the wrong clothes, a powdered wig, and I was filthy and carried a stench. I had been through a lot since I got dressed, a long journey, a couple of murders, and days since I had slept, I was certain, as Ma would say, that I looked ‘like I’ve been through an ordeal.’

Och, I missed her already.

I wrapped the horse reins around m’arm. The bag across my shoulders, sat down on the stack of m’gear and supplies, and put my forearm under the strap lashin’ them taegether. I twisted the vessel and held on as the storm above me rose tae the heavens and dragged me through time tae an uncertain fate.