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

51. Chapter 51 - Kaitlyn

CHAPTER 51 - KAITLYN

THE DO-OVER - MAY 15, 2025 - FLORIDA

M agnus said, after taking a big bite of cake, “All right, let’s hear it.”

She said, “This is… is everyone here?”

I clutched my chest. “Yes, right, Jack is asleep, Noah is sleeping, Beaty is with him —this is everyone, right?”

Magnus said, “Aye, this is everyone.”

“Are we sure, I’m so nervous after the last time when everything was shifting.”

Magnus said, “We arna shifting, nae anymore. Are we, Lady Mairead?”

“Nae, but that daena mean something hadna gone wrong, verra verra wrong, so this is why I am visiting. This is a Master Reset.”

I gulped. “A do-over?”

Everyone went pale.

Magnus said, “Why? This is a verra dangerous thing tae do, ye ought tae make the decision with great caution.”

She leveled her eyes. “I hae made this decision with great caution, I hae met and received recommendations from members of the family and been given guidance. Ye yerself have chosen this date.”

Magnus leaned back in his chair. “Och nae.”

She added, with a bit of a smile, “Whenever I start a Master Reset I proceed with great?—”

Zach said, “You’ve done this before? When, how?”

“Who can say? I canna remember them all. Tis safe tae assume whenever I show up unannounced I am performing one, tis likely. ”

Magnus said, “I ought tae hae ye strung up for treason.”

Wilfrey looked shocked. Lady Mairead said, “Daena worry on it, Wilfrey, tis just his way. He blusters about all he is going tae threaten me with, but he never does it.”

Magnus said, “Ye said I gave ye this date?”

“Aye, from the depths of a tragedy from which we could not rescue ye, ye said, exactly: ‘May 15, 2025 is a verra good day.’ I hae come exactly as told, so there will be no ‘stringing me up’.”

“My apologies for threatening ye, Lady Mairead, I am just shocked by the news. Ye said someone else advised ye?”

“Aye, I hae taken the advice of Archibald, my grandson. He has been the one who helped me set the plan in motion. When I conspired with him he was about eighteen years old, and a fine lad, known as the Wolf King, verra capable in battle. He also urged me tae remarry, he was thoughtful about my situation, unlike his father.”

Magnus scoffed.

Fraoch said, “What happened that ye are overwriting?”

She drank from her brandy. “There was a man named Asgall who rose tae power, our family has been battling him, but he was gaining strength.”

Fraoch said, “Tis a stupid name, Arse-gall is what we should call him.”

“He is dead, Prince Archibald killed him in the year 1775, in Virginia.”

James leaned forward, “Whoo-nelly, now that’s what I’m talking about, colonial Virginia! Finally some interesting time travel.”

Magnus shook his head. “I hae never been there, tis a great deal ye are revealing, and too slowly, although m’mind is already reeling.”

The door to the house opened and Archie walked out, followed by Ben. He came up and leaned against me in my chair, too big to sit on my lap, but this was his next best thing. I put my arm around his thin shoulders and kissed the top of his head.

He said, “I heard my name, are you talking about me?”

Lady Mairead said, “Aye, we hae been speaking on yer heroics.”

His eyes went wide, “How?”

I said, “Well, technically not you , but your older self.”

Ben said, “Weird.”

Archie said, “What did I do?”

Lady Mairead said, “I daena want tae tell ye the details, but ye saved everyone in the family and rid us of a villain named Asgall who had been plaguing us a great deal.”

Ben and Archie high-fived.

Archie turned to Magnus. “Da, you didn’t fight him?”

“I dinna even ken who he was, this is the first I hae heard of him.”

Archie said, “And I killed him — how, with my sword?”

Lady Mairead said, “Aye, ye killed him with yer sword — yer father even drew a picture of it.”

Ben said, “Did I help?”

Lady Mairead paused, then said, “Aye, Archibald told me that in every battle ye fought alongside him.”

Archie said, “But it’s not really going to happen right?”

Lady Mairead said, “It did happen, ye made it so that we are all safe and ye are safe. We can breathe a sigh of relief and not worry on it anymore.”

He thought for a moment. Then said, “Awesome.”

Lady Mairead said, “He was verra heroic. Archibald, I would like tae introduce ye tae Wilfred Weaver. I am engaged tae be married tae him.”

Wilfrey bowed his head. “Pleased to meet you, Prince Archibald.”

Archie said, “Nice to meet you too. What will I call you…?”

Wilfrey said, “You may call me Wilfrey, Your Highness.”

Archie said, “I am happy for you, Grandmother, you’ve been lonely.”

Lady Mairead cut her eyes to Magnus and said, “Thank ye, Archibald, it means a great deal tae me that ye feel that way.”

Then Archie turned to Ben and held up an imaginary sword and Ben held up an imaginary sword, making light-saber noises, and they pretended to sword fight all across the deck and into the house.

Lady Mairead asked, “Where were we?”

“Ye were telling me about Arse-gall.”

She said, “By the time we discovered his machinations, he was king of Scotland in 1296, filling in the vacancy yer arse made when ye left.”

Magnus scowled.

She continued, “Tae counter him ye went back there tae 1291 and retook yer throne.”

“I regained it without battle?”

“Aye, they welcomed ye, but Asgall conspired with King Edward of England and?—”

Fraoch said, “Och nae, Eddie is a huge arse, almost as big as Arse-gall who must be bigger as the arse-ness of him is right in his name.”

Magnus squinted his eyes, leaned forward, hanging on her word.

She said, “Ye were called out tae battle Edward in the field at?—”

Magnus said, “Kippen,” at the same time. “How did I ken it?”

I shook my head. “Another time shift.”

Lady Mairead said, “I will need nae interruptions tae get through this next part.” We all quieted. “Ye met him in the field. Ye had Zach with ye and Ben and Archie and Sean?—”

“Sean Campbell? M’brother Sean time traveled?”

“Aye,” she took a deep staggering breath, her chin quivering.

Magnus said, “Is Sean all right?”

“Edward and Asgall killed him in front of ye, Magnus. I can barely speak on it. I hae been all alone in Riaghalbane with m’son lost tae me forever.” Wilfrey held her hand, she dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.

Magnus said, “Och nae, what happened tae him, he fell in battle?”

She didn’t answer.

He said, “Ye hae tae tell me.”

We all waited while she regained her composure.

She said, “Archibald tells me that he was dragged in during negotiations, and his throat slit in front of ye.”

I said, shocked, “In front of Archie too?”

“Aye, he and Ben witnessed it.”

Magnus said, “Och nae, why dinna I kill everyone involved, how could I let this happen?”

Quentin said, “Hell yeah, I don’t know how some medieval assholes get to kill one of us and we don’t stomp them into the ground.”

She said, “Colonel Quentin and James werna there, they were in Balloch in 1710, Lochinvar wasna there, he was in the seventeenth century, from what I understand, Magnus, ye dinna hae enough weapons, and all of our vessels stopped working.”

I clapped my hand over my mouth. “Who did that? Even yours ?”

“Aye, Asgall got one of my devices somehow, and he stranded us all. And that inna the worst of it.”

“Worse than Sean?”

“Nae,” she took a deep breath, “but still verra bad. Ye were chased from Kippen tae Stirling, where Edward and Asgall laid siege on the castle until ye surrendered. Ye and Kaitlyn were taken away.”

Magnus banged the table. “I daena surrender — this daena sound like me.”

Fraoch said, “But Magnus, if ye dinna hae any weapons, yer men are scattered, ye hae yer family sheltered in a castle under attack, and yer brother has just been killed in front of ye… aye, I can see ye surrendering. It inna a pretty picture, but I can see why ye would.”

Magnus scowled.

Lady Mairead nodded. “Ye dinna hae a choice, Magnus, our family was beaten. Ye were captive, taken tae Virginia, yer family was deserted in medieval Scotland. Archibald grew up as an exiled prince, until I figured out how tae get a working vessel tae him.”

“How?”

“The man ye chose tae be the caretaker of Balloch delivered the vessel. He dug it up from under the tree near the tunnel on the riverbank.”

Magnus chuckled. “How dost ye ken about that vessel and how did ye learn about the caretaker?”

“Magnus, ye left me alone running Riaghalbane, I truly doubt there is a nything I daena ken about ye. But arna ye grateful?”

“Aye, I am grateful ye dug up one of my emergency vessels and?—”

“ Two of yer emergency vessels. But I believed twas important tae replace the one by the riverbank, I hae just returned from accomplishing it. The one beside the stone circle must be replaced farther back in time, Archibald dug it up in the year 1683, I believe.”

Magnus said, “I will replace it.”

“Good, and ye ought tae show me a bit of gratitude.”

“I’m grateful that ye dug up two of my emergency vessels and introduced the caretaker of Balloch tae the joy of time travel?—”

“Apparently Finch Mac and his wife were involved in replacing the vessel, they were at Balloch on vacation.”

“Och nae, ye hae nae discretion.”

She leveled her eyes. “It wasna me that told Finch Mac about time travel.”

Magnus exhaled. “Well, Liam succeeded, I am also grateful for his help. I will likely need tae give him a raise.”

“I hae already started the process to give him a title. He will be the Earl of Breadalbane. Ye ken he is my many-times great-grandson, I found him tae hae a likeness in Sean, who I am still deeply mourning.”

“How did Sean get involved in time travel?”

“He wanted tae help ye, I think. I daena ken, but he died in the act of doing it and therefore…” She wiped her tears.

Magnus said, “The rest of the family was stuck in the past? Who and for how long?”

She pulled a book from her pocket and opened it at a ribbon marker. She listed: “Zach and Emma, and their children, Fraoch was there with his wife, Jack and Isla and Archibald, they had lived there for ten years. Archibald had two men, I daena ken who, he called Uncle, Uncle Cailean, and Uncle Wallace. They lived taegether at Innis Chonnel.”

Magnus’s brow drew down. “Och, Cailean is a good man, though I daena ken how William Wallace has become an ‘uncle’ tae my bairns.”

She said, “He was raising arms with Archibald tae win him yer throne.”

Magnus nodded. “So once ye got the vessel back there, Archibald could hae rescued everyone, but…”

“He tells me that Emma was gravely injured so he wanted tae rescue them earlier.” Her eyes settled on Haggis beside Magnus’s chair. “Part of his reasoning was because of the age of yer dog.”

Magnus said, “Haggis lived that long?”

“Archibald said he was trying tae stay alive for ye tae return, I believe he is givin’ the dog too much credit.”

Magnus scratched Haggis between the ears. “Ye arna givin’ Haggis enough. Right boy? Ye are a cù math.”

She continued on without acknowledging the dog. “But then he decided, against my initial resistance, tae do a full overwrite. Therefore, instead of rescuin’ everyone, Archibald went ahead and murdered Asgall. He also visited ye, because he missed ye, which I also did not agree tae, but I daena hold it against him. He did just what he set out tae do and is done with his part in it. Our conspiring made it possible for this do-over, as ye so eloquently call it, Kaitlyn.”

I asked, “Where is he now, this older Archibald?”

“He has returned tae the year 1301, Scotland. He was goin’ tae raise arms alongside his Uncle Wallace. I do pray he is well, he did me a great service in rescuing us all, but I haena wanted tae look on the official record about his fate. I daena ken if my heart can bear it.”

Magnus said, “We hae a baby coming, is this do-over of our timeline goin’ tae change anythin’ important?”

“Nae, except…” She leveled her eyes on Lochinvar, who was leaning back, balancing on two legs of his chair.

He dropped the front legs. “What?”

“There is the matter of yer wife.”

He blinked.

I said, “His wife? What…?”

She kept her eyes steady on Lochinvar. “Ye gained a wife during all of this.”

Fraoch said, “Och nae, how much time passed? I thought ye were talkin’ about a few weeks, but the lad haena even the courage tae speak tae any lasses, how’s he goin’ tae talk one intae marryin’ him?”

Magnus said, “Och, a marriage is a verra big deal, overwritin’ it was the best we could do?”

“Aye, I couldna come up with anything else, and I did think on it, Lochinvar. I met Ash, I did rather like her.”

Lochinvar’s brow drew down, “Ash? Tis the bonny lass from the Palace Saloon?”

“Aye, I believe that is where ye met her.”

“I never met her before, I hae only admired her from afar…”

“Well, somewhere between,” she flipped a page in her book and her finger trailed down the page, “now and two days from now, ye assured me that ye had made a thumb oath with her.”

Fraoch said, “A thumb oath, what is a thumb oath, the one with the spit?”

Lochinvar said, “Tis as good an oath as ye can give.”

Lady Mairead said, “Then, on June 18, 1291, ye were married in the family chapel at Stirling, with Mag Mòr giving his blessing.”

He said, “It canna be…”

She said, “I hae seen the record of it. I can show ye.” She pulled a folded paper from the back of her book and passed it to him.

Lady Mairead said, “Tis a marriage record, from Stirling Castle. The names are Lochinvar and Ash, tis signed by Mag Mòr.”

His brow drew down. He unfolded the paper and read it, then refolded it and put it on the table. But he kept staring at it.

“I haena used the Bridge yet, as ye ken, I canna use it as I am merely yer mother, it requires the thumb of a king, and… I hoped tae go tae Balloch and see about Sean first, afore I tidy up the timeline. In case...”

Magnus said, “Aye it makes sense.” They both turned to Lochie.

She added, “I am willing tae bide my time while Lochinvar speaks tae the maiden, just in case there are some memories lingering in the do-over. It seems it would be fair.”

He said, “So she was m’wife and now she is gone? Couldna ye do something?”

Lady Mairead said, “I am terribly sorry, Lochinvar, part of the evil that was Asgall is that he kidnapped her, and held her in a medieval compound, and much of this was happening when Sophie had given birth tae a bairn. I dinna want tae complicate anything?—”

Lochinvar said, “Aye, I understand. The bairn needs tae be safe, but I daena understand how I could hae nae memory of it — tae be married? ”

“I pray ye will hae the chance tae win her once more.”

She pulled out another piece of paper that was covered in handwriting. She passed it across the table. “Ye and Ash hae written tae each other. Ye guessed there would be a do-over and so ye sent a message tae yerselves about it.”

Lochinvar looked down on the paper covered in writing. He flipped it over and looked at the other side. “It seems familiar…”

Fraoch said, “Dost ye want someone tae read it tae ye?”

He said, “Nae, I will read it. With Madame Emma’s tutelage I hae learned tae read well enough.” He picked up the other piece of paper and folded them together and put his hand on it. “If I hae trouble I will ask Madame Emma for help.”

He looked like he wanted to read it but was keeping himself from reading it. He said, “What kind of name is Ash, dost ye think? Tis the same as the Ash tree?”

I said, “I think it’s short for Ashley, a nickname, like Lochie.”

“Ashley, but they call her Ash, like the tree,” he nodded, “makes more sense.” He folded his arms with the letter tucked against his chest. “I will read it later. Then I will go speak tae her on the matter.”

Magnus nodded, then said, “So is this enough, hae ye changed our course? What did we do last time that we need tae do differently?”

“I think this is enough, Asgall is dead, ye are all here… except, I was wondering, Magnus, if ye would attend me tae Balloch, we will either see Sean, or… hae tae tell Lizbeth that he is gone. I haena had the heart tae go.”

“Aye, we dinna go tae Balloch last time?”

“Nae, ye haena been there in a long time.”

“Then it looks like we ought tae go first thing, but the bairn may be born on the morrow...”

I looked at Magnus’s face, worried, and Lady Mairead’s face, distressed, and said, “What if we went right now today? I mean, it’s only nine. We just heard about a whole lot of terrible things happening and this is a do-over. I don’t know, I don’t relish the idea of going to bed, and hoping for the best. I need to do something. If this is a do-over and we’re overwriting, let’s be proactive.” I added, “We would return tomorrow for the birth.”

“We daena usually risk such a tight turn around but...”

I said, “But in this instance, we ought to, we’ve got to know.”

Lady Mairead said, “Would ye be willing tae bring the bairns along? Though I generally think ye ought tae leave the kids behind, I just spent a great deal of time with the family spread across the centuries and I daena want tae be worried on anyone for once.”

I said, “Yes, I agree, let’s get Jack and Isla up, we’ll just go, if there’s… if something happened, we all need to be together for it.” I met Magnus’s eyes. He looked very upset. “Are you okay?”

“Nae, my heart is heavy.”

James said, “Sophie and I obviously can’t come, but everyone else goes — if we don’t meet you at the beach, come find us at the hospital.”

Magnus said, “Everyone else wants tae come with us?”

Beaty asked, “Dost ye need me, Sophie?”

She said, “Nae, do yer best tae return afore the bairn comes. I still believe we hae until the new moon.”

Fraoch said, “Good, all right lairds and ladies, arise, gather the bairns, we must go tae see if Sean is well.”

And that’s how, a couple of hours later, just before midnight, we were standing on the beach, preparing to jump.