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

68. Chapter 68 - Magnus

CHAPTER 68 - MAGNUS

A BIT LATER... THE CROFT MORAIG STONE CIRCLE 1683

F raoch and I had come tae Croft Moraig stone circle tae return the vessel tae the chest. Haggis was sittin’ watchin’ as Fraoch shoved the boulder aside.

Then I dug the hole.

Fraoch asked, “Dost ye remember puttin’ the boulder here?”

“Aye, twas years ago, I thought we might need access tae a vessel in an emergency.” I lifted a shovelful of dirt and added, “Tis usually Archibald who has needed it.”

Fraoch said, “We are the elders makin’ sure the young hae access tae supplies and weapons, tis a noble act. Speakin’ of noble, not at all vain, I notice ye put yer M on the boulder, ye must always put yer mark everywhere.”

“I am a king, I get tae. And how come ye think tis my mark and not an M for Mairead?”

“Lady Mairead, God Bless her, inna goin’ tae place emergency boxes around for her children, tis not her way.”

“That is true, she has urged me tae replace the vessels, most likely for her own use, but more often she wants tae keep things tae herself, och, she holds a great many secrets.” My shovel hit the box and we cleared the top of the dirt. I pressed my hand tae the pad and the lid opened. Haggis rushed forward tae sniff all around.

I said, “Dost ye smell Archibald?” He barked.

Fraoch dug through our bags and began passin’ items tae me. “ChapSticks, pens, paper, first aid kit, guns.”

I said, “There is already enough paper.” I dropped the pens and ChapStick in, tucked the first aid kit tae the side. I stacked the guns. “We hae enough room for both boxes of ammunition.”

He passed them tae me. I put them beside the guns. “Tis all we can fit without buryin’ a bigger box.”

He chuckled. “If we get a bigger box we are goin’ tae add more supplies and need an even bigger box.”

“Aye, I would grow mad addin’ all we might need. This is enough.” I closed the lid on the box and filled the hole with dirt again. Then Fraoch rolled the boulder and settled it back intae place.

He clapped his hands of dirt. “We hae done it.”

Haggis sat and begged for a treat. Fraoch dug in his pocket and tossed him a dog biscuit.

“Ye are spoilin’ our medieval dog.”

Fraoch said, “He’s a good boy — are ye a cù math, Haggis?”

Haggis barked.

Fraoch passed me the Bridge from our bag. “Now ye are goin’ tae bridge time.”

I looked down on it in m’hand. “It always causes me trepidation, what if we fix the timeline but in the wrong place...?”

“I ken, I feel it as well, Og Maggy, how did ye talk me intae comin’ with ye?”

“Ye are the only one who wanted tae.” I pulled a flask from my pocket, unscrewed the top, and swigged whisky.

I passed the flask tae Fraoch. He swigged. Then he said, passin’ it back, “Here’s tae fixin’ time.”

I screwed the lid on the flask. “All is well enough, Sean is still alive.”

“By the grace of God, aye.”

“And he and Lizbeth are planning tae move tae my kingdom.”

Fraoch said, “Ye hae wanted that for a verra long time.”

“I hae, our family is growin’, and we are at peace.”

“Through yer strength.”

“Thank ye, Fraoch, I appreciate that. Nae one has challenged my throne, and all of our devices are accounted for and stored in my vault.”

“I remember back when I was guardin’ the cave tae keep them safe, twas unnervin’, this is a relief.”

“Aye.”

I opened the lid on the Bridge.

“By pressing m’thumb tae the stone, the timeline will be restored, we winna be able tae go further intae the past than 1557, and that I was once the king of Scots will be nothin’ but a murky memory.”

“Tis time, ye ken, Og Maggy, nothin’ good comes of havin’ kingdoms at two ends of history. That is an empire, tis hard tae hold an empire.” He took the flask from me. “I will need another swig of whisky if ye are goin’ tae keep talking.”

“Tis a big thing, I will be Mag Mòr nae more. And I never got revenge on Edward, it daena sit right.”

He drank from the flask then passed it tae me. I drank.

He smiled. “Ye never got revenge on Edward, yet. If all this peace gets borin’ we can always dust off the Trailblazer and blaze on down there tae teach him a lesson.”

I chuckled. “Och, I suppose we could, ye would go? The Trailblazer is verra painful.”

“Aye, of course I would go. But I reserve the right tae make Og Lochie do the trailblazing. Then we can just roll up usin’ the vessels, as is our right as the elders.”

I put the flask back in my pocket and said, “Tis a deal.”

I pressed my thumb against the obsidian stone and restored the timeline.

The end.