Page 50 of Only a Breath Away

I said, “Ye are remindin’ me that ye are ever growin’ wiser in yer dealings. This tech might be too powerful for yer inclinations.”

She jokingly smacked m’shoulder. “Wheesht Magnus, there is nae such thing as too powerful.”

She wrote some more, and I noted that she turned a wee bit, tae keep me from seein’ the page.

Colonel Quentin entered through the backdoor, dripping wet from the rain. “That was not fun. “

Isla said, “Uncle Quentin, you’re wet!”

He shook, sprayin’ the bairns with water then came intae the living room, dryin’ his hair with a towel. “We’re pretty sure we know how that part works now.”

Lady Mairead said, “Aye, thank ye, I do. This is verra good.” She wrote more, and looked verra secretive about it.

Zach passed Quentin a soda.

Quentin asked, “Do I get a frosty mug?”

Zach groaned.

Lady Mairead closed the book and clutched it tae her lap.

I asked, “Tell me what ye hae written.”

She said, “Nothing.”

“Will this Bridge solve our timeline unraveling?”

“I daena ken — twill take time.”

“Take time? We daena hae time! Ye ken ye hae the instructions there in yer book. Let me see it.”

She raised her chin and moved the book away. “Nae, I will take the Bridge and—”

“Nae, ye winna, ye canna hae it.”

She closed the other books, stacked them and, and placed the stack in her messenger bag. She pulled it tae the side away from me. I said, “Madame Beaty, would ye please take the bairns tae the bunkhouse?”

“Aye, King Magnus.”

CHAPTER 42 - MAGNUS

Iwatched them depart and then said, “Lady Mairead, if ye think ye are leavin’ here with yer instructions and this chest, ye are sadly mistaken. We daena hae time. I want tae ken how tae use the Bridge.”

“These are my books, I hae taken a great deal of care and I winna share them. We hae plenty of time, we arerichwith time.“

“Lady Mairead, I am askin’ ye, as yer son, tae share yer knowledge with me, so that I can—”

“Nae, they are mine and I will use the Bridge and—”

“Ye canna open it! Ye need a son of Donnan tae open it!”

“There are other sons, Magnus, I hae a list.”

I stood, strode across the room, grabbed m’sword from the corner, spun around, and pointed it at her heart. “I will repeat m’self, but twill be the last time I ask—”

“Ye are going tae use brute force against me?”

“Ye are hiding notations and diagrams, keepin’ books in secrecy, and planning tae conspire with m’enemies. Ye tell me, as yer king, or aye, I will take the books from ye by force.”

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