Page 21 of Promises to Keep

Twas absolutely easy how it was workin’ so far.

I walked straight for her. “Lady Mairead—”

“Magnus! What onearthare ye doing here?”

She glanced at the man beside her, “Cornelius, this is Magnus, an um... friend.”

I shook hands with Cornelius.

Lady Mairead said, “Cornie, go on up tae the top of the steps so I might speak tae Magnus alone.”

As soon as he wandered away, I said, “Ye invited me, Lady Mairead, ye are about tae come upon serious trouble.”

She whispered, “This is the party of my lifetime, I hae been building this collection alongside Abby for years! Magnus, what happens?”

“Agnie is laying in wait for ye.”

Her hand went tae her throat. “I daena believe ye, this is my own private business, this has naething tae do with the kingdom — how can she...? Nae, this is off limits tae her.”

I said, “I daena think this is true, but either way, she is there, inside.”

“Well…” She watched the doors. “I see police, they will arrest her before—”

“She is going tae destroy the artwork — it has already happened, she will use the threat of destruction tae take ye.”

“She would never!” Her eyes wide. “Are ye looping?”

“No, we are trying to be smart, we sent Kaitlyn first for information, I am here for the rescue of ye. Lochinvar is inside waiting for ye, but now that I hae seen—”

“Who is Lochinvar?”

I looked at her for a moment. Then I put out my hand. “Lady Mairead, give me the book.”

“What book?”

“Ye ken what book!”

She pulled a book from her purse.

I yanked it open, and flipped through. It was missing most of the writing. The book I had seen her with was full and this one was barely used. “Is this new? Is this... how much hae ye written? Does this…?”

The main entry said:

Reyes

But he was many long years and battles ago.

I glanced at her face, she looked young. How old had she looked last I had seen her? She ought tae hae been… “Ye daena ken who Lochinvar is…? Ye are from… ye are from — what year?”

“I just saw ye in Riaghalbane, ye were—”

Behind the building storm clouds rolled up into the air, rising, roiling, lightning arced down, hitting the roof.

I left her side and raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time until I made it tae the top as Lochie shoved out the door, “Run!”

I followed him, racing down the steps, as behind us there was a loud rumbling, the sound of thunder, but also much more, enough tae make the earth shake. At the corner of the steps, a blast detonated from behind, an explosion shovin’ me as I dove over a low wall, landing and rolling on the sidewalk, and though I clamped m’hands over m’ears, I lost all sound except for a ringin’.

From the ground I looked back at the building. Crowds were floodin’ from the entrance, screaming, people knocking each other over tae get down the steps tae the road, rushin’ toward the park. The rumbling continued, smoke billowing from the windows — the noise growin’ even louder.

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