Page 107 of Long Live the King

He rolled onto his back. “I ken.”

His eyes looking back and forth on the ceiling he said, “I am uncertain how tae find her, and I am doin’ this for Lochinvar, but tae risk my own life for the girl he just recently met seems tae be a fool’s errand, but I owe him, and tis our kingdom that is ultimately responsible, and so... I must go. This is my duty. I am worried on Archibald though, will ye make certain he understands and daena worry? He is thinking on my death.”

I nodded, “He’s been clingy while you were gone.”

“He is having the same dreams as I... I talked it through with him, tryin’ tae set his mind at ease, but I can see it is still affecting him. The dreams feel verra real, tis difficult tae tell him that it is not real when it seems so... I am asking for ye tae take special care with him while I am gone, so as he is nae worried.”

I nodded. “I will.” Then I narrowed my eyes. “Do you think that the dreams you’re having of being a king have become true? Have you checked the historical record? Are you listed?”

“Aye, Kaitlyn, I checked, and I am not listed, thankfully. Twould be a terrible thing tae hae an empire through time. It has been overwritten, this is a good thing.”

I bit my lip. “So why are you remembering it so clearly? Why are the memories so insistent?”

Magnus said, “I daena ken. Tis almost as if tisbecomingreal. I hae tae keep myself from continuin’ tae check the historical record, at any moment it might hae me listed.”

“Ugh, then what, you’d be responsible for a kingdom in the thirteenth century and the twenty-fourth? You’re right, that’s an empire that wouldn’t be easy to hold.”

“Tis why I canna think on it, we hae things tae do, we must move ahead with the rescue mission.”

“If you get stuck in the past will you um... let me know? Somehow? We could come. Don’t be stoic and decide to just live there, alone. I know it’s hard to be in the past, but if you need me, if you need the kids, we will come. Being together is the most important thing.”

“Aye, I will bring ye if I get stuck in the past.”

“Please don’t get stuck. Take lots of pens.”

“Of course, now we ought tae get dressed, we hae tae discuss with everyone else.”

CHAPTER 44 - KAITLYN

DINING ROOM - RIAGHALBANE

We met in the dining room at the agreed upon time, where they were serving a buffet table of finger foods for all of us. The little kids had napped, the bigger kids had explored, when we walked into the room we saw Lochie standing near the table, chewing some food he had been picking from the trays, completely dressed in historical garb, with a duffle bag packed beside his feet.

I said, “Ye are packed already, Lochie?”

“Aye, even if I hae tae go alone.”

Magnus said, “Ye winna hae tae go alone, I will attend ye. I am mostly packed?—”

Lochie said, “We hae a moment tae eat first and we must decide where we are goin’.”

Magnus looked at Fraoch and back at Lochie. “Ye got clarity in yer discussion with Fraoch?”

“Aye, he calmed m’arse down, and I prayed on it. We need tae eat for our strength, we need tae discuss our plan, first, and we need tae make certain the family is protected while we are away, then we will go.”

Magnus opened his eyes wide, “Good, I will dress as soon as we eat.”

“Thank ye, Magnus.”

Fraoch was scooping chicken wings and fries onto his plate. “I am goin’ as well. M’bag’s packed. Og Lochie just needs tae tell me where we are headed.” He plopped dipping sauce on his plate with a flourish. “Are ye impressed, Og Maggy, with his calm demeanor?”

“I am, I thought we would hae our swords unsheathed, tearin’ through a Scottish forest in a long ago kingdom by now.”

Fraoch tapped the side of his temple. “But is that where she is?”

“I daena ken. Tis why I am glad ye talked tae Lochinvar instead of me.”

Lochie said, “The auld man has lulled me intae a stupor with borin’ stories about fishing, but within the story was a seed of truth that I hae decided tae heed.”

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