Page 108 of Long Live the King

Magnus said, “And what is the truth?”

Lochie said, “If I do anythin’ rash she is likely tae die.”

Magnus put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

Quentin said, “I suppose if you three are going, then Zach and James and I are responsible for all the rest of these peeps?”

Magnus grinned. “Everyone but Lady Mairead she prefers tae?—”

She walked in. “I think I heard my name, Magnus.” She stopped short. “Och, look at the people teeming in the dining room, we hae become barbarians.” Her eyes dropped onto the table. “Tis your idea, Kaitlyn? We must eat from the trough?”

I rolled my eyes.

Zach said, “I ordered this, I knew the kids would wake up hungry and?—”

“If ye design your meals around the bairns, Chef Zach, ye will hae hungry adults and undisciplined bairns. Trust me, I hae raised a few barbarians myself. Ye must learn, a child is tae eat when, and what, he is told tae eat.”

Zach pulled his collar from his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”

Lady Mairead’s eyes swept the room, she shook her head. “Och, I need tae go elsewhere.”

Magnus said, “As soon as we eat we will discuss our plan, gettin’ ye far away from the joyous bairns will be our top priority.”

She raised her chin. “Tis not that I daena feel fondness for my grandchildren, tis simply that they are too much for hours on end and that they are accompanied by a menagerie of animals is unnerving.”

Isla marched by, singing, “Too much! Too much!” Haggis trotting along behind her.

Magnus stifled a laugh.

We went down the buffet line, filling our plates. I helped Isla with Archie right behind me, he whispered, “Da is leaving?”

“Yes he is, but don’t you worry, Archie, he will be back in a few days.”

Magnus said, “Archibald, I will be gone for a few days, and while I am gone I will assign some jobs for ye and Ben tae keep yer hands occupied and your mind tired, dost that sound good?”

Isla folded her hands together under her chin, and batted her eyes. “Da, will you let me do a job with the animals?”

“I will make a list that ye will abide by, but I will take yer preference intae account.”

He winked at me.

And then we both glanced at Archie. The color had left his face, he shook his head. “Nae, you can’t go, Da, I won’t let you! You can’t! You won’t come back. I know it. This is just like my dream! You’ll be gone and they will make me take the crown!”

I glanced at Magnus’s face — he was shocked, his mouth opening and closing.

Isla was watching, intent, thankfully quiet and not adding to her brother’s outburst.

Ben looked frightened. Everyone was looking.

Lady Mairead stood close, listening.

It all made me nervous. I talked more when I was nervous, so I said, lying, knowing that time travel trips were never easy, but saying it anyway, “Archie, that was just a dream, you don’t have to worry about it. This is just going to be an easy trip. Right, Magnus? Just an easy trip, you’ll go in and come back.”

Archie leveled his eyes. “Da, will this be an easy trip?”

Magnus glanced at me, then shook his head slowly. “I am sorry, Archibald, but nae, it looks tae be difficult, this is why I canna take ye with me. But I will come home. And ye must wait patiently until l do, and ye canna be afraid. If ye are afraid ye canna let anyone ken. Except yer ma, ye can tell yer ma, but ye canna scare Isla. Ye canna show Ben yer weakness. Ye must raise yer head high and hae courage. Ye hae a job tae do. Dost ye ken what it is?”

He shook his head.

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