Page 111 of Long Live the King

I said, “One is from a published article about Asgall Holdings, tis...” I flipped through the pages in the leather folder, finding the document and reading aloud: “November 7, 1912.” I flipped tae the following page: “Here is the address for Asgall Holdings, in New York City.”

Lady Mairead interrupted, “I ken where that is, I will go with ye.”

“Good, that makes sense. We also ken that Asgall was crowned king in the year 1296. If we are fortunate, Ash might be found in either New York or Scone?—”

Lady Mairead said, “Or neither of those places. Ye must be prepared, Lochinvar.”

He scowled.

I said, “The only preparation Lochinvar needs is tae decide where tae begin.”

Lochinvar shook his head and held out his hand for the folder. He looked through the pages. Then shook his head. “This is a lot of words that daena help.”

Fraoch said, “Between us all we hae a lot of experience with time travel, Og Maggy has run a few rescue missions, how many?”

I said, “About three hundred seventy two.”

Kaitlyn said, “Everyone in here has rescued someone at some point.”

Lochinvar nodded. “I want tae run off tae the thirteenth century and battle Asgall at the walls of a castle, but what if I am wrong? I want tae ken what the family thinks, I call a vote.”

Zach said, “Hoowhee. I don’t even let the family vote on dinner, you think this is a good way to plan a rescue mission?”

Lochinvar said, “I dinna say it would be bindin’, I just want tae hear yer opinion on it.”

Kaitlyn rushed tae the buffet and returned tae her seat with a notebook and pen. “I’ll keep track.”

James raised his hand. “So in all of time we are trying to decide whether to go to a certain date in 1912 or a whole year in the thirteenth century?”

Lochinvar said, “Exactly.”

He said, “We got nothing else?”

“Nae, we hae only this.”

James breathed out. “Okay, let’s vote. Glad there’s a lot of us, cause I would not want to be the one deciding this alone.”

Lochinvar stood up and I sat down.

He said, “Mistress Ash is my lass, I will vote first.”

He looked around at the other faces. “I want tae run intae the castle with m’sword drawn. I vote thirteenth century.”

Fraoch said, “What if she inna there?”

Lochinvar scowled. “It remains m’vote.” Then he said, “We ken Lady Mairead will want tae go tae the twentieth century.”

She said, “Aye.”

Then he asked, “How about ye, Fraoch?”

Fraoch said, “I agree with Lady Mairead, we ought tae go on a fact-finding mission first.”

Hayley smacked him on the shoulder and whispered, “You’re agreeing with Lady Mairead!”

He asked, “What would ye say?”

She said, “Fine, I also say the twentieth century.”