Page 130 of Long Live the King

I gave Magnus one long last lingering goodbye hug. He kissed Jack’s head.

Lady Mairead rushed across the courtyard from the stair, wavin’ a book.

“Magnus, I hae an idea!”

When she approached, Lochie and Fraoch gathered around. She said, “Magnus, if ye run intae any trouble in the thirteenth century, ye will go tae the library at Stirling and find this book!” She had a hand on the top and bottom cover.

“Tis the psalter ye found with the M on it?”

“Aye.”

“How will I hae access tae the library in Stirling castle?”

“Ye were once a king there, twas yer castle at one time?—”

Magnus glanced at Archie, who was biting his lip.

Magnus said, “Archibald, I wasna a king in 1296,ever,and though I might hae been a king in 1290, there are a whole six years between the two — tis a long time.”

Archie nodded.

Lady Mairead said, “What I mean is, if it comes tae trouble, ye ought tae figure it out. Go tae Stirling, get yer hands on this book. And ye will make a small note upon this page.” She gingerly opened the pages to the middle. “Dost ye see this art? And the blank spot here? Ye will write the month and year using yer best pen?—”

Archie’s eyes went wide. “Da! Do you have a good pen?”

“Aye, son, I never leave home without at least one.” He pulled pens from his sporran and passed one tae each of the other men for their own.

Lady Mairead said, “Ye will write the date here. I will send someone tae get ye.”

Fraoch said, “Ye winna tarry?”

“Of course not, someone will come promptly.”

Magnus said, “Are ye certain the book is there?”

“Nothing is a certainty, Magnus, but if tis not there ye can bind and publish another, put it on the shelf of the library, and I will find it. But as ye can imagine, that will take a bit longer and will draw more attention tae yer plight and tae time travel.”

“If I need ye I will write the date on this page. But look through the entire book, just in case.”

She sighed. “Tis a verra auld and fragile book, daena rely on my flipping through all pages, instead, try tae follow directions, and I canna urge this enough, Magnus, ye must write it verra small, this is not a time for making a spectacle.”

“Aye, if I am havin’ an emergency and need a rescue I will make certain tae not ruin the book.”

“It ispriceless.”

Archie said, “If Da writes in it, we would see it in this one?”

Lady Mairead said, “That is what I suspect.”

He had his eyes on it, chewing his lip.

Lady Mairead looked at him, looking at the book. Finally she said, “I suppose ye want it, Archibald?”

He nodded.

She said, “This book is priceless and I will only give it tae ye if ye promise ye will be verra careful. Ye canna fondle it, nor put yer grubby paws upon it. I want ye tae promise tae beclean.”

He said, “I will be verra careful.”

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