Page 134 of Long Live the King

I chuckled. “And ye look like Mookie.”

Lochinvar said, “Mookie is usually cleaner than this.” He climbed tae his feet and wrung out the bottom of his tunic. “Tis good we dinna need tae use the Trailblazer.”

I said, “Aye, we were fortunate he blazed the path already, and now we ken more, he used the Trailblazer back tae 1296 and somehow he became king.”

Lochinvar said, “Why are you going through our things?”

I said, “There are travelers on the path, a farmer takin’ an interest, but our gear looks tae all be here. We might want taeget hidden afore word gets out that strangers are journeyin’ through.”

I buckled the side of a pack. “Tis mid-morning, we need tae look around and come up with our plan.”

Fraoch said, “Och nae, I just woke up and ye are harrassin’ me like an irritated squirrel.”

I remembered comparin’ Kaitlyn tae a squirrel, a verra long time ago, I had called it majestic. “I am more inclined tae think on m’self as a bear, we need tae rise out of hibernation — get tae yer feet. Let’s go.”

Fraoch rose tae his feet, wiped off and wrung out his cloak and tunic, and we mounted Dràgon, Thor, and Cookie tae ride closer.

We were on our stomachs on a ridge looking out over a valley and we each had binoculars tae our eyes, scanning the landscape.

There was a large walled compound, many buildings within a tall timber wall. I counted and said, “Sixteen buildings.”

Fraoch said, “Great Hall beside the north wall, the guard barracks are near the gate.” One chimney was emitting a large amount of smoke, the fire was large. We werna certain of the work within, except for a cart goin’ through the gate with lumber piled on the back.

Fraoch said, “Dost ye think tis a brewery?”

I said, “Likely...”

Lochinvar said, “Aye, tis the brewery, I ken it. I count six guards on the east wall, two are dressed in modern gear.”

I said, “Och nae, they are carryin’ rifles.”

Fraoch said, “Aye, rifles, they are time travelers.”

I said, “I count ten guards on the west and north walls, I see three wearin’ gear and carryin’ guns. See anymore?”

Fraoch said, “Nae, but we ought tae assume there are. Dost ye see anymore weapons?”

I said, “Most of the guards hae bows and swords — why dost they need so many guards?”

Lochinvar said, “Because they are holdin’ Ash inside and they ken I am comin’.”

The wind switched and the smell of hops blew toward us. Lochinvar said, “Aye, told ye, tis the brewery, she’s in there, somewhere, I am certain...” He swept the binoculars back and forth over the cluster of buildings. “Do we need tae ken what building?”

“Aye, if we go in at night, we will need tae ken exactly where she is. Just keep watchin’. Tis a fine day, she’s likely tae come out.”

I put my binoculars back tae my eyes. We watched for a long time, with nothing much happening.

Fraoch finally said, “Og Maggy, ye are worried on Archie?”

“Aye, he is tormented, but then so am I...”

“How so?”

I put down the binoculars and explained, “When I close m’eyes I see and hear, verra clear, a wide crowd yelling, ‘Long Live the King,’ it haunts me... I daena ken how tae explain why, tis relentless, I canna turn it off. Tis one way that it bothers me, but more pressin’, it is not a celebration but... how tae describe it...? Tis pointed... the voices are tellin’ me, that ‘Long Live the King,’ and I feel certain I am the king they mean, but tis medieval and as ye ken Iwasa king, crowned in 1290.”

Fraoch said, “This is 1296, there is a new king.”

I said, “Aye,” I rolled ontae my back and looked up at the blue sky with the rolling clouds. “Tis like a rift in time has been torn open.”

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