Page 16 of Long Live the King

Lochie said, “Do the books include all the battles?”

Quentin said, “Yep, unless they are overwritten by time travel, they’re there. I’ve looked them over, it’s chilling.”

Magnus said, “Kaitlyn will be sure tae get ye a copy of the list and some of the books, Lochie, ye can look them over. Tis funny though, ye haena been interested in the kingdom’s history before. M’mother is always studyin’ it.”

Lochie said, “She is a wise auld crone.”

We all groaned.

Beaty said, “Daena let her hear ye call her a crone, Lochie. I like ye, ye are a part of the family. I would miss ye when she feeds ye tae the dragons.”

He chuckled. “I would never say that tae her face, I am a warrior — I am not foolhardy.” He wiped barbecue sauce off his hands. “I am glad there is a good list... I wonder if there are repeating names, maybe a branch of cousins who are particularly troublesome.”

Fraoch said, “Haena we dispatched all the cousins yet?”

Magnus said, “If we haena gotten them yet, we will.” They clicked their beer bottles together.

Lochie said, “But this is a good example, all the enemies ye hae fought, Og Maggy, yet when we look down at this list none of them are mentioned. Ye daena want tae give them the honor of bein’ on yer list, but without their names it looks as if yer throne has been easy tae keep.”

Magnus nodded in agreement, “I suppose ye are right, Lochinvar, it belies the bloodshed we needed tae maintain the throne.”

“Aye, and ye will want tae see the names tae see the way they might be connected. What if there is a cousin who plans tae avenge his brother?”

Magnus said, “Och, a revengin’ cousin is the worst of them.”

Quentin said, “We dismissed second and third cousins as insignificant, but maybe we do need to see a full list for the patterns.”

Magnus nodded. “My mother has spoken tae me on something similar. She mentioned some of m’second cousins, insignificant relations, yet.... She said, she was keeping her eye on them.”

Lochie said, “Wise auld crone, as I said.”

We all groaned again. I said, “Please,pleasedon’t say it to her face, but yes, I’ll give you the list and the books, all the stuff I have about the lines of succession.”

Lochie tipped the beer to his mouth, with a grin. Then he put the beer bottle down and said, “Nae one is goin’ tae ask me about m’readin’?” He looked down at Emma, “Madame Emma, I hae been talking about the list for ten minutes and nae one mentioned it!”

Beaty said, “I will ask, Lochie, how are yer reading lessons?”

“With Madame Emma’s tutelage I hae learned tae read, verra proficiently.”

We all applauded.

I said, “That is great, Lochie, I’m really proud of you. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it. I didn’t think you wanted to talk about it.”

“I dinna much want tae talk on it but now I can read most everything!” He leaned forward, “Frookie, ye ought tae get Emma tae teach ye?—”

Fraoch said, “Och nae, I asked Archie tae read tae meonetime! I needed help with the instructions — the letterin’ was verra small! I can read! Och nae.” He waved his hand at Lochie. “I am nae speakin’ tae ye anymore, ye are givin’ me indigestion.” Then he said, “Most every night I read, daena I, m’bean ghlan?”

“Yes you do.”

Lochie said, “What dost ye read?”

“I am readin’ right now about a man who came tae the world from another planet. Tis verra entertaining. There are paintings but I daena hae tae use them, I read the words upon the page.”

Lochie said, “He came from another planet? How did he get tae the world, through the air?”

“Aye, he can fly.”

Zach covered his mouth with a napkin so no one could see him laugh, his shoulders shaking. He took a big swig of beer, pretending to do something besides listen. Hayley, James, Quentin, and I were all glancing at each other bemused.

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