Page 161 of Long Live the King

Fraoch said, under his breath, “Tis as if ye never left.”

“Aye.”

Fraoch looked across the courtyard tae the King’s house. “Until we walked through the gate I dinna remember this place, now tis familiar. I even hae a room, daena I hae a room?”

“I daena remember. But more importantly, doIhae a room? I think mine is there.” I pointed at the upper window.

Cailean rushed tae the courtyard. “Magnus! Fraoch! M’apologies, Yer Majesty, m’apologies.” He bowed. “I wasna expecting ye, Yer Majesty, until later in the week. Did ye hae good travels? Ye ought tae hae taken yer guard!”

I dinna remember what I had told him, so I said, “I ken, Cailean, sometimes a man daena want a guard. They are a great deal of flatulence and not much in the way of good conversation.”

Cailean grinned, chuckling, and said, “Tis true.”

“But aye, my travels were verra fruitful.”

“Good, and I daena mean tae insult ye, but ye hae the stench of the road upon ye, Yer Majesty.”

I laughed. “I assume I do, I ought tae wash and dress.”

“While ye do I will ask the guard tae raise yer standard on the walls, and inform the kitchens — I canna promise a feast, but we will do our best, we werna expecting ye!” He turned tae Fraoch, “I will give ye a room on the second floor, tis under my room. I hope ye will be good with the arrangement. Magnus has allowed me the best room because I am stiff and achy with my age.”

Fraoch said, “Of course. I think that is the one I always hae...?”

“Ye haena been here, Fraoch. I would hae remembered!”

Fraoch winced, “Aye, ye are right, Cailean, on our travels Magnus told me so many stories that it seems as if I lived here all m’life. M’point, Cailean, is that Magnus talks a great deal.”

I said, “Tis better tae be known as a great talker, than as ye are, filled with flatulence.”

Cailean laughed. “I had forgotten how ye both speak in jest with each other. Ye are reminding me of yer bickering in the tent in the battlefields, when we were gaining your crown — how is Haggis by the way?”

“He is verra good, he is guardin’ the bairns at home, a verra cù math.”

“I look forward tae meetin’ yer bairns.”

“I will bring them soon, how are yer sons?”

“Verra well, I will send word that ye hae returned, they will want tae come celebrate.”

“I look forward tae it.”

He led us up the stairs. “Fraoch, I will shew ye tae yer room.”

I followed him up, but continued on tae the third floor, and my room, I now remembered it well.

CHAPTER 71 - MAGNUS

THE KING’S CHAMBER, STIRLING CASTLE

There was a chambermaid readyin’ the room as I entered. She bowed and left hastily. A boy built a high fire in the fireplace tae cut the gloom, as the room hadna been used in a few days.

I removed my clothes and bathed with a rag and water from the pitcher and dressed in clean, more royal clothes that fit the time. My shirt was tight across m’shoulders, I had been working out regularly in Florida. I stretched, tryin’ tae give m’self more room.

Then I put on a tunic, with a fur-lined collar and cuffs. I buckled a belt around m’waist, and m’cloak, pinned with a large brooch around my shoulders. I sat down on the settee tae put on m’boots.

The sight of the fire gave me pause. I remembered sittin’ here, my hand on Haggis’s head, while I was fretting over Kaitlyn bein’ trapped on another timeline, long hours, worrying and praying — what of that was real and what was lost tae time?

I couldna say, but I did ken this, that my kingdom was here. The throne was mine. I was goin’ tae hold it and keep it, and most important, I ought not keep it by m’self, because it hadbeen a lonely endeavor last time. I wouldna make that mistake again.

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