Page 172 of Long Live the King

I had a dish of jelly in front of my plate, a small plate of butter, and there was some honey for the oatmeal.

It was all delicious. I barely spoke while I ate.

Then, as if she had been waiting, Lady Mairead said, “So ye met Asgall, did ye ascertain how tae find him?”

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “I have no idea, honestly.”

She sighed, irritatedly.

Lochie squeezed my hand.

She said, “I suppose we will hae tae focus on the thirteenth century.”

It came to me then, something Asgall had said, “Actually no, I don’t think that’s where he’ll be — he told me he hated that um... time, he said he needed a cigarette. He wanted to smoke freely somewhere. I also know how many buildings were in the compound, how many people and weapons, the escape route, and can tell you that he had a thick mustache that pointed up on the sides.”

She raised her chin. “So which is it, ye daena kenanythingor ye ken a great deal?”

“I suppose I know a great deal.”

Lady Mairead smiled, “I see we will get along nicely.”

Kaitlyn sat down beside Lizbeth and Hayley and others took their seats farther down.

Kaitlyn said to Lady Mairead, “Did you hear the good news?”

Lady Mairead said, “Of course we heard, Archibald and Benjamin came tae m’rooms earlier and told me all about it, ye will be going tae meet Magnus?”

“Definitely, as soon as breakfast is over.”

She sighed again. “I suppose I will return tae Riaghalbane.”

The doors of the Great Hall opened once more and there was a loud booming voice. “I am home tae get ye!”

It was Lochie’s brother, Fraoch, and when he entered everyone laughed and cheered.

Lady Mairead said, “Dear Lord, there is always a disruption, we will hae indigestion.”

CHAPTER 75 - KAITLYN

THE GREAT HALL - BALLOCH CASTLE

Fraoch went up to Lady Mairead and said, “Good morn, Lady Mairead.”

“Good morn, Fraoch, did ye wash up for breakfast? We daena want rowdy men shakin’ and slingin’ their filth upon us.”

“I washed up, Lady Mairead, and while I did it I thought tae m’self, best get the grooves between the fingers, Frookie, ye want tae be clean afore ye give Lady Mairead a kiss upon the cheek.”

He leaned in fast and pecked her on the cheek. She looked shocked, but then raised her chin and brow and settled as if she enjoyed it.

Fraoch turned to the rest of us. “I haealsoreturned from far away tae get the family. We used the Trailblazer.” He glanced at Lizbeth and Sean and Liam, “If ye daena ken what tis, ye daena need tae ken, but we used it, and Magnus is safe. He bids ye come.”

Lizbeth said, “Ye can speak freely, Fraoch, we hae heard all the tales.”

Sean said, “There is always some kind of fanciful story. I just let it wash over me, like the waters Tay.”

“Fine, I will tell ye, we used the Trailblazer, we hae gone tae the year 1291, there we hae found that Magnus is king. He is named Mag Mòr, and?—”

Sean said, “Mag Mòr? Mag Mòr isMagnus?”

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