Page 144 of Long Live the King

“Yet here lies Fraoch, long sufferin’ brother tae the merciless king.”

I pulled myself up. “Ye ready tae try again?”

He wiped his hands up and down on his face.

“This time we go until we canna bear it.”

I growled in answer, because I couldna form words.

We both held the Trailblazer and began again.

I shoved the Trailblazer away.

Nae nae nae nae.

I was lyin’ on m’side, m’face wet from my sick or tears or both.

I groaned.

Fraoch’s foot was near m’face and I thought,he has died.

It seemed clear that one or both of us had,there was nae way we survived that.

I pulled my hand up, wincing, and poked his shoe.

He moaned.

This wasna like using the vessels, those caused a great deal of intense pain, but this wracked yer form, felt as if ye were tortured. Time jumping with the vessels felt as if ye needed tae rest tae recover, ye felt weak. With the Trailblazer it felt like ye might never survive.

I said, “Tis dark.”

Silence.

I lay there, starin’ up at the tree limbs dark against the lighter glow of a night with a moon, somewhere. The chant was louderstill,Long live the king, long live the king, long live the king... And I almost wished I would die tae shut it from my head.

I woke at dawn with Fraoch sitting up, leaning against a tree.

“How far did we go?”

He said, “I canna bear tae look, the disappointment might kill me.”

I looked over at the machine, about ten feet away, but couldn’t imagine how tae get tae it.

He said, “I changed m’mind, I daena want tae get ye yer throne, this is a terrible idea.”

“Tis a terrible idea, I daena want the throne. Ye are right, I changed my mind as well.”

“Then we go home, ye will hae tae be content with havin’ a kingdom at one end of time.”

I sat there quietly. “I agree, yet... can ye hear it Fraoch?”

Fraoch shook his head. “Nae, just the infernal birds, signing their joyous wee hearts out, payin’ little mind tae us dyin’ here.”

“I am surprised ye canna hear it.”

Fraoch said, “Louder?”

“Aye, and more insistent. Dost ye think it has grown worse for Archibald as well?”

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