Page 151 of Long Live the King

I passed Jack to Hayley and raced up the steps,Oh no oh no oh no oh no.Ben was pale in fear. There were men surrounding Archie. I shoved past them. “Baby, are you okay?”

He was passed out cold. I pushed his hair off his forehead. “Archie, honey, come on, wake up.”

I looked at one of the guards. “Do you see them coming? Is Magnus with them?”

He shook his head, “Nae. Only Lochinvar. ”

I smoothed and caressed Archie’s face. “Come on, wake up, little guy, you need to wake up. I know your dad isn’t here, but I’m sure it’s fine. Uncle Fraoch is with him, nothing will happen to him if Fraoch is there. You know this.”

Archie’s eyes fluttered open, he said, “I think he died, Mammy.”

James came up behind us, “Is everything okay, Katie?”

I shook my head. “Can you help me get him down to our room?”

James picked Archie up, and Ben and I followed them down the steps. We met Isla, who was carrying Archie’s book, and Hayley passed me Jack.

I said, “Find out what’s happening, come tell me, okay? As soon as you know,”

Hayley said, “Of course, Katie, as soon as I know.”

Holding Isla by the hand, carrying Jack, I followed James up to my bedroom, so worried about Archie, limp in his arms, and terrified that something horrible had happened to Magnus. I wanted to be down in the courtyard to hear what had happened, but Archie needed me more.

Isla sat quietly on the bed beside Archie who was curled up around the book kind of sleeping, in and out of consciousness.

James said, “Do you mind if Sophie comes in? She would like to sit with you while you wait.”

“I would like that.”

So Sophie was nursing Junior sitting on the couch, nearby, a comforting presence.

Beaty rushed in, “Dost ye want me tae take Jack tae the nursery?”

Jack put up his arms to go with her.

She said, “Send someone tae tell me, as soon as ye ken.”

“I will.”

But then Hayley rushed in and sat down beside me. “Okay, here’s the thing, Archie, don’t be worried — your dad is okay, he’s just not homeyet.”

I said, “Explain it, what happened?”

“They found Ash, she’s here, Quentin is so sorry he forgot the radio, he wasn’t thinking, he feels terrible.”

I glanced at Archie, his chin trembling.

I said, “Just tell me what happened, Hayley.”

“They rescued Ash, and they were being chased, so Lochie left fast, but Magnus and Fraoch needed to do one more thing first.”

“What could that possibly...?”

Her eyes flitted to Archie and she jerked her head.

He said, “You can say it, Aunt Hayley, they went to go get Da’s throne?”

She was quiet then said, “Yep, they went back to 1290 or probably 1291 because of time that passed.”

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