Page 74 of Long Live the King

My eyes swept the projected photo, there were three men, who at first glance I dinna recognize because I was more taken with the familiar room. “Aye, tis one of the rooms at Scone. How am I familiar with it? I haena been there, yet... I recognize it, I am certain I sat there many a day.” The memories flooded back, the battle in the fields outside the walls, the terraces, Kaitlyn inm’bed in m’chamber on the upper floor. “My memories must be from 1290, yet this room looks just as I remember it — Scone haena changed in eight hundred years?”

“It has changed a great deal. Because of the herald and other details in this photo we hae determined it was taken in the thirteenth century. As I said, Thomas found it stuffed between the pages of this psalter as if it were a bookmark, with nae explanation.”

“What time period is Thomas from?”

“I hae asked for his help from the year 1708.”

Quentin’s eyes went wide. “I suppose he must be confused by what he’s finding, especially photographs.”

She waved her hand, indifferently. “He prays on it, he daena dwell on it. But we hae determined that the man in the center of the photo is Asgall, former king of Scotland.”

While they spoke, I strode across the room for a closer view of the projected photo, focusing on the faces of the men. “The man on the left is m’auld friend and ally, Cailean, aged a few years beyond when I last spoke tae him. But tis him, I ken it. I remember him well.”

Asgall was taller than Cailean, although not verra big, dark hair, a mustache and nae beard. I pointed at the man standing tae his right. “And this is William Wallace, I remember meetin’ him. Dost ye remember — he stabbed me?” I scowled and pulled my collar away trying tae see my shoulder. I could remember getting wounded, but couldna remember if it had really happened or not. I had tae unbutton my shirt to pull it aside and look.Aye, there was the scar from it.

“Och, tis a relief, I was wonderin’ if I lost m’mind.”

She said, “The photograph is incontrovertible proof that there is time travel afoot.”

I said, “Asgall has taken the throne during the interregnum period, as I did, during a time of great turmoil. Perhaps it winna change history much.”

She raised her brow. “Think on the importance of Robert the Bruce, ye ken his name, he isimportanttae history.”

Quentin said, “Is Robert the Bruce still listed there, as one of the kings?”

She asked the room tae project a list of the kings of Scotland. Robert the Bruce was listed after Asgall, beginning in 1325 until his death in 1329. “Do ye think tis right?”

I shook my head. “He was only king for four years...?”

Lochinvar said, “Is this the main list? Does it include the footnotes?”

Lady Mairead said, “This is a verra good question, Lochinvar, as the centuries hae passed, history becomes settled. The Scottish kings are set in stone.”

He shrugged. “Except it sounds tae me like the history of Scottish kings inna set in stone...” His voice trailed off at her glare.

She sighed, dramatically. “This is the list of Scottish kings, themainlist. This is all that is important.”

Lochinvar said, “Aye, Lady Mairead, ye are correct in it.”

She looked at the list and huffed.

I watched her looking at it intently.

Then she said, “It would be good though, if it wouldremainsettled. Do ye remember how long Robert the Bruce was king?”

I said, “Nae, but four years seems a short time.”

“Exactly! And throughout this time there would be malicious dealings by the king of England, Edward I, but he is barely mentioned.”

I said, “Aye, I had many dealings with Edward, he was an arse. He wanted tae appoint the Scottish king, as if Scotland were his vassal state.”

She said, “Tis clear that someone has applied pressure tae history and changed its course.”

She asked the room tae project the photograph of Asgall and Cailean with William Wallace once more.

Lochinvar said, “Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe history is better now.”

Lady Mairead scoffed. “Those are the ravings of a bairn, not a serious insight from a learned person who can be trusted tae lead, Lochinvar. Yer past is how ye came tae be, ye canna change it without changin’ yerself. Ye canna change yer ancestors without affectin’ yer future.”

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