Page 75 of Long Live the King

Lochinvar sat up straight in his chair. “Aye, Lady Mairead, my apologies.”

She said, “Tis fine, Lochinvar, but ye ought tae grow more serious, when will ye be taking a wife?”

“I hae taken one. Her name is Ash McNeil.”

Lady Mairead’s eyes went wide. “What dost ye mean, Ash McNeil? Who is Ash McNeil? Why am I only now hearing this?”

I said, “Lochinvar has become enamored with a maiden.”

Her eyes went wide, “Has she been properlyvetted?”

I said, “Ye daena need tae worry, wewillvet her, but he inna truly married either.”

She turned tae Lochinvar. “Explain it tae me, Lochinvar, ye married without permission? Ye are the brother of a king, the uncle tae a prince — how can ye behave so irresponsibly?”

Lochinvar said, “I liked the look of her and I wanted her.”

She sighed. “And how did ye convince her tae accept yer advances? Ye sound like an uneducated brute.”

He said, “Ye once fancied this uneducated brute though, dinna ye?”

She glared. “Beverracareful, Lochinvar. This is yer future we are discussing.”

He said, “I daena ken how I convinced her, I took her tae dinner, she served me pie. I like her a great deal. We hae made a thumb oath tae each other. I consider us betrothed.”

She shook her head and muttered, “...served me pie...” Then said, “The fate of a kingdom rests upon yer ability tae battle and ye are goin’ tae take a wife because she served ye pie?”

“Aye, twas peach.” He grinned.

She threw up her hands. “Well, if twas peach, then ofcourseit must mean twill be a good marriage.”

She bellowed, “Show me an image of Lochinvar’s wife and her file up to the date Lochinvar left.” Then she asked, “Remind me her name?”

Lochinvar said, “Ash McNeil, she was in the military.”

“Dear Lord, she probably has high ideas about women’s abilities in running the world.”

I said, “That is rich comin’ from ye, Mother, high ideas! Ye run a kingdom!”

“I am a singular woman, there arna many like me.”

“Thank God.”

Lochinvar and Quentin laughed.

The projection on the wall showed a photograph of Ash McNeil. Then her files, listing her jobs and school and her military service.

Lochinvar said, “Can we see what happens in her future?”

I said, “Nae, ye daena want tae ken, Lochinvar, tis information that will only cause ye heartache and confusion.”

Lady Mairead ignored us, reading, then asked the computer, “Please shew me a comparison between Ash McNeil, her family, her genetics, her history, andourfamily and all second cousins tae Magnus the First.”

There came an answer: A zero percent match.

“That is a relief, but... ye are certain she has nae connection tae time travel, tae our kingdom, or our power?”

I said, “I daena think she has any connection tae us.”

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