Page 116 of The Empire and the Wolf King

She didn’t answer.

He said, “Ye hae tae tell me.”

We all waited while she regained her composure.

She said, “Archibald tells me that he was dragged in during negotiations, and his throat slit in front of ye.”

I said, shocked, “In front of Archie too?”

“Aye, he and Ben witnessed it.”

Magnus said, “Och nae, why dinna I kill everyone involved, how could I let this happen?”

Quentin said, “Hell yeah, I don’t know how some medieval assholes get to kill one of us and we don’t stomp them into the ground.”

She said, “Colonel Quentin and James werna there, they were in Balloch in 1710, Lochinvar wasna there, he was in the seventeenth century, from what I understand, Magnus, ye dinna hae enough weapons, andallof our vessels stopped working.”

I clapped my hand over my mouth. “Who did that? Evenyours?”

“Aye, Asgall got one of my devices somehow, and he stranded us all. And that inna the worst of it.”

“Worse than Sean?”

“Nae,” she took a deep breath, “but still verra bad. Ye were chased from Kippen tae Stirling, where Edward and Asgall laid siege on the castle until ye surrendered. Ye and Kaitlyn were taken away.”

Magnus banged the table. “I daena surrender — this daena sound like me.”

Fraoch said, “But Magnus, if ye dinna hae any weapons, yer men are scattered, ye hae yer family sheltered in a castle under attack, and yer brother has just been killed in front of ye… aye, I can see ye surrendering. It inna a pretty picture, but I can see why ye would.”

Magnus scowled.

Lady Mairead nodded. “Ye dinna hae a choice, Magnus, our family was beaten. Ye were captive, taken tae Virginia, yer family was deserted in medieval Scotland. Archibald grew up as an exiled prince, until I figured out how tae get a working vessel tae him.”

“How?”

“The man ye chose tae be the caretaker of Balloch delivered the vessel. He dug it up from under the tree near the tunnel on the riverbank.”

Magnus chuckled. “How dost ye ken about that vessel and how did ye learn about the caretaker?”

“Magnus, ye left me alone running Riaghalbane, I truly doubt there is anythingI daena ken about ye. But arna ye grateful?”

“Aye, I am grateful ye dug up one of my emergency vessels and?—”

“Twoof yer emergency vessels. But I believed twas important tae replace the one by the riverbank, I hae just returned from accomplishing it. The one beside the stone circle must be replaced farther back in time, Archibald dug it up in the year 1683, I believe.”

Magnus said, “I will replace it.”

“Good, and ye ought tae show me a bit of gratitude.”

“I’m grateful that ye dug up two of my emergency vessels and introduced the caretaker of Balloch tae the joy of time travel?—”

“Apparently Finch Mac and his wife were involved in replacing the vessel, they were at Balloch on vacation.”

“Och nae, ye hae nae discretion.”

She leveled her eyes. “It wasna me that told Finch Mac about time travel.”

Magnus exhaled. “Well, Liam succeeded, I am also grateful for his help. I will likely need tae give him a raise.”

---