Page 123 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Cailean said, “This story seems so familiar, Archibald, tis… unsettling that it feels so real, I can see it… dost ye see it, Dom, in yer mind?”

“He speaks well, he has given us the image of it.” Dom drained his ale.

Cailean said, “I feel as if I were there. I smell it, the fire and brimstone.” He breathed deeply in and out. “Dost ye smell it?”

Dawy said, “I smell it, Grandfather!”

Dom said, “Twas yer Uncle Niall’s flatulence.”

We all laughed.

I said, “After that young lad howled as his father was taken away everyone called him?—”

Cailean said, “The Wolf King.”

Dawy said, “Good name, arhoooooo!”

Cailean looked at me intently. “Ye are the Wolf King.”

I said, “Aye.”

Cailean leaned taewards me. “It seems tis a memory, but faint, ye ken? Tis as if tis true, but the wheel of time has rolled on. Did ye ken, Archibald, that yer father and I used tae stay up tae all hours, discussin’ whether time was a line or a wheel?”

I nodded and sipped from my ale and placed it down, leveling my eyes. “Tis as if I remember listenin’ tae ye discuss it. I can almost see it in my memory, though tis a different castle, I think… am I correct in it?”

Cailean said, “We sat discussin’ it in many places. I met him here the first time, his friend, Fraoch…” His brow drew down even farther. “Och, I haena thought of Fraoch in a long time, but now he seems verra clear in m’mind. Where was the last time I saw him…? Twas Scone, I think.”

I asked, “Were ye ever with Da at Stirling?”

“Aye, for long months. Och he missed ye greatly when he was away. All he wanted was tae hae yer mother and his bairns with him, and now ye are separated again. Tis a tragedy.”

Dom said, “Och, Archibald is grown, he daena need his Da. Now that he can heft his long sword, he needs a woman.”

The men all laughed.

Cailean said, “Ye forget though, Dom, Mag Mòr was King of Scots. Archibald needed his da tae pass down the throne, now he will hae tae fight for it himself. Ye ready Archibald, tae fight for yer throne?”

“Aye.”

“Good.” He leaned back in his chair, staring at me intently. “Ye truly remember me and yer father speakin’ on time? I hae a vague recollection of ye arrivin’ with yer sister at Scone. Twas just after yer father took the throne, but it seems as if ye were older then than ye are now, and ye sounded different. It all seems tae disappear intae a mist, perhaps twas someone else? If it were ten years ago ye would be verra young.”

I nodded, chewing my lip, worryin’ how tae explain it, but he continued on, “Just a lad. Mag Mòr was verra proud of ye, tis like I can see ye clearly.”

“In my memory Da would choose the chair beside ye and ye would lean on the table much like ye are now and ye would discuss…”

He said, “Tis just how I remember it… but where?”

“And m’uncle Fraoch would sit beside ye… he likes tae make the conversation all about fishin’.”

Cailean quietly nodded, but his brow was drawn down.

“…and Uncle Zach would sit?—”

Dom said, “Zach?” He tugged at his ear. “Och it sounds familiar — a tall man from Stirling, he has an odd way of talkin’?”

I said, “In m’memory he would sit there, and my sister Isla and my brother Jack.” I pointed at the chairs. “Ben would sit at the table there. But tis a dream, I suppose.”

Cailean said, “Yet I can see it in m’mind.”

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