Page 130 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Sean said, “I think I ken a good place, I will consider it.”

Magnus said, “I will speak with Edinburgh about a tract and a new title for ye.”

Sean said, “I daena think Edinburgh thinks that highly of us.”

Magnus said, “I dinna mean the government in this time period. Lady Mairead usually goes a few centuries earlier so that the title has longevity. She has a contact in Queen Elizabeth’s court, it gives the title more stature.”

Lady Mairead was sitting with her face set, as if she had something to say but wouldn’t.

Magnus said, “Did ye want tae add tae it, Lady Mairead?”

“Whatever ye need me tae do tae make my children hae better lives, I will do.” She looked away.

Sean said, “I canna understand how this time travel works, maybe I ought tae do it once...”

Lizbeth said, “Ye arna allowed! Tis too dangerous — my heart canna take it. Tis bad enough that our brother and his wife and all our nieces and nephews are off doing it, but now that I hae these visions…”

She straightened in her seat and smoothed the sides of her hair. “But that is enough of this — did ye bring presents, Young Magnus?”

He smiled. “We came in a hurry, I dinna bring as many as I did in the past, but we hae some?—”

Zach pulled two giant ziplock bags from a duffle bag. “Cookies! Chocolate chip and Snickerdoodle!”

Fraoch passed around bottled sodas, always a hit. Lizbeth said, “Ought we save some for the bairns?”

Zach patted the bags, “I kept theirs in here. There’s plenty, eat up.”

She took a sip of her Coke. “I feel better already, thank ye.”

Magnus said, “I am verra sorry, Lizbeth, that we hae caused ye fear and worry.”

She smiled, “I would like a few more visits during the year. Whenever yer absence grows long my mind wanders.”

He nodded. “Done.”

Lady Mairead huffed. “I canna remain silent. I would like tae say, once more, that if ye and yer families, Sean and Lizbeth, would come tae Riaghalbane, ye would hae all the cookies and sodas ye want. In your brother’s kingdom we hae more than enough comforts and luxury, and Magnus could visit all of us in one place.”

Lizbeth said, “But this is our home.”

Sean was looking at his drink, thoughtfully. “What would we do, how would we occupy ourselves?”

Lady Mairead said, “Well, ye wouldna spend yer days taking care of the Earl’s castle and lands! Ye would hae yer own castle, our family’s castle! I hae been listening tae ye tell me ‘nae’ for long years, always refusing my offers. Now ye are finally considering and discussing that I will procure ye an eighteenth century title and yer brother will build ye a castle, but we already hae this! I can give ye a title, a castle, all the wealth ye could want! Lizbeth, yer sons and daughters would hae medicine tae cure their ills. Sean, ye could lead an army of men if ye wanted, or ye could do naething but hunt. Liam, yer bairns would hae a future as great lairds and ladies!” She waved her hands. “But even now I see there is nae convincing ye. I beg and beg for ye tae leave this past and join us in our future.”

Magnus said, quietly, “… and ye could visit here in the summers just as we used tae visit Kilchurn castle on Loch Awe.”

Sean said, “Our mother is offering us a place in your castle, Magnus, ye hear her?”

“Aye, and I concur. I spend a great deal of time tryin’ tae think of how tae get ye a proper place where ye would be the laird, instead of overseein’ our uncle’s lands. Soon he will pass and then ye winna be the nieces and nephews, but thecousinsof thenewearl.” He scowled. “We deserve a better outcome than this. And by that I mean the ‘royal we’, I am a royal, ye are a royal, as well.”

Lizbeth said, “I feel as if everyone is lecturing against my decisions.”

Lady Mairead said, “Simply because ye hae decided something, Lizbeth, daena make it right, and it daena mean that changing yer mind is a weakness.”

Lizbeth and Sean met eyes.

He said, “I think that Lizbeth, Liam, and I need tae speak about this in private. Dost we hae time tae discuss?”

Magnus said, “Aye, Sean, ye can take yer time.”

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