Page 139 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“I’m willing, but for now we get to go back to Florida?”

“Aye, we are at peace, and we can enjoy some time in Florida.” He yawned really really loudly. “I am sleepy. And I will need tae go tae the walls soon. This might be one of the last nights up on the walls with m’brother.”

“I didn’t think about that. That’s a momentous change.”

“Aye, tis a ritual I count on, mo reul-iuil. Twill be one of the difficult things tae say goodbye tae, but either way, he canna stay here. He has tae think on his sons, they need a place.”

“It’s not like you can’t walk on the walls in Riaghalbane.”

“We can meet on the roof of the palace, or we can go tae the command tower, but there we stand behind glass. Perhaps I can build a stone parapet upon the command tower tae remind me of this castle.”

I said, “You just have to come up with new traditions.”

He nestled his cheek against the top of my head and fell asleep.

A few hours later I felt the bed shift as he rose. He kissed me on the cheek. “Headed tae the walls.”

I heard him tiptoe to the outer door but then he whispered with someone and a moment later returned with Jack in his arms.

He deposited him beside me. Jack said, “Mama.”

Then the padding of Isla’s feet, a little too loud. “I come keep you company.”

“Of course.”

Magnus snuck out.

Isla climbed in bed, Jack lay down and quickly fell asleep. A moment later Isla whispered loud enough to be heard in the outer chamber. “Archie, are you sleeping?”

From the outer chamber he said, “Not anymore.”

She giggled. “You should come in, Mammy needs company.”

He didn’t answer, but a moment later I heard his footsteps. He dragged his pillow and blanket with him as he trudged across the floor. He climbed on the bed, tossed the pillow down, and collapsed onto the mattress, and then made a big fuss getting under the covers and getting comfortable.

Isla giggled.

Archie said, “There, perfect.”

Then Haggis jumped on the bed near our feet. I said, “We are packed in like sardines.”

Jack’s head was on my upper arm.

Isla was higher on the bed, wrapped around my wrist so that her face was very close to mine. When I flipped to my side we were practically nose to nose. She seemed excited. She wasnevergoing to go back to sleep. Everyone was quiet and then Isla whispered, “When the new baby comes, Mammy, there will be four!”

I raised my head, “New baby? You mean Jack? What do you mean, four?”

“When you have a new baby. It’s going to be a boy,again, but we don’t mind, and we’re going to name him Bubble Butt.”

“Oh we are? I thought you were serious.” I put my head back down.

“I am serious, Mammy, and we will call him Bubba for short. I get to name him because no one asked me about Jack or Archie, so it is my turn.”

I laughed. “I’m not certain you get to pick a name, Isla, but I will keep it in mind. What made you think of this?”

“Because I can see him, when I am bored I see him. Wee Bubba, he is very cute.”

I kissed her forehead and whispered, “You need to go to sleep now.”

---