Page 142 of The Empire and the Wolf King

We pulled up in a parking spot near the front door.

I picked up the umbrella, Fraoch zipped up the front of his raincoat.

Magnus pulled the hood over his head. The rain thrummed on the windshield.

I asked, “Ye are coming in?”

Fraoch said, “Aye, we need an ale, and I daena want tae miss it.”

Magnus said, “Daena worry, Lochinvar, we are goin’ tae sit in the corner, we will help in case ye need it.”

“I hae been thinking on it, I hae tae tell her about time travel first thing.”

“Aye, ye ought tae commence with it, or none of it will make sense.”

CHAPTER 66 - LOCHINVAR

THE PALACE SALOON - MAY 16

We walked in through the front door, my eyes scanned the room and landed on… her.

Her face went pale and she dropped the tray and towel she had been carrying with a loud clatter.

A guy came around the bar. “What happened Ash, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

But her eyes stayed on me.

I put the umbrella in the stand by the door and Magnus and Fraoch went to sit at a table in the corner. I beelined for her, while the guy picked up her tray then stood there as I approached.

She asked, “Who are… ? Do I know you?”

I said, “I am Lochinvar. Ye can call me Lochie.” I put out my hand and took hers and leaned down and kissed her knuckles. “Tis a pleasure tae meet ye, Ash.”

“Lochinvar?Lochie?Have we met?”

“Aye, we hae met, can we speak alone?”

She said, to the guy beside her, “This is Lochie, remember my dream? What is going on?”

He said, “I remember, you were just telling me today. That was just a few hours ago.”

“He’s standing right here!”

She turned to me. “How do you know me? I don’t think we’ve met.”

“I would know ye anywhere. I daena think we hae met, but now I hae seen ye, I… I ken who ye are.”

She said, “Don, can you cover for me?”

“Sure. But if you go ahead and close out that table, I’ll let you take the rest of the night.”

She said tae me, “I want to talk to you, okay, Lochie? Just give me a few moments.”

“I will be sittin’ with m’brothers right over there.”

Her eyes darted over to Magnus and Fraoch. “They’re your brothers…? I feel like I know them too. Are you guys famous? Never mind, don’t answer that, let me finish, then I’ll come talk.”

I sat at a table and Fraoch said, “Did she recognize ye, Og Lochie?’

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