Page 143 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Aye, she dreamed of me.”

Magnus said, sipping an ale, “That ought tae be helpful when ye tell her yer story.”

“I truly hope so.”

I watched her work. She had a dazzling smile when she spoke with her customers, a dimple upon her cheek, a bonny lass, but then when she occasionally glanced my way, her brow drew down as if my presence confused her.

I was confused as well. She was verra familiar, though I had never spoken tae her before. Twas difficult tae square.

I saw her finish up and then take off her apron and head toward me. I moved tae a booth with more privacy.

She sat down across from me and narrowed her eyes. “So what is going on?”

I chewed my lip. “I canna say for certain, Ash, we daena ken each other, but in another lifetime we do.”

“What isthatsupposed to mean?”

“I am goin’ tae tell ye something that will seem magical. And ye winna believe me, but if ye will allow me tae explain, it might make sense.”

“Well, I am definitely curious. I had a very vivid dream last night, you were in it, same name and everything. Did you hypnotize me or something? That’s the only explanation.”

“Nae, there is another explanation... I am a time traveler, my whole family, m’brothers there, we are all time travelers.”

“That is bullhicky.”

“Nae, I am nae certain what bullhicky means but this is true, andthisis where it gets unbelievable.”

Her brow raised. “More unbelievable than time travel?”

I nodded. “I met ye, on this weekend, and we fell in love, and we time traveled taegether?—”

“Where did we magically go?”

“I showed ye one of our castles and we went verra far back tae the year 1291. We were married there in the chapel at Stirling Castle.”

She blinked.

“I’m going to need proof, this is crazy.”

I pulled the pages from my inside pocket, unfolded them, pulled off the outer page, and re-folded the other. I put our letter back in my pocket for later.

I spread the page in front of her.

“What is this?”

“Lady Mairead printed it for me, tis a page from the Bible at Stirling Castle, we are listed in the marriages.” I put my finger on the entry, it read:

Lord Lochinvar and Lady Ash married in this day of our Lord, June 18, 1291

Witnessed by Mag Mòr

I said, “Mag Mòr means King Magnus.” I pointed over at my brothers’ table. They waved.

She said, “They look familiar.”

“Because ye hae been livin’ with all of us for a while, I think. My brother Magnus witnessed our wedding.”

“How come I don’t remember this?”

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