Page 147 of The Empire and the Wolf King

He placed the chest on his desk and opened the lid. He looked delighted when he saw what was inside, but meanwhile we were already scanning the room.

Zach said, “Lady Mairead asked that we be allowed to look for ourselves…?’

He waved his hand, “Of course, sires, you may search.”

We crossed to the other end of his parlor and looked all over the bookshelves. “Dammit I don’t see anything.”

Zach reached behind some books. “Look, there’s a space. The monitor isn’t that big.” He pulled some more books out and checked behind them. Then he checked another section.

I said, “Check behind those jars. Top shelf.”

Zach said, “Got it. Makes sense, Magnus said, ‘apothecary remedies’, right?”

“Yeah, I think so.” While I continued down the lower shelf, looking behind books, he shifted jars aside and checked behind them. He stretched to reach the third jar. “Found something.”

He pulled it out with a grin. “The monitor!” There was a piece of scrap paper held to it by a piece of medical tape. It said, in Magnus’s handwriting, ‘For Lady Mairead, from M’. Zach ripped off the tape, holding Lady Mairead’s monitor onto his palm. “Now I won’t have to give her mine.”

Doctor Everett walked over. “Did you find something, sire?”

We showed him the note.

“Now this is a mystery, how did it end up here?”

Zach said, “We have no idea, who knows howanythinghappens when time is rolling on in this crazy world.”

I said, “This is all we needed, Doctor Everett, thank you so much for your time. We will let Lady Mairead know you send your regards.”

“Yes of course, send the lady my deepest regards.” He bowed.

We bowed and left his house.

We stood out on the front stoop and I said, “So where do you want to go?” I counted on my fingers. “Independence Hall, to go check out the First Continental Congress, or Francis Tavern in New York, ooh, there’s also Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg, but probably Independence Hall, right? I can’t decide.”

Quentin laughed, “Up to you, you’re the tour guide.”

I thought for a moment. “Philadelphia, yeah, let’s do that.”

CHAPTER 68 - MAGNUS

A BIT LATER... THE CROFT MORAIG STONE CIRCLE 1683

Fraoch and I had come tae Croft Moraig stone circle tae return the vessel tae the chest. Haggis was sittin’ watchin’ as Fraoch shoved the boulder aside.

Then I dug the hole.

Fraoch asked, “Dost ye remember puttin’ the boulder here?”

“Aye, twas years ago, I thought we might need access tae a vessel in an emergency.” I lifted a shovelful of dirt and added, “Tis usually Archibald who has needed it.”

Fraoch said, “We are the elders makin’ sure the young hae access tae supplies and weapons, tis a noble act. Speakin’ of noble, not at all vain, I notice ye put yer M on the boulder, ye must always put yer mark everywhere.”

“I am a king, I get tae. And how come ye think tis my mark and not an M for Mairead?”

“Lady Mairead, God Bless her, inna goin’ tae place emergency boxes around for her children, tis not her way.”

“That is true, she has urged me tae replace the vessels, most likely for her own use, but more often she wants tae keep things tae herself, och, she holds a great many secrets.” My shovel hit the box and we cleared the top of the dirt. I pressed my hand tae the pad and the lid opened. Haggis rushed forward tae sniff all around.

I said, “Dost ye smell Archibald?” He barked.

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