Page 31 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Aye, I am goin’ tae kill him. I hae been plannin’ it for long years. It involves flayin’ and his head upon a pike on my castle walls for all m’enemies tae see.” I howled “Arhoo!” and said, “Ben would hae howled along with me. They all call me the Wolf King.”

Uncle Lochie said, “Yer father will be verra proud — how did ye find us, the letter worked?”

I said, “Aye, twas found, Lady Mairead had a hidden vessel delivered tae me, I came as soon as I heard?—”

“And nae Quentin and James?”

“Nae, they are stuck as well.” I opened m’sporran and pulled out the papers. I unfolded them on m’knee. “They are at Balloch castle in the year 1710.”

Uncle Lochie said, “Tis where I left them.”

I said, “We are goin’ there next, we hope Uncle Quentin will hae the armaments we need tae fight Asgall.” I looked at him, “Ye think he has guns?”

“Aye, I had the diapers, he had the guns.”

“Good, the weapons will help.”

I pulled the vessel from m’sporran, but twas odd feeling, it nae longer felt like it worked. “Och nae, tis...” I banged it against m’palm. “Tis dead, och nae, tis not workin’ again.”

Uncle Lochie said, “Dost ye ken where more are buried?”

I nodded, “Maybe... I remember Da telling me about the guardian trees and all the chests buried around here full of weapons.”

Ash said, “Well that would have been useful information about ten hours ago.”

Uncle Lochie said, “Aye.”

I said, “I ken where there is one with a vessel, when I was verra young I dug it up, I remember doin’ it with m’hands. Twas a long time ago, but Da said he buried it… I daena remember when, but I think twas a different time.”

Uncle Lochie said, “I think if yer da buried vessels for emergencies, and ye needed it once, I bet he replaced it and buried them even farther back. He usually plans well and wants tae be prepared.”

“Aye, we ought tae try, tis under the guardian tree near the... the stone circle, ye ken?” I turned looking in all directions.

Uncle Lochie said, “I ken, tis tae the south-east.”

“We ought tae go, tis the only idea I hae.”

CHAPTER 13 - ARCHIBALD

NEAR CROFT MORAIG STONE CIRCLE - OCTOBER 9, 1683

We walked, as quietly as we could, and so far there were nae drones.

Ash asked, “You really think there will be a vessel here?”

I said, “Aye.”

“How do you know?”

“I daena ken… because we canna die here now, after I hae risked m’life tae rescue ye. Twould be a terrible endin’ tae my heroics.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

From far behind us on the castle walls we could hear a commotion and faint yelling.

She asked, “Are they coming, you think?”

Uncle Lochie said, “Aye, likely. I wish we had gotten Finny from the stable.”

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