Page 33 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Ahead of m’position, a large storm grew in the sky above. The wind whipped so hard that I pulled back and took cover behind a stand of trees and sheathed m’sword.

I covered m’head and held Mario still as he was verra frightened by the thunder so close.

As soon as the storm died down and I was able tae move I raced through the woods tae meet up with Lochie once more.

“What the hell happened?”

“I daena ken, they were chasin’, then they changed their mind. I would like tae say twas because of m’terrifyin’ charge but twas more likely they were given an order tae retreat.” I dropped from the horse and we all began tae walk again.

Ash said, “Does that storm mean our vessel works again, theirs works, does ours work?”

Uncle Lochie pulled a vessel from his sporran. “Nae, not workin’.”

I pulled my vessel from my sporran. “Mine is still dead.”

“How come their vessel works and ours doesn’t?” Ash looked behind us. “I do not like this at all.”

Lochinvar said, “Welcome tae time travel, wife, tis always terrible and tis always unexplainable.”

I said, “At least now we arna being chased.”

“They might be comin’ back with more people.”

“Then we ought tae walk faster.”

Lochie sighed. “I miss Finny. Once we rescue Quentin and get weapons, we hae tae come back for him, it daena sit right with me that I am leavin’ a man behind.”

The trees began tae thin as we approached a field with small ancient stones jutting from the ground. Beside them was nothing, just a few short trees.Och nae.

Ash asked, “Where’s it buried?”

My eyes scanned the field. “I canna remember.” I turned and looked on the path behind us. Naething.

“Uncle Lochie, ye ken where the tunnel door will be?”

“Aye, in the future it will be there in front of that stone.” He walked toward it.

I followed him. “Right, right, ye are certain tis this stone?”

“Aye.”

“Then I think…” I turned, scanning the field.

He said, “We might want tae go fast, now that the time travelers hae left, the men of the castle might come tae see what caused the commotion.”

I looked south. “When I was wee I ran this way tae the trees, and then Ma sat there…and she was facing this direction and…?”

I strode about six paces to a small boulder and crouched beside it. It was old and covered in lichen, but I could make out an engraving of an M.

Lochie walked over. “Magnus was here.”

“Aye, ye were right, he put the chest farther back even before the guardian tree was planted so we could find it.”

Ash said, “Unless it’s not, could it be a gravestone?”

Uncle Lochie said, “Nae, tis m’brother’s marker, he has tae put his name on everything, tis his way. Though I am grateful for it in this instance.”

I said, “Now we need somethin’ tae dig with.” I started rummaging through Mario’s packs.

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