Page 36 of The Empire and the Wolf King

I was tryin’ tae get my heartbeat down and m’breath tae slow.

She asked, “What if no one comes? Has your family ever lost a war before?”

“Och nae, Ash, we are Campbells, we daena lose. We are never thoroughly beaten. Daena speak of it.”

“Everyone loses some?—”

I pressed my finger tae her lips.

“Nae, my Yggdrasil, the tree of life, Ash, I canna hear it, it canna happen, tis not… tis not in my nature tae… Did I ever tell ye the story of my first arena battle? I had barely met anyone in the family. I was an orphan had been livin’ a terrible life but then I was rescued from Dunscaith castle by Lady Mairead, brought tae the kingdom of Riaghalbane and there I found riches beyond my imaginings. Twas a glimpse of a life of luxury and splendor and twas all mine. And best of all, I was given a box of cookies and told tae wheesht and take a seat. There was a battle ragin’ and in the middle of the arena, my brother Magnus was gettin’ his arse handed tae him, and the women sitting in the royal box, his wife and mother, were desperately frightened. It dawned on me, if I dinna help, twas likely that I wouldna get those cookies anymore and once I had a taste of them, I couldna let that happen without a fight.”

Her eyes went wide and she looked up at me. “So what did you do?”

“I asked Lady Mairead, ‘Is it tae the death?’ But I kent the answer already and Magnus was the king, yet he was fightin’ two men, and he was goin’ tae die, so I wiped the crumbs off my hands and jumped ontae the rail and watched for a moment. I saw Magnus’s opponents’ weakness — then I ran down intae the arena with m’sword carried high.”

“That was brave.”

“Twas foolhardy. If I had died it would hae been because of those cookies and that is a verra dumb reason tae die, but since we killed his opponents, I survived, and Magnus was victorious, I am able tae say that I fought because I wanted Magnus tae win. I dinna tell myself that I would lose, or even that Imightlose. I told m’self that I was goin’ tae win. I only thought that I could fight those guys, and win the delicious cookies. Ye hae tae be hopeful. Ye canna talk about losing.”

“Point taken, I’m sorry I said it. We are going to win this.”

“Aye, I will fight for reasons that are brave and reasons that are foolhardy, but I will fight tae protect my family. We are not goin’ tae lose. Not while I hae more than a last breath in me.”

“This doesn’t feel like fighting, we’ve spent a lot of time sitting and waiting to be rescued…”

“Tis time travel, sometimes it takes time.”

She was quiet, then she asked, “Who do you think stole Archie away right then, Asgall?”

“Aye it could be, he might hae wanted Archie, but... now that I hae had time tae think, this feels more like someone we ken, my money is on Lady Mairead.”

She pushed against my chest to straighten. “Why would Lady Mairead do that? Isn’t she on our side?”

“She is, but she might be coming up with diabolical plans.”

“Like what? You mean she…what?”

“We daena ken, she might hae wanted us tae go somewhere else first, she might hae intervened.”

“But we’re still here.”

“Aye, in that case there will be a rescue party sent.”

“Okay, I’m going to hope that happens any minute now.” She craned looking around.

I watched her bonny face so full of worry and then put my head back against the tree. “We hae some food, cider, coins, and a gun. We just need tae wait.”

She sighed and put her head on my shoulder again.

CHAPTER 16 – ARCHIBALD

THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - 2391

Icame to, groggy and disoriented, the chill of stone beneath me seeping into my bones. For a moment, I forgot how I had come tae be here, the memory of the time jump jarring and incomplete.

I raised my head tae see Lady Mairead standin’ over me with her arms crossed. I hadna seen her in a decade, but I remembered that look of irritation.

I pushed myself up, groaning at the effort. “Where am I?”

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