Page 37 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“The palace of Magnus the First, in the kingdom of Riaghalbane, and ye are…my grandson?”

I closed my eyes and groaned. “Aye, Archibald.” My head throbbed, the lingering effects of the jump hitting me hard. I rubbed my temples.

She said, “I was waiting for ye… Ye are acting as if yer head hurts.”

“It does, I am not used tae it.”

“Ye arna used tae it! Ye are a Prince of the Kingdom, a royal time traveler! Ye must behave as if ye are used tae it, nae matter!”

I said, “Och, ye are being verra loud.”

“Och nae,” she said, “‘Ye are being loud’? This is the way ye speak tae yer elder, the Queen mother, yer Grandmother, Lady Mairead, who just summoned ye from the past? Tis how ye want tae behave, Archibald?”

I forced myself to my feet, swaying slightly before steadying. “Nae, tis not how I want tae behave.”

She eyed me critically. “At least ye look well enough. Enough of yer father in ye that I daena see much of yer mother, except that ye are darker by degrees. Not unpleasant, but different.”

I managed a faint smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But why hae ye summoned me? I was in the middle of a rescue, now I hae left Uncle Lochie behind.”

“A different vessel activated and so I retrieved it. I am as surprised as anyone tae see ye on the end of it. What happened tae the one I delivered tae ye?”

“It stopped working.”

“Och nae, and where was Lochinvar, was he with ye when the vessel activated?”

“Aye, right beside me.”

“Then tis not my fault he dinna grab hold of yer arm, everyone kens if ye want tae jump ye must grab hold of the vessel, tis not rocket science, evenLochinvarshould be able tae figure it out. Now answer me — what have ye been doing? Ye seem tae be taking yer time?”

I exhaled slowly, trying to gather my thoughts. “I’ve been fightin’, runnin’, and rescuin’ ever since I received yer note, and it has only been one day. We hae been barely survivin’.”

“Surviving is nae enough.” She huffed. “But ye are well?”

I nodded. “I am wantin’ revenge. I want tae ride intae battle, I… Aye, well enough.”

“Then I am uncertain why ye are waking up from the time jump like a bear. I will advise ye, Prince Archibald, that if ye are competent, the people around ye will strive tae perform better. Yer father would expect more of ye.”

Her words hit a nerve, and I clenched my jaw.

“Now, what hae ye accomplished so far? I see ye hae the vessel from near the Croft Moraig stone circle.”

I blinked, still adjusting to the bright light. “How do ye ken about the vessel?”

Her gaze was sharp, unyielding. “I see ye before me and I saw the vessel with my monitor when ye activated it.”

I closed my eyes. “Tis too bright out here.”

“Och nae, ye are a grown man, but still a bairn. Fine, follow me.”

As I followed her I was astonished by the beauty of the palace. I swiveled my head, looking up and down and all around at everything. She yanked open a door and led me down a long hallway, then stopped and asked, “Why are ye gaping at everything?”

My brow drew down. “Because I haena seen anything like this afore.”

“Ye daena remember yer father’s palace?”

I shook m’head.

She took a deep breath. “Dost ye remember yer father?”

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