Page 48 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Can I trust ye?”

“Of course ye can trust me, I am yer grandmother! And if that werna enough ye hae just decided tae become my assassin. Why, under the heavens, would I cause a bit of harm tae ye?”

She said, “The thing is, Prince Archibald, Magnus wanted ye tae hae a secure throne and a safe kingdom. I wish I could hae delivered it tae ye.”

I nodded. “Tis fine, Grandmother, I ken everyone wanted the best for me. I am doing what needs tae be done tae make the world secure for the rest of m’family and my young self. This is not so dire.”

She nodded and tapped a box with her toe. “There is also some whisky in this box. And a first-aid kit.”

I also had a new pair of boots. I was decked out in an outfit that befitted the year 1775: Beige wool breeches tailored close, with buckles at the knee. A deep blue frock coat over an embroidered waistcoat. A white linen shirt with a cravat at m’neck. I was wearing a pale white powdered wig, tied back with a black ribbon.

I scratched my scalp up under the wig.

Grandmother smacked my hand. “Ye canna touch yer wig, ye must behave like a gentleman.”

She sized me up. “Ye look verra well, Prince Archibald, ye ought tae hae bathed, but ye will match the odor of the time.” She pulled a perfume bottle from a waist bag and spritzed it around my head. “Perfect. Tis always important tae dress like a gentleman, and ye can never go wrong with a powdered wig. Ye look aulder, learned, and distinguished. Ye will win allies tae yer cause.”

She pointed at my bag. “Inside is yer folder, everything I can think of, maps and lists, calendars of where he will be, but if ye canna find him tae kill him, return, we will plan anew.”

“Thank ye. I winna need tae, consider it done.”

“Once Asgall is dead, ye will come here and tell me of yer success, then ye will return tae Innis Chonnel and I will begin the overwrite.”

“I dinna get tae say goodbye tae anyone. If I had known twould be the last time I would…”

“Tis the human condition, Prince Archibald.”

I nodded and gathered up the strap that was wrapped around all my supplies and armaments. I held it in one hand, and the reins of my new horse, a fine black horse by the name of Stormy, in my other hand.

Then I looked down on her. “Speaking of the Human Condition, Grandmother, ye are lonely, ye ought tae marry.”

“Archibald, I daena marry on principle.”

I raised my chin and looked down my nose. “Ye hae been taking care of yer family for a long time. Ye should marry. I think ye deserve some pleasure for yerself.”

“Dear God, I am not speaking ofpleasurewith my grandson!”

I grinned. “Ye are too beautiful tae waste it on being a grandmother who worries all the time. Ye ought tae hae more fun.”

“Tis hard tae hae fun, Archibald, when everywhere there are malicious enemies and grandsons who believe themselves tae ken more thanIabout how tae carry on.”

“We hae always had malicious enemies. I think ye ought tae take a husband anyway, someone who will look after ye.”

“Ye do ken, Archibald, that I daena hae tae marry? I can just take a lover anytime I want!”

I teased, “Dear God, Grandmother, daena speak onloversin front of yer grandson!” Then I added, “I ken ye can, but a husband is a different kind of man. He might care for ye, be devoted, and ye deserve it.”

“Yer father, King Magnus, would never allow it…”

“Da inna always right, we hae established that. Sometimes ye hae tae look out for yerself. Do it for me, tis my last wish.”

She nodded, “Ye expect me tae marry because ye wish it?”

I leveled my eyes at her.

She said, “Fine, Archibald, I will consider it.” She put a vessel in m’hand. “Tis set. I hae written the coordinates on yer list in the folder, there is another on the yellow paper within the leaves of?—”

I said, “I ken, ye hae said it three times already. Ye are fussin’ over me.”

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