Page 53 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Yes, and I will give you all the files, there are treaties and leases and?—”

“All here? Right here on yer horse?”

“Yes, just?—”

I lunged forward, piercing his heart through with my sword, shoving him down. I watched him as he died, unable tae speak, then I stepped upon his chest tae pull m’sword free. “Ye are a sniveling frightened man who fancies himself the secretary tae a monster, well, ye hae harmed m’family for the last time.”

I dug through all his clothes, stuffin’ everything I found intae my own pockets. Then I pulled out my monitor and turned on a flashlight tae see.

The second vessel was gone.Och nae.Would Asgall return, later? I could return tae the brothel on the morrow. That was what I needed tae do.

I grabbed the body by the feet and, in the dim light of the low torch, dragged him tae the bushes on the side of the road. I kicked him intae a ravine.

Twas difficult tae tell if he would be hidden in the morn because twas pitch black now, but twas fine. I wasna goin’ tae stick around.

I plucked up the torch, grabbed his horse’s reins, mounted Stormy, and rode at a fast clip tae get as far away as I could get.

I said, “Stormy, he underestimated how many years I spent angry that Asgall took Da away.”

I rode for about an hour in the thick heat, growin’ more exhausted by the minute. “When did I last sleep, Stormy?”

I smacked m’face tae wake m’self up. “Ye only just met me, how would ye ken? But I tell ye… Stormy… I haena slept since medieval times.” I shifted in the saddle, but then a moment later, my head drooped so far forward I was lyin’ on Stormy’s mane — I jerked up. “Twas about… many centuries ago. I must stop.”

I directed Stormy intae the woods, drew both the horses tae a tree, and pulled a blanket from a saddle bag. I spread it out, crashin’ ontae it, and fallin’ intae a deep exhausted sleep.

CHAPTER 22 - ARCHIBALD

THE THREE NOTCH’D ROAD - 1775

Iwoke at dawn and rifled through all the bags on the dead man’s horse. There were folders and stacks of papers. I poured over my map, finding the general location where I was, and noting how far back I had dumped the body. It looked tae be about four miles back. I noted the exact location of my supplies and gear; I had left the pile about twelve miles away as the crow flies.

I stuffed his paperwork in with m’own and reorganized my packs so that Stormy carried all the important things, the other horse carried blankets and less important gear. “What’s your name, boy?”

The horse just gave me a look.

“Did ye see me murder yer rider? My apologies, horse, I hope ye werna rider and horse for long. I hope ye daena feel his death too keenly.”

I ran m’fingers over the letter A stamped ontae his saddle. “Are ye one of Asgall’s horses? The man was named Greyson, so this is not likely his markin’. My guess is ye dinna ken him well and tis not a bother tae ye that he is gone, but as any proper horse would want tae ken the morals of their rider, I will tell ye. I am a proper Scottish Prince, meant tae be a king, and I am generally well thought of. I daena lie in wait and kill people on lonely highways in the night, my apologies, tis not my way. I ken, twas nae a verra good look, but I tell ye, he deserved it. He was goin’ tae give me all I wanted tae ken, and then he was goin’ tae tell Asgall all about me. The only thing I hae workin’ for me is m’stealth.”

I tightened the strap on his saddle. “I ken, he might not hae seen Asgall again, but I couldna take the chance. Ye ken, he advised Asgall tae deal with Mag Mòr harshly, I could see it in his eyes. Tis always the frightened weasel-men who will advocate for the most egregious violence.”

I pulled out the monitor and checked. The second vessel had returned tae the brothel while I had been sleepin’.

I said tae the horses, “Tis good news, we hae tae return tae the brothel.”

I climbed on Stormy. “Right boy?” I patted his neck. “I got a bit of revenge and I did the world a favor. Now I got a wee bit of sleep, and Asgall is waitin’ for me, likely he has Ma and Da there now too. Tis fine, I will go back and get him. I am the wolf, he is m’prey.”

I turned the horses and directed them back the way I had come.

I rode for an hour, drawing near, when I heard gunfire from ahead of me on the road. I drew the horses tae the woods and listened.

The sound of shots reverberated off the mountains nearby and made it hard tae tell how many guns were involved, but I guessed it was the men who had been guardin’ the brothel.

Was this the moment when Ma and Da escaped?

I checked my map tae look for a different approach, and had m’focus down on the paper when ahead of me I heard a large clap of thunder. My eyes drew up tae see a large billowing storm cloud, and lightning sparking from the heavens tae the ground.

Och nae. I rifled through my bag for the monitor once more and confirmed what I had already guessed — I had missed Asgall once more.

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