Page 54 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Nae.

I dismounted from Stormy and stood watching the storm dissipate with my hands on my hips, furious that I had been too far away tae get him. I was feelin’ angry with m’self that I had become distracted by that Greyson fellow.

That had been my chance and I had allowed it tae disappear, I had allowed Asgall tae escape.

I stalked out intae the middle of the road and looked in all directions. Then I looked at the horses. “I hae allowed him tae get away, och I am relieved Ben inna here tae see it.”

I mounted Stormy again. “Though I do wish Ben was here tae talk this out.”

I directed the horses intae a walk down the road in the opposite direction of the brothel. “We are goin’ tae ride for about four miles, then we will come tae a fork.” I turned tae look behind me. “I daena ken if he will return tae the brothel, I might hae missed m’chance.”

I rode for a half hour mullin’ over what I had done, then I broke the silence by talkin’ tae the horses again.

“I need tae hunt Asgall, as ye ken. I need tae go through the loot and I would greatly like a soft bed tae sleep on. Tis likely that the next town will hae better beds than the ones back in the year 1301, and the stable would hae food for ye, some water, and… here is the issue: Ma and Da are here, they hae escaped from Asgall and are headed tae Charlottesville, maybe down this verra road.” I turned and looked behind me. “I am ahead of them, likely, but I ought tae keep movin’ and keep an eye out.”

A traveler approached from ahead, so I stopped talkin’ tae the horses and moved them tae the edge of the road so he could pass. I nodded.

He tipped his tricorn hat tae me.

I said, “Good day, sire, hot weather we are havin’.”

“Yes, are you headed to Wayland’s Crossing?”

I said, “Further along I think, just passin’ through.”

“You have a long day ahead of you, do not melt before you arrive.”

“I will do my best.”

He tipped his hat again and continued down the road.

He seemed a respectable man and I realized he had just passed the place where I had killed the secretary. I continued on until I came tae it, a blood stain on the ground, flies buzzin’ around, but twas darkened and looked like mud. I glanced tae the edge of the road, a bush that was crushed, a smear of blood, but naething else.

“Could hae been an animal,” I said, and kept goin’, pickin’ up my pace tae get farther away.

I finally came tae a fork in the road. I perused m’map again and looked up and down in both directions. If I went left I would be headed toward m’gear. I could jump tae the next location on my list for Asgall,but…

If I went tae the right I would end up in Charlottesville, eventually.

I said, “Horses, I hae a question: tomorrow Ma and Da will be at an inn, meeting with Thomas Jefferson, I do not want to interfere with their meeting. The following day they will arrive in Charlottesville. Ought I tae go? Before ye answer, by the map, tis a long ride, and I decided not tae rescue them, so twould be a long and pointless ride. And it might risk my entire plan. And twould waste time. But… I am a time traveler.”

I dug in my pocket and took out the vessel. “The vessel is still alive. Asgall daena ken that I am here and that I hae it. And he is gone now, anyway. I could go tae Charlottesville and stay at the Oakhurst Inn. I could get a couple nights sleep, look through the secretary’s papers, formulate a plan, andthenjump tae New York tae kill Asgall. Nae one would even ken I had taken a few days.”

I pulled out the monitor to check it again. It only showed my vessel. I tucked it away. “It might be a good idea tae wait and watch the monitor in case he returns. I ken Charlottesville is a lot farther down the road, I ken I am not being reasonable. If I were goin’ tae wait I ought tae wait in the woods right beside the brothel. Orinthe brothel. Though that would ruin m’element of surprise.” I exhaled. “Truth is I would like tae see Ma and Da.”

Stormy turned his head and whinnied.

I said, “Aye, ye are correct, boy, tis up tae me tae avenge my family and kill Asgall, I am taking it all upon myself. If I want tae see Ma and Da, who is tae stop me?”

The other horse beside me nudged my thigh. “Ye hae an opinion on it, boy?” He stamped his feet, facin’ tae the right. “Ye both think I should go see Ma and Da?” I took a deep breath, “Good…” I spurred them on.

“I think I will name ye, Captain, like Captain America, because we are in America right now, and tis from a movie I saw a long, long time ago.” I shook my head. “Och, I would like tae see a movie again.”

I added, “The next location for huntin’ Asgall is in New York, so I could stay in a hotel there, and I could watch a movie. Twould be easy. I shouldna waste anymore time… I canna risk it. I need tae go fast.”

I turned Stormy and Captain and headed the opposite direction toward my gear. “I am decided. I winna see Ma and Da. I will jump tae New York. It looks like a place with some comforts. I wouldna hae tae carry a sword everywhere I go.”

Stormy stopped. I spurred him on but he wouldna go. “Och nae.”

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