Page 61 of The Empire and the Wolf King

I clapped my hands. “Fun!”

He said, “I will withdraw for my own fun.”

“Standing on the street.”

“Aye, tis one of my favorite pastimes.

I picked out fabric and ordered a new dress, then my husband came in and opened an account and placed the order. Our address was at the inn. After we had made the arrangements, we walked out into the bright sun, and in a flash I saw someone familiar down the street.

He was wearing colonial-style clothes and a powdered wig. I pointed. “Do you see him, it’s Tyler — I mean Archie — Magnus, right there!” The man disappeared into the crowd.

Magnus squinted his eyes. “Nae, where?”

“Down there, I swear,” I stood on tiptoes craning to see. “I looked right at him in the eyes, itwas… He was totally familiar but... why wouldn’t he…?”

“It must not hae been him.” His eyes swept up and down the road. “But it reminds us not tae get too comfortable, we could hae visitors, friend or foe, any moment now. Our next stop is the blacksmith for a sword.”

CHAPTER 27 - ARCHIBALD

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - 1775

Ma and Da were here. I had passed the dining room entrance while they were seated in the far corner and had ducked out afore they could see me.

I returned upstairs and considered how I would make m’self known tae them.IfI would make m’self known. I could wait in the hallway for them… but they had looked like they were goin’ out for the day.

I decided tae wait here, at the top of the stairs, but grew bored.

I returned tae my room and perused the papers, glancin’ down the list of dates.

I checked the vessel, it still worked.

I could grab m’parents and take them somewhere safe, tae Balloch, or… Aye, that would work. I could explain that I wasna here tae rescue them, but I had a workin’ vessel, and wanted tae get them somewhere safe.

Would they be disappointed in me that I couldna reunite them with their bairns? Twould be heartbreaking — even if I could take them back tae my time, Jack wouldna recognize them. Och, twould be difficult tae bear.

And what if in doing it my vessel stopped working?

I had tae stop being soft.

There was great risk with any extra time I spent. I was supposed tae be a callous killer, but twas difficult tae separate my feelings from the duty.

My eyes glanced at the monitor — a second vessel had appeared.

I picked the monitor up. My vessel had been marked there for days with nothing else around it, but now… another time traveler was here.

Could it be Asgall?

My stomach lurched.

I hastily stuffed my vessel, a gun, and the monitor intae my bag and left the room, rushed along the hall and took the stairs down two at a time. I checked the dining room as I passed, but Ma and Da hadna returned yet.

I strode down the street, looking left and right, scanning up and down the blocks, and intae a few stores until down at the far end I saw Da, standin’ in front of a dress shop. He looked as if his guard were up, good.

I wanted tae warn him that another time traveler was here, but Asgall might be watching too.

I pulled up the collar of m’coat and walked the opposite direction, circling back, staying in the shadows and out of view.

Da went inside the shop.

---