Page 63 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“From what pray, sire?”

I slowly peered out from around the doorframe and whispered, “Och, from those villains.”

She crossed tae the window and peered out. “They hae guns, sire,” she whispered, shakin’ in fear.

The manager of the inn, Jacob Taylor, rushed down the hall from the dining room, carryin’ an oil lantern. “There is an uproar in the dining?—!”

He stopped short.

I whispered, looking out the back door again, “Wheesht, please, Master Taylor, please daena let them hear ye.”

He whispered, “Are you traveling with the scoundrel out there? He is holding the Campbells, a fine Scottish couple, verra wealthy!”

“They are m’parents, tis verra perilous, I must stop him afore he kills them. Can ye please check what is happenin’?”

I pressed against the wall as Master Taylor and the frightened maid crept down the passage tae look.

A moment later the maid returned. “Sire, there is a guard at the door and men outside. The man at the table with the Duke looks menacing — what does he want?”

“I am uncertain, is he facing this way?”

Master Taylor was still looking out the door, he shook his head, faintly.

Then Asgall called for service.

The maid looked terrified.

I said, “Madame, can ye please see what he wants?”

Master Taylor said, “Mary, go see to the man. Come right back.”

She glanced at me, then met the eyes of the manager and rushed away.

I crept tae the door so I could see.

CHAPTER 28 - KAITLYN

OAKHURST INN - CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

Most of the diners had rushed out when we entered. Asgall yelled, “Everyone out!” at the rest.

I tried to jerk my head toward Asgall, signaling we needed help. Please help, I tried to plead with my eyes as the last customers hurried away. If only they could call 911 — of course they couldn’t. Did they even have police in this time period?

Magnus was shoved against the wall, knocking over a table, spilling drinks and shattering glassware to the ground. The manager of the inn, Jacob Taylor, fled to the back room. Asgall banged Magnus against a chair as they passed.

Guards blocked the door, making sure no one returned.

Asgall shoved Magnus down into a chair at a table, and said to me, “Sit down, Kaitlyn.”

Magnus said, “What are ye doin’ here, Arse-wipe?” He was scanning Asgall and the room for any sign of weakness.

We needed something we could turn into a weapon. Our chairs? I could fling a chair at him, but it was heavy, I might not be strong enough, plus Asgall held a gun, pointed at Magnus.

Magnus said, “Let us go tae a place with privacy, we can talk this out?—”

Asgall leaned back in his chair, the gun pointed at Magnus. “We were in a private place, but ye escaped, therefore we are now here, in the middle of Charlottesville. Ye hae nae where tae go. I hae all the vessels turned off, yer family strewn tae the wind?—”

Magnus said, “Ye think ye are winnin’, but ye are makin’ a great many mistakes.”

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