Page 65 of The Empire and the Wolf King

From far away I could hear my husband yelling and Asgall diabolically laughing and…

There was a bloom of red spreading on my skirts. I pressed my hands to it, as I saw a man’s feet, delivering drinks to the table.

Magnus’s voice from far away, “Kaitlyn, ye well? Kaitlyn!”

I mumbled, “That motherfucker shot me, I think he shot me.”

I could hear glasses being placed on the table above me. I was shot, lying on the floor, and our whisky was being served? What was happening?

My mind spun, the patterns on the rug seemed to swirl and move —Was I going to die?

Asgall’s feet were splayed, he looked comfortable and relaxed, Magnus’s feet were jiggling, he was tense and agitated. This wasn’t good, Magnus had told me many times, the agitated guy was not usually the winning guy. He was probably desperately worried about me and it was likely making it hard to think.

I said, my voice barely projecting, “I’m okay, I’m going to get up…” I pushed myself up, leaning on my arm. I had a view of Master Taylor’s feet as he strode away, and caught a glimpse of another man in the shadows. Even with a powdered wig my heart recognized him — Archie.

He shook his head and gestured: quiet, still, stop.

I didn’t understand how he was here and what was going to happen, but it made sense to collapse and watch the moving patterns on the rug again. I folded my hands and prayed that somehow we would survive.

CHAPTER 29 - ARCHIBALD

OAKHURST INN - CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

The maid returned. I led her and Master Taylor away from the door, and whispered, “Did ye see, was he armed?”

“Yes, sire! Oh, it was terribly frightening.”

“What did he ask for?”

“Whisky, sire, he wanted…” Her hand shook as she pushed a strand of hair from her face. I heard a loud voice from out in the dining room, Da and Asgall were arguing.

Master Taylor said, “I will get it, we have a bottle in the kitchen?—”

He turned to go but I tugged his sleeve. “Quick, will ye allow me tae put a sleeping potion in the whisky?”

The maid’s eyes went wide, she grabbed my arm. “No, sire, you cannot! We would be in trouble!”

“Nae, nae I promise?—”

Master Taylor said, “ I will do it, Mary, I will deliver it, now hush.”

I nodded. “Ye just put it on the table, twill be my fault, I will take the trouble.” I could see from his expression he understood, it wasna simply a sleeping solution.

A shadow passed outside. I stepped further into the dark overhang of the steps. “We must go quickly.”

Master Taylor and the maid rushed tae the kitchen as there was a loud gunshot from the dining room.Och nae!

I peered out — Ma was on the ground, she had been shot.Nae, nae!

Asgall had his gun trained on Da.

Master Taylor put his head out, recognizing the sound of gunfire. He nodded to me.

My breathing was heavy, I nodded in reply. “Aye.”

Master Taylor ducked back intae the kitchen, and I wondered if he would come out again. I desperately needed his help. I wanted tae fight Asgall, but if I rushed out there he would shoot Da, he would likely shoot me. And then there was the issue of the guards.

The poison was my only chance. I really needed Master Taylor to deliver it.

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