Page 77 of The Empire and the Wolf King

He chuckled. “I assumed ye would ken, ye daena ken?”

“No, I don’t.”

“What if they daena remember me?”

Kaitlyn said, “This is all distressing. That is a worst case scenario.”

He said, “Aye, it would be… if Uncle Cailean daena ken who I am, what will I do? Would I be a stranger tae them? What if Uncle Wallace has forgotten that he trained me tae fight?”

I said, “Ye winna allow it tae happen. Ye will tell Cailean, ‘I am Mag Mòr’s son and I am here tae live with ye and ye must take me in.’ Then ye will tell William Wallace that he ought tae let ye fight with him, that I demand it.” I continued, “What if I gave ye a letter of introduction, from Mag Mòr, that tells them tae take ye in and treat ye as their own… twould help? Ye daena hae tae give it tae them, if they remember ye, but tae be certain.”

“That would be good, aye, if they remember Mag Mòr, but if not…”

“I can be persuasive.”

He passed me a piece of plain paper from his folder and I got out my pen once more.

I began writing the letter tae introduce m’son tae my auld friend Cailean, in the small pool of light from a battery-powered lantern.

I said, “Will ye look out the window, is anyone comin’?”

He got up and looked, “There is a commotion, sounds like it is beginning tae move this way.”

I wrote as fast as I could.

Dear Cailean Mòr,

I am yer friend, Mag Mòr, writing tae ye from our shared wheel of time. I heard that ye hae sacrificed a great deal tae assure the safety of my bairns. I deeply appreciate all the dutiful support and allegiance ye hae given me and my family.

This is my son, Archibald. He canna be with us anymore, the wheel of time has rolled on, and he wishes tae align himself with ye and yer sons. I beseech ye, Cailean Mòr, tae accept him intae yer castle and tae feed and quarter him. I also beg ye tae introduce him tae Sir William Wallace and ask that he be admitted unto his ranks, for he is not only my son but a warrior born for the fight for freedom.

Please take care of him.

Thank ye,

Mag Mòr

I read it over. “Mo reul-iuil, would ye like tae read it?”

“My heart might break, but yes, if it will help.”

She sat up on the cot with the light beside her. Then asked, “Archie, do you have money for them?”

“Aye, Grandmother gave me enough.”

She nodded and passed the letter back tae me with a sniffle. “This is good.”

I folded the page and passed it tae Archibald, he tucked it intae his inside coat pocket.

CHAPTER 34 - MAGNUS

THE PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE - CHARLOTTESVILLE 1775

Outside a great many horses were comin’ down the main street. Archibald zipped up his bag. He said, “Ye daena hae tae stay here in town, I could talk tae them, explain it, and then jump.”

I said, “Ye hae done enough for us, Archibald, ye hae succeeded. Ye hae been our hero and made our lives much easier. Tis time for ye tae go home.”

He looked at me quietly, then said, “All right. Dost ye mind if I take Stormy? I can leave ye with the other horse. I hae named him ‘Captain.’”

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