Page 92 of The Empire and the Wolf King

He sat quietly drinking from his champagne.

I addressed the voice in the room, “Are there any more discrepancies around that date in Virginia? Any messages?”

The room said, “There is a newly found register of a physician from Charlottesville, Doctor Everett. Lady Kaitlyn is listed as a patient. The entry looks as if it were written with a modern pen.”

A page appeared which read:

On 26th of January, 1775 - Attended to Her Grace, the Duchess of Awe. Her Grace suffered a graze from a musket ball on the outer aspect of her right thigh in an altercation with a band of Highwaymen. The wound was cleansed with warm towels provided by her husband, the Duke of Awe, then bound with clean linen. A poultice has been applied to aid healing and prevent putrefaction. Her Grace bears the injury with fortitude and is expected to make a full recovery.

Her Grace is resting while His Grace and their Son, Archibald, await the constable.

Under it was written:

Gifted unguents and bandages by His Grace, the Duke

Then under that:

Thank ye, Physician Everett, for yer care of Lady Kaitlyn.

I admired yer collection of Apothecary Remedies.

Your servant,

Magnus, Duke of Awe

5-25-2025 is good

I narrowed my eyes, why… what was happening with this note?

Wilfrey asked, “What does this mean, Mairead?”

“After the killing of Asgall, Kaitlyn?—”

“Queen Kaitlyn?”

“Aye, do try tae keep up, Wilfrey, there is naething more irritating when I am trying tae discern what has happened while ye are prattling on with questions.”

He chuckled. “I adore you as well, Mairead.”

I said, “Wheesht,” and thought tae myself, Kaitlyn was injured in the altercation with Asgall and was treated at this Physician’s address and Magnus wrote a thank you note in the physician’s register for some?—

Wilfrey said, “Why would King Magnus write a note in the register? It seems as if he might use an alias.”

I said, “Tis what I am trying tae discern as well, and he did use an alias, as ye can see, he has called himself the Duke of Awe.”

“Yet, in his thank you note, he is careful to use his own name and Queen Kaitlyn’s name. It seems pointed.”

“Aye, ye are correct, it has been done tae send a message.”

“Is this a common way to send messages in time travel?”

I had a split second of irritation, but then I shook my head of it. I was being too quick tae want tae do things alone, twas out of habit I supposed. Here we were celebrating and he was takin’ an interest in helping.

I gave him a soft frown. “My apologies for being sharp with ye before, Wilfrey, I hae grown too used tae solitude when I am vexed. But I was sometimes jealous when I would see Magnus and his family discuss their problems and come up with solutions…sometimes. Other times I thought it was a verra big waste of time tae take so many opinions, but I did want someone tae discuss the troubles. My… General Hammond used tae discuss with me?—”

“He was your lover?”

I nodded. “Aye, and then he was a traitorous fool.”

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