Page 121 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Nae, I am new tae Innis Chonnel.”

He nodded, but with his eyes narrowed, sizing me up.

After Cailean finished he straightened up. “What dost this mean, ‘ye hae sacrificed a great deal tae assure the safety of m’bairns’?”

“I am not certain, sire, I believed ye would ken.”

He looked down on the letter. “Tis code, I suspect, tae keep the meaning secret, in case our enemies, of which there are many, find themselves with access tae it…” He flipped it over. “I take it tae mean he would like for me tae watch over his bairns tae help bring his line tae the throne. Tis a request, I believe.” He asked me, “Dost ye think I am correct in it?”

“Aye, sire, I think he wishes I would fight for the throne of Scotland.”

He held up the letter and said tae Dom, “Ye see here, he asks for me tae introduce young Archibald tae Wallace.” He read from the page. “...And ‘ask that he be admitted unto his ranks, for he is not only my son but a warrior born for the fight...’ Dost ye see, sons, he wants us tae raise arms behind the Campbell banner once more.”

Dom said, “I shall send a message tae Wallace, hae him come tae conspire.”

CHAPTER 54 - ARCHIBALD

LIFE AFTER THE DO-OVER - INNIS CHONNEL CASTLE - 1301

The castle was familiar because I had lived here for ten years, and I kent everyone but they dinna ken me. The chambers that once held Emma and Zach and Hayley and Fraoch now held Cailean’s cousins. I walked up and down the well-known passages, listenin’ tae the voices I recognized and the activities that I used tae join in on, and when I turned corners I half-expected tae come across my family, there in the shadows — but they dinna cast shadows here anymore, and I was nae more than an echo.

I was invited tae share a meal with Cailean and his sons and their families in Cailean’s dinin’ room. We had a long table in front of a roaring fire, about twenty-five people, including their wives and the children, and a man playin’ a lute in the corner tae entertain. Twas friendly and the food was verra good.

Twas the best that Cailean could offer, but still twas a stark contrast tae Lady Mairead’s opulent residence in Da’s castle in Riaghalbane.

I wished I had a steak as large as she had served. Or ale as good. During dinner I grew sorrowful — I knew them all well and by name, but they thought of me as a stranger. I was relyin’ on their charitable kindness, reintroducin’ myself, explaining my history, tryin’ tae understand what they remembered and what had shifted with the times.

I tried tae keep my countenance blank, but Cailean noticed I had gone quiet and asked, “Why the long face, Young Archibald, ye look pensive and we are embarkin’ on a campaign tae win yer rightful throne.”

I said, “Och, my apologies, Cailean Mòr, I was simply thinkin’ on m’family.”

Cailean nodded and said, “Then I invite ye tae bring them intae the room, let us hear a story!”

I thought for a moment, looking around the table, then asked, “Did Da ever tell ye about the logs with teeth?”

They said ‘nae’ so I told them all about the monsters who slid along the water’s edge in a land called Florida. I told them that I had seen them with my own eyes on the river banks, large and fearsome.

I had the full attention of Cailean’s grandchildren, and they had many questions. Dom’s son, a wee lad by the name of Dawy, asked, “How long are they?”

I slid my hand down the surface of the table. “They can be as long as this oak table right here, with more teeth than all of us put taegether.”

Niall’s two sons, Euen and Ulchel, had their wide eyes traveling down the surface of the table. “Och nae!”

Dawy asked, “Do they live in the sea or lochs?”

“Lochs!”

The wee lads and lasses all shivered.

Euen asked, “Did ye ever see them eat a man?”

I said, “Nae, because my Uncle told me that tae stay safe ye canna carry cookies in yer pocket?—”

“What is a cookie!” They all yelled at once.

“A honey-baked biscuit about this size.”

A wee lass by the name of Beigis said, “Oooooh. The beasts like honey.”

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