Page 35 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“Just as I thought, tis likely Asgall using a vessel, coming and going. He is there on June 15 with my son and daughter-in-law.Hisvessel continues tae work.”

I took my key, unlocked the drawer and pulled out my vessel. Twas still lifeless. I placed it in front of me on the desk.

I said, “Was that the only alert?”

“No, Your Highness, a different vessel has been activated near Croft Moraig stone circle.”

“When?”

“October 9, 1683.”

“Tis likely Archibald, now he has two vessels that work.” I decided tae retrieve it, twas mine.

CHAPTER 15 - LOCHINVAR

LEFT BEHIND NEAR CROFT MORAIG STONE CIRCLE - OCTOBER 9, 1683

The storm rose right beside us and Ash wasna holdin’ on.

Archibald yelled something, but Mario reared, pullin’ me away. I stumbled backwards. Ash screamed. The winds buffeted us, knocking me tae the ground. The reins of the horse ripped from my hand. I rolled up in the fetal position as the storm flattened me with wind and power.

From a distance I could hear a voice, “Lochie! Lochie!”

I peeled an arm off my head. “Ash? Ye okay, Ash?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

I shook my head tae try tae get the blood flow back, then I smacked my face tae try tae get conscious. “Och, that had been close tae death.”

I said, looking up at the sky, “Archibald was taken, och nae.”

“Where did he go?”

“I daena ken, dost ye hae Mario?”

She said, “Yes, he’s giving me a look.”

I pulled myself up to sit. Ash was behind one of the stones. Mario was in the trees a little beyond. And he was indeed giving a look.

I lumbered up, stumbled over, and put out my hand. I helped her up and pulled her further intae the woods and collapsed down, my back against a tree.

She tucked in under my arm.

“What do we do now?”

“Now we need tae wait for another rescue. I hae a gun, tis good that I hae a gun.”

“We have any money?”

“Nae, but I will take care of us… daena worry.” I glanced over at Mario, his saddle had bags hangin’ from the side. I groaned and stood and stumbled over and rifled through them. “Bread, dried meat. A ceramic jug with medieval...” I pulled the stopper from it and sniffed. “Cider.” I found a small sack and looked inside. “A few coins.”

I brought the bread and meat and cider tae the tree and sat back down beside Ash and we shared a meal.

“Thank you, Lochie. Wow, I really needed this.” She chewed for a moment, then swallowed and said, “It doesn’t really matter though, right? Someone is going to rescue us any minute now. Lady Mairead likes you, I think she likes me, she won’t let this happen.”

“Aye, ye are right.”

We sat there for a while, eating quietly, with Mario grazing as if we dinna just hae a frightening brush with death.

---