My sleep was fitful as I waited for the followin’ night.
Yet the followin’ night there wasna a storm.
That night at Christo’s home, with hand signals and guessin’ at words, I asked him what was the date. It seemed sure tae be nearing May 20, and I worried she hadna arrived yet.
May 20 was in two days.
I worried that somehow Reyes kent that I had killed his guard and he was already exactin’ his revenge.
* * *
The followin’ night, again, there wasna a storm and I was greatly afraid for Kaitlyn’s life.
Sixty-two - Magnus
The next day twas the same as the others, a bright blue high sky, a lovely day that I kent I had tae get through tae deal with Reyes in the night, but Christo wanted tae shew me his boat. We had the closest thing tae a conversation on it, having spent days together learning tae read each other’s expressions and basic words.
Twas the middle of the morning. The path down tae the shore was long and winding, along rocky cliffs tae the bottom. The beach was pebbled with boats pulled up all along the water’s edge.
Christo’s boat was nae much larger than the skiff Fraoch and I had stolen in Florida. Twas painted white and he proudly showed me the fishin’ nets his sons were weavin’. His son, Marcos, was just returned from a fishin’ trip so we helped him carry his baskets tae shore. Then we sat in a circle cleaning fish and repairing the nets. We were busy at our work when I caught Christo’s eye as it traveled past me up the hill tae the sky.
My stomach dropped as I followed his gaze.
He and his son were talking, fast and energetically. I dinna understand their words but kent the meaning, they were talking about this, another storm of many, afflicting the island for the past few days.
And here was another.
And here I was, verra far away on the other side of the island.
I apologized tae Christo and Marcos for leaving and began my race across the shore and up the cliff-side trail tae the upper levels of land. By the time I reached the top, the storm was dissipating and I was running out of time.
I had missed my moment tae kill whoever was under the storm.
I sprinted along the footpath through fields and past small clusters of houses tae Christo’s house. Sophia was at the market so I was able tae gather my things without conversin’ first. I was breathin’ hard and fast as I swung my sword intae its scabbard, and gathered my bag of weapons, tryin’ tae ignore the pain that my achin’ lungs were causing me and the fear that I might be too late.
I slammed out the front door, crossed the yard and sped through the vineyard, up and down the paths, tae the olive grove, through the trees, and intae, at long last, the wild fields and then farther I raced toward the spot that had been the center of the storm.
And there was Reyes, up, running for his home, holdin’ Kaitlyn by the arm. She was being forced tae run, stumblin’ beside him. There was only one soldier, my work of the last week had left him without enough protection, and if only I had been waitin’ instead of fishin’ I would have killed Reyes already.
I was furious with myself, but even more so with Reyes. My fury moved my feet though I had grown verra tired. I was close tae killing him. Twas all that was left tae do. I had spent weeks learning the lay of this land. I kent he was headed home, through his back gate, wonderin’ about his soldiers —
His guard spotted me behind them and yelled, “Magnus Campbell, to our left flank.”
I pulled a knife from the sheath on my belt. Without breaking stride I judged the heft of it, watched the soldier for his gait and speed, swung the knife behind me, counted, ran, concentrated, and aimed —
The knife flew, end over end over end, and slammed point first embeddin’ intae the soldier’s back. He flung his arms wide and collapsed to his stomach in the dirt.
Reyes shot a glance over his shoulder and pulled Kaitlyn closer tae his side, but I was gaining on him fast.
“Reyes! Let her go now!” I unsheathed my sword without breaking stride. “Dost ye hear me?”
He dragged Kaitlyn over the low wall and pulled her intae the open door of his house as I cleared the low wall and pulled in a few feet behind.
Instead of goin’ through the door I jumped up tae the wide sill of a large window beside it and crouched there, taking the lay of the room.
“You dinna hear me, Reyes?”
He pulled Kaitlyn close in front of him, holdin’ her by the neck.
“You let go of my wife. I winna ask ye again.”
I held the window jamb. I felt calmed. I had become the hunter and Reyes was the hunted. He was more dangerous now, with his hands on Kaitlyn’s neck, but I was watchin’ him. He was shakin’, and unsure what tae do next.
He said, “My men will be here—”
“Your men are dead. All of them. But right now, I have men comin’ up from behind ye. I have been livin’ here for a verra long time, waitin’ for ye tae arrive. I have men. I have weapons. I have a deep and abidin’ need tae finish ye.”
I focused on him, the shift of his foot, the racing heartbeat evident in the pulse of his neck, near Kaitlyn’s, his finger close tae her throat. It twitched ever so slightly. I had the exact spot that would end him, twas in my view, and he was a second away—”
He was looking left and right trying to discern whether I was tellin’ the truth. “I don’t think you have men with you or—”
“Are ye callin’ me a liar? Remember when ye had me in the dirt at yer feet and ye were tellin’ me what ye would do tae my wife? I wasna lyin’ when I said I would kill ye for it. I am nae lyin’ now.”
I dragged my sword closer tae my side, remainin’ crouched on the window sill, ready tae spring. I added, “How’s your shoulder?” sure it would unsettle him.
“What about my shoulder?”
“My man, Quentin, fired the shot. I am proud of him for—” His fingers tightened on her throat.
Kaitlyn, her eyes wild with fear, whimpered.
I said, “Daena make one more move…” I locked eyes with her. Trying tae tell her daena be afraid, I will protect ye, I am protectin’ ye.
I could see in her eyes, she was telling me — yes.
I answered her in my thoughts — aye, mo reul-iuil, you move on my move.
He said, “I think you’re bluffing and—”
“I am nae bluffin’, but I do like tae tell a story. You need tae decide if I—”
A chicken ran squawking past the open door behind him.
He turned tae look.
Kaitlyn twisted from his hands tae the ground and scrambled away.
He drew his sword as I leapt from the window sill and met his blade with my own, then I shifted feet, and swung my sword around and met his blade again from the other direction.
The room was too small for a fight. Reyes backed up, and I fought him out the open door tae the yard.
He wasna dead yet, but I had swung at him from both directions tae gain a feel for his weakness. He had a great many. He was surprised and unprotected.
I rested. I watched him as he shifted his sword from his left tae his right. His left arm was weak compared tae the other.
He said, “I will only make the deal to take care of your family once, Mags the Dust. You had your chance to—”
I brought my blade down in a wide curve, met his blade, and fought him, backing him from the house, blade tae blade with clangs of our steel. “Ye winna provide for my family. Tis for me tae take care of them.”
The fight was longer than I wanted. Our swords met again and again. He fought me well and wouldna die easily. He swung his sword down, aimin’ tae hit my right side, my fightin’ arm, but I was able tae shift from his reach.
He was three steps away, breathin’ heavy, his face held a fury and yet he wanted tae seem as if he was in control. He attempted a smile. “You think you are going to win this, but I am stronger than you know. I have built an army and what are you? A dethroned king, nothing but dust.�
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I swung my sword, testin’ the heft of it, distraction’ him from my intention, plannin’ tae come from another direction. “I may be dethroned, but I am nae just dust, I am celestial dust.”
His brow drew down. “What do you mean by that?”
I slashed at his left side, but he dodged my blade. Twas nae matter in it, I kent the fight had turned in my favor.
“I mean, I am goin’ tae kill ye, Reyes the Dead.”
I swung up as he arced his sword down and our blades locked taegether. I backed him tae the low wall. I was calm, focused, glarin’ intae his eyes. I called, “Kaitlyn, daena look, turn away.”
I heard her voice, from inside the house, okay.
I shoved him, stumblin’, and with a roar, swung my sword high. I charged forward, two steps, one swing down and then with a fast change of motion up, before he saw it coming — a slice on his arm. For a grave second he lost focus, his eyes shifted from mine tae his arm. I swung my arm back, plunged it forward, and dropped General Nick Reyes tae the dirt of the garden of his home.
Blood poured from his chest, spilling out on the dirt around him, and our long feud was ended. I used my foot tae kick him free of my blade. I stood staring down at him, breathing heavy, trying tae get on top of the roar of fury still rushin’ through my ears.
And then Kaitlyn was holding my arm and pulling me away and climbing my body, her legs around me her head against my chest. Her arms under mine, around my back. I was stuck, broken, a monument tae the man I was become: bringer of death, soulless, emotionless, as much like a stone as the wall and the house and the island I was standin’ on —
But here was Kaitlyn — flesh and blood and life and warmth and she held ontae my whole body wrapped around me and she was tremblin’ and sweatin’ and holdin’ me so tight that she brought me from stone cold hardness and warmed me back tae my life.
And brought breath back to my lungs.
And with my hands under her thighs, I held her up tae my waist. “Are you okay, Kaitlyn, did he hurt ye?”
“No. I’m just scared.”
“Tuck in your head, mo ghradh, daena look on him.” I turned us away from the dead man in the dirt.
We were holding on, tight. She was crying. I carried her intae the house and held her and stroked her hair. “He dinna hurt ye?”
“No, we didn’t do anything but come here.”
I dropped tae my knees, takin’ us both tae the dirt floor. I collapsed on top of her, her legs around my waist, my elbows beside her ears. “I was worried, mo ghradh. Some of the men I killed, they had scraps of cloth from your…” I couldna finish it.
She sobbed. “He cut it off and offered it to his soldiers, first one who got here, got me, or some other horrible thing.”
“Och. Tis horrible.” I held on tighter. I buried my face in her shoulder, breathin’ in the scent of her hair.
We sat wrapped around each other for a verra long time, breathin’ and holdin’ and comfortin’ while she cried. Then she put her hands on the sides of my face, and looked into my eyes, her chin tremblin’. “Are you okay, my love?”
I searched her eyes, they were the familiar green I kent, that I got lost in. The color of the highlands held in the flecks of her eyes. Tis why I fell in love with her, I thought, that color seemed tae mean something as if she was meant tae be mine.
Her eyes were also unfamiliar tae me. Behind them were secrets and dreams that I dinna ken. I meant tae learn them in time, but I had come verra close tae losin’ the moment tae ask her. “Magnus, answer me, are you okay?”
I kissed her cheek. “Aye.”
“It wasn’t too much fighting, too much killing? I promised you that you weren’t going to have to do that anymore and—”
I rubbed my thumbs across her cheeks wiping her tears. “I ken ye meant it. But we have promises we can keep, mo reul-iuil, and there are promises that our hearts make that arna possible tae keep. You once said ye would marry me tae keep me alive and then ye married me. Tis the only promise I am holdin’ ye tae. The others, the keepin’ me safe, well-fed, and happy, ye will do your best on it and I will love ye for trying.”
She laugh-cried, wrapped her arms around my neck and brought her forehead tae my lips. “Oh my god, Magnus, you scared me so much.”
“I scared ye? What of the monster I just vanquished? He is dead, ye arna relieved?”
“I am so freaking relieved.”
I felt her body relax in my arms. I said, “I verra much liked those…”
“What?”
“Your undergarment.”
“My sky blue thong?”
I looked in her eyes. “Och aye, twas my favorite.”
She said, her voice all serious and concern. “I have more.”
“Och,” I joked, “then everythin’ will be okay.”
“Yes, I think it will.” She looked around the room of the dead man’s house. “I gather Archie isn’t here?”
“Nae, Lady Mairead went lookin’ for him. This time she better find him.”
“I hope he’s okay.”
“Me too, mo reul-iuil.”
“Where are we?”
I rolled off her intae the dirt and we lay side by side. “We are midway through the 19th century and tis the month of May, mo reul-iuil. We are on an island called Santorini, and tis a beautiful place.” I turned my head to face her. “I have made a friend, his name is Christo, his wife is Sophia, and they have let me stay with them. I help them in the fields during the day, then sit here at night watching and waiting for you.”
She smiled a smile that held some sadness but promised happiness. “You are always making friends. Are you responsible for their health and well-being now too?”
“Nae.” I chuckled. “Maybe a little bit. I do need tae help Christo bring in that load of fish as soon as I rid this farm of the bodies.”
She groaned. “And Quentin isn’t here?”
“Nae, he isna.” I chuckled again. “I am a liar.”
She laughed.
“Twas an excellent time for the chicken tae walk by.”
She laughed more. I had really missed her laugh.
She asked, “And you’ve been here for how long?”
“Almost a month. I wanted tae make sure I made it here afore ye.”
“Thank you for rescuing me with your epic sword-swinging thing you did there.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you, mo reul-iuil, for goin’ with him, taking him away from the family.”
“I knew you would follow. I was only a little terrified.”
I kissed the top of her forehead. “Will ye stay here, in the house, while I clean up from the battle?”
“Do you need help?”
“Nae I daena want ye tae see.”
Sixty-three - Kaitlyn
While Magnus cleaned up, I poked around in the closets. Reyes had been hoarding like Lady Mairead so I took the valuables, lots of gold, including some bricks, coins and paper money from many different places and times, very expensive and historical looking jewelry, and a few pieces that were small and mysterious but seemed to match the tech of the vessels. I dumped it all into a bag.
Then I looked for some clothes. I wasn’t sure what the women here would wear, but I suspected my sweatpants and crop top weren’t right for the 19th century. I called, “Magnus, what do the women wear?”
He had gone to take a trip to the edge of the cliffs so I kept looking. There was a stack of men’s brocade jackets another stack of cloth. I wondered about togas but that seemed too far back in history.
This was yet another moment in a long line of moments that I wished I had paid attention in history class. But I was from the New World couldn’t I be wearing anything? I decided to make something work.
Over my sweatpants I draped a long piece of white linen and belted it. I took a piece of brocade and crisscrossed it over my front and tucked it under the belt as well. Then I found a jacket to put on over it. My arms were bare so the jacket was probably nec
essary but it was also very hot.
I was still barefoot but found a pair of sandals that were probably Nick Reyes’s and made me gag as I slid my feet into them. But I needed shoes to be presentable.
Magnus returned. I called, “Can I come out?”
“Aye, I have disposed of—”
I came to the door. “How do women wear their hair?”
“Och, ye look beautiful.”
“I do?” I blushed and looked down at my clothes. “I just — thank you.”
He came close. “They put their hair up high. Ye ken, like…” He pulled my hair up and put it on my head. “Och, I daena ken how tae…”
I smiled. I used a band off my wrist to put my hair up in a messy bun with some hair hanging to the side. “Will this do?”
“Aye, verra much.”
He put the vessels and the valuables along with Reyes’s sword and a knife into a bag. He said, “I am much lighter now. I have gotten rid of most of the guns I brought with me. I dinna need them.”
“You threw them over with the...?”
“Aye.”
That was enough. I was very glad he was keeping the details from me. I hated that he had to do it by himself, but also, I was feeling very fragile after all we had been through.
He slung the bag over his shoulder and we walked hand and hand through this strange land. Magnus pointed out things he had learned along the way. He knew some new words and phrases, one for olive trees and another for grapes, though it confused him slightly — was the word for the vine or the grape or the type of grape? Even if he wasn’t sure, he seemed happy to know something new.
I asked, “Don’t they wonder where you came from? What you’re doing here?”
He said, “I think so. I was only tae stay a night, but Christo wanted help and I did my best. I think they would like tae ask me where I am from and what I am doin’ here, but I canna tell them, so they just accept me. Tis the same in Scotland, travelers are often put up for a time, ye wouldna want them freezin’ on yer doorstep.”
Under the Same Sky Page 21