“You winna tell me where ye have hidden it?”
“Nae. Twas nae my doing.”
“This complicates things because I would like tae offer ye a nice bed with a big dinner before we journey tae your father’s court. But ye are nae bein’ forthright with me on this matter. And ye well might steal away…”
She seemed tae contemplate it for a few moments then said, “Guards show him tae the dungeons but I need him uninjured on the morrow when we travel.”
“May I stand? I will go with the guards freely. I am ready tae travel whenever ye are ready tae go.”
She waved her hand dismissing me. I stood and walked between two guards tae one of the cells in the lower part of the castle.
* * *
Kaitlyn was walking on the beach at the edge of the water, her head bowed, her hair streamin’ behind her. The sun was going low but still shone on the tips of the strands. This was a familiar view — the curve of her head, the stillness of her movements, her concentration and purpose. She bent and sifted through the shells searching for shark teeth. She scooped up a handful of wee shells and then sprinkled them back to the sand. Then she moved tae the next promisin’ area. And I felt fortunate, in this sparklin’ sunset and beautiful landscape, tae watch her as she moved.
There would be a moment when she would realize I was standing on the end of the deck. She would pull her gaze from the sand and look up. And across. And she would smile as if she had been waitin’ for me. Her face lightin’ up—
So I stood on the deck and waited for her tae turn.
I raised my hand.
And then I called, “Kaitlyn!”
Her stillness dinna change. She dinna look.
“Kaitlyn!”
I tried tae run tae her, but I couldna move. All I could do was call across the beach for her, trying tae get her tae turn tae me — “Kaitlyn!”
“Kaitlyn!”
* * *
I woke with a rush of air clutching my chest. “Och.” The bed was a cold stone slab. Torturous tae sleep on but I wouldna be tryin’ tae sleep again.
I leaned against the wall and tried like I had been tryin’ all day tae get on top of my breathin’.
* * *
I was offered an oatmeal brose for breakfast while sitting in my cell. Finally, after long hours of cold damp air and darkness and nothing much tae do but keep my mind blank so I wouldna despair, Lady Mairead appeared.
She spoke through the door. “Magnus, I will need a few more days before I am able tae leave.” She paused tae wait for an answer but I was unable tae come up with anythin’ tae say.
* * *
Four days. That was how long she kept me waitin’ in the prison. Each night I half-slept because when I did sleep I woke with nightmares. Every night the nightmare was the same — Kaitlyn, her head turned down. She wouldna look at me when I called her name.
* * *
“Magnus, gather your things we will journey today.” My entire body was stiff and unused. I stretched and stared at the door waiting for the guards tae open the lock. When I stepped into the hallway, there was barely any light.
Lady Mairead said, “You look like a bear, and ye have a smell that is verra offensive.”
“Aye, it has been a long wait. I arrived here under the impression ye wanted me in better health than this.”
“I did, but there’s nothin’ tae be done with it, ye will have tae go as you are. The guards will attend us tae the field and we will journey tae your father’s court. Twill be a long journey, the worst of them all.”
“I dinna ken they had a difference.”
“I like tae break the journeys up with a rest in the middle. Tis why I usually have chosen Florida. Shorter distances I have found tae be almost bearable. Almost. But this time we will journey all the way tae your father’s court.” I fell into line behind her. Four guards accompanied us carrying large bundles. “Your father advised me tae break the distance intae pieces, but I dinna ken where the stops would be, ye dinna seem tae want tae stop in Florida, for instance. Tis verra complicated tae plan tae arrive in a strange place and time.”
She spoke like this about the pain and the complications and the plannin’ that went into the journey the entire time we walked. “So after deliberating we will jump the entire distance.”
I stopped listenin’ after she made the first point: Twould be painful. The worst so far.
* * *
We set out across the wide fields and then she commanded the guards tae leave our side. The guards deposited their bundles around her feet and left.
She dropped her skirt hem to cover the sacks. “I have been collecting,” she informed me. “I need ye tae understand I winna have ye causing trouble.”
“If I cause trouble what will happen tae me?”
“It’s nae yourself that ye would need tae be worried for.”
“Exactly. I am nae going tae cause trouble. I am simply going tae do what needs tae be done.”
Her eyes squinted.
She said, “Until ye met Kaitlyn Sheffield we were nae at odds.”
“Her name is Kaitlyn Campbell and we daena need tae discuss her. We arna at odds now.”
“Good.”
“When we arrive will there be an immediate danger? Somethin’ I need tae be ready for?”
“Nae, tis quite civilized. Cover your ears, I daena want ye tae ken the numbers.”
I clamped m’hands over my ears and went as still and blank as I could tae prepare for the journey. Lady Mairead stood beside me and twisted the ends of the vessel alignin’ the numbers until they glowed. She kept the vessel facin’ away so I couldna make sense of it. Then her lips were movin’ as she spoke the numbers. She clasped a hand around my upper arm, and a moment later the agony began—
Kaitlyn
I was sitting on the bed waiting for a nurse to bring my release paperwork. Hayley bustled in full of pep and business but then she softened. “Hey sweetie, you get to go home now?”
“Not home. Apparently Quentin and Zach are moving me into an apartment, but yeah, I get to go.” I finished, “I can totally walk out on my own two feet, but they want me to ride in a wheelchair.”
“It’s protocol.” She put her purse down on the chair and sat beside me on the bed. “Emma is outside with Ben waiting in the car. She told me Magnus left.”
I nodded and sniffled.
“Am I furious with him? Because I will be. Just tell me. Furious or is this forgivable? I don’t know so you’ll have to be in charge of my emotions about it.”
“You aren’t furious.”
“Good.”
“You might be very very sad. You might be so sad you might never recover. You might have a broken heart that is so shattered that you might wallow in misery for the rest of your days, but the one small shred of peace in it all — it wasn’t his fault he left.”
She put an arm around me and squeezed. “I feel a bit better knowing that.”
The nurse entered and went over my list of things I needed to do, eat, drink while I recovered. She looked at Hayley the whole time like I wasn’t even there. I was useless, incompetent, overwhelmed.
I climbed into a wheelchair and the orderly wheeled me to the front doors where Emma was waiting with her car.
They helped me into the front seat and then Hayley grumbled about having to sit in the backseat with Ben. “Seriously, Ben? There’s drool all over your shirt. It’s sopping wet. How are we going to take you anywhere?”
Ben giggled.
I said, “I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Emma said, “Well, there’s not really anywhere to go. The house is packed up and Magnus said you shouldn’t go there. The new apartment isn’t set up yet.”
My lower lip trembled. “I just need the bed. Can you ask them to get that moved in?”
“Sure Katie.” She texted Zach.
I closed my eyes and waited.
She said, “Okay, they’re moving your mattresses into your apartment now.
He’ll make sure the bedding is there too. Would you like some food on the way?”
“French fries.”
“Perfect.”
Trees slid by the window as we drove down 14th Street. “I’m really sorry we have to move, Emma. I’m sorry about the disruption. I hope you guys will forgive me for it.”
She put her hand on mine. “Consider it forgiven. Besides, even this apartment is better than the other places I’ve lived. You know last time I had to move I had to borrow money for the deposit and my landlord was a total nightmare. Zach’s last apartment was a dump. This is fine. Don’t worry about it.” She drove me toward my new empty home.
Magnus
Unnnggghhhhhh. Unnnggghhhhhh. I pulled myself up through a tunnel of torment and forced my eyes open tae check on Kaitlyn. Was she all—
It hit me that she wasna here. Couldna be here. And I faded under the darkness again.
* * *
I woke with a start. My eyes were blinded by a bright, stark, painful light. A beeping sound so loud it hurt my ears. I was held tight — I pulled at my arms and legs and attempted tae turn my head. Twas nae possible tae move. I stared up at the ceiling attemptin’ tae gain any information about this place. But twas only light and white. I closed my eyes against it and waited for somethin’ tae change.
* * *
“Magnus Archibald Caehlin Campbell?” The voice was female and close tae my ear. It’s closeness startled me. My first thought, Kaitlyn?
I couldna see who was addressin’ me.
“Who?” My tongue felt thick from disuse. How long had I been here?
“Magnus, I’m Dr. Thompson.”
“Where am I?”
Her voice seemed tae be disembodied. “You are in the Royal Infirmary. The year is 2381. You’ve been here for three days.”
“Why?”
“It’s standard after someone comes forward in time. A blood test has proven your genetic identity and you are of clean health. I’ve been given permission for you to enter the court as soon as you’re ready to go.”
“I canna move.”
There was a soft clicking sound and it felt as if a blanket peeled from my skin. I sat up and swung my feet over the side of the stark flat bed.
The room spun. I collapsed back tae the bed again. “I canna sit up.”
There was no answer. I turned my head tae look around the room squintin’ tae see the forms, white and indiscernible in the glare of the lights. Twas like sittin’ inside the sun.
I attempted a sitting position again and directed my focus.
My clothes were folded neatly on a metal table. They smelled foreign and laundered. My jaw was without its beard. My fingernails were clean. I dinna like the idea of bein’ shaved and washed while unconscious.
And I dinna have my sword.
I stood in front of the door. Cast with light in front of me was my own image, much like a mirror. More light surrounded by light. I closed my eyes against the onslaught.
An opening appeared midway down. The voice from near my ear said, “Insert your wrists.”
I placed my hands through the hole and a rope bound my wrists verra tightly. Twas metallic the same as the band Kaitlyn wore around her neck.
The door clicked and swung open.
The voice beside my ear said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Magnus.”
I stepped into a hallway. In the brightness I had difficulties seein’ the way. I stumbled against a wall and recorrected blindly. After some distance I came tae a length of windows — I was inside a bridge of glass high above the ground connecting… I pressed to the window to see where the bridge originated — behind towered a building built mostly of glass, glintin’ in the sun. Ahead of me stood a grand castle built of stone. Twas larger than I had ever seen. Below were lush gardens, a giant arena, a forest and mountains beyond.
Farther along, the windowed walkway ended and I entered the stone hallways of the castle. The stone provided some relief for my eyes.
I approached two men guardin’ a double door. The doors swept open and I entered a grand hall that stored massive quantities of antiques and art. There was barely any room tae stand.
A different voice said, “You can wait here.”
I stood in the middle of the room and took it all in.
The rooms of Lady Mairead in the eighteenth century had been full of plunder but this room held many times more. Art leaned against the walls ten paintings thick in places. Sculptures stood in most open areas leaving verra little walkin’ space between them. Rolls of tapestries leaned in corners and stacks of china stood on ornately carved tables. The ceiling was an image that shifted and moved, illuminated — two men fightin’ with swords in an arena.
I waited.
After standing shackled for a verra long time, the door at the far end of the room opened and Lady Mairead stepped through. Her hand was wrapped around the elbow of a man. She held a wide self-satisfied smile on her face.
He was the same as myself in look and stature, though his coloring was lighter. He wore a suit of a filmy, shifting material in a color like the wind. The shoulders and edges of his suit were trimmed in dark fur.
He and Lady Mairead stopped about ten feet away and appraised me.
She said, “Magnus, take a knee, tis your father.”
I dinna want tae. I needed time tae decide before I bowed my head before this man, yet I dropped tae a knee.
He said, “He is much the way you described.”
Lady Mairead said, “Larger even. He has been in training, as you requested.”
“Perfect.”
The man who was supposed tae be my father circled me. “You have done very well. He seems exactly as I asked.”
My breaths were comin’ fast. I asked, “Where am I?”
“You are in your court, Son, your kingdom. You are the heir to my throne.”
I stared at his feet. “And who are ye? I daena believe we have met.”
“I am Donnan the Second, born in the year 2330.”
“And why have I never met ye before?”
He ignored my question. “Rise, I imagine you are hungry. We will go to dine.”
* * *
The dining room was so large it overwhelmed the verra long table. There was gold everywhere and porcelain, silver, and crystal place settings. Donnan took the chair at the head of the table. Lady Mairead sat tae his left. I sat on his right.
I glared across at Lady Mairead. She had assured me there was nae danger, yet here I sat, a prisoner.
“I winna be able tae eat without my hands.”
“You will make do, I would think,” said Lady Mairead.
Donnan said, “If you are as bloodthirsty and furious as Mairead promised, you would be a dangerous dinner guest without bindings.”
The edge of his lips went up in a smile. “So tell me about yourself, Son.”
“Am I allowed tae leave?”
His eyes leveled on my face while he spoke tae Lady Mairead. “He answers questions with questions?”
Lady Mairead demurely bowed her head. “Tis one of the things that makes him a good warrior, a willfulness that canna be broken.”
He paused with his fingers itchin’ beside the base of his knife.
My place settin’ had nae knife.
He said, “My kingdom spreads throughout the hemisphere, Magnus, and you are next in line for the throne. You proved your lineage with the testing we did once you arrived. Next we will prove you are ruthless. This will be arduous yet necessary and until I can be assured of your cooperation, I can’t let you roam freely. Surely you must see that. Also, there are a great many people who want to take your place.”
A plate of food was placed in front of me. I was famished. I managed tae pick up the fork, stab the meat, and raise the whole cutlet tae my mouth. I gnawed on it.
Lady Mairead winced.
I chewed with my mouth open starin’ at her forehead, darin’ her tae look. I swallowed and asked, “If I am your heir, why
have I been livin’ in the past?”
“Your great-great-grandfather, Aenghus III, killed his brothers to take the throne. Since then the line of succession hasn’t been safe from those willing to fight for it. I was raised in the past myself until I was of age. For my own protection. Now that you’re able to fight you can protect yourself.”
I continued to chew and stare at Lady Mairead. “Who would I be protectin’ myself from?”
“Your brothers. Your uncles. My brother, Tanrick, believes he should rule. My half-brother, Samuel. There are many others. I have followed your exploits. I believe you are ready.”
I growled. “You mean ye have been playin’ games with me, putting Kaitlyn in danger tae test me. Tell me Donnan, did ye order Lady Mairead tae hire criminals to steal Kaitlyn away?”
“You are confused, Son, to think you get to ask questions of me.”
He took a bite of his meat, carving a piece, chewing with deliberate slowness. Then he said, “I might ask of you, how is it that Mairead has these scars upon her cheeks? I think you have not been able to protect her. I believe it is a recurring theme with you, promising protection and not delivering it.”
My leg shook; I wanted tae charge him. He ate as if he had all the time in the world.
Donnan shrugged. “So I ordered some tasks for you, some incentives to help you train. You needed to learn to focus.”
“Games,” I slammed the fork tae my plate. “With my wife’s life at risk.”
“Hush Magnus,” urged Lady Mairead, “watch your tongue”.
“I will nae watch my tongue any more than I will remain here fightin’ for a throne I daena want.”
Donnan looked from my face tae Lady Mairead’s. He seemed mildly amused.
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