Men ducked behind the parapet. Quentin crouched, looking up and down the rows of men. “Shit, wish I had some helmets for you guys.”
James said, “Wish we had some missiles too.”
I said, “I wish I had m’army.”
Quentin added, “Air support.”
The tanks remained hidden within the trees, we could only make out their front ends, and the guns protruding from the forest. Verra large, they were designed tae mow down trees, to shoot long distances, tae terrorize with their size and their weapons. A brutal force. Hammond and I often discussed the level of fright they would incur, their might, the brute force of them, enough tae win a war.
Taegether with the drones they were formidable. The drones had settled below the tree canopy, hidden within the limbs. Once they took tae the air the castle was lost.
We had naethin’ tae fight them with.
I was as good as captured.
Then they dinna do anythin’ but sit there menacin’ us from the trees.
Fourteen -Kaitlyn
The two-way radio squawked. Magnus’s voice: “Tis me.”
“Hi, what’s happening?”
“The army has arrived. I ken they hae weapons from m’kingdom, I daena ken who is commandin’ them or what they are after.”
“This is really bad, right? I mean, I can’t see, I’m in the nursery, I don’t know...”
“Nae, tis nae so bad, we will be fine, I will figure it out. Keep the bairn safe in the nursery.”
“Okay...”
“I will call when I ken more.”
And then he ended the call.
Hayley said, “That does not sound good.”
“I know, there’s an army.”
“Well we knew that. We had one here already.”
“I think that was just the warm up, that’s why they dispersed so easily. This is a full blown army. From the future.”
“Shit, and first off, not easy, but I get it. What does Magnus say?”
“He says we’re going to be fine.”
“Shit. Does he say that very often?”
“No, it was like he was saying something he heard people say, and just repeating it. Usually he would say something like, ‘daena be worried, Kaitlyn, I will protect ye.’”
“Yeah, we will be fine sounds kind of ominous.”
We both leaned our heads back on the wall.
“I mean, I know he’ll keep me safe, I know he will, but what will he do to keep me safe? That’s the question.”
“Yeah, these barbarians go fucking berserker when they have to fight.”
I sighed heavily. “I’m so bored and worried, what can we do? I need my phone. I need to scroll mindlessly through my feed.”
“Let’s practice sword fighting.” She crossed the room for two wooden swords.
“All right, challenge accepted.”
I passed Isla into Emma’s arms and stood, en guard, the way Quentin and Magnus had taught me. And then Hayley and I attempted to beat the hell out of each other with wooden sticks.
“Ow!” I rubbed my wrist. “That’s going to bruise.”
“Oh yeah, well I just chopped off your hand, bitch, whatcha going to do?”
I tossed my sword to my other hand, “Ha! I am not right-handed.”
She laughed, “Princess Bride, funny, but you’re not left-handed.”
We banged our sword together. I said, “It’s okay, I’m ambidextrous, not my first time at the rodeo.”
We swung our swords to meet with a loud thwonk sound. She said, “You’re mixing a bunch of metaphors, is it your first sword fight?”
I said, “Guaranteed I’ve done more with a blade than you.”
“Yeah, probably right. My weapon of choice is a gun.”
I swung my blade catching hers and causing it to fly from her hand. We doubled over laughing, but then she pirouetted, picked it up and brandished it.
I said, “That’s how ya going to be?”
We swung, arced, thrust, and generally tried to beat each other, without wanting to actually hurt each other. It was fun, we kept going, spinning, arcing, sometimes dancing, a whole lot of laughing. Archie and Ben and some of the other kids watched us, too.
Emma shook with laughter while holding Isla.
Lizbeth entered the room and joined our audience as I jumped across two chairs and jumped off, swinging my sword, while Hayley went Matrix, bending backwards. My sword crossed right over her chest.
Lizbeth applauded and cheered. Hayley called a time out to catch her breath. I panted heavily.
Lizbeth joked, “Ye are battling your friends, ye might want tae save your energy for your enemies.”
I panted hard, grimacing. “Hoowhee, not easy killing this friend, she’s slippery.”
Hayley pulled the front of her bodice for air. “I have all my appendages still, I call it a win.”
I asked Lizbeth, “Where have you been?”
“In the chapel, praying for a peaceful victory.”
“Oh,” I glanced around the room. “Is that where all the women are? Now I feel like a really terrible Campbell wife.”
Lizbeth shook her head, “Ye arna just a Campbell wife, ye are Magnus’s wife. Your time might be better served practicing combat, since battles seem tae follow him home.”
“That is true.” I looked down at my wooden sword. “Like this one.”
Hayley said, “Make sure if you’re fighting for your life you’re better armed.”
“Hell yeah.”
Lizbeth said, “Sean, Black Mac, and Master James are headed out, we should find a safe place tae watch.”
Fifteen - Magnus
First we waited for the drones tae come, bringing their demands that we should surrender. But hour after hour they dinna move toward us.
Finally we sent our four ambassadors: Quentin, Sean, James, and the young man carrying the Earl’s flag. They carried minimal weapons because we couldn’t spare them. They would ride horses because we only had the two ATVs and we decided tae keep them hidden, so our enemies wouldna ken of them.
Quentin joked, “In case we need the element of surprise with our big guns.”
Twas nae truly funny.
I saw them off at the gates and returned tae the walls.
Fraoch and I watched as the four men on horseback thundered across the fields in the direction of the woods, the Earl’s flag waving above them.
Fraoch asked, “Dost ye think they will survive the day?”
“Och, I daena ken. M’brother should nae die because of a war from m’own kingdom. Quentin is too good a soldier tae die because he is nae armed well enough. I swore an oath tae protect the men that fought alongside me. The trade of their lives must always be for good cause, and they need tae be armed so our battles aren’t in vain. Twas a simple oath, but here we are, nae in m’kingdom, hundreds of years in the past, and one of my commanders, my close friend, is outgunned.”
Fraoch chuckled. “Ye should be better than this.”
“Aye, tis what I am tellin’ m’self.”
He gave me a sly look, “And what of your man, James?”
“Och, our friendship is complicated, but he is m’master builder, I daena want him tae die either.”
Fraoch asked, “Who dost ye think is doin’ it?”
"I believe tis a man named Roderick. I hae been fightin’ him for many long years and I became distracted for a time by Reyes, ye ken, ye remember, he had me captured in St Augustine.”
“I remember, ye killed him in Greece.”
“He was formidable though, defeatin’ him took a great deal of effort and while I was concentratin’ on him I hae allowed Roderick tae grow in power. He has a claim tae the throne.”
I leaned back on the wall. “Are ye hungry? I hae a bite tae eat.” I pulled a small hunk of bread from my sporran.
He said, “I hae some food as well.” Grinning mischievously he pulled a jar of coffee from his sporran, and a large salami.
“Och, Hayley
is feedin’ ye well.”
“She is a bonnie lass and she does ken how tae feed me verra well.”
He drew a dirk, longer than mine, sliced the end of the salami, and passed it tae me. “Tis like when I saved your life in Florida.”
“Aye, just like, speakin’ on savin’ a life, are ye takin’ your vitamins?”
I am, they hae me full of energy.”
“Good we will need ye at fightin’ strength.”
He gave me a drink of his coffee. I smacked m’lips. When I was away I missed coffee a great deal.
“I want tae thank ye Fraoch, for livin’ nearby, for watchin’ over m’family. Ye hae been a verra good friend tae me.”
“Ye as well, Og Maggy, your family has become as m’own. I daena think on nae belongin’ anymore.”
“Good, I am glad ye are comfortable.”
“We daena need tae speak on it. We are like brothers. I hae kicked yer arse. I hae married yer wife’s... what dost they call it?”
I chuckled. “Her be-ef-ef. I daena ken what it means, but I believe Kaitlyn thinks on ye as family because of it.” I delivered a slice of salami tae m’teeth from the blade of my dirk.
He watched the forest. “Och, ye are in a mess, Og Maggy.”
“I am, I told ye.” I nodded. “I find m’self in a situation where I hae too many enemies. I canna be sure who I am fightin’.”
“Ye will ken, soon enough.”
“Aye.” I checked my walk-n-talk tae make sure twas on. “Soon enough I will ken which member of m’family I must kill next. Tis always an uncle or a cousin, even a brother.”
“Ye told me of the arena battles.”
“At least now I ken m’enemies. Then I was commanded: here is a man, your brother, kill him for the sport of it and twas m’father, the man’s father, commanding it.”
“Tis the plight of kings that ye are competin’ amongst family for the throne.”
“A throne I never wanted.”
We were quiet for a time, then he said, “Dost ye hae more brothers? Are there cousins ye haena met yet?”
“There aren’t any in the records, but so far I hae met Tanrick, Samuel, Roderick. I ken Donnan had an older brother and a sister. I believe he is somewhere in Scotland. I daena ken where she is; if she has born children they might appear someday. Kaitlyn has tried tae account for all the vessels, but there are some we daena ken the location of. There may be people waitin’ for me tae let down m’guard. I canna ken.”
“All ye can do, Og Maggy, is think on what is afore ye. This is a moment tae deal with an enemy. I will fight alongside ye, yer men Quentin and James, even yer man Chef Zach will fight with ye...” He chuckled.
I said, “I am glad he is on m’side. He makes an excellent ice cream sundae, Fraoch, I would lay down m’life for him.”
Fraoch laughed, “Let us nae speak on layin’ down our lives. We should be thinking on surviving this day, and vanquishin’ your enemy.”
“You sound like Kaitlyn.”
“She is wise. She taught me that I should eat m’vitamins, and because of it I haena lost another tooth.”
“I am grateful for that, any more teeth and ye might come unbalanced in a fight.”
We both laughed.
“But you are right, I canna think on the men that might come, just this one man, the army afore me. I hae tae survive this battle and prepare for the next. And as I prepare I must get stronger and wiser and account for all the vessels so I winna be surprised anymore.”
Fraoch chewed his lip, but nodded.
I sized him up tryin’ tae understand his reaction, but then I dismissed it as simply being his manner. “And now we hae discussed thoroughly, all the troubles I hae, and given me the ‘shoulds’ I must accomplish. I hae somethin’ tae speak tae ye on.”
“Och, tis m’turn tae hae the talkin’ tae? Ye are goin’ tae speak tae me as a wee young brother?”
“Aye. I am. And ye are goin’ tae listen tae me because ye ken I am wiser than ye.”
He grinned. “I will listen tae ye because ye hae a dirk in yer hand.”
“Fair enough.” I slid the dirk intae its sheath. “Fraoch, I hae been tae the world that yer wife hails from. Tis a wondrous place, full of marvels—”
“I ken—”
“Nae, hear me out. Ye daena ken. Ye hae nae idea what tis like. There arna rats in the food durin’ the night. People can wake in the morn and spend a whole day livin’ without ever havin’ tae get dirt on their clothes. And Fraoch, when they are tae relieve themselves there is always paper tae use tae clean, there is water tae wash it away. They will take a warm shower every day and tis as if there is heaven on earth. My shower, tis what it is called, is in a large room and all I hae tae do is turn a knob,” I acted it out, “and the water will pour out, as if tis rain, but warm, as if it is in the summer sun. Can ye imagine it?”
“Nae really.”
“Then I will wrap a verra thick towel around m’self, tae dry, and if I am havin’ a fortunate day, m’wife might invite me tae bed her, because I am unclothed and clean. Daena even get me tae begin describin’ the bed, tis like a cloud. Ye never hae tae fluff it, and ye daena hae tae fight bugs for it.” I looked at him seriously.
“I am telling ye this, because yer wife has grown up with this type of life, these kinds of comforts, and she has told Kaitlyn she will give it all away tae live with ye, here, because she means tae be a good wife. But I want ye tae ken that ye are askin’ her tae give up too verra much. Kaitlyn worries about her desperately.”
“I can care for her.”
“I ken. I ken ye will do everythin’ ye can, but I tell ye Fraoch tis nae the same as goin’ through yer day in the year she lives in. There ye daena face death as often, as ye ken here ye might face death ten times afore breakfast.”
He nodded.
“Tis why I am tellin’ ye this in private. Ye should consider it, what ye are askin’ of her.”
He nodded again, quietly.
I concluded, “I winna speak on it again, but I want ye tae ken, if ye come tae the future ye will be welcome in m’home. Twould be a good time tae shew ye the new world.”
“Aye, I hear ye, Og Maggy, but I want ye tae ken I hae made up m’mind.”
“I ken. I simply wanted ye tae consider it.”
I looked back down at the walk-n-talk. “I daena understand why tis takin’ so long for Quentin tae make contact.”
Sixteen - Archibald the First
The year 2419
Isla entered the room. “How are you?”
I was leaning on the desk staring into a command console. “Well enough... considering—”
“Yeah.”
She came around the table and hugged me. “When will he get here?”
“The helicopter is expected in twenty minutes.”
“You should meet it.”
“I should. How do I look?” I turned so she could straighten the front of my coat, brush my shoulders and push my hair back.
“You need a cut.”
“I do, but ye ken I haena had the time.”
We met eyes.
She said, “Sometimes you sound so much like Da.”
“Yeah...” I stood straighter. “I wish I could think like him too. He would know what to do right now.”
“He was great, and an excellent king, but I think even he would be out of his element in this. Have you told her?”
“Not yet, I don’t relish it. It’s the anniversary of Da’s death, she’s a mess.” I sighed. “But I’ll go see her as soon as he’s returned.”
“Need me to come?”
“Can you go ahead to the hospital, make sure they’re ready?”
Flanked by guards, I took the elevator up to the landing pad, as the three royal-guard helicopters descended to the rooftop. Armed soldiers jumped from one, lowering a hospital stretcher, and wheeling it past me with a bow. They pushed the stretcher through to the interior of the castle, headed toward the hospital wing. I followed them
to hear what the physician would have to say.
I knocked on the door of Kaitlyn’s apartment and her maid ushered me inside.
A few minutes later she entered, her hair mussed, red-rimmed eyes, wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants with tartan slippers that my father had given her, their final Christmas together.
“Is everything okay, Archie?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Oh.” Her face grew worried.
“Quentin has been shot, he’s been brought here to the hospital. Dr. Durham is doing everything he can to help him, but it’s not looking good. His age... and...”
She collapsed into a chair, a tear sliding down her face. “Oh no.”
“As soon as you’re dressed I can take you to see him.”
“Of course...” but then she remained sitting. “Shit, why today?” She took a deep breath. “Why does everyone always have to go?”
“I don’t know, but it sucks.”
“True that. Dammit, I told him to retire. I told him. I begged him. And when they go they leave us with all of this — you’re too young to be dealing with this bullshit war...”
I chuckled. “I’m a full grown man and a king, but yeah, this bullshit war. Feels like Da would have known how to deal with it, easily.”
“I don’t know if it would have been easy. And to be honest, a lot of the time he just waved his sword around hoping it would land, but he was lucky it landed on the target most of the time. Don’t let anyone know I said that. I do like that his legacy is that he was wise and always knew what to do. Only you and I know of the struggles, which is as it should be, I suppose. He made a good king.”
I said, “Without Da, without Quentin to guide me, I don’t know how to win this war.”
“Without Quentin, none of us know how to do anything.” She stood and I escorted her to the hospital wing.
At his bedside she clasped Quentin’s hand. “Quentin, can you hear me, Quentin?”
He was on life support and seemed lifeless. His hair now mostly gray, he looked old and weary. She looked at the doctor and he shook his head. “There’s nothing that can be done for him.”
Son and Throne (Kaitlyn and the Highlander Book 11) Page 7