I ate a meal, then dinner was ready and I ate a second meal. We had lists of ideas, scribbled plans, and worried solutions, and I had traded out my vessel. I sat on the dock that night with Archie and Isla and Ben beside me. “I plan tae be gone for two days. I ken tis a long time, but I hae much tae figure out. I believe I will be jumping quite a bit, twill be difficult, we need tae be strong.”
Archie said, “You keep saying that.”
I exhaled. “I ken, and tis a dumb thing for me tae say. I daena need tae tell ye tae be strong, Archie, ye are plenty strong enough a’ready. Tis as if I am sayin’ it tae m’self. I am remindin’ myself tae be strong and ye are just close enough tae hear it.”
“I think grown ups do that a lot. Say things without anyone supposed to hear it.”
I chuckled. “This is true.”
Isla said, “I think so too.”
I kissed her forehead. “That is a verra grown up thing for ye tae think, little one. Allow me tae tell ye something, I want ye tae nae be so grown up. I want ye tae be the wee bonny bairn I push on the swing for a time longer, while I figure this out. Daena grow up too fast.”
She laughed. “I have to grow up, Da, it’s my job.”
“Just not too verra fast, please.”
“I won’t grow up too fast but Da don’t stay away too long.”
“Absolutely, only two days — do we hae a deal?”
Archie and Isla said, “Deal.”
Emma and Zach had gone tae the store while I was showerin’ and had packed me a box for m’trip tae the past. I had gifts for Caillean: a Hydro Flask and a fancy pen, as well as some food and weapons for m’self.
CHAPTER 20 - MAGNUS
Ijumped tae a far away clearin’ because I hoped I was jumping intae the time where Kaitlyn and James were held, a time when Ormr was a king. I also hoped Colonel Quentin would be looking for a storm and would meet me. I was verra concerned he hadna returned home even though he had a vessel.
I began to come to, and realized I’d arrived at night, feelin’ the darkness of the time, both clock time and history time. I lumbered tae my feet and usin’ a headlamp, found a footpath and hiked through the woods toward the castle. When I approached I found not a castle with a different occupant, but my own, as I had left it — I was a king returned.
Kaitlyn wasna there.
CHAPTER 21- LADY MAIREAD
There were terrible things afoot. Firstly, I had nae seen Magnus in a verra long time.
Secondly, there were issues with the historical record.
I was seeing Ormr’s name far more often than I liked, and that of his brother, Domnall. Both were born of Agnie MacLeod with different fathers: Ormr, a son of Donnan I; Domnall, a son of Donnan II; both of them unclaimed bastards. The fact that they had any historical importance at all was outrageous.
They were uncivilized brutes, gaining dominance in time, and I did not like it.
In the meantime Magnus was lounging around in the thirteenth century, an inattentive king, leaving me tae run his future, civilized kingdom.
I did not like it at all.
At dinner General Hammond asked, “What do you want to do, Mairead, what would set your mind at ease?” He was sitting across the table refilling our glasses from our bottle of Lafite-Rothschild 1996.
“I suspect I ought tae go see him, Hammond. I prefer he come tae me, but,” I sighed. “I suppose I must make an exception.”
General Hammond said, “I will place Jones in charge and attend you. Where are we going?”
“We will go tae the thirteenth century to visit Magnus. Then we will stop by Balloch castle tae see Lizbeth and Sean, then we will return home. Twill take but a day tae anyone who cares tae pay attention.”
“Good, a little vacation will do you good.”
The following day we jumped intae the thirteenth century, landing in a sheltered spot well away from Stirling castle. General Hammond was fully armed. Once I was able tae rise, he sat me upon an ATV, and drove me tae the castle, parking the ATV a distance away, and covering it with leaves and detritus. We wore cloaks tae cover our clothes, as they were near the style but nae perfect for the age — I felt though that Hammond looked verra fine in his tunic and belt, I admired his form greatly.
