“Who, Magnus? The man who was here?”
“Aye, Magnus, he is my son and he is a king, nae a barbarian laird, but a real king. He will be fair, but he will demand loyalty of ye. Will ye be willing tae declare yer fealty tae the king? Keeping in mind, ye must be especially loyal tae me as I am the king’s mother, his regent, and I run absolutely everything. Can ye?”
“Aye.” He stood straight and adjusted his sword.
I looked him over. “Good, I can always use more brawn in my work.”
“Will there be food”
“Aye, there is a great deal of food, Lochinvar. Ye can close the lid on the Bridge.”
He closed it and it locked with a click. Now I wouldna be able tae open it again, as I hadna the bloodline of Donnan and it seemed verra irritating that Lochinvar had been the one tae actually do it.
And that it had been unchallenging. It was always this way with men. I had hoped tae use my selflessness in the face of great challenge for praise and respect, but men would get the glory ineverything.
Lochinvar put out his hand again. “May I hae one more?”
And now there was this strapping young man in my care.
I passed him a third peanut butter cup and appraised him as he ripped the package open.
I was torn, I kent the Bridge was powerful, but tae keep it I would need tae also keep Lochinvar around tae use it for me. And he was a verra dim and useless young man. He would need tae be trained.
Also, if I kept Lochinvar around I would hae trouble with Hammond and though I was irritated by Hammond’s unwavering attention, I needed Hammond tae protect the kingdom.
He was important, I just dinna want him tae ken how much.
Lochinvar tossed down another peanut butter cup wrapper, his wide shoulders stretching his shirt.
Perhaps I could take him tae New York for a time? Show him the world?
I said, “We must go. Hae ye time-jumped before?”
“I daena... Is it witchcraft?”
“Och, if ye are going tae be modern, ye need tae stop being so superstitious. Ye canna believe in witchcraft, Lochinvar, ye must open yer eyes and watch the world around ye. Daena live in fear, ye must live by what is real: your family and your sword.”
“Aye, Lady Mairead.”
“Now hold my arm, this will hurt, but ye will survive it and all will be well.”
“Ye promise there will be more of the food?”
I sighed. “Aye, ye sound like Magnus. There will be more. Now hold on.”
CHAPTER 66- KAITLYN
That thing happened again — we were jumping to one place and then we were grabbed, like from my middle and dragged in a different direction. It hurt like hell and my internal brain-screaming echoed in a different way. Instead of streaming out behind me it spread from the side — it was unexplainable but it was like screeching around a corner and then…
* * *
I was lying face down in the dirt. Stadium dirt, the sound of a galloping horse circling, Magnus’s voice from above me. “Kaitlyn, get up, get up Kaitlyn, I daena ken how we are here, I am fightin’ Domnall, ye must get up.”
I came to enough to see he was standing over me, protecting me. His shoulder bound with my haphazard wrap, blood all over him, a sword in his right hand, the tip down in the sand.
I looked up. The open sky was above us. I looked around, holy shit, we were in the stadium. Shifting faces all around us, a roar of cheering crowds.
He said, “Kaitlyn, run tae the door!”
