“I got a lot, though I was nervous about today. You get any?”
“None, except a moment here and there while ridin’.”
“Why do you think the vessels aren’t working?”
Archie said, “Da, the vessels aren’t working?”
Ben said, “Uh oh.”
I said, “I daena ken, but I think it has something tae do with Arsegall.”
Fraoch said, “Aye, tis definitely his arsery.”
I said, “But I canna focus on it right now,nowwe hae Edward tae deal with.”
Fraoch said, “Eddielovestae be the center of attention.”
Zach rubbed his hands together causing his horse to veer. “Whoa, oh… whoa!” He pretended tae almost fall off while he directed the horse back to the path. “Phew, that was close. Follow the army, horse! Come on now, you have one job, follow all the other horses.”
The boys laughed.
Ben said, “Dad! You have to hold the reins with both hands!”
Chef Zach held the reins in both hands up high. “Like this?”
The boys giggled again. “No Dad, you look ridiculous.”
Haggis barked as if he were insulting Chef Zach too.
Chef Zach laughed. “I know how to do it, Haggis!” He held the reins in one hand, looking like a pro. “What I was going to say, before the boys started micromanaging my driving, was I can’t wait to watch you school the English King. Then I can’t wait to watch you deal with Asgall.”
“Aye, first, I hae tae deal with a medieval king — there will be a medieval solution, then I will deal with the time traveler with a time travel solution. First one, then the other.” I pretended tae snore.
The boys giggled again.
Fraoch said, “Og Maggy, ye need a nap already? We just left the castle!”
I rubbed my hands up and down on my face again tae wake m’self up. Then pulled my hood over my head, so the drips of rain didn’t roll down my face.
Sean said, “Except yer time travel vessels are broken, Young Magnus — twill be difficult tae find a time travel solution without a working vessel.”
Fraoch said, “This is true.”
I remained quiet as we rode.
Archie and Ben rode well on the same horse, talking and laughing with each other, and sometimes talkin’ tae Haggis. There were moments when it was easy tae forget what we were doin’. We knew it had tae be past sunrise, but the sky was covered in fat gray clouds, weighty in the sky. A drizzle greened the forest. Quiet all around, damp and soggy, the air was heavy with the fresh scent of rain.
I had drawn back tae ask Cailean a question, now I sped my horse tae pull up beside the boys, “Ye stayin’ dry?”
Archie said, “This is fun!”
I chuckled and drew ahead of them on the path.
I loved ridin’ on a rainy morning. But then m’eyes settled on my surroundin’ soldiers, dressed as if for battle. Twas jarrin’. We were meeting an adversary, the men depended on me tae negotiate well, tae stop a battle afore it had a chance tae begin.
There were long periods of quiet, and as we drew near we began tae hear the noise of a large encampment.
Some of my soldiers returned from scouting ahead. “The camp spreads well beyond the field where ye will be meetin’, Yer Majesty.”
