“Tis what exactly?”
“It can see through walls, it can see what we’re doing, where we’re going. We can’t leave, they’ll just take us.” I frowned. “Finny has my gun!”
“Och nae, we need it. Tis on Finny’s saddle?”
I nodded. “Right side.”
He raced around the stable and made it to Finny, unclipped the bag from the horse’s saddle, and told the stableboy, “We changed our mind, return him tae the stall.”
Then Lochie raced toward me with the drone swooping behind him in chase. It pulled up short as Lochie reached me and pulled me behind him.
The searchlight beam shone brightly on his face.
The voice from the drone said: “By the power vested in me by Asgall, Emperor of Chronum, lay down your arms and?—”
He whispered, “Dost ye hae a clean shot?”
“No, plus it will fire on us, we’re unprotected.”
“Give me the sack.”
I passed it to him.
Completely still, hefting my bag in his right hand, he whispered, “Behind ye… the stairwell. Count of three.”
I tapped on his back: one, two, three.
He leapt, swinging the bag at the drone, catching the corner and making it careen. But I couldn’t watch, I was scrambling to the open stairwell door, and descending into the darkness all by myself.
My last glimpse, Lochie running in the opposite direction.
It was a little like falling — the steps were inconsistent and worn, steeper than I expected. It was exactly falling, I trippedand fell on my knees at the bottom. It hurt, badly, but I forced myself up and feeling with my hands on the cold stone, I moved farther into the tunnel.
I was in such pitch darkness that when I looked back at the opening at the top of the stairs I could barely tell where it was.
I immediately felt frightened and a bit claustrophobic. I had given Lochie my bag, I had no flashlight, no nothing but the clothes on my back. I was panting, having trouble getting on top of my breath. I stared at the opening, thinking of my last freedom, from down in a medieval hole, trying to convince myself that I was safe.
No one will close the hatch. No one would do that.
No one would lock me down here — this was not a big deal, at all. Probably in the day this was just a regular underground passage. Definitely not some crazy rat-infested medieval torture chamber.
Could there be rats?
I gulped.
With my two hands on the wall I tried to breathe down my rising panic.
CHAPTER 47 - LADY MAIREAD
THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - 24TH CENTURY
Iwas eating the last few bites of my chocolate cake and then I glanced around the table as I chewed and swallowed the last one. M’staff had been irritatingly slow today, nae one was paying me any mind. I put my fork down, paused… nae one took it.How long was I tae sit with an empty plate in front of me?Another moment passed. I pushed the plate away and a servant rushed over and whisked it away.
It had been a long day, I had nae patience for anyone not doing their job. If Magnus was here they would tighten up, but he hadna been here in a while. The day had grown long, time was passing. I had been busy in meetings —but hadna he promised tae come soon?
We had left his return date open, because there was a great deal he had tae accomplish.
My job was tae run everything and check in on him through the historical record, he was doing well. A king in the middle ages, enjoying a fine time in the thirteenth century surrounded by his family, I supposed. All had gone tae plan.
