I couldna put my mind tae rest whenever I wanted, not anymore, too many people relied upon me.
I sipped from my drink and watched the video landscape, the camera soaring over the bens —but maybe I ought tae look, something might be... something was likely going on…
My deliberation was interrupted by the computers voice:
Your Highness, we have discovered a discrepancy.
I muttered, “Och nae,” sipped from my glass, and put it down on the table in front of me. I smoothed down my skirts and turned on the lamp beside me. “Ofcourseye hae discovered a discrepancy at the last possible moment when I hae already been inconvenienced and just on the verge of asking for the information.Nowye tell me.”
The voice said:
My apologies, Your Highness.
Apologies from a computer were never verra satisfying. It dinna grovel quite like it ought.
I said, “Tell me what ye found.”
There were flashes and lines of text, scrolling down the wall.
The voice said:
We have found historical discrepancies in three distinct time periods, in four historical figures, and in two people who are related to Your Highness. Would you like the list first or the summary?
“Related to me? Who?”
Magnus the First and Sean Campbell.
My stomach dropped. “Start with the summary, begin with Magnus, then tell me about Sean — wait, I daena ken…” I took a deep breath, having a distinct sense of foreboding. “Tell me what happened tae Sean.”
The computer said:
The date of his death has been added into the historical record.
I blinked. “What did ye say...?”
The computer:
Sean Campbell died during the English assault on the King of Scotland’s men during a negotiation on the Field of Kippen, on June 20 in the year 1291.
I blinked again, my breath quickening. “I daena understand... it canna possibly be true... who killed him?”
The computer:
He was killed under the orders of Edward the First of England. Mag Mòr, the King of Scotland, was meeting with King Edward at Kippen to negotiate a treaty. King Edward’s men attacked Mag Mòr’s men. Sean Campbell was killed in battle.
“Nae. It canna be true... Magnus would never allow for it.”
There was a date on the wall that I couldna bear tae look at so I stood and paced across the room. Thinking tae myself,Why am I alone? Why is nae one here tae assist me?
I felt shame for thinking on myself, but couldna get past the fact that I had been alone for a long time while my son had died and I hadna even been given the news. Magnus ought tae hae come directly tae tell me.
But instead I was here and there was nothing I could do — I couldna control it, and I was receiving the news while I was desperately lonely.
I then sank in the chair again. And focused on the date: June 20, 1291. Grief overwhelmed me —Sean is gone.
Nae, tis nae fair.
Sean is gone. Fionn’s son. Gone. He is nae more…
