He said, “Oh, um, the... nothing.”
“What dost ye think of m’lass?”
“She’s um, lovely...”
“Why did ye think ye could partake of the lassies? Did ye ask my permission tae go upstairs?”
“No, sire, the brothel-keep told me it would?—”
“Do ye think I pay ye tae fornicate with the harlots, and dost I want ye sweatin’ upon m’papers?”
“No, sire.”
He used his sleeve tae wipe his forehead. I huffed and gestured for the lass tae hand him a handkerchief.
He dabbed at his forehead.
“Better.”
“My apologies, sire.” He flipped through the papers, once more, and passed me a small stack.
I looked them over. More leases, a patent, and a title to a new ranch.
“Good, good.” I tossed them tae the table and picked up my cigarette from the ashtray, took a drag, then picked up my whisky glass and drank.
We sat in silence for a few moments, while he dabbed at his damp face. Meanwhile I tapped the side of the glass, slowly, countin’ the days since Magnus and his brothers had stolen the woman, Ash, from m’compound.
I dinna like tae hae lost that round. Twas not in my nature tae lose. “Did ye bring me the information I asked for?”
Jim said, “Yes, sire.”
He placed a small stack of papers on the table.
I nodded, jabbed my cigarette out in the ashtray, and pulled the papers closer tae read.
He interrupted, “That is all you need to win back your throne.”
I flipped the page tae read the next. “I daena want m’throne back, I want Magnus’s throneended.”
I picked up my glass, drained it, placed it on the table, and snapped my fingers at it. The harlot put down the fan, poured whisky in the glass, handed it tae me, and began fanning me again.
Jim asked, “Do you hear that?”
“What?”
“Sounds like wolves. Are there wolves?”
“Of course there are wolves, we are in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, the wilderness is right outside.”
He nodded.
I picked up the papers again and read. The fan wafted back and forth beside my face. From the corner of my eyes I watched the quiver of her flesh as she moved.
Jim glanced at m’whisky, but dinna ask for one, though he looked tae be desperate for a sip. Streams of sweat rolled down his cheek.
The sound of a long, low wolf howl again. He looked at the open window nervously, “It sounds closer, does it sound closer?”He pulled his shirt collar from his throat, then realized I was watching and quickly dropped his hand.
I punched that cigarette out in the tray. “Nae, I am not interested in gainin’ a thirteenth century crown.”
