“What will ye dream of?”
“You, m’laird.”
He smiled. “See, tis all worth it.”
He drew away and slipped from our room. I heard him, leaning against the door out in the tight passage. Footsteps went by, he grunted, menacingly.
CHAPTER 41 - MAGNUS
ON THE WAY TO KIPPEN - JUNE 20, 1291
Iclimbed the steps tae m’chamber and entered. I put a log on tae beat back the chill and then I crept tae our bed. Kaitlyn was asleep, Jack was sprawled in the middle of the bed with his arm thrown out looking verra pleased with his comfortable position. I knelt beside the bed and smoothed back Kaitlyn’s hair tae wake her up.
She mumbled, “Hi… you’re back?”
“Aye, and I still hae Sean, Fraoch, and Hayley with me. They couldna leave, the vessels arna working.”
“Oh no.” She raised her head and peered around in the darkness, “It’s late at night, are you coming to bed?”
“Nae, I hae tae meet with the English King. I will leave at dawn, tis only a few hours away. I will sit up and take a guardsman’s nap.”
Her face drew down in a frown. “What is a guardsman’s nap?”
“Tis when ye sleep sittin’ up with yer eyes open.”
“Ah… you’ll be tired.”
“I will be, but there is too much tae do, I must be ready. Where are Archie and Isla?”
“Sleeping with Ben and Zoe.”
I leaned over and kissed her, then went tae the hearth in the outer room. I sat, leaned back, watching the fire. My elbow rested on the arm of the chair, my chin restin’ in my hand. I watched the fire and considered what I was goin’ tae do.
I might have slept… though I felt like I dinna at all. But then there was a soft rap on the outer door. I got up as my page entered tae help me dress. I washed m’face in the bowl and toweled off, while the page passed me a fresh shirt. I pulled it on over m’head and brushed m’teeth while he tied the back of my hair. We worked quietly in candlelight.
I had recently shaved, so my beard was close cropped, and twas too dark tae do it again, anyway. I pulled my arms intae the sleeves of a coat and the page buckled my sword belt around my waist. I pulled on my boots. He helped me put on the cloak. “There will be rain, Yer Majesty.”
“Aye, the weather has turned.”
I returned tae the bed and kissed a sleeping Kaitlyn on the cheek. I kissed Jack on his forehead, then shuffled down the hall tae relieve m’self in the garderobe.
I wondered if I ought tae wake Archie and Isla, but the castle was verra quiet, and I dinna want tae bother nor needlessly frighten them. I was certain this would be the first of many negotiations with the English King. He had been interferin’ in Scottish succession for years, and I doubted he would remove his troop from m’lands after one meeting. But I would threaten him. Twould be a good start. Then I would use my power as a time traveler tae…
Why dinna the vessels work?
Twas unsettling, I had been strong, just yesterday, and now I was weakened.
I left the stairwell tae find a large contingent of m’men in the courtyard, gathered near the stables, preparing tae go. Fraoch and Sean met me and Cailean passed me a bundle of cloth wrapped around a bread and a sausage. “For yer breakfast Magnus.”
I said, “Nae coffee?”
He said, “Nae, though tis needed this morn. Instead ye hae ale.”
I sighed. “Coffee is one of the things Colonel Quentin had promised tae bring.”
“I will pray for his arrival, Yer Majesty, I hae acquired a taste for the bitter drink with a bit of white sugar.”
I asked, “Tis one of the greatest things in the world. Where is Chef Zach?”
