30. Chapter 30 - Magnus

Quentin, Lochinvar, and I strode intae m'mother's office, with Haggis at m'heels. "Once again, ye winna deign tae meet in mine?"

Lady Mairead said, "Why would I, when mine is so much more comfortable, for me." She kissed us each on our cheeks and gestured toward her sitting room. "Must the dog be here? Daena he want anything else tae do? He could be off doing dog things?"

"Nae, he prefers tae listen in on meetings."

"Fine."

She and I took chairs, Haggis sat at my feet, Quentin and Lochinvar sat on the couch.

I said, "So fill me in."

"On what do you mean?"

"Ye haena come tae visit in a while, it usually means something is goin' on."

"No news is good news, I thought?"

"Tis not yer style — what is happening?"

"Nothing, not really, a lot of the usual, but... and I daena want tae worry ye, but there has been a challenge."

"We hae never been stronger, tis ridiculous tae challenge us. Who is it, someone we hae heard of before?"

Quentin said, "I hate those cousins who just challenge you every year as if they are trying to build a name for themselves."

Lochinvar said, gruffly, "Aye, it shouldna be allowed."

Lady Mairead said, "Ye are correct, Colonel Quentin, tis another cousin." She waved her hand and brought up a video on the wall. A large man with his shirt off was on a stage, muscles ripplin' as he posed for the camera.

I sneered. Then the images shifted tae one of him wearin' a suit with his hand up wavin' at a crowd.

Lochinvar said, "He looks stupid."

"Aye."

Colonel Quentin said, "He looks as if he has worked hard on his surface. He's definitely in it for the notoriety and prestige. There's no way he could beat you, even if he wanted to. He can't even scratch his own back."

"Thank ye, Colonel Quentin, ye are a good friend for saying it. Where was this event?"

"A movie premiere."

"He is modern?"

"He was raised in the past, as is usual for our family, though as a cousin twas hardly necessary. His name is Dugal Denoon. "

Lochinvar said, "Och, he grows even more tediously stupid."

Lady Mairead said, "I am only telling ye tae keep yer eye on him. We winna accept his challenge, I refuse tae even acknowledge it. Ye should ignore him, put it off as long as possible."

"Aye, but in the meantime ye must monitor him, make sure he daena cause any trouble..."

"I will. Speaking of, Magnus, hae ye been having more of the dreams ye mentioned last time?"

I said, "Aye, they hae grown more frequent and more realistic."

She sighed.

I added, "Archie is havin' them as well."

"Och nae, what sort of dreams is he having?"

"He is dreamin' that he is bein' crowned king, and the crowd is yellin' ‘The King is Dead, Long Live the King!"

"I daena like the idea of that."

"None of us do."

She smoothed down her skirts. "Well, the ChronoGuard has found a discrepancy."

"Och nae, ye are tellin' the story backward, Lady Mairead, ye ought tae tell us of the discrepancy first and the ‘unimportant challenge we intend tae ignore' last."

"I will tell the story as I deem necessary, Magnus."

Lochinvar asked, "What is ChronoGuard?"

Colonel Quentin said, "It's a history monitoring software that tries to detect shifts, it doesn't find all of them, but?—"

"How would it do it?"

Quentin said, "We have servers set at different points in time, they keep records, then the records are compared, any points in time that don't match are flagged. Then it's run through a deeper comparison."

Lady Mairead said, "We hae been developing it for years, it works verra well, considering, though last time Magnus visited he had concerns and it dinna hae anything new, but now... it has noticed a discrepancy verra far back, in the interregnum period at the end of the thirteenth century."

"Aye, when I was crowned king."

She looked at me quizzically. "Ye were crowned king...?"

I dinna answer because I wanted tae see what she would remember.

She thought for a moment, then said, "Aye... I suppose ye were... I had almost forgotten it, Magnus, twas well done, when was it...? I canna put m'finger on the full memory of it... We went that far intae the past?"

"Aye, yet ye daena remember it because the time shifts restored the timeline tae rights. Tis just as well ye daena remember, because it never happened, except I hae the scars on m'body and the wrinkles on m'forehead from the work of it."

"...I remember now, ye were crowned king, was it in 1290?"

I said, "Somethin' like it."

"Well, this clears up a great many mysteries." She picked up an ancient book and clutched it in her lap. "The discrepancy is near then, Magnus, 1296. I hae had it flagged, and then I hae had someone looking at it?—"

"Someone ye trust?"

"Aye, he is a historian, he winna speak on the issue."

"Explain it then."

She asked the room's projection tae switch tae a marble sculpture, a man's head. Twas well done and in verra good condition. He was wearin' a crown.

She said, "There was an interregnum period beginning in 1296 in which there wasna a king, at least this is how we believe it went."

I nodded. "Aye, then Raibeart am Brusach came tae the throne."

"Aye, Robert the Bruce, correct, but ye see, Magnus, tis not what the record shows now. This man is listed as a king, and dost ye notice the newness of the statue? This is what triggered the flag — the sculpture daena seem as auld as it ought."

I asked, "What is his name?"

She snapped her fingers and an old record came up, it said: Asgall I.

"Ye ever heard of Asgall the First, Magnus?"

"Nae, and he sounds like an arse."

Lochinvar and Quentin nodded in agreement. Lochinvar said, "Like the bitter gall of an arse."

He and Quentin bumped fists.

She continued, "Thomas said?—"

"Who is Thomas?"

"Thomas Innes, the historian, do try tae keep up, Magnus. I asked him tae look intae the period. In the beginning he found little about this king, a mention here and there, twas as if he had been barely studied, but when I visited recently Thomas had found a great many more records. There is a shifting tae it, I am certain. As I am farther along on the timeline, I will count the mentions of Asgall in history books, then I will go visit Thomas and he will tell me of twenty more mentions. I will return here and there will be fifty records. Therein is proof of time travel."

I said, "It does seem so."

"Thomas went tae Stirling tae further his research at the library, and found this ancient psalter." She showed me the book, embossed with an ornate M on the cover. "We hae determined the date tae be the late thirteenth century. Twas a mystery whose book twas but now I think I ken."

I raised my brow. "Ye think tis mine?"

"Aye, tis the book of a king. Dost ye recognize it?"

"Nae, and there are many different reasons for an M tae be on the cover of a book, why must ye assume tis mine?"

"I dinna until ye told me ye remember being a king, now it explains everything. Do ye recognize this photo we found stuck between the pages of the book?"

Lady Mairead pulled a photograph from the book, and also called out for the image tae be projected on the wall. "Ye might recognize the room?"

My eyes swept the projected photo, there were three men, who at first glance I dinna recognize because I was more taken with the familiar room. "Aye, tis one of the rooms at Scone. How am I familiar with it? I haena been there, yet... I recognize it, I am certain I sat there many a day." The memories flooded back, the battle in the fields outside the walls, the terraces, Kaitlyn in m'bed in m'chamber on the upper floor. "My memories must be from 1290, yet this room looks just as I remember it — Scone haena changed in eight hundred years?"

"It has changed a great deal. Because of the herald and other details in this photo we hae determined it was taken in the thirteenth century. As I said, Thomas found it stuffed between the pages of this psalter as if it were a bookmark, with nae explanation."

"What time period is Thomas from?"

"I hae asked for his help from the year 1708."

Quentin's eyes went wide. "I suppose he must be confused by what he's finding, especially photographs."

She waved her hand, indifferently. "He prays on it, he daena dwell on it. But we hae determined that the man in the center of the photo is Asgall, former king of Scotland."

While they spoke, I strode across the room for a closer view of the projected photo, focusing on the faces of the men. "The man on the left is m'auld friend and ally, Cailean, aged a few years beyond when I last spoke tae him. But tis him, I ken it. I remember him well."

Asgall was taller than Cailean, although not verra big, dark hair, a mustache and nae beard. I pointed at the man standing tae his right. "And this is William Wallace, I remember meetin' him. Dost ye remember — he stabbed me?" I scowled and pulled my collar away trying tae see my shoulder. I could remember getting wounded, but couldna remember if it had really happened or not. I had tae unbutton my shirt to pull it aside and look. Aye, there was the scar from it.

"Och, tis a relief, I was wonderin' if I lost m'mind."

She said, "The photograph is incontrovertible proof that there is time travel afoot."

I said, "Asgall has taken the throne during the interregnum period, as I did, during a time of great turmoil. Perhaps it winna change history much."

She raised her brow. "Think on the importance of Robert the Bruce, ye ken his name, he is important tae history."

Quentin said, "Is Robert the Bruce still listed there, as one of the kings?"

She asked the room tae project a list of the kings of Scotland. Robert the Bruce was listed after Asgall, beginning in 1325 until his death in 1329. "Do ye think tis right?"

I shook my head. "He was only king for four years...?"

Lochinvar said, "Is this the main list? Does it include the footnotes?"

Lady Mairead said, "This is a verra good question, Lochinvar, as the centuries hae passed, history becomes settled. The Scottish kings are set in stone."

He shrugged. "Except it sounds tae me like the history of Scottish kings inna set in stone..." His voice trailed off at her glare.

She sighed, dramatically. "This is the list of Scottish kings, the main list. This is all that is important."

Lochinvar said, "Aye, Lady Mairead, ye are correct in it."

She looked at the list and huffed.

I watched her looking at it intently.

Then she said, "It would be good though, if it would remain settled. Do ye remember how long Robert the Bruce was king?"

I said, "Nae, but four years seems a short time."

"Exactly! And throughout this time there would be malicious dealings by the king of England, Edward I, but he is barely mentioned."

I said, "Aye, I had many dealings with Edward, he was an arse. He wanted tae appoint the Scottish king, as if Scotland were his vassal state."

She said, "Tis clear that someone has applied pressure tae history and changed its course."

She asked the room tae project the photograph of Asgall and Cailean with William Wallace once more.

Lochinvar said, "Maybe it's a good thing, maybe history is better now."

Lady Mairead scoffed. "Those are the ravings of a bairn, not a serious insight from a learned person who can be trusted tae lead, Lochinvar. Yer past is how ye came tae be, ye canna change it without changin' yerself. Ye canna change yer ancestors without affectin' yer future."

Lochinvar sat up straight in his chair. "Aye, Lady Mairead, my apologies."

She said, "Tis fine, Lochinvar, but ye ought tae grow more serious, when will ye be taking a wife?"

"I hae taken one. Her name is Ash McNeil."

Lady Mairead's eyes went wide. "What dost ye mean, Ash McNeil? Who is Ash McNeil? Why am I only now hearing this?"

I said, "Lochinvar has become enamored with a maiden."

Her eyes went wide, "Has she been properly vetted?"

I said, "Ye daena need tae worry, we will vet her, but he inna truly married either."

She turned tae Lochinvar. "Explain it tae me, Lochinvar, ye married without permission? Ye are the brother of a king, the uncle tae a prince — how can ye behave so irresponsibly?"

Lochinvar said, "I liked the look of her and I wanted her."

She sighed. "And how did ye convince her tae accept yer advances? Ye sound like an uneducated brute."

He said, "Ye once fancied this uneducated brute though, dinna ye?"

She glared. "Be verra careful, Lochinvar. This is yer future we are discussing."

He said, "I daena ken how I convinced her, I took her tae dinner, she served me pie. I like her a great deal. We hae made a thumb oath tae each other. I consider us betrothed."

She shook her head and muttered, "...served me pie..." Then said, "The fate of a kingdom rests upon yer ability tae battle and ye are goin' tae take a wife because she served ye pie?"

"Aye, twas peach." He grinned.

She threw up her hands. "Well, if twas peach, then of course it must mean twill be a good marriage."

She bellowed, "Show me an image of Lochinvar's wife and her file up to the date Lochinvar left." Then she asked, "Remind me her name?"

Lochinvar said, "Ash McNeil, she was in the military."

"Dear Lord, she probably has high ideas about women's abilities in running the world."

I said, "That is rich comin' from ye, Mother, high ideas! Ye run a kingdom!"

"I am a singular woman, there arna many like me."

"Thank God."

Lochinvar and Quentin laughed.

The projection on the wall showed a photograph of Ash McNeil. Then her files, listing her jobs and school and her military service.

Lochinvar said, "Can we see what happens in her future?"

I said, "Nae, ye daena want tae ken, Lochinvar, tis information that will only cause ye heartache and confusion."

Lady Mairead ignored us, reading, then asked the computer, "Please shew me a comparison between Ash McNeil, her family, her genetics, her history, and our family and all second cousins tae Magnus the First."

There came an answer: A zero percent match.

"That is a relief, but... ye are certain she has nae connection tae time travel, tae our kingdom, or our power?"

I said, "I daena think she has any connection tae us."

Lochinvar said, "She daena, she is innocent of it."

Lady Mairead said, "Well, this might hae been verra dire. Ye are sitting there dumbly, Lochinvar, as if ye hae not a care?—"

She interrupted herself, and waved a hand toward him. "But ye are young, ye daena ken any better." She turned tae Quentin, "But ye, Colonel Quentin, I canna believe ye dinna vet her! Ye are ignoring it, as if we daena hae a care in the world?"

"I wanted to vet her, Lady Mairead, but we don't have access to all the information you have. I meant to ask you to look into her background, but we just got here?—"

She looked at her watch.

I interrupted, "I think I speak for Colonel Quentin and Lochinvar and all the other men ye hae harangued in yer current mood when I say from now on we will vet all the maidens."

"This is the least ye can do."

I said, "Are ye dating someone, Mother?"

"My associations are nae business of yers and daena distract me, we have enemies everywhere, and we must be on guard."

Colonel Quentin said, "Yes, ma'am." And glanced at me.

I winced and jokingly pulled my collar from my throat.

I said, "We will make certain tae protect ourselves, and I am sure Ash McNeil is acceptable. She is local tae Amelia Island and haena had any troubles or raised any suspicions before."

Lady Mairead leaned back in her chair admiring Ash McNeil's image. "Beyond the lapse of judgment, she looks verra handsome, and her gaze is direct, I admire that." She pulled up a book from the table and with a fine pen copied information from the projection. "I will hae my people look intae her further."

I said, "Back tae the matter at hand — why did Asgall put a photograph of himself intae a psalter?" I took the book up and turned it over, openin' it tae see the photo. "It seems messy, it inna keepin' history straight, and anyone could hae found it."

I asked the computer tae project it so that I held it in m'hand and had it on the wall as well.

"He is sendin' me a message."

She looked the projection over. "Aye, it does seem like it, and it shows verra little respect for history. And because he is with yer friend Cailean, it seems as if he mocks us." The corner of her mouth went up. "The gall of him."

Quentin said, "Unless he doesn't know about us."

Lady Mairead raised her chin. "That is highly unlikely. He is a time traveler. He has taken the throne a few years after twas Magnus's rear keepin' it warm."

I said, "I was there first."

"He is also standing beside one of Magnus's allies?—"

"And one of m'sworn enemies."

"And putting the photo commemorating the moment within the leaves of yer book."

I asked, "Hae ye run a genetic test upon him. Is he related tae us?"

"I haena been able tae?—"

Quentin cleared his throat and looked down at the watch on his arm.

I said, "This is usually the first thing ye do, the simplest thing. Tis crucial."

"I canna because he has been so reclusive." She stood and walked tae the back of her chair and gripped it. "I believe he is imitating ye, Magnus, ye were once crowned king in the thirteenth century and ye are the greatest king Riaghalbane has ever known in the twenty-fourth century. Ye are the first man in the history of time tae be a king twice over."

Lochinvar said, "Dinna Ormr and Domnall do it as well?"

Lady Mairead scoffed. "They are gone, mere footnotes. They might hae attempted it, but they werna a success. The only king tae hae a kingdom at two ends of time, successfully, was Magnus. It might hae been short lived, but that is only because we put history tae rights. This man, who is he, Asgall the First? This is not a king's name, tis ridiculous! He is mocking ye and I daena like it one bit."

Quentin said, "While I appreciate that the discrepancy was found by ChronoGuard, it bothers me that we found it after he was crowned. What else is he up to?"

Lochinvar sipped from a drink, leaned back in the chair, lookin' relieved that Lady Mairead's attention was off him. "I daena like the look on his face. He looks like he kens he is trouble."

I scoffed. "I am not afraid of him. What vessel dost ye think he has?"

Lady Mairead said, "It could be 17.A. That one is unaccounted for, but as ye ken we daena hae all of them."

She slid the photo intae a leather-bound folder wrapped in a ribbon and passed it tae me. "This is everything Thomas has collected about him. Tis not much."

"Can I hae the psalter as well?"

"Nae, tis mine."

My brow went up. "Tis yers?"

"Aye, I am going tae hae it appraised and placed intae the museum. Ye dinna even ken it existed an hour ago, Magnus, ye daena understand its worth. I think ye will agree tis best kept in my hands."

"Fine, I agree, and this is a place tae start." I stood. "It's been a long day, we ought tae get some rest. I'll look it over and we can discuss it on the morrow."

She continued, "…also, in the folder ye will find your speech for tomorrow's Dawn Address. Ye will need tae become acquainted with it…"

"Och nae, a speech tomorrow at dawn?"

"Aye, Magnus, tis a must. The speech is short, but an address tae the kingdom is crucial because ye hae been away. Yer subjects wake up in the morn and ye tell them that ye are here and in charge. Tis consequential."

Everyone stood and took their leave, but as we went tae her door I turned and asked, "Just tae be clear, my Trailblazer is still in the vault and yers is safe?"

She nodded her head. "I hae taken another inventory — if there is a Trailblazer at work it must belong tae someone else."

Quentin said, "Great, I just love knowing with certainty that there are more machines."

Lady Mairead said, "Tomorrow night we will hae a fine dinner. I expect all of ye tae be well dressed."