45. Chapter 45 - Magnus

The mindset of m'son was greatly concernin' me. I kept thinkin' on his recent question, If I am king, are you gone? And his dream that matched my own, Long live the king, and how that meant it must be a memory — if I was there, it ought not concern him much, but the fact that his dream included the chant, The king is dead! concerned him a great deal, and finally, most worryin', the fear in his eyes.

We were all settled in chairs. The kids had returned from their exploration. Lochinvar's leg was bouncing, he was ready tae go. "Where will we look first? Tis time tae make a plan."

I stood, "I agree. But first, I hae made a decision, I would like tae move the family tae Balloch while we rescue the maiden."

Lady Mairead said, "Wouldna it make sense tae leave everyone here — we have the computers, yer large military, yer castle?"

I glanced at Archie. He and Ben were sittin' on a chair, their legs swinging as they dinna touch the floor. "Nae, while I understand that there are positive reasons tae stay here, I think the Prince needs tae see his cousins. Runnin' through the halls of a musty castle in the eighteenth century will do him good."

Archie said tae Ben, "Bug Man, we're going to go see the cousins!"

They high-fived.

I said, "Master James, I will let ye choose whether tae move yer bairn or nae. Ye are welcome tae stay here, or ye can come with us tae Balloch."

James looked at Sophie. "What do you think, babe?"

Sophie said, "M'lord, I would like tae go with the rest of the family. That way ye might be of a help tae them."

James said, "Alright, we are decided, as long as Junior gets a gold thread."

I said, "That will be a priority. Everyone else is game?"

The group nodded.

I said, "Okay, then, ontae the matter at hand. We hae two possible dates. Tis yer decision, Lochinvar, where do ye want tae look first?"

Lochinvar ran his hands through his hair. "Tell me the two choices."

I said, "One is from a published article about Asgall Holdings, tis..." I flipped through the pages in the leather folder, finding the document and reading aloud: "November 7, 1912." I flipped tae the following page: "Here is the address for Asgall Holdings, in New York City."

Lady Mairead interrupted, "I ken where that is, I will go with ye."

"Good, that makes sense. We also ken that Asgall was crowned king in the year 1296. If we are fortunate, Ash might be found in either New York or Scone?—"

Lady Mairead said, "Or neither of those places. Ye must be prepared, Lochinvar."

He scowled.

I said, "The only preparation Lochinvar needs is tae decide where tae begin."

Lochinvar shook his head and held out his hand for the folder. He looked through the pages. Then shook his head. "This is a lot of words that daena help."

Fraoch said, "Between us all we hae a lot of experience with time travel, Og Maggy has run a few rescue missions, how many?"

I said, "About three hundred seventy two."

Kaitlyn said, "Everyone in here has rescued someone at some point."

Lochinvar nodded. "I want tae run off tae the thirteenth century and battle Asgall at the walls of a castle, but what if I am wrong? I want tae ken what the family thinks, I call a vote."

Zach said, "Hoowhee. I don't even let the family vote on dinner, you think this is a good way to plan a rescue mission?"

Lochinvar said, "I dinna say it would be bindin', I just want tae hear yer opinion on it."

Kaitlyn rushed tae the buffet and returned tae her seat with a notebook and pen. "I'll keep track."

James raised his hand. "So in all of time we are trying to decide whether to go to a certain date in 1912 or a whole year in the thirteenth century?"

Lochinvar said, "Exactly."

He said, "We got nothing else?"

"Nae, we hae only this."

James breathed out. "Okay, let's vote. Glad there's a lot of us, cause I would not want to be the one deciding this alone."

Lochinvar stood up and I sat down.

He said, "Mistress Ash is my lass, I will vote first."

He looked around at the other faces. "I want tae run intae the castle with m'sword drawn. I vote thirteenth century."

Fraoch said, "What if she inna there?"

Lochinvar scowled. "It remains m'vote." Then he said, "We ken Lady Mairead will want tae go tae the twentieth century."

She said, "Aye."

Then he asked, "How about ye, Fraoch?"

Fraoch said, "I agree with Lady Mairead, we ought tae go on a fact-finding mission first."

Hayley smacked him on the shoulder and whispered, "You're agreeing with Lady Mairead!"

He asked, "What would ye say?"

She said, "Fine, I also say the twentieth century."

Kaitlyn was writing furiously.

Lochinvar sat down in his chair.

I said, "Where ye goin'?"

"Don't know, I regret this stupid vote. Will ye run it?"

"Aye." I stood. "Quentin? Beaty?"

Colonel Quentin said, "Because we don't for sure know that the timeline goes back past 1557, we would need to test, we would have to be cautious, we might need to use the..." He shivered, "...Trailblazer. I opt for the simpler place, first. We should go to the twentieth century, find out what we are up against."

Beaty said, "I think ye ought tae pray on it first, Lochinvar, then ride intae battle with yer sword high. There is justice at stake."

I raised my brow. "Verra interesting. Zach and Emma?"

Zach said, "I agree with Beaty, swing that sword, Lochie."

Emma said, "I agree with my husband, Lochie should follow his heart."

Lochinvar's foot was jiggling, he drew his sword from its sheath and held it point down between his feet.

I said, "Lochinvar, I thought ye said it wasna binding?"

"Tis binding if it goes my way. And I am just ready — tis comfortable tae rest m'hands on my hilt."

I said, "James and Sophie?"

James let Sophie go first. "I believe Lady Mairead will be able tae learn what we need, and we must ken more afore we act. Please note that I am wantin' the men tae go with Lady Mairead tae the twentieth century first."

James said, "I'm thirteenth century, first. Do it, go team Lochinvar."

I said, "Kaitlyn?"

She said, "I'm writing down my idea, that I am on the side of caution. It's always good to be on the side of caution. Twentieth century."

I said, "Generally, except when the villain has stolen yer maiden, then ye ought not be cautious, ye ought tae start swingin'. I vote for the thirteenth century. Will ye count the votes?"

Kaitlyn counted. "It's a tie."

"Och nae."

Lochinvar said, "Archibald, would ye like tae break the tie for us?"

He said, "I side with Fraoch and Colonel Quentin, it's safer?—"

Ben said, "Ride into battle!"

I laughed. "Och nae, another tie!"

Lochinvar said, "Isla, would ye like tae break the tie?"

She said, "Side with Mammy."

Kaitlyn leveled her eyes at Magnus. "Your son and daughter vote for caution."

I nodded.

Lochinvar looked around at all of us, then at Archie. He exhaled. "Alright, this is what we will do. We will go check in New York first. It has been decided."

He added, "But we daena need everyone at once, Lady Mairead and I will go tae the twentieth century and discover what we can while the rest of ye move tae Balloch."

I said, "Ye are certain?"

"Aye, it seems likely the fastest way tae begin, or I will hae tae stand around waitin' for all of ye tae pack yer things for Balloch."

Zach said, "It's a lot like herding cats."

Lochinvar said, "Aye, tis. Lady Mairead, would ye be able tae go straight away?"

She stood. "I will be ready as soon as I dress."

We all withdrew tae make ready for the trip.

The Trailblazer was brought tae me. I wrapped it and put it in a messenger bag. We had three vessels for those of us on the mission, many more for the rest of the family. We had enough gold threads for the bairns. The horses were bein' saddled. I had bags of guns. Some grenade launchers, grenades, a drone. We were wearin' garb from the past, and had a bag of camping equipment for when we needed it. We had some food so we wouldna need tae hunt or bargain for every meal.

We had presents for the cousins. Fraoch and I had changes of clothes.

During our preparation Lady Mairead, dressed in early twentieth-century traveling clothes, strolled intae m'office as I was gathering paperwork for the trip. "I wanted ye tae ken, the lad and I are leaving now."

"Tis a kindness that ye are accompanying him."

"Well, he is a good lad, he is easy upon the eyes and kens his place."

"Ye hae always had a soft spot for him."

"He has enough of Donnan in him that I do feel rather softened toward him, but, ye ken, if he ever crosses me I will end him, just as I ended his mother." She turned on her heel and left for the twentieth century.

Later the rest of us gathered on the helicopter pad on the west side of the castle. Haggis was excited, we had our horses, a pig and a chicken, seven bairns, and a great many people tae be springing upon m'sister and brother. We packed and piled crates of food because the winter of 1709 had been the coldest on record and we wanted to provide sustenance. We piled the gear, held ontae each others' arms, wrapped around our bairns and jumped.