71. Chapter 71 - Magnus

There was a chambermaid readyin' the room as I entered. She bowed and left hastily. A boy built a high fire in the fireplace tae cut the gloom, as the room hadna been used in a few days.

I removed my clothes and bathed with a rag and water from the pitcher and dressed in clean, more royal clothes that fit the time. My shirt was tight across m'shoulders, I had been working out regularly in Florida. I stretched, tryin' tae give m'self more room.

Then I put on a tunic, with a fur-lined collar and cuffs. I buckled a belt around m'waist, and m'cloak, pinned with a large brooch around my shoulders. I sat down on the settee tae put on m'boots.

The sight of the fire gave me pause. I remembered sittin' here, my hand on Haggis's head, while I was fretting over Kaitlyn bein' trapped on another timeline, long hours, worrying and praying — what of that was real and what was lost tae time?

I couldna say, but I did ken this, that my kingdom was here. The throne was mine. I was goin' tae hold it and keep it, and most important, I ought not keep it by m'self, because it had been a lonely endeavor last time. I wouldna make that mistake again.

After dressing, I left my chamber with guards falling in around me.

I went down the steps and crossed the courtyard, tae the doors of the small royal chapel. I entered through the thick wooden doors, enclosed by stone walls and high arched ceilings. Afternoon light filtered through the small stained glass window, across the floor and pews. And I was reminded again, I needed tae replace the window with a larger more brilliant one.

The air was cool and still, perfumed by the aroma of incense.

I heard the rustle of robes as the priest realized I had arrived and approached tae greet me.

He insisted on a prayer, but then when he wanted tae continue conversing, I interrupted tae ask what I needed, "Dost we hae a library?"

"A collection of manuscripts, Yer Majesty?"

"Aye, bound books; I am lookin' for one in particular."

"I hae the Bible, twas a gift from ye, as ye remember, the rest of the books ye keep within yer chancery."

"Och, there is a shelf in my chancery...?" I repeated him, because I wasna certain what he meant.

"Aye, Yer Majesty, ye hae given me leave tae look through them, I am honored by yer kindnesses."

"Ye mean in m'office, the room beside m'chamber?"

"Aye sire, ye hae oft spoken of it as yer chancery."

Och nae, I had nae memory of having books there, I couldna remember what the interior of the room even looked like, but I took my leave and climbed the steps toward my chamber once more.

I went through my sitting room and through a smaller door intae the office. There was a table, with three chairs, and I suddenly remembered sittin' there, with Cailean opposite me, discussin' the news of the kingdom.

It was odd that I hadna remembered it before. And there was a table with a row of books. I stood looking at it for a time — I dinna remember putting them here, perhaps they had been added by Cailean? Though as I ran m'finger down the titles they seemed added by m'self.

Another sign of a timeline, that had been twisted.

I had a book of poems by Rabbie Burns, the Complete Works of Shakespeare, my copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War, anda bible I recognized. I pulled it from the shelf and found the name Lady Mairead Campbell written in her hand on the inside page. Beside that was a verra auld copy of the Iliad, and at the end of the row, the psalter. My finger paused there and I considered it. I had been looking for it, but hadna believed it would be here.

I pulled it from the shelf and a memory hit me. Cailean had given it tae me, tae celebrate my accession tae the throne. He had ordered it created with the ornate M on the cover and had given it tae me with the words, "I ken ye are parted from yer family, I hope this will bring ye solace."

I flipped through the pages tae the chapter Lady Mairead had shown me.

I closed the book, tucked it under my arm, and returned downstairs for a meal.

I saw Fraoch leaning against a wall in the courtyard.

"Ye waitin' for me?"

"Aye, bored, nae one wants tae see me, ye go everywhere with a guard. How many men dost ye need tae relieve yerself?"

"Four, apparently."

"Och nae, ye are full of yerself tae need four men tae hold yer cock when ye piss."

I shrugged. "I am a king, tis a majestic cock."

We entered the Great Hall. All bowed deeply as I passed. There werna many guests, as I had surprised Cailean and the kitchen staff, but there were about twenty people there who wanted tae welcome me on my return.

I was famished by the time I took a seat at the head of the long table, with Fraoch and Cailean tae m'right and left.

The meal was good, four courses, with a main dish of venison with gravy, followed by a verra pleasing dessert of rhubarb crumble with vanilla custard. We drank many glasses of wine.

After the meal Fraoch leaned back and patted his rounded stomach. "Och aye, twas grand."

I said, "Twas verra grand, Cailean, thank ye for organizin' the meal, we were famished."

"I am pleased I could welcome ye home, well." He stifled a yawn. "M'apologies, yer majesty, I am weary from the day."

"How hae ye been Cailean, well?"

"Och, I hae the aches and pains of age and battle."

"Ye are lonely as well, hae ye considered taking a wife? Someone tae smooth yer brow and warm yer bed?"

He chuckled. "The ones who are warm and smoothing daena want an auld man like me."

Fraoch said, "But ye are the right hand man tae the king! If I had been so powerful it would hae been easy tae win m'wife! Instead I had tae win her with rose-scented grease in m'hair and m'charmin' personality."

"True... perhaps on another night, ye can show me how tae use m'personality and power tae win a lady."

Fraoch said, "...and on the night of the feast, I will advise ye on how tae grease back yer hair so ye smell like a garden, the ladies do love it." He said, "Och, we ought tae introduce ye tae Lady Mairead, she would find ye dashing."

Cailean said, "Lady Mairead is...?"

I said, "My mother, and she is too much trouble for ye, remember I said ye needed someone tae smooth yer brow? Lady Mairead is prone tae wrinklin' a man directly intae his auld age."

Fraoch laughed.

I said, "But speakin' on m'mother, at her urgin' I would like tae give a Dawn Address on the morrow."

"This is new, ye hae never given one before."

"Lady Mairead advises me tis important for a king tae make a Dawn Address after he has been away tae properly announce that he has returned."

Cailean said, "I think tis a verra good idea, would ye do it in the courtyard or the chapel?"

"The courtyard would be good, I think, can ye spread word that all are expected? Then all can break fast."

Cailean said, "Aye, I will. And Magnus, tis good tae hae ye home."

"Thank ye, Cailean."

"Let us begin with an announcement."

He banged on the table, pushed back his chair and stood. He held up his glass. "Yer king, Mag Mòr, will be gracin' us with a proper Dawn Address in the morn. Ye are all expected in the courtyard. Just before dawn."

He raised his mug tae a man sitting at the side table. "Even ye, Ian — daena be so drunk ye sleep through it. Whether ye are up all night, or sleepin' like a bairn, ye must attend." The people dining in the Great Hall laughed.

Cailean raised his mug tae me. "And, Yer Majesty, I welcome ye on yer return tae Stirling, slainte!"

I raised my glass and said, "Slainte!"

Cailean put down his mug. "And now I need tae go tae m'chamber tae rest for the morn. Good evenin', Yer Majesty."

He limped from the room.

I said, "Och nae, I daena like tae see him in pain."

Fraoch said, "I will go get him some medicine as soon as we are able."

"And heatin' pads and a good mattress, did we get him a good mattress? Are there good mattresses here? I forgot tae check m'bed."

"I napped all afternoon, m'bed daena hae a good mattress. If Cailean's mattress is the same, tis surprising he can walk upright at all."

"Ye napped? Och nae, ye are auld too."

"Or young like a bairn, bairns nap all the time! What did ye do while I was sleepin'?"

"I worried, and contemplated."

"Like an auld man."

I chuckled.

Then we both drank from our mugs. I asked, "What dost ye think, Fraoch, about all this?"

"I think ye hae won yer kingdom, handily. Ye sit upon the throne of Scotland, and ye are in a good position tae protect the realm from the ascendance of Arsebunkle the Aggravatin'."

"Och, that is a good name, did ye just come up with it?"

"Aye, verra proud of it. I am, as m'wife would say, on fire tonight. I am not certain what it means but I think it means m'glory warms me from the inside."

"So I am a king at two ends of time?"

"Aye, and ye must hold both these thrones. I hate tae be the one tae say it, Og Maggy, but ye will need tae be here for a time, tae make sure this one is held strong."

"I agree." I nodded. "I absolutely agree. Dost ye think I hae changed anything else, dost ye think Archie still feels it is dire?"

"Ye are worried on him?"

"Verra worried."

He took a sip of wine. "Life is short, ye ken, Og Maggy, yer son is worried about yer impending death from auld age, he can see ye witherin' afore him?—"

"I am at most thirty-one."

He chuckled. "I forget sometimes I am older than ye."

"If he is seein' the future, I daena ken how tae help him, tae set his mind at ease."

"Maybe ye hae tae just be the king — ye rule, ye take charge, and if he is frightened, perhaps seein' ye be in charge will give him strength."

I nodded. "Aye."

He yawned. "I am exhausted. What a few days we hae had! We rescued the maiden, worked the Trailblazer, and took yer throne. Och, Og Maggy, we are heroes."

I said, "I am verra weary as well and I hae a speech tae deliver in the morn."

"Dost ye ken what ye are goin' tae say?"

I patted the book. "I hae the speech that Lady Mairead wrote for me, folded in the pages, here, tis a good speech, and I can speak extemporaneously if I need tae."

"If there is one thing Og Maggy can do, he can talk on and on about his greatness."

I laughed as we stood. People all around the Great Hall bowed as I left the room with Fraoch following.