47. Chapter 47 - Lady Mairead

CHAPTER 47 - LADY MAIREAD

THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - 24TH CENTURY

I was eating the last few bites of my chocolate cake and then I glanced around the table as I chewed and swallowed the last one. M’staff had been irritatingly slow today, nae one was paying me any mind. I put my fork down, paused… nae one took it. How long was I tae sit with an empty plate in front of me? Another moment passed. I pushed the plate away and a servant rushed over and whisked it away.

It had been a long day, I had nae patience for anyone not doing their job. If Magnus was here they would tighten up, but he hadna been here in a while. The day had grown long, time was passing. I had been busy in meetings — but hadna he promised tae come soon?

We had left his return date open, because there was a great deal he had tae accomplish.

My job was tae run everything and check in on him through the historical record, he was doing well. A king in the middle ages, enjoying a fine time in the thirteenth century surrounded by his family, I supposed. All had gone tae plan.

I thought about visiting him. I would like tae see the age. I had always wanted tae, but never had because I dinna like the idea of doing it alone. The long ago past was unstable. I had always been worried about becoming lost. What if I became stuck? Who would come for me? Nae one.

But with Magnus there, twould be a good time tae visit…

I dinna like being the only person who hadna been there.

I lifted my wine glass tae my lips and sipped the last of it. I put the empty glass down and waited for it tae be noticed.

If I went tae visit Magnus though, I would certainly hae tae suffer a tour. I despised tours. Havin’ tae smile and nod while someone beneath me explained tae me about the layout and workings of a place — the idea of it was enough tae keep me away.

Though I was certain twould be interesting. I would verra much like tae meet Robert the Bruce.

Also, I thought William Wallace would be fine company.

I had been busy all day in meetings with the generals, I really wished I had a fine young man tae rub my feet.

I sighed. I did miss Pablo. I had meant tae go visit him but hadna had the chance. I would go, as soon as Magnus was back.

I waved my hand for more wine. Nae one had noticed my empty glass.

Of course they probably expected me tae go tae my chamber now that the meal was done...

When Magnus returned I would meet him on the roof, tell him that he needed tae take his staff tae account with a firm hand because I was done with the empty glasses and havin’ tae ask for what I wanted.

Then I would twist my vessel and just go. Tae Belle Epoque Paris or Manhattan or anywhere but here.

Wine was brought near and my glass filled.

I took a sip.

What did I have on my schedule, anything?

I considered… two days with nothing much, a meeting with the head of transportation... twas unimportant. I could put him off. I could take a couple of days and go see Pablo. Magnus would never even know.

I glanced at my watch. It was 9:30 pm. If I left now I could return on the morrow. The chances of Magnus arrivin’ in the next twenty-four hours was verra small.

And what did I care — he might be the King but I was the Queen Mother, everyone knew the Queen Mother trumped the King. Everyone.

I drained my wine and pushed my chair back from the table as the servant rushed over tae help. I leveled my gaze on him. “I hae been considering yer fate most of my dinner — in the future ken this, when I dine with company I might not notice, but when I dine alone ye must be more responsive. I hae had ample time tae stew upon yer lack of qualifications.”

“Yes, Yer Highness.”

I raised my chin and left the dining room.

I went upstairs tae my room and changed intae my best Parisian clothes, a tight corset, a long red velvet dress, a wide hat. From the safe behind the Picasso painting I retrieved my vessel and put it in my always packed overnight bag. I left my rooms.

I would go and come right back before I was missed, in and out. Just enough time tae relax. I would return rested and able tae run the kingdom.

I passed my household manager in the passage on the way tae the landing pad. “Where are you off to, Your Highness?”

“I hae decided tae spend the night with a friend, I will return on the morrow.”

“Would you like me to send a guardsman with you?”

“Nae, it winna be necessary. I will take precautions. Please contact Marshall and tell him our meeting must be pushed, and let Hilda ken I winna need breakfast in the morn. Also, watch over everything in my absence and if for some reason, King Magnus returns while I am away, which winna happen, he inna expected, but if he does ?—”

“…I will tell him you had pressing business and you will return in a few hours, Your Highness.”

“Perfect.”

A guard pushed the door open and I stepped out ontae the landing pad. It was night, all around the castle were the wide lawns, and lush gardens, dark and mysterious in the moonlight, with wee lights twinkling along the walking paths. In the distance were roads with headlights moving along them, and overhead there was a sprinkling of stars, but in the distance, in the direction of the city, a sky filled with air traffic: helicopters, planes, and drones.

I strode out intae the middle of the pad and pulled the vessel from my bag and looked down on it, blinking. What was wrong?

It felt odd, as if it werna working.

I twisted the ends, checked the numbers, even recited them out loud as I used tae do — what could have caused this? Naething worked.

I had done this before tae Magnus, grounded him. I had the device for it, but this had never been done tae me.

This was outrageous.

I was very very unsettled by this happening. I stamped my foot. I had been looking forward tae a visit with Pablo and I had been also thinking about visiting Flora and Cully. They were going tae introduce me tae Liz and Jock Whitney at the races…

Who had done this tae me?

I stalked back intae the castle and rushed down the passage tae the elevators. The Household Manager met me in a hurry. “I thought you left, Your Highness!”

“I wasna able tae, I hae had tae change my plans.” I pressed my hand tae the pad for the elevator tae take me down tae the vault.

He said, “Would you still like me to tell Hilda that you will want no breakfast?”

“Of course not, tell her that there must be a grand breakfast, and if I am not here for it, then I am not here for it — tis what it is.” The doors slid open. I stepped in.

He said, “So if the King arrives — have you been called away?”

I rolled my eyes as the doors slid closed.

I rode the elevator down tae our underground vault. The outer room was filled with ancient and expensive weapons and other artifacts, behind it was a room where some of my most expensive art was stored — the pieces with complicated provenance, that were impossible tae explain how I came tae possess them. I passed through another sliding door that I accessed once again with my handprint.

This was the interior vault for the vessels and other devices. I overlooked the boxes that I knew held vessels — I had taken a recent inventory, and had nae patience right now. If I was stranded I wanted tae go tae bed and not think about it. If I found out that our vault had been robbed I would not be able to sleep.

I opened the chest that held a Trailblazer — right where it was supposed tae be. In another chest there was a Bridge where it was supposed tae be as well.

Then I went tae the far wall where there hung a painting by Turner, titled A Ship Against the Mewstone, at the Entrance to Plymouth Sound . It had been Donnan’s favorite and was a fine example of Turner’s work, hanging in a prominent place on Donnan’s gallery wall and I had admired it, until one day Donnan had corrected me with his fists, blackening my eye, and causing me a great deal of pain and fear. I had clamped my eyes closed tae keep from crying, yet Donnan had demanded, “Open yer eyes and apologize tae yer King!”

I had opened my eyes tae see over Donnan’s shoulder: this painting. It was majestic, a lone ship on rough seas, overcoming the storm tae get tae a farther shore, the shore of the New World. I had focused on this painting as I had said, ‘Aye, sire, my apologies, sire, I winna do it again.’

Now I hated this painting, even as I knew that brewing hatred had inspired me tae keep going, and as soon as I found myself the mother of a king, as soon as Donnan was dead, I pulled that painting off the gallery wall and moved it down here. Twas verra valuable and reminded me of my strength but I only wanted tae see it when I was in the vault, counting my spoils. Because I had won.

I pushed the painting aside and found behind it a small hidden safe. I opened the door with my handprint, and removed an antique jeweled box. I unclasped the latch and opened the lid to find it empty. It ought to have contained what Donnan had called the Darner. It changed the course of the vessels and could draw someone tae ye, or repel them away.

The Darner was also able tae strand someone.

I used tae hae at least one Darner, how many did I hae last week? I shook my head. Perhaps two — I couldna remember. I pulled my newest book from my pocket, and flipped through the pages looking for my last inventory.

I went back about two weeks, and found one — had it been that long?

I had never allowed that much time tae lapse afore.

Was it on account of my complacency or despondence? I had been out of sorts. I knew it. But would I have let ennui hinder me from taking an inventory?

I drew my finger down the page looking for the correct number of Darners, but the last time I had taken an inventory I hadna counted them, I had to go back tae one of the first pages of the book tae find a full inventory.

Then, I had one.

Now I had none.

I swore tae myself I would keep better track and flipped through tae the first clean page and wrote a quick, partial inventory:

Three chests, I did not count the vessels as I have a great deal on my mind, a Trailblazer and the Bridge are here, and safe: the box with the Darner (Darners?) is empty. They are missing.

I dated it.

Under that I wrote:

My vessel is not working.

I opened the closest chest and dug through the straw for a vessel and held it, it felt lifeless. Och nae. Another and another. It took twenty minutes to go through all the boxes and check all the vessels. I had all that I remembered, none of them were missing, but none of them seemed to be ready tae work.

I left the vault with two more vessels tae test them out on the landing pad, traveling up the elevator tae the rooftop once more. I pulled all three of the vessels from my bag and twisted and turned them, growing more and more irritated, until the door opened behind me. “Your Highness! I thought you were not leaving! Are you planning to leave once more?”

I exhaled, exasperated. “Nae, I am nae.”

He said, “So I will tell Hilda that you still want breakfast.”

“Aye.”

I wanted tae scream. But I put the vessels back in the bag, raised my chin and stalked past him. “I am retiring.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”