51. Chapter 51 - Magnus

CHAPTER 51 - MAGNUS

THE SIEGE OF STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 20, 1291

M ’head spun. I had nae weapons, I could nae time travel, and I had nae idea if Lady Mairead was on her way tae rescue us. Was anyone able tae rescue us? My family and all the people of the castle were at risk.

Fraoch yelled intae the radio, “What are ye sayin’?”

Asgall’s voice:

I am saying that if Mag Mòr daena surrender, the next bomb will be aimed at the stairs of the cellar ? —

Zach said, “Get them out! We have to get them out!”

Fraoch yelled, “Go, go get them!” But Zach and Cailean were already running across the courtyard toward the stairs that led down tae the cellars.

My head pounded. How had I allowed this tae happen?

The voice, emittin’ from the radio:

Ye daena hae enough time.

My knees buckled, I dropped tae all fours on the ground and threw up.

I wiped my arm over across m’mouth as a helicopter rose in the air from King’s Park.

It flew through the air toward us.

Behind me I could hear Haggis as he emerged from the cellars, barking and angry. He was goin’ tae get hurt. We had nae protection, nae chance tae fight, Asgall’s modern weapons were too advanced for us.

I was on my knees. “I surrender!” I put m’hands behind my head, facin’ in the direction of the helicopter as it approached, shining its spotlight directly at me.

Fraoch said, “Nae, Og Maggy!”

“We hae nae choice?—”

“He will kill ye!”

“Tell him I surrender.”

“Nae, we will hae some other plan!”

The helicopter was ridin’ closer.

“Fraoch, tell him!”

He was speakin’ intae the radio.

The winds buffeted me as the helicopter hovered, then lowered and landed in the courtyard.

Three men, wearin’ black military-style uniforms and carryin’ rifles, descended from the helicopter and rushed towards me.

Fraoch tried tae block their way. “Where are ye goin’?”

One man shoved him, another raised his gun tae Fraoch’s face.

Fraoch raised his hands.

Behind me I heard Kaitlyn shriek. She had emerged from the cellars. She was a witness tae this… Och nae, this would frighten the bairns.

One of the soldiers put his hands on me and Haggis lunged, barking and snapping.

I yelled, “Fraoch, grab Haggis!”

He pulled Haggis away as the dog snarled and twisted in his grip.

The soldier grabbed m’arms. He took my gun and my knives, and tossed them tae one of his other men.

I asked, “Are ye Asgall? Who here is Asgall?”

The man wrenched m’arm as he zip-tied m’wrists in front of me. “He’s in the copter.”

Fraoch said, “Where are ye takin’ him?”

My captor dragged me tae m’feet. “Tae a meeting.”

Kaitlyn yelled, “Magnus, Magnus!”

“Aye...?” I turned tae look over m’shoulder.

She was holdin’ Jack, surrounded by Isla and Archie. “Magnus, don’t let them take you!”

I tried tae smile, tae make it seem less frightening. I said, “Tis alright, Kaitlyn, I haena met Arsegall yet. I canna fight someone I haena met, daena worry — I will be back afore ye miss me.”

The soldier put his hand tae his ear as if he were listening to the radio. Then he said, “Is that your wife?”

“What...? Nae!”

He jerked his head toward Kaitlyn.

A soldier stalked toward her.

“Nae!!” I tried tae climb tae my feet, but I was shoved back down. “Nae!”

They were struggling, Kaitlyn and Jack were being dragged taeward me. Archie and Isla holdin’ ontae her waist.

“Let them go! Ye daena need them, let them go!”

The soldier beside me laughed and spoke tae the other soldier — twas impossible tae hear over my frantic breaths.

The soldier who had been conferring on the radio commanded, “He daena want the children, leave them. Bring the Queen.”

I saw Emma drag Jack from Kaitlyn’s arms. Zach was pullin’ Isla and Archie from around her waist. My kids were held back and Kaitlyn was shoved toward me. “Nae, nae, ye daena need her! I surrendered!”

The soldier yanked me up and shoved me tae the helicopter. “I get extra for a king and a queen.”

Kaitlyn was being shoved behind me. She was yelling, “No! No no no no!”

Isla shrieked. Jack was wailin’. Haggis was barking. Kaitlyn was sobbing behind me. My heartbeat was loud in my chest.

But then Archie yelled, “Da!”

I looked over m’shoulder, he said, “Da! Take care of Mammy!”

“I will, son! Take care of Isla and Jack!”

Then Archie howled, “Arh-ooooooh!” He howled long and loud, “Arh-oooohoooooooh!” And then another person joined him and another, but I couldna tell who because I was shoved intae the helicopter, and although I tried tae stop the fall, my bound wrists were nae match tae gravity. I landed flat on m’face on the floor.

Kaitlyn cried out in pain as she was shoved in behind me and landed on my back. This was not m’first time being forced intae one of these god-awful machines, not even my first time being in one of these machines with Kaitlyn captured alongside — still, there was never goin’ tae be any gettin’ used tae it.

The soldiers jumped in around us, strappin’ intae their belts. The helicopter lifted off from the courtyard of m’thirteenth century castle. I managed tae push Kaitlyn up with m’shoulder and flipped myself over ontae m’back. I lifted my bound arms so she could put her head on my chest. She sobbed. “I’m sorry, Magnus, I’m so sorry!”

“I ken, mo reul-iuil, we will get back tae them.”

“My poor babies!”

“I ken... I ken mo reul-iuil. I ken.” I put my arms around her.

“What are we going to do?”

“Survive and then kick some arse, not necessarily in that order.”

She nodded her head.

We were headed somewhere I dinna ken. We both raised our heads tae look down as we left — Kaitlyn said, “Oh no, oh no, oh no...” as the helicopter swooped out over the land.

My castle was destroyed. The walls torn down, our bairns were standing in the desolate courtyard watching the sky as we were taken away.