5. Chapter 5 - Magnus

CHAPTER 5 - MAGNUS

RIDING WITH ARCHIBALD IN KING’S PARK - JUNE 16, 1291

A fter breakfast, I asked Archibald tae go for a ride.

He followed me out tae the stables, where I asked for Dràgon and Mario tae be brought tae us. While we waited, people bowed and curtseyed as they passed. One man startled when he saw me, then bowed and groveled.

I nodded and sent him on his way. Then chuckled and raised my brow. “What dost ye think, Archibald?”

“This is wild.”

I said, “I think so as well, and we are becomin’ wilder tae match our surroundings.”

Our horses were brought. We climbed in the saddles and I turned Dràgon and led us from the castle courtyard toward the King’s Park, with Haggis bounding along beside our horses’ legs.

We had four guardsmen followin’ us.

While riding, Archie looked thoughtful, then asked, “Do you like it when they bow to you, Da? I don’t know if I would.”

I smiled. “Ye are thinking of what it will be like tae be king?”

He nodded.

“Are ye worried about it still?”

“No, not much...” His voice trailed off. “Yeah. The worry went away, a little bit.”

“I think yer concerns will probably sit here on yer back.” I leaned over and patted him high on his back between his shoulder blades, just under his neck. “Twill be much like a yoke, always present, perhaps yer whole life, Archibald. Tis yer fate.”

He nodded.

“Yer job will be tae straighten yer spine and strengthen yer back, so the yoke winna wear ye down so much. And ye ken the best way tae do that?”

“Bench pressing?”

I said, “Aye, but also, ye do it by lookin’ out on the horizon. See me in my saddle? If I am lookin’ down...” I slouched forward. “...the yoke, here...” I attempted tae pat that place on my own back.

He giggled. “You can’t reach it, Da.”

I laughed and tried again. “Nae, m’muscles are too big, I am stuck with the yoke, even if I wanted tae throw it off. But if I sit up straight in m’saddle and look out, see how m’back straightens?”

He straightened his back in the saddle.

“Good, ye feel it. The other place ye will feel it is when ye are up on the walls lookin’ out over the lands, ye look out and yer back will be straight and strong, nae matter the weight. And whatever comes ye will be ready.”

“That sounds good, Da, on the walls and on Mario I’ll practice.”

“But that is not all... another way tae strengthen yer resolve is tae enjoy yerself, tae hae fun with yer friends, tae love a fine lass, tae eat a good meal — when ye lean back in a chair and laugh as ye look around at yer family and friends, ye will also strengthen yer?—”

“Because your family and friends are kind of like your horizon.”

“Och aye! That was well said!”

We rode for a moment, in quiet, looking out over the landscape, watching Haggis run off after something that moved in the brush and loping back without anything at all as if he had forgotten why he left.

Archibald broke the silence. “... isn’t it strange that I have to have a straight, strong back, but everyone else bows?”

I said, “Archibald, as Chef Zach would say, ‘Ye hae exploded m’brain.’”

Archibald laughed. “I don’t think you said that right.”

“Probably nae, but tis part of m’charm.”

We rode through the wide green fields and then turned tae go on the easy path around the perimeter of it. “And, about the bowin’, I am ‘not a fan’ as yer Aunt Hayley would say. I would make a rule that they canna bow, but I tell ye, Archibald, sometimes, ye want them tae bow so they will quiet or they all will be talkin’ at once. Tis necessary tae follow tradition and keep order — tis crucial. Our subjects are many, they might decide someday tae remove a tyrant king from the throne — in America, the story goes that they fought a bloody revolution tae free themselves from a king and his taxes... so a king ought not be a tyrant, but a king also canna allow his subjects tae get a high idea in their head, or the king might be overthrown.”

“Emma read to us about the revolution, I guess... I never thought that you’re like the king in the story.”

I laughed, “Och nae, Archibald, I am not like that English king! I think, after bein’ a Scottish King and livin’ in Florida for so many years that I would side with the rebels.”

“Good, me too.”

I teased, “Unless the rebels are tryin’ tae overthrow my throne, then I will side with m’self. I promised my descendants a throne, I mean tae deliver it.”

He nodded and from the corner of my eye I saw him straighten his back.

I said, “Tis not all terrible though, Archibald, ye will hae fine breakfasts and ye will sleep in a lavish bedroom, ye will hae heavy responsibilities but ye will also be surrounded by friends and family. Ye will live in Grace from God, and will be wise and just, and laugh from yer belly when ye are havin’ fun, and ye winna hae tae worry about rebels overthrowin’ ye, because ye will be fair, and yer subjects will join yer army when ye make the call. That is the best measure of a king, ye ken. The downside, alas, is I daena sleep much. Ye will see, one day ye will be as weary as I, with the same wrinkles.” I smiled tae crinkle the wrinkles around m’eyes.

He laughed. “You make it sound fun.”

I laughed too. “It seems like hard work most days, but has become vastly more fun now that ye and yer mother and sister and wee Jack are here.”

We watched Haggis scamper off and return.

I asked, “Did ye notice the carvin’ of the wolf on the wall of the castle?”

He shook his head, then said, “You mean the one on the Great Hall?”

“That’s the one.”

“Ben and I thought it was a carving of Haggis.”

Haggis looked up at Archie and barked.

Archie said, “I’m talking about you, did you hear me talking about you, good boy?”

Haggis frolicked, his tail wagging.

I said, “He is a funny dog, tis hard tae see him as a descendent of wolves.”

Archie laughed. “So it’s a carving of a wolf?”

“Aye, the story goes that wolves once lived in caves on the cliffs of Castle Hill and on one fateful night, the men who lived here long ago were fast asleep when Vikings attacked?—”

His eyes went wide. He whispered, “They attacked here ?”

“Aye, but as they crept up on the castle, one of the Vikings stepped on the paw of a sleeping wolf, and the wolf woke, and the wolf howled a mighty howl until all the wolves woke, and they all howled. The mighty men of Alba woke up and began tae fight, and they won, Archibald, they beat the Vikings and brought peace tae our lands. Those men are our ancestors and that is why the wolf is a symbol of Stirling.”

“I like that story — I think you should call yourself the Wolf King.”

“Tis a good idea, except maybe Fraoch would tell me I am an arse for thinkin’ too highly of m’self.”

He said, “That sounds like Uncle Fraoch.”

I watched him ride for a moment on the long wide field. “Ye hae become a verra good rider.”

“Thanks Da, want to race?”

I said, “I daena ken...” Then I commanded Dràgon, “Ruith!” and set him chargin’ across the field.

Behind me Archie yelled, “Hie!” and set Mario tae chase.

We galloped across the plain. I let Archie pass me and he began tae howl like a wolf as he rode, a fine sight, full of bravado and confidence. My pride in him swelled in my chest, I howled, too, as I passed him. I pulled Dràgon tae a stop at the edge of the far field after winnin’ the race.

He pulled up a few moments behind. “Aren’t you supposed to let me win?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Let ye win? Why would I let ye win?”

“Because I’m a boy.”

“Ye are a prince, why would a king let ye win?”

He shrugged.

I laughed. “I was just tellin’ ye that whole story about how ye canna let yer subjects get high ideas in their heads, or ye might be overthrown — tis the same for princes.”

Archie said, “Oh, yeah, right.”

“Someday ye will beat me.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I am a time-traveler, I met ye in yer future. Ye will grow tae be a big man, a worthy king, and most importantly a good horseman.”

“Most importantly?”

“Aye, tis the way tae my heart, ye ken.”

He said, “Aye....” Then he asked, “So what happens when someday I beat you?”

I shivered. “Och, I daena like the sound of it, Archibald, I would prefer not tae dwell on it, but I will say this, ye will be a man and I will be proud of ye, and I will say, ‘Well done, son,’ and then I will go about my duties as king — just because ye can ride fast daena mean ye get tae replace me.”

“I don’t want to replace you.”

“Then we daena need tae worry about it, tis verra far in the long away future. But ye are well, ye arna worried on it?”

“No, I am well, but Ma said something that I’ve been thinking about, ‘Do what makes the best story.’”

“Aye, her Grandma Barb used tae say that. It makes ye feel better?”

“Yeah, I have a cool story coming, and there’s not much I can do about it. You’re a king, I get no say in it.”

“Aye, ye will be a king, tis a bloodline, tis harsh but tis true, ye canna do much but accept that this is yer story.”

“Yeah, and if this is my story, that I have to be a part of... I could fight it, I could be a brat and not play along nicely, or I can be the hero of it, you know?”

“Aye, I ken, with power comes a great deal of responsibility.”

He laughed. “Da, you just quoted Spider-man.”

“Did I? I dinna notice, I am a man from the past, I daena ken what a ‘spider man’ is.”

“You do too, it’s one of your favorite movies.”

“Aye, I love that movie. Tis true. My favorite though is Thor, he is verra heroic even if he is a Norseman.”

We turned and headed tae the castle.

I added, “So, what ye are saying, Archibald, is ye hae become accustomed tae the idea of becoming a king?”

“I don’t know, how did you get used to it?”

I chuckled. “I daena think it came easily. I fought against it, tried tae hide from it, I dinna want tae do it — ye ken why I finally decided tae become the king?”

“Why?”

“Tae keep ye and yer brother and sister safe, that is the whole reason. Ye hae a royal bloodline coursing through yer veins, ye hae tae sit on a throne or ye winna ken peace.”

He nodded. “That’s what I mean, we are in a story and we can’t get out of it, so we ought to make it good — like you might as well call yourself the Wolf King. That sounds like a good story.” He howled, “Aarh-ooooooooooh!” Then said, “And if you are worried about an English attack, you can think like a Wolf King.”

“Where did ye hear about an English attack?”

He shrugged. “I hear things. If an English attack is like a Viking attack, we need to wake the wolves.”

“Tis true. And the men.” I smiled.

He howled again, bent back, aloud to the sky, “Arwhoooooohhooo!” Then said, “You just have to Wolf King it. That will make the best story.”

“I agree. So ye will remind yerself, Archibald, when ye hear things that frighten ye, that ye are just the prince — ye hae long years afore ye must be king, more long years afore ye are a Wolf King.” I teased, “And ye canna even ride a horse fast at all. Ye will be strong and wise long afore ye must be king. And in the meantime ye can think tae yerself, ‘I daena want tae be king,’ while telling yerself, ‘but I must, and so I will make it the best story.’”

“And you will keep riding fast, Da, but occasionally you will let me win, sometimes... I promise if you do, I won't try to overthrow you.”

I laughed. “Tis a deal.”

Then he asked, “The King of England is starting a war?”

“There are rumblings that he is wantin’ war, how frightenin’ do ye find it?”

“Terribly.”

“Tis nothing we canna handle, Archibald, and think of the story we will tell of it after we kick his arse.”

He laughed as we rode through the castle gates.