Epilogue II - Archie

EPILOGUE II - ARCHIE

SOUTH END OF AMELIA ISLAND - PRESENT DAY

I lumbered up slowly and brushed off the sand. We were on a windswept beach at the south end of Amelia Island. How many times had I landed here?

I muttered. “Och nae, that was worse than I remembered,” and glanced at the two people I had traveled with. They were beginning tae stir, but I dinna have a lot of time tae converse.

I glanced up and down the beach, twas familiar, bringin’ back memories.

I shaded my eyes and looked down the dunes. Was that our auld house down there? It had been a while since we had lived there. I missed it, it pulled at m’heartstrings tae see it, hulking on the dunes. Closed up.

I focused on it, flashes of runnin’ down the beach with Uncle Lochie and Ben, chasing birds, and tossin’ a football. I had barely remembered it but now twas clear in m’mind.

Och, I missed this place — I wished I could go in, explore, see m’auld room, but I couldna tarry. I needed tae go... as long as the vessel was workin’ I needed tae get movin’.

Yet I already missed m’family…

Would I cease tae exist?

Twas all uncertain and terrible, but I had tae move forward, everyone depended upon my success.

I plucked the vessel up from the sand… Who would I go get first? I was not entirely certain, Uncle Lochie?

I pulled the letter from my sporran, unfolded it in m’lap, and read it once more. It sounded as if Colonel Quentin and James were stuck at Balloch, but Uncle Lochie’s message sounded as if he were in dire danger.

I hated havin’ tae choose who tae rescue first. What if I were responsible for the death of someone in m’family because I made the wrong choice?

I wanted tae go directly tae the thirteenth century tae lend my sword tae m’father, tae rescue m’parents, but I was there when I was eight, I remembered it like it was yesterday: I was in the courtyard of Stirling, m’heart poundin’ in m’wee chest, I had been verra frightened, there was an arm around me holding me back. I wanted tae run tae the helicopter — it was big and hulking and... so loud. M’Da was on his knees with his hands bound, his face bloodied. I was holdin’ ontae my Ma’s arm, but she was pulled way. I held on as tight as I could, but her arm was yanked free. She was shoved toward Da, they were both thrown intae the helicopter and flown away.

I had been responsible for Jack and Isla and Haggis ever since.

Och I had felt confused and inconsequential. I had wanted tae help m’Ma and Da, but there was nothing I could do. Twas devastating. I had been left with shame that I hadna done anything tae save them.

All I did was howl like a wolf as they left.

The act of a boy.

A howl of fear and anguish, but m’family had decided tae call me the Wolf King ever since. As if it were a badge of honor. Over the years I had grown tae embrace the name, but in the beginning it had filled me with shame. I was just a boy who had been stranded in the past.

Not a king, and definitely not a wolf.

Now I had a vessel and I could do somethin’, but I had tae be calculatin’ and wise, I couldna allow the fear and confusion of m’youth tae dictate m’path.

For a moment I wished I had brought Ben for the company. We had fought alongside each other in many battles, beginnin’ when we were mere lads, runnin’ messages between Uncle Wallace and Uncle Fraoch at the Battle of Falkirk — we had been a wolf pack for a long long time.

Since I was eight.

Ten long years — where were my parents?

I watched a seagull’s flight as it soared above the waves.

Ben would hae loved tae hae seen this beach again. But I couldna risk his life.

I put the date and time into the vessel and stuffed the paper back in my sporran. I looked down on the vessel. Did it look right?

I finally said, Aye.

Liam shifted in the sand, waking up.

I whispered, “I am leavin’, thank ye for bringin’ the vessel.”

I began tae walk away, leading my horse, Mario.

He called, “Where are ye goin’?”

“Tae Balloch Castle, the year 1683.”

He said, “I hope tae meet ye again sometime!”

I turned and put my arms out, “Tis unlikely as I am merely a traveler on the wheel — I doubt I will get tae come back round this way again.”