On the first line of the page of the register in his big sprawling hand he wrote:
Magnus Archibald Caelhin Campbell
On the line below he wrote:
Kaitlyn Marie Sheffield Campbell
Then he wrote:
Married on this day, anno 1705
Then under it:
Archibald Colin Campbell, of the age three, son of Magnus
And then:
Isla Peace Barbara Campbell, newly born, Daughter of Magnus and Kaitlyn Campbell.
“Hae I done it well?”
I had watched it all and the importance of it hit me hard. His head bowed, his brow serious, concentrating on the loop of his cursive, his penmanship, the art of it. Filling the four lines of the register in the Earl of Breadalbane’s family book. I nodded and he hugged me.
To the man he yelled. “Would ye like the pen?”
“Aye.”
Magnus passed the pen and he and the man conversed overly long in a loud booming Scottish Gaelic. At the end I made out that Magnus said, “Be cautious when ye open the pen, there are many verra wee parts. Once done tis nae easy tae put them back together.”
Then Magnus lifted Archie and led us from the chapel.
“I didn’t understand most of what you were saying.”
“Och, neither did I, he canna hear so he just talks about whatever he thinks may be discussed next. Tis a verra confusin’ conversation. He verra much likes the pen though. I am worried he will be breakin’ it by the end of the day.” He pushed the door open at the end of the chapel and then we heard the rumbling begin.
“Oh no, what is that?”
Magnus said, “It sounds as if we are about tae meet what is comin’.”
Thirteen - Magnus
Kaitlyn and I were met by our friends in front of the Great Hall. We explained we were comin’ from the chapel, but there wasna time tae explain more as the earth was shakin’. The rumbling traveled up from the ground. Fraoch said, “We must go.”
I squeezed Kaitlyn’s hand, “Find cover,” and left with Fraoch for the walls.
Men were crowded along the parapet. The rumblin’ was loud. It loosened rubble and gravel was shakin’ and vibratin’ against the stone. Twas jarrin’ tae have the castle shakin’ under m’feet — it sounded as if sure destruction was comin’ from all directions, though Quentin had the binoculars facin’ east.
I grabbed m’own binoculars and pointed them in the same direction.
He announced it first, “There’s an army coming. A big one.”
Fraoch asked, “What kind of army makes a sound such as this?”
Quentin said, “A motherfuckin’ future army.”
“Och,” said Fraoch, “Why does everythin’ with that word in front of it hae tae be so formidable?”
Quentin asked, “What, motherfuckin’?”
“Nae, future.”
I said, “In the future they hae taken all our worst ideas and made them bigger, louder, and more dangerous. War is an example of how bad it can go.”
In the far distance lay the forest. Within it, inroads — trees snapping, falling, clouds of dirt and debris risin’ intae the air. Hoverin’ above, the drones. The drones weren’t on the attack, they were guardin’ over whatever was crawlin’ across the ground.
Quentin said, “There are tanks. It looks tae be about five.”
I raised the sights tae m’eyes and watched, then reported, “The drones are the 11-EOS Hunters, outdated tech, but from m’kingdom.” I watched them coming. “Which means the tanks are from m’kingdom as well. If I am correct in my estimation of their size, they are the O-25 class of Hellion battle tanks. In my kingdom they were developed tae fight against Roderick. They are formidably armed.”
I swept the sights along the tree line. “Their formation looks tae be from m’kingdom’s military guidance for siege. We hae planned this, tae surround, comin’ through the woods, as these tanks daena need roads.” I lowered the sights. “Och, I ken how this battle goes, but we arna armed for it.”
Quentin said, “So if this is Roderick — did you use this against Roderick, could he have learned it that way?”
“Nae, this was logged in our guidance. Against Roderick we used city strategies, this is countryside warfare.”
“So if this is Roderick he has commandeered your weapons and is using your guidance?”
“Aye.” I raised the sights tae m’eyes again. “Until they shew themselves we winna ken, but they are likely tae want me. I should turn m’self over.”
Sean overheard me and joked, “We arna turnin’ ye over tae them, brother. They arna askin’ nicely.”
James said, “Yep, exactly, they’re being total dicks, riding up like this shit. Where’s