food durin’ the night. People can wake in the morn and spend a whole day livin’ without ever havin’ tae get dirt on their clothes. And Fraoch, when they are tae relieve themselves there is always paper tae use tae clean, there is water tae wash it away. They will take a warm shower every day and tis as if there is heaven on earth. My shower, tis what it is called, is in a large room and all I hae tae do is turn a knob,” I acted it out, “and the water will pour out, as if tis rain, but warm, as if it is in the summer sun. Can ye imagine it?”
“Nae really.”
“Then I will wrap a verra thick towel around m’self, tae dry, and if I am havin’ a fortunate day, m’wife might invite me tae bed her, because I am unclothed and clean. Daena even get me tae begin describin’ the bed, tis like a cloud. Ye never hae tae fluff it, and ye daena hae tae fight bugs for it.” I looked at him seriously.
“I am telling ye this, because yer wife has grown up with this type of life, these kinds of comforts, and she has told Kaitlyn she will give it all away tae live with ye, here, because she means tae be a good wife. But I want ye tae ken that ye are askin’ her tae give up too verra much. Kaitlyn worries about her desperately.”
“I can care for her.”
“I ken. I ken ye will do everythin’ ye can, but I tell ye Fraoch tis nae the same as goin’ through yer day in the year she lives in. There ye daena face death as often, as ye ken here ye might face death ten times afore breakfast.”
He nodded.
“Tis why I am tellin’ ye this in private. Ye should consider it, what ye are askin’ of her.”
He nodded again, quietly.
I concluded, “I winna speak on it again, but I want ye tae ken, if ye come tae the future ye will be welcome in m’home. Twould be a good time tae shew ye the new world.”
“Aye, I hear ye, Og Maggy, but I want ye tae ken I hae made up m’mind.”
“I ken. I simply wanted ye tae consider it.”
I looked back down at the walk-n-talk. “I daena understand why tis takin’ so long for Quentin tae make contact.”
Sixteen - Archibald the First
The year 2419
Isla entered the room. “How are you?”
I was leaning on the desk staring into a command console. “Well enough... considering—”
“Yeah.”
She came around the table and hugged me. “When will he get here?”
“The helicopter is expected in twenty minutes.”
“You should meet it.”
“I should. How do I look?” I turned so she could straighten the front of my coat, brush my shoulders and push my hair back.
“You need a cut.”
“I do, but ye ken I haena had the time.”
We met eyes.
She said, “Sometimes you sound so much like Da.”
“Yeah...” I stood straighter. “I wish I could think like him too. He would know what to do right now.”
“He was great, and an excellent king, but I think even he would be out of his element in this. Have you told her?”
“Not yet, I don’t relish it. It’s the anniversary of Da’s death, she’s a mess.” I sighed. “But I’ll go see her as soon as he’s returned.”
“Need me to come?”
“Can you go ahead to the hospital, make sure they’re ready?”
Flanked by guards, I took the elevator up to the landing pad, as the three royal-guard helicopters descended to the rooftop. Armed soldiers jumped from one, lowering a hospital stretcher, and wheeling it past me with a bow. They pushed the stretcher through to the interior of the castle, headed toward the hospital wing. I followed them to hear what the physician would have to say.
I knocked on the door of Kaitlyn’s apartment and her maid ushered me inside.
A few minutes later she entered, her hair mussed, red-rimmed eyes, wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants with tartan slippers that my father had given her, their final Christmas together.
“Is everything okay, Archie?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Oh.” Her face grew worried.
“Quentin has been shot, he’s been brought here to the hospital. Dr. Durham is doing everything he can to help him, but it’s not looking good. His age... and...”
She collapsed into a chair, a tear sliding down her face. “Oh no.”
“As soon as you’re dressed I can take you to see him.”
“Of course...” but then she remained sitting. “Shit, why today?”