the future, the story was unfoldin’ behind me, and now twas written on the sky — beyond the castle a giant storm was growin’, big and dark and oppressive, lightnin’ sparked the ground, thunder shook the earth, the clouds built tae the sky.
I smiled.
I asked the drone, “Is it yer storm?”
The camera turned and focused on the horizon. “No, I mean... no, I do not know...”
“Good.” I said, “This means Lady Mairead has arrived tae join the discussion. This should be fun.”
Twenty-two - Kaitlyn
The Same Moment
Halfway across the field I saw Magnus stop, turn his focus to the riverbank, and a few moments later Quentin, Sean, and James, and the flag bearer, rode from the tree line. They skirted the fields, never approaching Magnus.
Fraoch said, “They hae been warned nae tae approach him.”
But I heard a faint, “Ben Cruachan!” from Sean and then something in return from Magnus and then Magnus waved across at me.
“Hi.” I spoke it as if he could hear me, as if he was right there. I waved back.
He spread his arms out wide, cocky, always cocky, even when he was being led away, under arrest. Seriously, my love? He was tiny and far away but I could make out that his smile was wide. He was walking backward, meeting his future by watching our lives unfold behind him. God, I loved that man.
The gates creaked open for the returning men.
Just as wind rustled up the back of my hair.
I turned to look, and there behind the castle — a big gigantic, beautiful storm.
Fraoch asked, “Tis the rest of Roderick’s army?”
“I don’t know.”
Fraoch strode up and down the battlement, telling the men to prepare for attack, to guard against what was coming, but there was Magnus, still smiling, and then finally he neared the tree line. He was met by guards, surrounded, wrestled down, and then dragged into the woods.
Just as Sean, Quentin, and James made it up the stairs, I spoke, “He’s gone.”
But the storm billowed above us, roiling clouds and dark skies.
Quentin said, “Who’s coming, Katie, any ideas?”
I said, “It could be anyone, but by Magnus’s expression, I’m thinking it’s Lady Mairead, and my husband believes it’s good news.”
Twenty-three - Magnus
Guards surrounded me. They shoved me tae the ground and relieved me of m’weapons. I swung at the man closest and then I was pummeled and kicked, crumpling to the ground. Two men grabbed me by the arms and wrenched them together. They bound m’wrists with one of the gold metallic bands like the ones Donnan had used.
“Where did ye get this? Tis from m’kingdom, who gave it tae ye?”
They dragged me past a line of crushed and flattened trees to their command shelter, right where I suspected it would be, they forced me tae m’knees in front of Lord Philip.
He was a small man, with a mean countenance, his scowl a permanent feature. The kind of man who seemed itchin’ tae deceive. His father had been a terrible man and his son had all the same qualities accompanied by a lack of strength, nae sense of honor or justice, only connivin’. I hated the sight of him, and couldna suppress the sneer on m’face. My disdain was made worse because he wore a uniform from m’kingdom. He believed it made him important.
“Ye are wearin’ a uniform from m’military, dost it mean ye are under my command?”
He looked away, so I pushed further. "Who gave ye the gold bands? The weapons from m’kingdom?”
“Roderick. He has been very forthcoming. He was willing to pay very well for your capture.”
I struggled but they held me tight. Everything hurt from the blows tae m’sides. “What are ye planning next?”
“Nothing. I am turning you over, but first I am to let you hear this...” He said, to one of his men, “Play the audio of King Archibald of Riaghalbane, surrendering.”
I steeled myself, a clench of all my body tae control m’rage.
Kaitlyn’s voice, older, but her voice, all the same, comin' through: “I am Her Royal Highness—” The sound of fist on body and a shriek. Then she continued, “I surrender tae Roderick.”
A gruff voice said, “Down on your knees.”
She said, “No, don’t please...”
A man’s voice: “I, King Archibald the First, surrender to Roderick.”
I scowled and closed my eyes. “What year is this happenin’?”
Lord Philip shrugged.
I said, “Och, ye are just his errand boy. I winna waste m’time talkin’ tae ye then.”
He ordered his soldiers, "Hurt him,” and they set about kicking and hitting me as if it brought