Entangled With You

by Knightley, Diana

  “Perfect.”

  He left the room and it was pitch black and so quiet I couldn’t hear a thing at all. I clutched the walkie-talkie to my chest. And though I tried to be a big girl about it I turned it on and pressed the button. It made a loud squawking sound that threatened to wake up the whole house. I scrambled to turn down the volume and whispered. “Hi.”

  There was a second of waiting, longer than I thought I could bear, and from the static-y inside of the apparatus, Magnus’s voice. “Sleep well, mo reul-iuil, I am just outside.”

  A tear rolled down my cheek, but I found myself able to sleep.

  Chapter 28

  When my eyes opened in the morning it was ice cold in the room. Ice cold. Shivering. I tightened my blanket, my head was pounding. I needed aspirin and water, pronto. A deep breathing met my ear and I looked down, Magnus was on the ground beside the bed: flat on his back, his tartan wrapped around his shoulders, frosty breath coming from his mouth.

  I decided not to wake him especially because I had no idea how long he had been there. I quietly stepped across his broad chest and pulled open the door with the loudest god-dammed creeeeeeak. I checked him.

  He groggily said, “Where?”

  “I’m going to see Lizbeth, keep sleeping, I’m sorry I woke you.”

  He mumbled, “Good,” and threw his arm over his face and went back to sleep right there on the floor.

  I tiptoed down the hall. There were three closed doors.

  I crept down the stairs and found myself face to face with an older woman in the kitchen. She was plump and grey haired, dressed in a wool dress and wrapped in a shawl with an apron over the whole thing. She drew down her brow. “Ye must be the Young Magnus’s wife then?”

  I nodded.

  She looked at me skeptically. “You are quite young tae be the cause of all this devilishness. I have heard ye called many a name, but here ye stand afore me, a young bride, not much older than m’self at the beginning.”

  I mumbled, “What kind of names are they...”

  She threw down a dish towel. “Tis nae important the flappin’ mouths of simple minds, daena ye worry on it. Lizbeth Campbell says, and says it quite loudly and firmly that ye are a godly woman, as pious and good as they come, and I have a mind tae help her in the cause of it. I am Madame Greer. You and I are friends from this day forward. You need a friend, I can see it.”

  I smiled widely. “Okay, definitely. Friends, yes.”

  “I have been told that I can think what I want and because I daena shut up about it I get my way in most things, so I want ye tae listen tae me on this: Tis your life we are speakin’ on. You are a guest in my home, but I’ll see ye pray here every mornin’ beggin’ God tae look after us all.” She gestured to a small bit of wool fabric on the stone in a corner in front of a small cross.

  “Oh, yes, of course.” I went to the corner and knelt on the fabric.

  “Now ye begin and I will direct ye on it if I feel ye needs be directed.”

  She began wiping out a large pot with a grimy towel. She waved her hand at me, “Go on then.”

  I started with “Dear God...”

  She chimed in with “Good good, an excellent beginnin’.”

  I asked for forgiveness and she chirped about how my soul would surely receive it. She prompted, “Your Young Magnus will be wantin’ guidance leadin’ the men against this evil.”

  I prayed for guidance and for God to use Magnus as a tool for his good works and Madame Greer nodded sagely. She added, “Magnus will need wisdom to deal with this mess, tis family against itself, he will need God tae protect him.” She wiped at the counter while I prayed for guidance and protection for Magnus and when I included Lizbeth’s coming birth, I asked that she be delivered of the baby safely and Madame Greer said, “Amen, Madame Kaitlyn, include my sister, Morag, she has a tendency tae seein’ the worst in people. She may need ye tae show her a bit of kindness. She does feel the winter weather in her bones.”

  I prayed for her sister’s pains and included Madame Greer, without being asked, and her husband Ailbeart for good measure; for Lizbeth’s husband, Liam, and Uncle Baldie, and I included the Earl and especially Sean, that he would be guided to come to peace with the rest of his family. And when I ended and looked up, Madame Greer beamed at me. “Now see, ye are just as Lizbeth has said. I will remind the others that Lizbeth does ken the measure of ye.” She thrust a bowl toward me with some mealy substance at the bottom. “Eat your fill and up the steps tae Lizbeth’s room, she has been waitin’ on ye.”

  While I ate she carried on with her chatting. “You also haena complained once about the beddin’ in your room, I will be addin’ that tae my list of your fine qualities.” She twittered like a bird, then said, “Aye, have ye seen Young Magnus this mornin? The men were up verra late, with the guard. We haena had this much activity in a long time.” She huffed. “Trouble is the men are all in an uproar and haena had the good sense tae work the fields the way they ought. I think we will be havin’ a few years of trouble for it. But I said tae my Ailbeart, twould happen when the trouble started on Lughnasadh. I said, ‘Ye canna wage war during a harvest festival and expect the crops tae flourish.’ Och, we will be feelin’ it.” She stopped hustling around the kitchen to turn to me with a sigh. “Have ye a bairn, Madame Kaitlyn?”

  “I lost my first.”

  “Och.” She shook her head sadly. “Well, ye are young yet.” She cleared my empty bowl. “I am afeared for Lizbeth, tis a troublin’ time tae be bringin’ a bairn tae the world.”

  “I hope to help her. I have had some training with a midwife from back home.”

  “Good. Lizbeth trusts you, and the bairn will come on the morrow, ye mark m’words. I have been meanin’ tae call the physician but I daena want him in m’house. I will continue tae mean tae call for him. Now get ye upstairs. The men will be wantin’ tae eat next.”

  Chapter 29

  “Lizbeth?”

  I crept into her room, but I didn’t need to. Her smile was wide and she looked fresh and rested like she was about to bound from her bed. “Kaitlyn!” She gestured for me to come to her and hugged me happily.

  I said, “I have been so worried about you, but you look great.”

  Her rounded stomach jutted under the sheets. Her bed was big and comfortable.

  “Have ye met Madame Greer? She has sent me here tae rest though I daena need tae. But she is wise on everythin’ and whatever she tells me tae do, I do.”

  “She made me pray this morning.”

  She leveled her gaze on me. “Good,” she brushed her covers. “You listened tae her on it, she seemed pleased?”

  I nodded.

  “Good. She is on your side, Kaitlyn, she will protect ye as she can, but daena cross her. There are rumblings about ye. That Young Magnus is bein’ controlled by ye and ye are the cause of the Campbell war. But I am doin’ my best tae keep ye safe.”

  “Thank you.” My mind was rolling with the trouble of it, what did they mean? Were people calling me a witch? I couldn’t even imagine what that meant – like a witch witch? But I was grateful to Lizbeth and Greer for their protection.

  Lizbeth said, “Tell me what ye know of the weapons?”

  I moved off the edge of her bed and pulled up a chair. “They’re from Donnan’s kingdom. Magnus’s father. I don’t know anything about them. He doesn’t know anything about them. I knew how to drive them only because my father taught me to ride a vehicle similar to that. It wasn’t a weapon, it was something to ride. It’s hard to explain. In the islands, where I’m from, they use something like that — teaching me to ride was like teaching your daughter to ride a horse. But the weapons, the men, I didn’t know them, and I didn’t know they would follow us with so much destruction. I am so sorry about it.”

  Her hand went up to my cheek. “I imagine ye are, sweet Kaitlyn. I imagine ye are. I have seen ye chased with horrors that I couldna imagine and now I have seen them with m’own eyes. Tis terrible what they
can do. And this is the same history Black Mac has told us, he was greatly missin’ ye both. How is Young Magnus?”

  “His ribs are healed, but he is very worried about his family, especially Sean.”

  She sighed. “I am worried about him too. He sent me from the castle though I begged him tae leave with us. He would nae listen tae me, twas the first time he wouldna listen tae me.”

  “Magnus was wondering if he sent you away to protect you?”

  She sighed again. “It has crossed my mind, but his place is with us, nae with the Earl and his aspirations, nae with this man, Commander Davis. His place is with us.”

  “Magnus will meet with him, he will try to straighten it out.”

  “Good.”

  “Where are your bairn?”

  She laughed. “They are safe. They are with their nurse. I see them when I am up tae it. There are so many now, three, tis exhaustin’ tae think on it.”

  “There will be a fourth soon.”

  She widened her eyes swallowed some air. “I keep remindin’ m’self, every bairn is a blessin’.”

  “I have been wanting to talk to you about something... I asked a great many questions of a physician that I trust and I have brought medicines. I would like to be here for the birth. If you will have me. I think I can help.”

  “You hae been tae a birth before, sister?”

  “No, but—”

  “Tis the kind of carryin’ on that might scare ye from the joy of motherhood for good. Magnus is okay with ye bein’ here for it?”

  “He is, he knows I have some knowledge on it now.”

  “Well, I would wish tae say I daena need ye, but Mildred Campbell dinna survive it nae three months ago. The physician attended her, he is more likely tae deliver one tae the grave.”

  “Oh god, don’t say that.”

  “I have tae be ready, Kaitlyn. Tis possible that these days may be my last.”

  “Well, I don’t think we should be so dark about it. This might not be your last days, this might very well be some of your best days if I can help it.”

  Lizbeth smiled. “Tis good tae have ye home, sister. Tis ice cold outside and rainin’. What will we do with ourselves?”

  Chapter 30

  Magnus knocked on the door. He set down a few boxes of my equipment and medicines and kissed me on the cheek. I gave him my chair and he sat down by the bed. “Hello Lizbeth, are ye well?”

  She sprawled back her arms and said dramatically, “I am barely able tae manage, I fear my end is near.”

  Magnus’s eyes went big.

  She grinned. “Tis nae true, Young Magnus. I am fine, I am only in bed because Madame Greer is makin’ me intae an invalid because it will be better for my reputation tae barely survive the birth than tae be my mother’s daughter and survive everythin’ with the help of the devil.”

  Magnus shook his head. “Ye scared me.”

  She patted the back of his hand. “Twas nae fair of me, ye have had too much fear these days. I am sorry for it.”

  He said, “You canna talk of leavin’ us, we need ye.”

  “Sean daena, he has turned his back on the family.”

  “I daena ken what is happenin’ with Sean, but I will learn it. Are ye havin’ a bairn this morn?”

  “By the morrow, tis the new moon tonight.”

  I asked, “Why? What does that have to do with it?”

  She laughed merrily. “The moon has always got some mischief tae it, and will likely call the bairn out in the middle of a darkened night. Also Madame Greer told me the bairn would be born on the New Moon and I daena hae the will tae argue with her.”

  We all chuckled about it.

  Magnus said, “Lizbeth, I intend tae leave Kaitlyn with ye today but I need tae speak tae her on some things first.”

  “Of course.”

  I followed Magnus to the hall.

  * * *

  In the hall he ran his hands through his hair. “Have ye heard what they are saying about ye, Kaitlyn?”

  “Yes, but don’t worry about it, Magnus. Madame Greer and Lizbeth are protecting me. I spent the morning in prayer. Don't worry.” I smoothed my fingertips on his temple.

  “Tis hard tae trust anyone, they are all at odds with each other and—”

  “We’ve caused it, we’re going to fix it. Has there been any news about the castle?”

  “Nae movement, but I have tae believe they ken we are here. The men want tae storm the castle tonight...”

  “Oh. I thought—” I thought I would be with them, because of our whole ‘Magnus won’t leave Kaitlyn by herself’ thing, but there wasn’t anyway to reconcile the two missions. He had to storm a castle. I had to help deliver a baby. And how could I help with the storming? I didn’t have the right skills.

  He said, “I wanted tae wait, but the truth is, Kaitlyn, they could bring the fight here, to these village men. They shouldna have tae fight for their homes. These are peaceable people. Lizbeth is here, we daena want a battle in the streets while she is deliverin’ a bairn.”

  “I don’t think it will be helpful to deliver a bairn when she knows her husband is fighting at the castle either.”

  “What would ye have me do, Kaitlyn? Your word is my command.”

  “You don’t have to say that. I actually don’t want to be your commander. I just want to make sure we’ve thought this all through.” There was a humming sound outside the house.

  My eyes went wide. “What is that noise?”

  “The drones. They send them regular tae look around the village. There have been many since we arrived last night. Daena go outside, Kaitlyn. Stay from the windows.”

  “Oh. Yeah, okay.”

  “I have the men, tonight will be dark. We can take the castle and time-jump the weapons tae Florida.”

  I stared over his right shoulder, nodding, thinking it through. “Who will time jump with the vessels?”

  “Quentin and Tyler. I will give ye the other vessel.”

  “What if you’re in danger? You’ll jump with them?” We were back here, in that place where there were too many possibilities. We couldn’t come to an agreement on where to meet because there wasn’t anyway to meet. “Be back by tomorrow. No matter what. Tomorrow, so I don’t worry.”

  He nodded. “And I’ll have my walkytalk. You will ken what is happenin’.”

  “Of course. Okay. This is good.”

  He pulled me into his arms and we held each other for another long time.

  He whispered, “I love ye,” into my hair. “I have tae meet the men. We have tae discuss the plans. And we have tae get our weapons and men tae the castle, there is much to do.”

  I held tighter. “I can’t let go. Can you hold me a little longer?”

  “Aye.”

  He cradled my head to his chest and I didn’t think I could ever let go. It was another one of those moments where I felt like this was it — the last time. I breathed in, the cloth spread across his chest full of the scent of him.

  I didn’t want to break the silence, but I had to say how I felt. “I love you my husband. You are my everything.”

  He squeezed me closer. His voice vibrated his chest against my ear. “As you are mine, mo reul-iuil. For a time we will have only the voices from these small boxes, but you will ken that my voice is from me, near enough, doin’ everything I can tae come home.”

  I hugged him again and stepped back. I patted my waist belt with the two-way radio on it. He patted his two-way radio in his leather pouch, strapped to his sword strap, situated over his heart.

  “I’m going to go back to Lizbeth.”

  “Your gear is in the room. Everythin’ ye need.”

  “Did you have something for breakfast from the supplies?”

  “I did. I will see ye soon.”

  And then we both turned and walked toward our different journeys.

  Chapter 31 - Magnus

  The afternoon had been long. We gathered supplies, weapons, and men and met in the woods to f
ormulate a plan.

  We knew Commander Davis’s men would have seen the storm that announced our arrival. The drones were here, watching the village.

  We were scourin’ the woods searchin’ for the men navigation’ the drones. And we kent Commander Davis would send more men tae the village tonight. We had tae cut them off before they made it there.

  The meetin’ had been difficult — Quentin and Liam and many of the other men were convinced Sean had turned a traitor.

  I thought he was pretendin’ the part.

  I wanted tae count on him. We were brothers and I had grown used tae thinking of his life as my own. We had fought together. We had celebrated and mourned and we had gotten intae a great many scrapes together. I couldna believe he would turn his back on me.

  But I especially disbelieved he would turn on Lizbeth. She had been like a mother tae him, a friend. He trusted her in everythin’. If she told him tae come away from the castle and he refused, he had a reason. I was sure of it.

  Also I couldna believe he would ride against the village. Twas full of family. Friends. I couldna believe it.

  So I thought he would remain at the castle.

  It nagged at me though, some of his last words, he wouldna listen tae me about the throne. He had seemed irritated that I wasna wantin’ tae take it.

  I thought twas brotherly advice, but perhaps twas somethin’ more ominous?

  But I could nae reconcile it with the man I grew up with.

  Chapter 32 - Magnus

  Quentin and Tyler and I rode tae the castle, crossing the River Tay at the old bridge and following along the river banks. We hoped tae have the element of surprise. Quentin was verra good at ridin’ a horse. Tyler was good enough.

  In the far distance we could see the smoke of the camp set tae draw Davis’s men away from both the castle and the village. As we drew nearer tae the banks of the river, I tapped the button on my walkytalk. Kaitlyn’s voice came through. “Hi.”