Begin Where We Are

by Knightley, Diana

  “This is about all I can find here at my laptop. We could hire someone, a genealogist or something.”

  “Nice, ‘genealogist’ when did you get interested in this kind of stuff?”

  “When we lost Magnus, I never thought about it before.”

  “When we lost Magnus…” I slammed the last of my Baileys. “You know, here’s something, will you check the family tree for another older Magnus?”

  “Really why?”

  “They all called Magnus, ‘Young Magnus,’ and someone mentioned an older Magnus, but I never met him. And I don’t know… is there anything?”

  Zach spent a few minutes scrolling through the page searching small type for the name. Then he realized there was a handy search bar and he typed Magnus into it and the year and picked the location and, “All I can find is one.”

  “One Magnus?”

  “I’ll even do a date search and include all of Scotland, yeah, see, not a very popular name in Scotland in the seventeen hundreds.”

  “That is weird. I know I heard there was another Magnus that was old.”

  Zach’s eyes went big. “Do you think it might have been our Magnus? That he was there, old, looped over himself, in the past of his past self? Oh shit, I’m not even high and you totally blew my mind.”

  “I’m not saying that at all. That totally sounds like something out of Star Trek. But I’m also saying, ‘what if?’ While trying really hard not to sound crazy.”

  Zach grinned. “I’m glad we don’t sound crazy.”

  “We didn’t really learn what happened to Magnus.”

  Zach closed the laptop lid. “We didn’t learn much. But this was a big step for you. I’m impressed.”

  Magnus

  My doctor gave me permission tae leave the bed, but I was still in much discomfort and breathing was nae easy tae accomplish. I wanted tae go back tae bed, but Bella was receiving information from people close tae Donnan. We were expected at dinner tonight. And he was furious about something.

  She said, “Probably the missing Tempus Omega, they are very precious.”

  “Couldna he make more?”

  “No, they’re an alien invention. He fought a war and won them. We don’t know how to make anything that advanced.”

  “He keeps them all in one place?”

  “Yes, in a room near his private apartments.”

  I scowled. I was in no mood for this errand, the conversation, this purpose. “You told me ye dinna ken the location of the vessels.”

  She smiled. It was silky and smooth and looked verra dishonest. “That was when I thought someone might be listening. You’re on our side now. I can tell you anything because we work together.” She ran her hand down my shoulder. “But it doesn’t matter. It would be impossible to get a Tempus Omega with Donnan in charge, but if you kill him, if you’re crowned king, you’ll have access to all of them. All the wealth. Everything. Wouldn’t that be perfect, My Magnus? Shouldn’t that be your ultimate goal?”

  “Och, aye. And there is a plan in place?”

  “For Saturday night at the Gala during the dinner. You will kill him there. I need you to understand this is a very important night and many people are going to great lengths to help you. Like the doctor.”

  “Twas verra risky for him tae take off my patch.”

  “Yes, it was. So you understand that people are counting on you.”

  I inhaled deeply. “Aye.”

  Her hand rubbed down my arm. “At the dinner you will sit to Donnan’s right. I will be beside you. If he tries to make me sit somewhere else, insist. I will have the gun and I’ll pass it to you under the table. Do you know how to shoot?”

  “My security guard trained me in shootin’ in Florida, but how will ye have a gun? Dost ye have access tae weapons, can ye get me one now?”

  She squinted her eyes. “If I had access to weapons, I would have killed Donnan years ago. Tanrick would have made a fine ruler, perhaps just as brutal but in different ways. There have been a number of sons who would have helped me. Trouble is they don’t seem to survive. But you survived. Now we have hope and a plan and I’ll have a weapon when the time comes.”

  I said, “You will have a gun from somewhere and ye will pass it tae me.”

  “This is the most important thing — you have to wait until the first course is eaten. Donnan’s plate will be removed first. He likes to finish eating so he can make everyone else look as if they are too slow. It’s a power move. His plate will be taken. At that point there will be four guards behind you but one of them is with us. He will be ready. You will jump up and kill Donnan where he sits. Our guard will keep the other guards off you, but when you’ve done it you must return here to your rooms. Once Donnan is declared dead, you will emerge for your crowning.”

  “After I kill Donnan I will remain imprisoned?”

  “For your protection.” She went into the bathroom to put on her makeup, jars and sticks and brushes covered all the counter space and every shelf in my bathroom now. Not Kaitlyn’s. Some strange woman named Bella that I couldn’t even trust.

  * * *

  Guards led us along the passageways and down the elevator to the grand dining room. As we walked, I counted doors. I paused at a wall of windows lookin’ over a forest at the back of the castle. The guards told me tae keep walking, but the sky was bright and I could make out the peaks on the horizon, one in particular had a distinctive shape.

  Bella tugged at my arm. “What are you looking at, My Magnus?”

  “Nothin’, just the horizon. I haena seen it for many a day.”

  In the elevator, beside the buttons, the top floor was marked with a star. A guard pushed the button below it. I asked, “We arna goin’ up tae Donnan’s apartments?”

  A guard grunted and said, “No, you don’t get to go up there.” The elevator doors opened on another hallway. I noted the door at the end, certain it was the stairwell, four doors down. It had been six doors tae the elevator. Donnan’s apartments were on the top floor. I just had tae remember the way as soon as I dinna have four guards around me.

  Finally we were pushed through to the dining room again. Donnan stood in the middle, a drink in hand. The table had three place settings at one end. He looked as if he was waiting for us.

  “Magnus, my warrior, you’ve come to tell me of your latest battles!” He warmly shook my bound hands.

  “I came because ye told me tae come.”

  “Exactly, like a good son. Have a seat.” I took the chair tae his right. He held the chair for Bella at his left hand, then sat at the head.

  I asked, “Will Lady Mairead be attendin’ us?”

  “No, she’s traveling right now. She does love to plunder. For many years I used trained guards to collect for me, but it was not without hassles.” He gestured for the server tae bring us wine. As they poured our glasses he said, “This wine is from 1242. It’s not great, but when else have you ever imbibed a wine that was a thousand years old?”

  He continued, “Where was I — your mother and her pilfering ways. The guards kept disappearing with my Tempus Omegas. I had to locate them again. It caused a great many difficulties. But Mairead is eminently trustworthy and capable.” He rested his gaze on Bella’s face, “I find myself missing her very much when she is gone.”

  Bella shook her hair. “But you miss me more, My Donnan?”

  “Ah yes, I miss you more. But I’ve given you over to Magnus now. My warrior!” He turned his focus back tae me. “How are you healing, Son?”

  “I will be ready tae fight when called upon.”

  “Good, good.” Donnan stared at me long and then his starin’ was interrupted by the arrival of our plates. “Speaking of needing to find my Tempus Omegas. Have you given any thought to where you may have hidden the one that was in your care?”

  “Nae. I daena ken where it is.”

  “Daena ken? You don’t know?” He turned tae Bella. “We should really get his dialect sorted. There’s no sense to be made of
half of his words. Who was your speech coach, Bella, Reynolds?”

  “Yes, but I think the way Magnus speaks is fine.”

  Donnan humphed. “Well, I suppose he is more of a warrior than an orator. The people seem to like him.”

  Eatin’ with bound hands was difficult, but gave me something tae focus on instead of my rage.

  Donnan’s voice went slithery as it did just before he beat me with the stick last time. “It would mean a great deal to me if you would tell me where you put it… We could discuss the circumstances of your living situation. For instance I have a full stable with many glorious horses. You could ride.”

  “I canna tell ye where the vessel is. I daena ken the location, but I would verra much like tae ride.”

  Donnan wiped his hands on a napkin makin’ me wait for a response. “The Tempus Omegas are very precious, Magnus. I have allowed you the use of one, but you haven’t returned it. It’s disrespectful.”

  “Twas lost. Nae sense in worryin’ over it.” I kept my eyes on the far wall, but kept my senses focused on his movement. He faced my side, the one most injured. All he would have tae do is hit me in the ribs and I would be in the infirmary again.

  “Ah, but see, there is a reason to worry over it. In the hands of the wrong person much mischief could be done with these devices. It has been very difficult to keep them under my control.” He tossed his napkin to the table beside his plate. “Since you aren’t cooperating, I’ll have to find it with the tracking signal.”

  “If it has a trackin’ signal why dost ye keep askin’ me for it?”

  He smiled maliciously. “Finding it isn’t precise. And once the signal is activated the Tempus Omegas could be located by anyone through time. I have to be ready to get to its location before someone else does.”

  He sat back in his chair with a sigh. “And there are wars raging in the South. Uprisings, resistance, political intrigues.” He pushed his plate away from himself. “As the future king I thought you might want to save me the trouble and allow me to focus on the issues at hand. So I’ll ask again, where is it?”

  “I daena ken.”

  He nodded. “Bella, you’ll attend me to my quarters tonight. I have a need for you.”

  “You canna have her, ye—”

  Bella interrupted. “It’s okay, My Magnus. I’ll go with him tonight.” She put her hand on Donnan’s and looked up at him in a way that made my stomach turn.

  Donnan said, “I’m done, don’t hurry, Magnus, stay and enjoy the meal I’ve provided. I’ll see you in three nights for my Autumnal Equinox Gala Dinner.” He stood and said, “Come Bella.”

  She hastily dropped her fork mid-bite. “Of course.” She took his arm. As they turned for the far door Bella said, “My Magnus, your beard is far more scruffy than I would like, see the barber tomorrow morning.”

  I scowled and watched as they left the room together.

  I sat in quiet and finished eating my meal. Then I stood and the guards closed in around me and ushered me back to my quarters.

  I did remember, though, tae recount the doors, checkin’ the numbers tae make sure I had them in mind, and tae take note of the stairwell to Donnan’s quarters again.

  Magnus

  The next morning Bella appeared at my door, comin’ in with the breakfast plates. A plate of food for me and for her. She had a bruise on her cheek.

  “Did he hit ye?”

  “It’s his way. He does that.”

  We ate in silence.

  Finally she pushed the plate away. “Why didn’t you argue more for me last night?”

  “I tried tae. Ye said twas—”

  “You looked weak. You sounded like you didn’t care for me at all. Donnan made jokes about it. About how I was worthless. How you didn’t want me.”

  “I…” I dinna ken how tae answer the charge. There was nae answer that would help.

  She watched my face then hastily said, “You should get me pregnant. If I was the mother of the heir to Donnan’s throne, he wouldn’t just take me like that. I would get more respect.”

  “I am married.”

  She stood and shoved plates off the table clattering all over the floor. “She is dead. Dead, Magnus. And you are mine, so stop being such a fool and be a king already.” She paused at the bathroom door. “Don’t make me regret choosing you.”

  * * *

  I don’t know how she arranged it, but when our breakfast plates were cleared four guards stood outside my room tae accompany me tae the barber.

  He cut my hair. He trimmed my beard. He filled the surrounding air with sweet scents and aromatic oils. He massaged my scalp and shoulders until I winced as he moved down my back. “Tis too painful.”

  “Certainly, Magnus.” He worked on my shoulders again. “I watched the fight, very good. You’ll make a fine king someday.”

  I asked, “That is all it takes, killin’ in an arena?”

  He chuckled as he wiped along my neckline and jaw with a soft towel. “Are you living alone?”

  I said, my eyes closed and without much thinkin’ on it, “Nae, I live with Bella now.” I felt something heavy drop tae my lap. I glanced down. Twas a gun inside a leather holster. While he stood wiping my jaw, fussin’ with the hair at the sides of my ears, I fumbled it intae my kilt, under my belt, hidden and secure. It reminded me of that time Kaitlyn was applyin’ the bandage tae my forehead while I pulled the knife from under her skirt — I love you strong as an oak, near a stone wall, aligned with a castle tower — just before she…

  The guards returned me tae my room.

  Kaitlyn

  Hayley yelled, “Katie!” when I walked out to the back deck of James’s house.

  “Hi, everyone,” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could. Then I endured the hugs. But that was a lie — the hugs were nice.

  Hayley said, “You came to the ‘End of October Not Halloween Party!’ We didn’t even have to come get you. I’m so freaking proud of you.”

  I joked, “Quentin drove, it wasn’t all bravery.”

  Quentin walked in a step behind. “I handcuffed her and forced her into the car.” I batted him on the arm.

  Zach and Emma entered a moment later and soon there was a full blown party. Barbecue, beer, shots. James had broken up with his girlfriend and no one could remember which of them slept around first, or the most, but it had been dramatic and seemed permanent. It was very nice not having her around so he could be fun to talk to again. Our friendship had been nonexistent for months and months but he was trying to be a part of our gang again.

  Our gang. I was trying to be a part of it again too.

  It was hard, but it was also time. And yesterday was the one-year anniversary of Magnus leaving. It hadn’t been an easy day, but also, it hadn’t been the worst. It was just a day, time ticking by. He wasn’t here and the truth was, he wasn’t going to be here. Probably. Not anymore.

  With each day I could get a little more used to thinking it.

  There had been many a day that I wanted to move to Los Angeles or some other place that didn’t remind me constantly of Magnus, but I couldn’t leave my grandma. Or Zach and Emma and Quentin and Baby Ben. Hayley. They were all my family now. I had to take care of them. It was ironic because they had been taking care of me for so long.

  I assumed a position on James’s deck, perched on the railing. I had been coming here since I was a kid. A long long time. The dunes had barely changed in all those years. Shifting a bit, but not noticeably from this direction.

  Yet the beach side was eroded. Fall storms had washed away a good portion of the dunes.

  It was weird how from one viewpoint the beach was unchanged, but if I walked out on the sand and looked back at the house the dunes looked drastically different. Different viewpoints, different experiences, in the same place, different times.

  My time period was this, surrounded by friends, helped by my chosen family, full of food and drinks and kindness and support, and what was Magnus doing? What was his ti
me full of? It should be time spent here with me. What else were our vows for?

  And he made me a vow.

  He promised to love me until death do us part.

  This was where I kept coming to these days — he promised me.

  And still he left.

  Michael walked in with Tyler. I caught Hayley’s eye and mouthed, “Why the hell is he here?”

  She rolled her eyes and hugged them hello. Now that Michael and Tyler had become close friends I was thrown together with him every couple of weeks. Hayley came to stand beside me.

  I asked again, “Why is he here?”

  “Because it’s a party, because he’s friends with Michael, because you’re nice enough to let his personality slide…”

  “He mansplains to me all the time. I’ve never met anyone so infuriating in my life. It’s like he thinks I’m an idiot.”

  She giggled and turned so he couldn’t tell we were talking about him. “He just thinks you’re a sad lost case he needs to help. Like a puppy. And he mansplains to me too, it’s just his way. Last week he told me how to use Google Docs. I’ve been using Google Docs for two years, in my business, my flourishing—”

  “Shhhh, he’s coming over.”

  Tyler said, “Hey Katie.”

  “Hi Tyler, back visiting the Island again?”

  “Yep, there’s a lot about this island that draws me back.”

  “Me too. Careful, you’ll become a local and all you’ll talk about is real estate and football.”

  “I’m from New York that’s all we talk about there too. And I don’t know, it doesn’t sound that bad.” He leaned against the railing. “How have you been this week? I heard it was a tough anniversary for you.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a rough one. I burrowed under a pile of work to get through it. I changed my investment strategy and directed my portfolio toward—”

  “I remember you talking about that idea a couple of weeks ago. I was thinking about it, you should really hire a money manager. An investment advisor could help you get a new strategy. You don’t want to lose money.”