The Archivist

by Christy Sloat

  “Iona,” I said, as we snuck around another corner. “Has Lady Ainsley always been mad?”

  Iona nodded her head and said, “Oh aye! She can hold it in for a bit, but then the devil rears his ugly head in her eyes. When that happens, she is locked up in chambers until he goes away. When Sir Malcolm was at the homestead with her, he was better equipped, you could say, to handle her ravings. But now we just do our best to lock the devil away at night.”

  Well that answered that question. Ainsley suffered from a mental condition that the people of this time just thought was the devil at play. It was rather sad. And to think that I thought she was nice. Boy was I wrong. It didn’t take her long to turn on me.

  “Come up this way,” she urged as we climbed up a set of stairs. “Your man is up there.”

  She pointed up to a walkway that opened outside.

  “You want me to go up there? Are there guards?”

  She shook her head, assuring me it was free of men at the present moment. They were apparently all busy protecting the castle from the oncoming English horde making their way here.

  “They locked him up and left. They’re all with Graham now, talking things over no doubt. They did as mistress said, locking you two up, then battle plans were put into place. They won’t listen to her. Don’t fret. Go rescue him.” I hugged Iona tightly, not sure what would be our fate after I got Eoin free. I didn’t even know if I was going to stay or if the book would pull me back.

  “Thank you, Iona. You’ve been wonderful. I’ll never forget that you did this.”

  She patted me on the back and then said, “Bah, now go. No more nonsense. I must be getting the women and children away from this castle.” As coy as she played, I did see tears in her eyes.

  I broke free from Iona and made my way up the steps. How funny it was that it was me saving Eoin, instead of the other way around. I guess women can save their men, too.

  I took step after step and each one I made I realized how much Eoin meant to me. He had opened my eyes to so much in this beautiful world. Eating meat again was all due to Eoin. Making me feel beautiful in my own skin, again, Eoin. Believing in myself more, Eoin. And wanting to patch things up with my mom, still Eoin. Losing him would mean losing a part of myself that I had gained in knowing him. The very thought of leaving him here in this country to die would in turn kill me. Before I knew it, I had reached the top of the castle where a tall tower stood. I pulled the wood block free and the door swung open. Eoin turned, his hands up blocking the light, but revealing a severely damaged face.

  “Oh my goodness, Eoin, your face! What happened?” I rushed in to grab him and he held me in his strong arms.

  “Worry not, Savannah. They gave me a good thrashing, but I’ll manage. Did they hurt ye?”

  “No, I’m fine. They didn’t lay a hand on me,” I assured him, even as he looked me over. I placed my hand on his face, and he gasped. His eyes were bruised beyond belief. He could barely see out of the right, but the left was completely swollen shut.

  “Assholes!” I cursed.

  “Aye, now, don’t worry about it. We must get free of here. They’re planning on a fight and I’ll not have you caught in it. Let’s get you back to your time and have ye safe at home with Jessa and that crazy feline of yours.”

  I laughed, but tears were streaming down my face.

  He took his thumbs and brushed them away gently.

  “No, don’t ye cry, lass. I’ll not have you shed a tear for me. You can come back to visit anytime ye want, right?”

  A lump was forming in my throat and it made it almost impossible to speak to him without outright bawling. I had to explain to him what would happen to his book once I got back home. I looked down at my bracelet like a ticking time bomb that was counting down the very minutes that I had left with him. Unclasping it and putting it inside the top of my corset for safekeeping was the best thing to keep me here for now.

  Eoin’s eyes went wide. “Savannah, you cannot stay here. You’ve said it yerself. There is no winning this war right now. Not for a while, yet. You told me it does not get better for a long time. You wouldn’t want to stay here for that, Savannah. You go back home and be with your friend. Be with yer ma and make things right between ya. Don’t ye stay here where only certain death is to follow your very step.”

  Finally finding my voice I said, “You’re right. In this world there is certain death. There’s certain danger. But there is also something I never found in my time, and that’s you. I finally feel like I belong. I don’t feel lost anymore. In my time I’m walking around in a world I don’t belong in. With you, I feel at home. So that’s why I leave it up to you to make a decision, for me, for us. Don’t think with your head, think with your heart.”

  His eyes went wide and he held me tightly, almost like he didn’t want to let me go.

  “What would that be? Because if you are asking me to have ye stay, I’ll send you home.”

  “Do you not want me with you? Why? Because it’s dangerous?”

  He shook his head and resting his forehead to mine. “Nay. I want you here. More than I’ve wanted anything near me. My whole life I have never wanted anything like I want you. But I won’t let you be here to have your life snuffed out like a flame.”

  My tears were flowing now and I couldn’t stop them. He was sending me back. It was for my safety, yes, but he was still sending me home.

  “Eoin, if I go back, I cannot ever come visit you. I’m required to seal the book on Sir Malcolm and send it to the archives. I won’t be permitted to visit you. It doesn’t work like that.”

  His face was twisted and his hands trembled. He was understanding that if he said goodbye, it was goodbye forever. Now he saw why this was so hard for me.

  “You mentioned a choice?”

  I did. “It’s risky. But if it works, we can be together.”

  At that moment, before I could get another word in to explain I heard the shouts below of the English soldiers as they formed a circle around the castle. There were hundreds of them and only a mere hundred Scots hurrying to prepare for a battle they couldn’t win. The prideful Scots held pitchforks, and a few swords for weapons, but the English were better equipped. With their horses, and their shiny armor and sharp weaponry they would wipe these men out no problem. From our view up top we could see what the men at the ground could not; they were seriously outnumbered and outranked.

  “Oh shite, they’re here,” Eoin said, holding me close. “Go now! Get back to your time, Savannah.”

  “I can’t. I took off my tether. Even if I put it on the book might not pull me back quick enough.” Sure, I was being stubborn but that was a lesson I took from Eoin’s handbook.

  I didn’t want to go yet. I wanted Eoin to make a choice first, but that would have to await the battle brewing below.

  Then a thought hit me that hadn’t before. What if a battle never had to happen here? What if the English got what they wanted, and they just left. They had to want something, right?

  “Do you trust me?” I asked Eoin, who looked at me sideways.

  “I do. As crazy as ye are. I trust ye.”

  Twenty-Two

  We walked down the cobblestone steps of the outer part of the castle making our way to the ground. If my plans worked well enough, there wouldn’t need to be any blood shed on this day. Eoin had to do as I said, and not a thing different. I found a horse in the stable, and Eoin helped me up on him. I had changed into one of Ainsley’s nicest dresses and did my hair up in the fashionable English way. I had to look the part if I was going to play the part. Playing the part was what I was used to as a Librarian. Blending in to fit the time period and the people surrounding it.

  “Ride him slow,” Eoin urged. “He’ll buck ye off if you go too fast.”

  I nodded, remembering this wild stallion from
the day I had arrived. His nostrils flared as I took the reins.

  “He and I have an understanding,” I said to Eoin and the horse. “Eoin, I’ll be right back.”

  “I hope so, lass. You getting hurt would kill me.” I leaned down and Eoin pulled me toward him, kissing me soft and slow. After we broke apart, his kiss lingered on my lips.

  I rode past the Scots as they stood awaiting the English to pass through their archway of thorns.

  They didn’t see the view Eoin and I had. They had no clue how many soldiers were waiting just outside the archway and that they held no chance to survive.

  Eoin talked to the men, letting them know I had an idea. As mad as it was, it just might work. I was willing to do anything to save these people and Eoin. The stallion and I rode through the archway, he bristled as I led him through it gently.

  “Easy boy. I won’t hurt you as long as you don’t go throwing me off.” We finally broke free and I saw the English soldiers who held up their weapons as I approached. I held up my hands, innocently, looking as appalled as possible.

  “I have no weapons. I only mean to talk,” I said. “Who’s in charge here? And how dare you raise arms against me!”

  When Vargis came forward I silently said a thank you to God above and then straightened myself up. The goal was simple, play the part, but my darn hands wouldn’t stop trembling.

  “Ah, Vargis,” I said, with my best English accent. “It’s good to see you again, cousin. How’s Leticia? Is she doing well, then? I heard tell that she gave birth to a healthy son.”

  Vargis’ eyes widened in surprise. But I just kept talking to keep him focused on me.

  “Do I know you milady?”

  I acted baffled. “Do you not recognize me cousin? Has it really been that long since we’ve seen one another?”

  I had done some research while I laid in that bed for two days. Research was, after all, what I did as an archivist. This research was on one Arthur Vargis and his entire family. I knew we would need to know the devil we were fighting. It turned out Arthur Vargis was a family man. His wife, Leticia, a Scottish woman, was the love of his life. And his cousin, a red haired English noblewoman by the name of Olivia Vargis was a woman of means who went around Scotland and England raising money for the war. She was a very influential woman, who with her family’s money, helped pay for a lot of the war. She ended up marrying a prince somewhere in another country, but if my plan was to work, I had to play the part. I did notice that beyond the red hair Olivia Vargis and I looked much alike.

  “Olivia?” Yep. Bless my red hair. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Not since we were children. You’ve changed. What on earth are you doing here in this filthy Scottish pigsty?”

  Yep that hurt, but I pretended that it didn’t.

  “Dear me, yes, this place is a disgrace. But you do know cousin that I travel looking for sympathizers to our cause. And these people, as foul as they are, know who their one true king is. They mean no harm. If anything, they are perfect servants for me. Hosting me as they do. I’m treated like a princess here. I must say, I’m shocked to see the king’s men suited up and ready to fight against people who matter not.”

  Vargis’ eyes searched his men and then looked at the castle. Maybe what I was saying wasn’t fooling him, because he sure looked pissed. Or skeptical. Either way he looked unsure.

  “Would you like a warm hearty meal for your men here? I am sure the kitchen wench could throw together a nice meal for you. Is it lodging you’re searching for?”

  Vargis coughed and then sat up straighter on his horse. “Nay. We are here searching for a murderer. I heard that he was here. But if you’re here, surely he wouldn’t be.”

  He bit his lip. Yep, he was unsure.

  “Pray tell, me in the presence of a murderer? Surely you know me well enough to know I do not keep such company!” I scoffed.

  “Yes, cousin. I do know you like to keep only good company, even if they are dirty Scot’s.” He spat on the ground. “If there is no such man here, I will be on my way. But first, I will search the grounds. Surely they have no issue with that?”

  I shook my head. Crap! Having them come inside the grounds wasn’t what I planned. This wasn’t supposed to play out this way. He was supposed to trust me and my word and be on his way.

  “Oh cousin, you doubt me? What do you think I am? A liar? Do we not have trust and faith in one another?” I had to turn on the charm, and real quick. So I fluttered my lashes and fanned myself. I scanned the crowd of soldiers and smiled at them all, looking demure and as innocent as possible.

  “Sir, perhaps Malcolm isn’t here at all. What would such a monger be doing in the presence of such a fine lady as your cousin?” A soldier in high standing asked.

  “Olivia, you’re not being held against your will, are you?”

  My mouth fell open. “Oh surely not. If so how would I ride out here on my own? And on such a fine stallion.” At the same moment the horse neighed proudly. It couldn’t have gone any more perfectly than that. I loved that horse in that very moment.

  “This lady is not a liar. That I can see,” said the soldier. He hopped down from his horse, came close to me and kissed my hand. Then one by one several men did the same. After a while I began to be annoyed, thinking about all the germs I was coming in contact with. But I didn’t break my smile, keeping up the ruse was the best thing I could do.

  “May I ask whom you’re searching for?” I asked playing coy.

  “The ruthless killer Malcolm Walsh!” Vargis said, as he too kissed my hand. “Have you heard any rumors?”

  I nodded. This was my shining moment. “Oh yes! I have. What a horrible mongrel that man was! The day we heard of his death, the whole castle celebrated with a feast of boar! And what a delicious boar it was. What a shame you’re searching for a dead man, cousin. Did you not know?”

  I knew that Vargis didn’t know this news yet. He had learned it previously because Ainsley had told him as he tortured her. But that would not be happening, even if she was crazy. I would be telling him about the death of Sir Malcolm. As for what they would bring back to the king for proof, well I had a plan for that as well.

  “Dead! How?”

  “A fever took him and his lover. Such a shame that you didn’t know. I hope you find his body and are able to string it up to show the people of our country what happens to murderers.” I shook my head and tried to look menacing.

  “Who told you this?” Vargis asked, still doubt in his voice.

  “A Scot that was passing through trying to sell trinkets to the servants. He said that he had found the remains of this Malcolm fellow and ransacked his home for treasure. He didn’t tell me personally, but the servants talk you see.”

  “What was this vagrant’s name?”

  I acted like I had to think about it for a while. I tapped my chin and then said, “Finn was his name I think. As for his last name I cannot recall. The ladies in the kitchen do like to talk, and you know I listen.” Olivia was known for her rumors and her mouth, which I had just played almost perfectly. Jessa would be so proud of me and my acting skills.

  “Landry, mark that name down. We will search for this Finn and we won’t stop until we find him. If he knows where Walsh’s body is, we can drag it back to the king.”

  There wouldn’t be anything for them to find, because at that same moment that I was talking to these English soldiers, Eoin was riding to his mother’s home to move their ashes to a better resting place. He was removing anything that could be tied to Sir Malcolm, so that his father and mother wouldn’t be bothered. No one would think anything of their empty home in the woods. As for Finn, well he shouldn’t have stolen from me. If the soldiers found him, then perhaps he’d be questioned and get the punishment he deserved for stealing things that didn’t belong to him.

 
I only had to hope that this didn’t alter anything too much for Sir Malcolm’s history.

  With renewed purpose Vargis got back onto his stallion, bid me goodbye and took his soldiers far away from the castle. I had done it! There would be no blood spilled today and the castle would remain unharmed.

  I took the stallion and rode him back into the archway and straight to the stables. Graham met me and quickly helped me down.

  “Lass, you’re being searched for by Mistress Ainsley. If she sees you she’ll likely kill you.”

  I shrugged, for once not caring what Ainsley had in store for me.

  “Well, let her try. I can’t worry about that crazy hag right now. I just saved all your asses from total destruction.” Feeling quite the badass at the moment, I didn’t care about Ainsley or her idle threats.

  So when Ainsley came up behind me with her hands on her hips, I was ready for her.

  Twenty-Three

  She looked beyond angry that I was not locked up like she wanted me to be. But I stood firm. If she only knew what I had just done for her and her faithful servants and followers of Sir Malcolm. She was ungrateful, and a tad psycho. I didn’t have time to stand here and argue with her, I promised Eoin I would meet him near the waterfall. Maybe at that point we could say our proper goodbyes and then… then I didn’t know what would happen. Just thinking about it broke my heart. It almost felt like I would be burying my heart and leaving it here in Scotland.

  Love was complicated for me. I didn’t have much of a history to account for. But with Eoin, the possibility of loving him felt easy. As easy as breathing. Or as easy as reading a book. It was peaceful and I wanted it.