“What do you think Quentin?”
“I think it’s too many women with questionable skills.”
I scoffed. “Seriously? Too many women, right.”
“It’s not the women part but the questionable skills part that you should focus on.”
“Yeah, but you said women. If there are only three of us we run the risk of getting separated and someone would end up alone...”
He said, “I want Hammond.”
Zach said, “I could go.”
Emma looked at him sharply. “Think about it, my love, what if something happens to you?”
I said, “Zach, you’re out of the question. I’d love to take you but on a happier journey, this is too dangerous. I need you here, with your family, in charge of my shit.”
Quentin said, “I want Hammond to go with us.”
“No, I need Hammond here. He’s the only one keeping the kingdom from Roderick.”
I stared off into space. “What I kept telling Magnus is we are better when we stick together. Well, let’s stick together. Hammond will protect this house. Emma, you’ll help take care of Archie. Zach, you’ll watch to make sure the house is safe, and I’ll give you a vessel to use in case you have to leave in a hurry.”
I looked over at Hayley. “Hayley will come with us. That will make four. Beaty is our guide. Hayley will need to be a super badass woman but also wear a bodice and seem old-school and demure. I could use a bestie. Sound good, Quentin?”
“You’re the boss.”
I gulped. “Yes, I guess I am. We’ll leave once we’ve gathered all our supplies. We’ll definitely need the two ATVs.” I hoped I sounded confident.
Eight - Magnus
I kicked tae the surface, broke from the murky water, and my aching lungs gasped for air. It was painfully loud above, the surroundings filled with smoke and roar and splash, and the yellin’ of men. Shot broke the water just beside me, splashing water intae my mouth, chokin’ me and forcin’ me back under.
Another cannonball struck the water a few feet away, its force throwin’ me limply through the underwater mud and muck. I kicked for the surface once more, gasped some air, and dove under again.
I shoved up for air. I was havin’ tae rise for breaths more often, diving down tae escape the fightin’ then shovin’ tae the surface tae breathe again, growin’ weak from the effort and takin’ in mouthfuls of water.
I dinna like tae swim submerged, but twas quieter under there. When my lungs were pained from the want of breaths and I burst through the surface twas all smoke and blasts and terror and death above.
I gasped for more air and went down again, kickin’ for the life of me.
I dinna think I could do it anymore.
I was too tired and afraid. My wrists were bound, twas too difficult tae continue… When I went under there was solace. It made me think twould be good tae just let go, tae stop swimmin’, tae cease fightin’, tae end in peace, in the quiet muck of this unknown river.
I canna do it Kaitlyn. I tried, but I canna—
From the clouds of murky water the curve of a large sea monster drew close and bumped against my side, liftin’ me tae the surface for another breath.
The air filled my lungs with a harsh gasp. I choked and coughed and floated there for a moment, my arm across the beast’s back. Twas quieter, the water calmer. Then the beast submerged and swam away.
I was north of the battle and close tae the shore. I found the strength tae kick and pulled myself tae the oyster-shell covered bank. I dragged myself up, elbow over elbow, raking across the shells and fell face first intae thick dark mud. Och.
I lay there thinkin’ what tae do now? but kent I dinna have time tae consider. The battle was close. I heard the blasts, the ground shook from the explosions. I was in no condition tae fight so I needed tae get clear of it. I rose tae my knees and searched the landscape for cover. The trees were a great distance away.
I climbed, achin’ and exhausted, tae my feet, and found enough strength tae run.
Nine - Kaitlyn
I was strapping knives on myself and really, really missed Magnus doing that for me. Really.
Quentin said, “How did I let you talk me into this?”
“You didn’t let me, you didn’t have any say in the matter, as I’m your boss or your queen or whatever.”
“You could just tell me what year to go to and I could go.”
“I tell you, sure. Then I know. Magnus knows. Reyes knows. There are time-travel vessels laying on a battlefield on this date — anyone could just go pick them up. What if someone tortures you for the information? What if you tell Beaty in a fit of passion?” I teased him, “I’ve heard about your fits.”
He teased me back, strapping his gun belt on under his coat. “I’ve actually heard your fits, your highness, queen of the bossy ladies. Fine, when Magnus asks why I brought you and my teenaged wife and our friend Hayley, I’ll tell him you bossed me into it.”
“He’ll believe you because he knows me. And he’ll be alive so he’ll forgive us on it.”
Zach walked in to check on our packing.
I said, “Since you are both here I need to ask you something.”
Quentin stopped his packing. “Sure.”
Zach said, “I’ll help if I can, since I can’t come and actually help-help. Wife won’t let me be a hero.”
“Your wife, your better-half, the love of your life, mother of your kid, yeah, she doesn’t want you to time-travel — she’s also the brains in your family.”
I sighed and straightened my skirts. “I'm thinking this whole thing through — Magnus is going to be forced to go back in time to… sometime, by General Reyes. The present General Reyes. And the past General Reyes is back there in the… some time that I’m not telling you. He’s there, Lady Mairead said so….”
Quentin nodded. “I know what you’re saying, we need to kill him.”
“But can we? I mean, he had a whole life of living since that moment, and ever since Lady Mairead gave him the vessel, he’s had a whole life of being a time-jumping asshole. Who knows what he’s done, whose life he’s screwed with? Can we kill him without repercussions?”
Quentin said, “I don’t have to think about it. It’s done. Then he just disappears and that whole moment by the pool doesn’t even happen. Magnus isn’t held hostage. It all turns out okay.”
I considered that for a moment. Then asked Zach, “What do you think?”
He said, “It’s kind of like that, ‘would you go back in time to kill an evil guy in history’ question—”
Quentin said, “Exactly! We have to do it.”
Zach said, “But it’s not always that cut and dried. Out of strife comes good, sometimes. From a broken heart a beautiful song is written, maybe the best song anyone has heard. Would you want to stop that broken heart?”
Quentin said, “I can’t believe you’re saying you don’t think we should kill Reyes.”
“Nah, you should totally fucking kill him. You can’t really consider all the other stuff: what ifs and who is its. He’s a creepy sewer-slime monster and he shouldn’t get away with it. You guys have been given the chance to get to his time, to a moment where you know he’ll be, and you can surprise attack him. How long did Magnus fight him in that alternate reality?”
“Like 25 years. It completely broke him.”
“Yeah, you can’t let that shit stand. You should kill him if you’ve got a clean shot, Katie.”
I nodded. “Okay, thanks guys. I’ll consider the philosophical portion of this decided.”
Hayley entered a moment later with Beaty. “What the hell is this anyway — tight as hell.” She struggled against her bodice.
Beaty said, “Tis a terrible thing. Tis verra tight and constrictin’ I did so love those pants. Are ye sure I canna wear pants, Queen Kaitlyn?”
“No, we have to look the part as best we can.” I surveyed the four of us. We did not look the part. I didn’t have a bodice. We were wearing pa
rkas over our dresses. “And we should carry a lot more weapons.” We strapped on more guns and knives and then gathered up our backpacks, full of food and supplies, and went out to get the ATVs Hammond had found for me.
Hayley asked, “So you don’t get to say goodbye to the baby?”
I pulled a strap tightening a belt on the ATV. “Nope. Bella said ‘over my dead body,’ and I’m trying to remember that I’m not the kind of person who takes that literally.” I leaned against the vehicle. “I can’t believe I’m leaving him without saying goodbye.”
“He’s a baby! What does he know?”
“I know.”
She patted my back comfortingly. “We’ll be back tomorrow, you’ll kiss his sweet forehead and tell him good morning and he won’t know you were gone on this fool’s errand. I’m not going to die, right?”
“I haven’t lost anyone yet.”
“Awesome. And I’m never the first in anything.”
“We’ll be fine, just don’t ever, ever, ever find yourself alone with a Campbell man.”
“Why? What — Magnus is a Campbell man: do they look like him, because that might actually be worth it.”
I sighed over-dramatically and we finished our packing.
Emma’s job was to watch over Archie. Zach’s job was to make sure Hammond knew we were returning tomorrow and to make sure Lady Mairead didn’t know that we were ever gone at all.
Ten - Magnus
The mud was deep. It tugged against my boots so that walkin’ was a struggle. I yanked a foot free, leapt ahead, then yanked m’other foot free. I was at the verra end of my strength when I finally made it tae the stand of oaks and collapsed. I needed water. I couldna imagine takin’ another step without it but hadna the strength tae find it.
“Och.” I said intae the dirt.
A voice nearby said verra quietly, “Wheesht.”
Someone was here but I hadna the strength tae put up a fight. I slowly turned my head. A man crouched not two feet away. I groaned.
He put his fingers tae his lips tae tell me tae be quieter still but made nae move toward me.
He was dressed in the coat of a soldier but underneath he was clothed in a tartan and clutchin’ a Scottish dirk. Verra stealthily he inched closer, reached for my wrists, and with a clean slice, released my bindings.
He sheathed his dirk, uncorked a bottle, and passed it tae me. I raised myself and drank, drainin’ it of the water inside. I passed it back tae him empty.
The heat was oppressive, steam rose from the mud. Mosquitoes bit around my neck. I swatted at them, but they were impossible tae beat back.
A moment later he rose, gestured for me tae follow, and began tae run through the trees, headed north.
I followed him as I had nae other plan.
Occasionally he froze, went dead silent, and waited and watched. Once, he made me drop tae the mud. We went as still as we could go for a verra long time, covered, waiting and listening. Verra faint footsteps travelled by in the other direction.
When I was stopped like this my middle pained me for want of food. It was only when we were in motion that I wasna constantly hounded by hunger.
We stayed motionless, hidden behind a log, while an army traveled by headed south. Twas many men, weapons, and horses. They were nae Spanish and looked fresh and well-provisioned.
I would have asked them for guidance or sustenance but followed my travel companion’s conduct and remained hidden.
I heard him whisper a prayer until they passed.
We came tae a spring late in the day. The man filled his bottle while I fell at the edge, half in and out of the water, fillin’ my hands with it and drinkin’ thirstily.
Once satiated, I turned tae my back and stared up at the sky. “I am fearfully hungry, friend. You have saved my life with the water and guidance, but I need some food or I canna travel any farther.”
“How did ye come tae be at the fort? I haena seen ye afore.” The man was as big as me, about the same age, but twas hard tae tell as he had a full beard. He also looked weary and though he wore a uniform was unkempt, as if he had been tae battle. He dug through his sporran for a stick of dried meat.
My mouth watered at the sight but he dinna offer it, instead he carved a slice for himself with his dirk.
I licked my lips. The pain was great and I would have fought him for it if I could survive it.
I rolled tae my stomach and drank some more water then rolled tae my back again. “I canna tell if ye are friend or foe.”
The man chuckled, “I have the same questions of ye, the man who is lost and near dead, but as I could have killed ye when yer hands were bound — instead I freed ye, seems as if I have naethin’ else tae prove tae ye. You should tell me what ye have been doin’ at the fort, or I will stop askin’ ye.”
“I was prisoner. A man by the name of Reyes was holdin’ me in a dungeon there.”
“And ye escaped? What did he have ye for?”
“He was—” I couldna say twas involvin’ future-kingdoms, thrones, and time-jumps. “Twas an old family grudge. He was trying tae end it by endin’ me.”
The man nodded. “Och, and ye escaped.”
“Aye. And what of you, why are ye hidin’ from soldiers wearin’ yer same uniform?”
He scoffed under his breath. “I have decided tae go the other way.”
I sat up. “You art a deserter? How can ye leave your men, your fight? Tis terrible.”
The man shrugged. “Tis nae my fight. I traveled all this way tae the New World tae have some land and tae find a wife, nae tae lose my life outside the stone walls of a castle I daena want tae live in — have ye ever seen such a swamp?” He batted a mosquito away then smacked his neck. “The bugs will eat us alive. The heat, tis nae for man tae want tae live in it. I am ready tae go home.”
“Where is yer home?”
“The highlands, Glen Coe, on Loch Leven.”
I stared at him for a long moment then shook my head sadly. “Och, you and I — we arna friends. You art a Donald?”
“Aye, I am Fraoch MacDon—” He stopped tae stare at me then let out a long breath. “Ye art Campbell?”
“Aye, I am Young Magnus, nephew of the Earl of Breadalbane.”
We stared longer still. I was too tired tae judge the situation fairly and if he wanted tae fight I would lose.
Finally, he said, “Och. You are weakened and near death. I could stab ye through the heart right now with barely any trouble at all—”
“I would try tae cause ye some trouble.”
“But would ye?” He smiled. “And I have a’ready shared m’water with ye and have kept ye alive for most of the day, twould be a waste tae kill ye now.”
“I might die from want of food anyway.”
He chuckled, “That ye may.” He cut a hunk of meat from the stick and passed it tae me on the end of the blade. I grabbed it, shoved it tae m’mouth, chewed it barely, and swallowed with a moan.
He laughed again. “By m’accounts tis the eighteenth time I have save yer life taeday. Daena kill me in my sleep, Og Maggy, I haena wanted tae die taeday or I would have continued stormin’ the St Auggie fort.”
“I daena understand how ye could desert them.”
He shrugged. “The fight is lost. I could see twas not ours tae win. I daena want tae die on the shores of the river, there are monsters in the water wantin’ tae devour us. Twould nae be a Christian death. There is one just there.”
I followed his gaze to a low log downstream, half in and out of the water. “Tis a fallen tree.”
“Nae, tis a vile, water-soaked, deamhan uilebheist with teeth that would rip ye tae pieces if ye are nae careful.”
“Och, I daena like the sound of that.” I pulled myself up and crawled away from the water’s edge. I leaned beside Fraoch against a tree.
“Now that ye art on the run, where will ye go?” I asked.
“I needs tae get north, upriver, where I will catch a boat tae take me tae the Port of Savannah.
Then I will return across the ocean, headed home tae the highlands. What will ye do?”
I said, “I need tae return tae the fortress, Reyes has somethin’ of mine—”
“Och, ye have a desire tae die. There is nae good that will come of goin’ back.”
I thought about it as the light dimmed with night coming on. The familiar sounds of Florida hummed around us, but this was a hostile Florida, without my comfortable home, without Kaitlyn in a bed a’waitin’, without the cool wind of the ac blowin’. I had tae retrieve a vessel. I was empty-handed and therefore trapped. I couldna return tae her and she would never find me. The only vessel was inside the fort held by General Reyes.
I lumbered tae my feet with a groan. “Thank ye friend, for savin’ my life. I—“
“Many times taeday.”
I brushed off my kilt. “Aye, I am grateful for it. Someday I hope tae repay ye—“
Fraoch said, “Where are ye goin’?”
“Tae the fortress.”
Fraoch stood. “I winna let ye. I just met ye, we arna friends, but we both hail from Scotland and I winna let ye die out here.”
“I daena think ye have a say in the matter.” I tried tae look firm and strong but my knee buckled and I held ontae a tree branch for support.
Fraoch waved his hands in irritation. “Och, ye are gòrach, Og Maggy, ye will die in the mud here.”
“Tis nae matter tae ye and I will be gone either way.” I turned and left the clearing, but hadna gone for more than a few moments when Fraoch scrambled behind me and slammed intae me, knockin’ me face first in the dirt. He drove the breath from my chest and close tae m’ear said, “Wheesht.”
He pinned my shoulders, wrenchin’ my arm behind my back, and held me down with all his weight. I was nae match for his strength and would die then if he wanted tae kill me, but he stilled and quieted and after some long moments I heard it, faint, a movement through the brush, the footsteps of a man, two men, then a fourth. They were verra close. I went as quiet as I could be and listened tae their sounds as they passed, the bugs stilled, the birds, twas all quiet until the human sounds were nae more and then longer still. I listen tae a the woods as the bugs began tae vibrate through the leaves and then longer again I waited, the heaviness of Fraoch across my back.
Under the Same Sky (Kaitlyn and the Highlander Book 7) Page 4
