“Aye, mo reul-iuil, just hold on.”
He twisted the vessel and that old familiar horrible pain spread up my arms.
CHAPTER 6
KAITLYN
BALLOCH CASTLE - 1710
Magnus’s voice, gentle in my ear. “Mo reul-iuil, wake up.”
“We’re here?”
“Aye, and surrounded by Campbell men.”
I heard Sean’s voice, because I wouldn’t open my eyes yet.
“Och, would ye look at the state of him. A man who travels through time itself and canna even manage tae land on his feet — nae, he’s face-down in the mud like a dropped sack of tatties. With his poor wife down with him. Rise, Young Magnus! Tis embarrassin’, yer horses can see ye, they are becomin’ judgmental.”
I joked with my eyes closed, “Och, it’s my brother-in-law.”
Magnus brushed off his shirt and sat up. “Sean, ye arna glad tae see me?”
“Of course nae, tis always a trial when ye arrive, what trouble dost ye bring?”
“None, ye are being an arse. I am bringing good tidings for yer travels, good fortune awaits ye. Kaitlyn and I are naething but joy and cheer.”
“And yer horses, and all these chests that we must load up and drag tae the castle for ye.”
“Aye, I want m’horse, Kaitlyn and I are planning tae go on a ride.” He continued, “And ye are right, tis uncivilized when ye time-travel, but the important thing is it will be civilized in the kingdom when ye arrive.”
He shook his head. “But I think I will make certain tae hae soldiers greet ye and mock ye while ye are still unconscious so ye will feel as welcome as ye make me.”
“Ye are thinking strange soldiers will be the same as the mockery of yer brother? Young Magnus, I mock ye out of fraternal love! And ye canna do that tae Lizbeth, she is fretful, she winna stand for it.”
“I would never — she is truly frettin’?”
“Aye, daena tell her I said so, but she is not herself.”
“Och nae.”
“I’m glad we came.” I finally opened my eyes to look up and see Sean standing over us with his hands hooked in his sword belt.
“Aye, tis good ye are here, sister Kaitlyn, she will appreciate the company. Yet, Young Magnus, ye still haena explained why ye came, ye dinna plan tae gather us for the trip for weeks yet.”
Magnus said, “Kaitlyn and I are deliverin’ chests for ye tae pack intae.”
“We hae chests, brother, we are not so poor. I think ye hae come because ye missed me and ye are feelin’ melancholic about movin’ us from this place. Ye are as emotional as a woman.”
Magnus said, “If I did miss ye I hae changed my mind.”
He put his hand up and Sean hefted him to his feet. Then Magnus helped me up.
We set about loading the modern trailer we kept in the clearing, hitched it to Sean’s horses, and then we headed toward the castle.
The path from the clearing was familiar by now —how many times had we walked this?So many times, with Magnus talking about the forest, I almost remembered the names of the trees. Almost.
He knew it all by heart.
