Under the Same Sky Read online

  “By threatenin’ the lives of my family, my wife.”

  “No, see, that would be barbaric. I am not threatening, I am promising. I will let them live. They will not remember you, there is a sadness in that, but they were not meant to know you anyway. They will have their own lives but I will make sure that within their century they will be provided for, comfortable and protected. It will be like having a wealthy benefactor. The wealth you have collected, I will see to it that they receive it. They will not understand where it came from but it is fair that it belongs to them. I will make sure of it.”

  “You are askin’ me tae die.”

  “You are already dead, Mags the Dust. It is 1740 right now. You were born when, 1681?”

  I nodded.

  “You would be an old man of sixty years now, and with your propensity for battling I doubt you would live that long. And who would want to? In a few years you would meet your end in the Battle of Culloden anyway, along with your grandchildren.” He shrugged as if twas an easy thing tae consider.

  “Think of it like this, I am telling you to do one last important thing before you go: to save the world, to provide for Kaitlyn, and to end this future kingdom of barbarians, you included, pardon my bluntness.”

  I watched that scratch in the dirt I had made, one mark, one moment. On a timeline of history this mark would be a century, a line that meant all that had happened between then and now. Magnus, he existed, he lived for 24 years. He was a child in Scotland in the 17th century and a man in Scotland in the 18th century and a husband in the 21st century and a father in the 24th. Twas a great many things tae have done, and through a great deal of time.

  “I am verra hungry.”

  “I imagine you are.” He poured a cup of water and put it within reach. I was desperate for it. I got the handle into my shaking hands and my head up enough to pull it to my mouth. I gulped it down, splashing most of it down my chin. It was gone too soon.

  “I need more.”

  He sighed and didn’t move to bring me another.

  “Since you have had the Tempus Omegas have you traveled to any beautiful spots, dust boy?”

  I remained quiet.

  “I have traveled extensively—”

  “Where is Lady Mairead?”

  He ignored me. “I live here, in Florida, but some of any year I live in Scotland, very near Inchaiden and Balloch Castle.”

  “Ye daena strike me as someone who would live in Scotland. Tis too rough for ye, why daena ye move somewhere else and leave us be?”

  “But see, there is much happening around the banks of the River Tay. There is the stone circle of Croft Moraig, the castle Balloch, Inchaiden which is the cradle of time-travel, and someday, far in the future, as you know, the kingdom of the ancestors of Magnus the First.”

  He shifted in his seat. “With that much magic and mystery I feel I must stay close to the River Tay to keep my eyes on the comings and goings of Magnus and his mother Lady Mairead. Which brings me to your question: I have not seen her in a long time. I would guess that means she knows she has lost.”

  He brushed dust from his pants. “I returned today to help my men. James Oglethorpe is laying siege to this fort. I wanted to assist their defense of it and see how it goes. Of course if a time-jumper assists in a battle they don’t want to change it too much. I would not want to change the course of history.”

  He chuckled. “We will win of course. It is exciting to drop in and out of history, no?”

  I simply said, “Nae.”

  “Nae? Nae to what, the excitement, the fun?”

  “Nae tae it all. We should nae involve ourselves in the history of the world, we arna gods, tae create and destroy.”

  “Says the king sitting on an inherited throne in a borrowed time.”

  He picked up the cup and tossed it to the desk beside him. “I see we are in agreement, I will have you returned to your room until I need you.”

  Soldiers entered. They yanked me to standing then shoved me out into the rain-soaked courtyard. I noted the position of the sun through the thick storm clouds. A guard shoved me toward the North. The front gate was behind me tae the south. A scan of the walls showed trees on three sides, and tae my right in the far wall, a man entered through a small door with a string of fish hangin’ beside his leg.

  Soldiers gathered and joked with him about his catch and I kent that door was the postern door and through it was the shore.

  The guards shoved me down the hall and returned me, wet and hungry, into the same dark hole.

  Three - Magnus

  I tried tae sleep. My thirst was very painful and was makin’ me afraid for my life. I dinna think Reyes wanted a dead man but he wasna workin’ tae keep me alive.

  There was a groan from the other end of the room.

  “Who are ye?” I asked. “Dost ye need help?”

  Twas pitch black in front of my eyes and I was so thirsty there wasna anythin’ I could do tae help someone without the strength tae answer. Twas verra frightenin’ tae be in the same room with someone who was takin’ their last breaths and I couldna see or help them.

  “Dost ye need me tae pray?”

  There was no sound but I began tae pray without an answer. I needed the sound of my voice tae take my mind from my thirst. Twas a comfort tae speak tae the heavens while in a pitch dungeon afraid for my life.

  * * *

  Many hours later, I heard it for the first time, the loud blast of a cannon. The ground shook from the impact. I sat up and listened. There was yellin’ and hurried activity, the sounds of soldiers moving cannons and barrels and carts, and another cannon blast.

  This was the battle Reyes had spoken of—

  I scrambled to the bricks that had been piled in front of the hole and pressed as close as I could tae listen. Men were shouting and calling in Spanish. I had heard it spoken in the English court when I had lived there in London. I dinna understand what they were sayin’ but it sounded as if they were preparing tae fight. It sounded verra much like a war at the walls.

  The hallway though, seemed eerily quiet.

  Another blast reverberated.

  I aimed my feet at the bricks and shoved and kicked them from the entrance. Then I pulled back, waitin’, listenin’. If there was a guard outside I would expect him tae come in and beat me for doin’ it, but there wasna a guard—

  I said tae the room, whoever was in there with me, “If ye can get up, I have opened the door. Dost ye want tae come?”

  There was nae response.

  “Hello?”

  Again, nothin’.

  I dragged m’self on m’elbows through the dust and dirt. I paused at the opening of the hole and listened tae the movements of the soldiers outside.

  The loudest cannon shot of them all, close, just outside the wall. I tried tae cover my ears, but my bound hands were useless. Rubble fell and a dust cloud filled the hallway causin’ me tae cough compulsively.

  As soon as the dust settled enough tae see, I scrambled out of the dungeon.

  There was nae one here, but down at the end of the hall soldiers ran by toward the north wall.

  I pressed my shoulder tae the wall as I climbed tae my feet thinkin’ on the impossibilities of blending in while wearin’ a kilt with my hands bound in front of me. I raced down the hall, clung tae the opening, and watched left and right.

  Soldiers were shooting from the walls. Cannons were firin’. A great many men were running and yellin’, there was dust and rubble and chaos. Cannons blasted in the distance.

  From where I stood I saw the sun risin’, the front gate guarded, the dark corners of the fort.

  I skirted the courtyard, headin’ toward the east, hidin’ within the shadows, hopin’ tae reach the postern door and gain my freedom.

  Somehow I had a clear path tae get there through the dust and chaos and managed tae remain hidden. I rushed through the door and emerged intae a spray of water and falling stone rubble. A large ship was anchored just off shore w
ith its cannons firin’. Cannons on the fort returned fire, guns were shootin’ all around. I was exposed, bound, defenseless — a cannon fired and heavy shot crashed beside me, breakin’ the ground.

  I stumbled toward the bank and dove intae the water just as shot broke the surface and the concussion of the blast knocked me deep down tae the silty bottom.

  Four - Kaitlyn

  I woke up in a bed in the guest-room, barely remembering that I had woken up in a chair in the living room with a terrible crick in my neck and had carried Archie in here. He was still fast asleep, with his little soft breaths. I held his warm hand for a moment then realized I had to pee, so after placing pillows around him securely, I went to the bathroom. Then I took the shower I desperately needed.

  There was a pile of clothes from the last time I was here, and I lost myself for a moment staring down into a drawer at Magnus’s clothes. There weren’t many, a shirt and a pair of pants, dark and in a style I really liked on him.

  I took a deep breath and dressed to meet the day.

  I carried Archie with me down the hall to the living room, where Zach’s family was already busy. Ben was toddling around touching everything and Emma was racing behind him trying to move antiques to higher shelves. “I’m so sorry Kaitlyn, he’s broken a tea cup and—”

  “Well, no wonder, this place is not at all toddler-proofed.”

  He gleefully rushed to a shelf where some ancient books were well within reach. Emma was frazzled. Zach was exasperated, running his hands through his hair. “It’s not fucking baby proofed, what are we going to—?”

  I said, “This whole house belongs to Magnus, what do you think he would say if he was here?”

  Zach answered, “He’d probably laugh as Ben broke stuff, but I don’t think that’s a great parenting—”

  “True, he’s a highlander, he doesn’t necessarily get the inherent worth of these ancient artifacts.” I pulled a stack of books off the shelf ahead of Ben and placed them higher.

  Ben rushed to the china cabinet. “The point though is he wouldn’t care. So we shouldn’t worry as we move everything up or shove it into closets.” I scooped up some tea pots just before Ben’s fingers got to them.

  Emma said, “You don’t mind?”

  “Nope, all this can go in a back room.” I put Archie in his carrier. “ Give Ben the box of silver spoons, let him bang those. We’ll find more stuff.” I picked up the box of silver coins and moved it higher.

  Zach moved a china vase to the closet. Mrs Johnstone entered and gasped. “What are you doing?”

  I said, “We have to move everything up for Ben, he wants to play.”

  She said, “You could just tell him no.”

  Emma picked Ben up, looking mortified.

  Zach looked embarrassed and not a little pissed.

  “You know, no. I won’t tell him no. He is King Magnus’s guest here in Magnus’s home and Magnus told me to make his guests comfortable. As a matter of fact Magnus told me to tell you that he wants this whole downstairs child-proofed for Ben.”

  She scowled.

  I said, “I’m just telling you what Magnus said. He wants Ben and Archie and all the guests to be comfortable. If it means moving everything of value out and putting mattresses all over the floor then that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “I’ve finished making breakfast, Queen Kaitlyn, if you’re ready to eat.”

  “Perfect, thank you.”

  She stalked down the hall.

  Emma said, “Thank you Katie.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, not at all. Ben is a little boy who just freaking time-traveled to the future. As far as I’m concerned he gets to play wherever he wants.” I watched Ben bang a spoon against a marble top table. My chin trembled. “Magnus loves him so much.”

  Emma put an arm around me. “I know he does.”

  “So let’s just remember that. Magnus is a king apparently and he loves Ben, so seriously, don’t worry about it. Treat Ben like you want to treat him and don’t worry about anyone being a judge. Especially Mrs Johnstone, her opinion doesn’t matter at all. She thinks Donnan was a king of men.”

  “And he was…?”

  “Magnus’s father. That one that... you know.”

  “Yeah, right, so she doesn’t matter.”

  “Exactly. Anytime she complains just tell her that Donnan’s son, Magnus, told you what to do. That’s how we go forward.”

  “You’ll be channeling Magnus?”

  “We all have to channel Magnus. Hammond told me not to tell anyone he’s missing. We have to pretend like we expect him any moment.”

  Zach said, “I do expect him any moment, seriously Katie, I saw his eyes when we were leaving. He’ll kill that guy. He’ll come home.”

  “Yes, of course he will.”

  Quentin came down the stairs leading Beaty. “Did I hear food?”

  “Yes, breakfast is ready.”

  Five - Kaitlyn

  We were all eating when Hammond entered. “Can we speak, Your Highness?”

  “Have you eaten?”

  “No.”

  “Then join us.” I had Mrs Johnstone bring another place setting.

  “Can I speak freely?”

  “Definitely, these are all friends of Magnus and they were there when he was captured. This is Colonel Quentin Peters: he’s head of Magnus’s personal security. This is Zach and Emma: Zach is Magnus’s private chef, Emma is in charge of his household, but really you can think of them as our family.”

  Hammond nodded and opened his mouth to speak when the loud sharp voice of Lady Mairead sounded from the foyer. “I need to speak tae her right now!”

  When she stalked into the dining room her face was flushed, her expression furious. She banged a fist on the table and bowed over me. “Where is Magnus?”

  “Why, I—”

  “You tell me right now, right now do ye hear me!”

  “He’s with General Reyes, I—”

  “How could you let this—? How long has he had him?”

  Hammond said, “Mairead, maybe you should sit down so we can speak—”

  She banged her fist on the table. “Nae, I winna sit down.” She turned on me pointing at Hammond. “Kaitlyn, what is he doin’ here? You canna trust him.” She said to Hammond, “Not one more word from ye or I will have ye strung up for treason.”

  Hammond sighed wearily.

  Everyone else at the table had expressions of shock, which was normal, Lady Mairead enjoyed taking over a room.

  Lady Mairead said, “Where is Archie?”

  “He’s here, he—”

  “Good, we canna tell anyone that Magnus isna here.”

  I said, “I agree.”

  She sat stiffly in a chair. “Hello Chef Zach, Emma. Did ye have safe travels?”

  Zach said, “Yes ma’am.”

  “Quentin, explain yourself, you are supposed to be his guard.”

  He said, “General Reyes snuck into our dinner party. We didn’t know who he was. He showed up with Hayley and we were overpowered.”

  She cut her eyes at Hayley. “And how are ye, Madame Hayley? You have a wound on your head.”

  Hayley’s hand went to her bandage.

  “And this is?” Her eyes cut to Beaty as if she just noticed her.

  I said,“Beaty Campbell, she is newly married to Quentin Peters.”

  “Oh my, I supposed she had the look about her. Are you Jimmy’s child?”

  “Yes, Lady Mairead.”

  I see. “Well, you carry the looks of your family, I am sure not much else. That was probably a verra entertaining marriage contract.”

  “Your son struck the deal and seemed fine with it.”

  She looked down at her hands.

  I asked, “How do you know General Reyes?”

  “I have been in business with him. He is conniving, and deadly.” She leaned back in her chair. “I canna believe he has gone against me and taken Magnus.” She looked left and right. “Madame Joh
nstone!”

  Mrs Johnstone stuck her head in the door. “Yes?”

  “I will need tae be served some food.”

  “Of course Lady Mairead.”

  Lady Mairead leveled her eyes on me. “Tell me everything that happened.”

  I wanted to ask her what her business was, and to make her explain what was going on so I could figure this out. But also, I kind of figured I wouldn’t know how to figure this out even if she told me, and maybe Lady Mairead would be more capable. So although I knew she wasn't trustworthy and I knew I couldn’t rely on her, I really needed her help solving this.

  I told her everything.

  Except that I had the book.

  At the end, she narrowed her eyes, letting them settle on me. They were full of suspicion. “Is that everything?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  Hammond asked, “Lady Mairead, I am head of Magnus’s armed forces and one of his most trusted advisors and I—”

  “Does he ken ye dinna help me when I asked ye tae?”

  “Yes, he knows I chose duty to the king over treason. He is okay with my decision.”

  She scoffed and took a bite of her eggs and beans. “He is not really here tae speak for his thoughts on it is he? Kaitlyn, heed my warning on this. Hammond Donahoe has proven himself tae be unreliable; ye would do well not tae trust him.”

  “Magnus trusts him. So will I.”

  She scoffed again.

  Hammond said, “Where do you think Magnus is, or when, and what should our next step be?”

  She took a long deep breath. “I daena ken where he is. I met with General Reyes in Scotland once. Also in St Augustine. I am nae sure where he would take Magnus, but he wants his throne.”

  Hammond said, “If he wanted Magnus’s throne, why isn’t he here fighting for it?”

  Quentin said, “Or why didn't he kill Magnus right then? He could have killed all of us and then just jumped here and taken it. He didn’t, he kept Magnus alive.”

  Hayley said, “Maybe he’s not sure if Roderick is going to win the kingdom. If he holds onto Magnus, lets Roderick take the kingdom, makes them fight each other, then kills the victor — I’m sure it would work like that in the movies.”