The Guardian by Diana Knightley

Thirty-two - Kaitlyn

Afew minutes later, Hayley, Magnus, Zach, Emma, and Fraoch entered James’s apartment.

Hayley’s face was flushed from the unnecessary racing around. “Can you tell us again, what you just told us?”

Sophie said, “I am nae sure...?”

Hayley waved her hand. “About your mother, about the guardians.”

“One night when I was verra young, m’mother was verra frightened. She had me hide, she told me tae be verra quiet, she put me in... I daena ken what it was, twas dark, and loud, then she gave me tae the Campbells in Edinburgh and she left and I haena seen her again. I was told tae keep it all a secret.”

Magnus said, “Och, so the Campbells in Edinburgh are nae yer relations, we daena ken who yer true parents are?”

Her brow furrowed. “Nae. I wish I could tell ye more, but I...”

Hayley said, “You said, ‘dark and loud,’ was it like a storm... what happened between that moment and when you were given to the Campbells?”

She shook her head. “I daena ken, twas a stormy night and then... I daena remember after.”

We all met eyes.

I said, “So there was a storm, you might be the child of a time traveler. We don’t know — you could be from any year, you might be any age.”

“How could I? I am a woman who has lived most of m’life in Edinburgh.”

I sighed. “That’s not really how time travel works, sadly. It’s just twists and turns and nothing makes sense, not in the normal way. Do you remember anything about her?”

Sophie shook her head. “I daena ken anything of her, all I remember are these bits and pieces — I was about the same age as Archie when I was left with m’guardian, John Campbell, and then he married me tae Master Milne. Ye hae tae understand. I dinna ken anythin’ about m’mother nae even her name—”

Magnus said, “Tis nae an accident — that ye hae come tae be here.”

She addressed him, “It wasna an accident, but I dinna understand how it happened. After Master Milne died, when I was accused of witchcraft, I received a letter — it told me of a connection I had tae the Campbells living at Kilchurn castle.”

Quentin said, “Where is this letter?”

“I hae been told tae keep it hidden from...” Her eyes went to Magnus.

Magnus said, “From me, ye were told tae keep it from myself?”

“Aye, but I... I will get it for ye.”

She stood, her back very straight, went to her desk, pilfered through the back of the drawer, and returned with a folded up piece of what looked like modern paper.

James said, “Great, secret letters, just great.”

She passed the letter to James and he read out loud:

Dear Sophie,

I wish to remind you of your connections to the Campbells currently residing in Kilchurn, including your cousins, Sean and Lizbeth Campbell. As you are in dire straights, you ought to reaffirm your connections to them.

I will warn you, you must be wary, it would be dangerous for King Magnus to learn of this letter, you must keep it hidden from him.

Once you are there and settled I will send you further instructions.

Yours,

R.

James put down the paper. “I wish you would have told me about this before.”

Magnus stood. “Hae ye received further instructions from this person? Do you hae any idea who they are? Hae ye been in contact with them?”

“Nae! Never! I ken tis an odd letter, and I daena ken who it was from, but twas helpful and I desperately needed the assistance. I contacted Sean Campbell and was invited tae come.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. “I hae never heard from this person again. I ken tis suspicious, but twas also necessary and I dinna understand most of it — King Magnus, I hope ye ken, this letter caused me tae be afeared of ye, but once I met ye, I kent twas nae true. Once I lived here and became a part of the family, what was in the letter dinna matter tae me anymore.”

I squinted my eyes, “You never heard your mother speak about Magnus?”

“Nae, I only hae a vague memory of a man telling me a story about a King Magnus, and how he had stolen his throne — in the story, tae exact revenge, the bairns of King Magnus were murdered, twas terrifying tae me. I remember the man saying, ‘daena forget this story of King Magnus.’ I believed it tae be a fairytale, it could nae be about the flesh and blood king I hae met.”

She removed her hand from James’s and used it to smooth back her hair. “I hae one more memory. I daena ken if it will help.”

Zach said, “Anything will help.”

“M’mother told me the names of the man and woman who were followin’ us. She told me I must hide from them. I feel as if I hae heard ye say his name before, Padraig, but tis likely someone...”

Quentin and Magnus met eyes.

Quentin said, “And her name?”

“Agnie. M’mother was verra frightened of them both.”

I said, “Shit, I think your mother was afraid of Sir Padraig Stuart and Agnie MacLeod.” I looked at Magnus. “Do we know if Sir Padraig and Agnie are friends?”

Magnus shrugged. “Wherever I turn, Agnie MacLeod has been conspiring with m’enemies, I am nae surprised Sir Paddy would be one of them.”

Magnus asked Sophie, “And ye hae never had a vessel?”

“Nae, and I daena understand what ye mean by ‘vessel’. I honestly daena ken what ye are talking on. I hae never meant ye any harm, King Magnus. I married James Cook, became a part of your family, I would never do anything tae put your life in danger.”

Magnus exhaled. “Ye might hae, we may be in grave danger. The person who wrote this letter, kens ye are living with my family. These are dangerous people. Your mother was right tae be frightened of them.”

“I only came because I had naewhere else tae go.”

Magnus said, “And what did ye learn about King Magnus while ye were living here in m’castle?”

She said, “That ye are nae some dangerous—”

Magnus interrupted. “This is nae the right answer, Madame Sophie. I fought for m’throne — this letter is tellin’ the truth, I am verra dangerous if crossed.” Magnus shook his head. “I believe I hae been doin’ what is necessary, but ye will need tae be clear-eyed. If ye hold me infallible, ye will be easily swayed against me. In matters of thrones ye must be clear with whom ye are aligned.”

Madame Sophie said, “I promise ye, I had nae idea that the letter was so dangerous. I am clear on alignin’ with ye.” She ran her hands down her face. “I dinna want tae hide it, I hae been so worried about it all.”

Magnus said, “Sir Padraig is conspiring tae do terrible things tae my family. He is the reason why we are in hiding here. It sounds as if he is the reason ye hae been in hiding as well.” He shook his head. “I wish ye would hae told us of the letter, had told us of yer past. It would hae warned us and now it has been almost ten months. We might hae been readying ourselves.” While he spoke he massaged his left hand.

Quentin asked, “This is what I don’t understand, why hasn’t Agnie MacLeod or Sir Paddy-whack come looking for you? Why hasn’t the writer of this letter sent another?”

She said, “I daena ken.”

James said, “Knowing what we know, we ought to let her go, she hasn’t been a time traveler.”

Magnus nodded. “I agree, Madame Sophie is free tae go.”

James said, “Oh. I had a whole argument. Are you letting her go with exceptions? If everyone is suspicious of her, maybe we should just go off on our own.”

“Tis nae necessary, I am nae suspicious of her. She is free tae go with my deepest apologies and I hae nae exceptions.” He added, “Do ye accept m’apology, Madame Sophie?”

“Aye. Thank ye, King Magnus.”

James said, “Okay, but why? What made you decide?”

“Because I was thinkin’ on it, if she was a time traveler,” he smiled at Sophie, “M’apologies, for what I am about tae say, but wouldna she hae a much stronger telescope? When I am on guard duty sometimes she has allowed me tae look through the eyepiece of her telescope. She is a lady of science, if she had seen the stars Kaitlyn has described tae me, I daena think she would be content tae be lookin’ through a telescope that can barely see the moon.”

Kaitlyn said, “This is such a good point.”

“Aye.”

Sophie said, “There are better telescopes?”

Magnus answered, “Aye, Madame Sophie, I hae heard of wondrous telescopes that travel themselves in space and they can see farther than we hae ever imagined.”

“Och, I would like tae see it.”

Magnus said, “Maybe someday ye will. I am sure James would like tae shew ye, and I believe the rest of us would like tae be there when ye see it for the first time.”

Sophie asked, “I am welcome tae stay?”

I said, “Yes, of course, you’re welcome to stay.”

Magnus brought his hands down on his knees and then stood. “We ought tae stay vigilant though, we need all able-bodied men back on the walls taenight.”

He left the room.