My doctor gave me permission tae leave the bed, but I was still in much discomfort and breathing was nae easy tae accomplish. I wanted tae go back tae bed, but Bella was receiving information from people close tae Donnan. We were expected at dinner tonight. And he was furious about something.

She said, “Probably the missing Tempus Omega, they are very precious.”

“Couldna he make more?”

“No, they’re an alien invention. He fought a war and won them. We don’t know how to make anything that advanced.”

“He keeps them all in one place?”

“Yes, in a room near his private apartments.”

I scowled. I was in no mood for this errand, the conversation, this purpose. “You told me ye dinna ken the location of the vessels.”

She smiled. It was silky and smooth and looked verra dishonest. “That was when I thought someone might be listening. You’re on our side now. I can tell you anything because we work together.” She ran her hand down my shoulder. “But it doesn’t matter. It would be impossible to get a Tempus Omega with Donnan in charge, but if you kill him, if you’re crowned king, you’ll have access to all of them. All the wealth. Everything. Wouldn’t that be perfect, My Magnus? Shouldn’t that be your ultimate goal?”

“Och, aye. And there is a plan in place?”

“For Saturday night at the Gala during the dinner. You will kill him there. I need you to understand this is a very important night and many people are going to great lengths to help you. Like the doctor.”

“Twas verra risky for him tae take off my patch.”

“Yes, it was. So you understand that people are counting on you.”

I inhaled deeply. “Aye.”

Her hand rubbed down my arm. “At the dinner you will sit to Donnan’s right. I will be beside you. If he tries to make me sit somewhere else, insist. I will have the gun and I’ll pass it to you under the table. Do you know how to shoot?”

“My security guard trained me in shootin’ in Florida, but how will ye have a gun? Dost ye have access tae weapons, can ye get me one now?”

She squinted her eyes. “If I had access to weapons, I would have killed Donnan years ago. Tanrick would have made a fine ruler, perhaps just as brutal but in different ways. There have been a number of sons who would have helped me. Trouble is they don’t seem to survive. But you survived. Now we have hope and a plan and I’ll have a weapon when the time comes.”

I said, “You will have a gun from somewhere and ye will pass it tae me.”

“This is the most important thing — you have to wait until the first course is eaten. Donnan’s plate will be removed first. He likes to finish eating so he can make everyone else look as if they are too slow. It’s a power move. His plate will be taken. At that point there will be four guards behind you but one of them is with us. He will be ready. You will jump up and kill Donnan where he sits. Our guard will keep the other guards off you, but when you’ve done it you must return here to your rooms. Once Donnan is declared dead, you will emerge for your crowning.”

“After I kill Donnan I will remain imprisoned?”

“For your protection.” She went into the bathroom to put on her makeup, jars and sticks and brushes covered all the counter space and every shelf in my bathroom now. Not Kaitlyn’s. Some strange woman named Bella that I couldn’t even trust.

Guards led us along the passageways and down the elevator to the grand dining room. As we walked, I counted doors. I paused at a wall of windows lookin’ over a forest at the back of the castle. The guards told me tae keep walking, but the sky was bright and I could make out the peaks on the horizon, one in particular had a distinctive shape.

Bella tugged at my arm. “What are you looking at, My Magnus?”

“Nothin’, just the horizon. I haena seen it for many a day.”

In the elevator, beside the buttons, the top floor was marked with a star. A guard pushed the button below it. I asked, “We arna goin’ up tae Donnan’s apartments?”

A guard grunted and said, “No, you don’t get to go up there.” The elevator doors opened on another hallway. I noted the door at the end, certain it was the stairwell, four doors down. It had been six doors tae the elevator. Donnan’s apartments were on the top floor. I just had tae remember the way as soon as I dinna have four guards around me.

Finally we were pushed through to the dining room again. Donnan stood in the middle, a drink in hand. The table had three place settings at one end. He looked as if he was waiting for us.

“Magnus, my warrior, you’ve come to tell me of your latest battles!” He warmly shook my bound hands.

“I came because ye told me tae come.”

“Exactly, like a good son. Have a seat.” I took the chair tae his right. He held the chair for Bella at his left hand, then sat at the head.

I asked, “Will Lady Mairead be attendin’ us?”

“No, she’s traveling right now. She does love to plunder. For many years I used trained guards to collect for me, but it was not without hassles.” He gestured for the server tae bring us wine. As they poured our glasses he said, “This wine is from 1242. It’s not great, but when else have you ever imbibed a wine that was a thousand years old?”

He continued, “Where was I — your mother and her pilfering ways. The guards kept disappearing with my Tempus Omegas. I had to locate them again. It caused a great many difficulties. But Mairead is eminently trustworthy and capable.” He rested his gaze on Bella’s face, “I find myself missing her very much when she is gone.”

Bella shook her hair. “But you miss me more, My Donnan?”

“Ah yes, I miss you more. But I’ve given you over to Magnus now. My warrior!” He turned his focus back tae me. “How are you healing, Son?”

“I will be ready tae fight when called upon.”

“Good, good.” Donnan stared at me long and then his starin’ was interrupted by the arrival of our plates. “Speaking of needing to find my Tempus Omegas. Have you given any thought to where you may have hidden the one that was in your care?”

“Nae. I daena ken where it is.”

“Daena ken? You don’t know?” He turned tae Bella. “We should really get his dialect sorted. There’s no sense to be made of half of his words. Who was your speech coach, Bella, Reynolds?”

“Yes, but I think the way Magnus speaks is fine.”

Donnan humphed. “Well, I suppose he is more of a warrior than an orator. The people seem to like him.”

Eatin’ with bound hands was difficult, but gave me something tae focus on instead of my rage.

Donnan’s voice went slithery as it did just before he beat me with the stick last time. “It would mean a great deal to me if you would tell me where you put it… We could discuss the circumstances of your living situation. For instance I have a full stable with many glorious horses. You could ride.”

“I canna tell ye where the vessel is. I daena ken the location, but I would verra much like tae ride.”

Donnan wiped his hands on a napkin makin’ me wait for a response. “The Tempus Omegas are very precious, Magnus. I have allowed you the use of one, but you haven’t returned it. It’s disrespectful.”

“Twas lost. Nae sense in worryin’ over it.” I kept my eyes on the far wall, but kept my senses focused on his movement. He faced my side, the one most injured. All he would have tae do is hit me in the ribs and I would be in the infirmary again.

“Ah, but see, there is a reason to worry over it. In the hands of the wrong person much mischief could be done with these devices. It has been very difficult to keep them under my control.” He tossed his napkin to the table beside his plate. “Since you aren’t cooperating, I’ll have to find it with the tracking signal.”

“If it has a trackin’ signal why dost ye keep askin’ me for it?”

He smiled maliciously. “Finding it isn’t precise. And once the signal is activated the Tempus Omegas could be located by anyone through time. I have to be ready to get to its location before someone else does.”

He sat back in his chair with a sigh. “And there are wars raging in the South. Uprisings, resistance, political intrigues.” He pushed his plate away from himself. “As the future king I thought you might want to save me the trouble and allow me to focus on the issues at hand. So I’ll ask again, where is it?”

“I daena ken.”

He nodded. “Bella, you’ll attend me to my quarters tonight. I have a need for you.”

“You canna have her, ye—”

Bella interrupted. “It’s okay, My Magnus. I’ll go with him tonight.” She put her hand on Donnan’s and looked up at him in a way that made my stomach turn.

Donnan said, “I’m done, don’t hurry, Magnus, stay and enjoy the meal I’ve provided. I’ll see you in three nights for my Autumnal Equinox Gala Dinner.” He stood and said, “Come Bella.”

She hastily dropped her fork mid-bite. “Of course.” She took his arm. As they turned for the far door Bella said, “My Magnus, your beard is far more scruffy than I would like, see the barber tomorrow morning.”

I scowled and watched as they left the room together.

I sat in quiet and finished eating my meal. Then I stood and the guards closed in around me and ushered me back to my quarters.

I did remember, though, tae recount the doors, checkin’ the numbers tae make sure I had them in mind, and tae take note of the stairwell to Donnan’s quarters again.