Unnnggghhhhhh. Unnnggghhhhhh. I pulled myself up through a tunnel of torment and forced my eyes open tae check on Kaitlyn. Was she all—

It hit me that she wasna here. Couldna be here. And I faded under the darkness again.

I woke with a start. My eyes were blinded by a bright, stark, painful light. A beeping sound so loud it hurt my ears. I was held tight — I pulled at my arms and legs and attempted tae turn my head. Twas nae possible tae move. I stared up at the ceiling attemptin’ tae gain any information about this place. But twas only light and white. I closed my eyes against it and waited for somethin’ tae change.

“Magnus Archibald Caehlin Campbell?” The voice was female and close tae my ear. It’s closeness startled me. My first thought, Kaitlyn?

I couldna see who was addressin’ me.

“Who?” My tongue felt thick from disuse. How long had I been here?

“Magnus, I’m Dr. Thompson.”

“Where am I?”

Her voice seemed tae be disembodied. “You are in the Royal Infirmary. The year is 2381. You’ve been here for three days.”

“Why?”

“It’s standard after someone comes forward in time. A blood test has proven your genetic identity and you are of clean health. I’ve been given permission for you to enter the court as soon as you’re ready to go.”

“I canna move.”

There was a soft clicking sound and it felt as if a blanket peeled from my skin. I sat up and swung my feet over the side of the stark flat bed.

The room spun. I collapsed back tae the bed again. “I canna sit up.”

There was no answer. I turned my head tae look around the room squintin’ tae see the forms, white and indiscernible in the glare of the lights. Twas like sittin’ inside the sun.

I attempted a sitting position again and directed my focus.

My clothes were folded neatly on a metal table. They smelled foreign and laundered. My jaw was without its beard. My fingernails were clean. I dinna like the idea of bein’ shaved and washed while unconscious.

And I dinna have my sword.

I stood in front of the door. Cast with light in front of me was my own image, much like a mirror. More light surrounded by light. I closed my eyes against the onslaught.

An opening appeared midway down. The voice from near my ear said, “Insert your wrists.”

I placed my hands through the hole and a rope bound my wrists verra tightly. Twas metallic the same as the band Kaitlyn wore around her neck.

The door clicked and swung open.

The voice beside my ear said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Magnus.”

I stepped into a hallway. In the brightness I had difficulties seein’ the way. I stumbled against a wall and recorrected blindly. After some distance I came tae a length of windows — I was inside a bridge of glass high above the ground connecting… I pressed to the window to see where the bridge originated — behind towered a building built mostly of glass, glintin’ in the sun. Ahead of me stood a grand castle built of stone. Twas larger than I had ever seen. Below were lush gardens, a giant arena, a forest and mountains beyond.

Farther along, the windowed walkway ended and I entered the stone hallways of the castle. The stone provided some relief for my eyes.

I approached two men guardin’ a double door. The doors swept open and I entered a grand hall that stored massive quantities of antiques and art. There was barely any room tae stand.

A different voice said, “You can wait here.”

I stood in the middle of the room and took it all in.

The rooms of Lady Mairead in the eighteenth century had been full of plunder but this room held many times more. Art leaned against the walls ten paintings thick in places. Sculptures stood in most open areas leaving verra little walkin’ space between them. Rolls of tapestries leaned in corners and stacks of china stood on ornately carved tables. The ceiling was an image that shifted and moved, illuminated — two men fightin’ with swords in an arena.

I waited.

After standing shackled for a verra long time, the door at the far end of the room opened and Lady Mairead stepped through. Her hand was wrapped around the elbow of a man. She held a wide self-satisfied smile on her face.

He was the same as myself in look and stature, though his coloring was lighter. He wore a suit of a filmy, shifting material in a color like the wind. The shoulders and edges of his suit were trimmed in dark fur.

He and Lady Mairead stopped about ten feet away and appraised me.

She said, “Magnus, take a knee, tis your father.”

I dinna want tae. I needed time tae decide before I bowed my head before this man, yet I dropped tae a knee.

He said, “He is much the way you described.”

Lady Mairead said, “Larger even. He has been in training, as you requested.”

“Perfect.”

The man who was supposed tae be my father circled me. “You have done very well. He seems exactly as I asked.”

My breaths were comin’ fast. I asked, “Where am I?”

“You are in your court, Son, your kingdom. You are the heir to my throne.”

I stared at his feet. “And who are ye? I daena believe we have met.”

“I am Donnan the Second, born in the year 2330.”

“And why have I never met ye before?”

He ignored my question. “Rise, I imagine you are hungry. We will go to dine.”

The dining room was so large it overwhelmed the verra long table. There was gold everywhere and porcelain, silver, and crystal place settings. Donnan took the chair at the head of the table. Lady Mairead sat tae his left. I sat on his right.

I glared across at Lady Mairead. She had assured me there was nae danger, yet here I sat, a prisoner.

“I winna be able tae eat without my hands.”

“You will make do, I would think,” said Lady Mairead.

Donnan said, “If you are as bloodthirsty and furious as Mairead promised, you would be a dangerous dinner guest without bindings.”

The edge of his lips went up in a smile. “So tell me about yourself, Son.”

“Am I allowed tae leave?”

His eyes leveled on my face while he spoke tae Lady Mairead. “He answers questions with questions?”

Lady Mairead demurely bowed her head. “Tis one of the things that makes him a good warrior, a willfulness that canna be broken.”

He paused with his fingers itchin’ beside the base of his knife.

My place settin’ had nae knife.

He said, “My kingdom spreads throughout the hemisphere, Magnus, and you are next in line for the throne. You proved your lineage with the testing we did once you arrived. Next we will prove you are ruthless. This will be arduous yet necessary and until I can be assured of your cooperation, I can’t let you roam freely. Surely you must see that. Also, there are a great many people who want to take your place.”

A plate of food was placed in front of me. I was famished. I managed tae pick up the fork, stab the meat, and raise the whole cutlet tae my mouth. I gnawed on it.

Lady Mairead winced.

I chewed with my mouth open starin’ at her forehead, darin’ her tae look. I swallowed and asked, “If I am your heir, why have I been livin’ in the past?”

“Your great-great-grandfather, Aenghus III, killed his brothers to take the throne. Since then the line of succession hasn’t been safe from those willing to fight for it. I was raised in the past myself until I was of age. For my own protection. Now that you’re able to fight you can protect yourself.”

I continued to chew and stare at Lady Mairead. “Who would I be protectin’ myself from?”

“Your brothers. Your uncles. My brother, Tanrick, believes he should rule. My half-brother, Samuel. There are many others. I have followed your exploits. I believe you are ready.”

I growled. “You mean ye have been playin’ games with me, putting Kaitlyn in danger tae test me. Tell me Donnan, did ye order Lady Mairead tae hire criminals to steal Kaitlyn away?”

“You are confused, Son, to think you get to ask questions of me.”

He took a bite of his meat, carving a piece, chewing with deliberate slowness. Then he said, “I might ask of you, how is it that Mairead has these scars upon her cheeks? I think you have not been able to protect her. I believe it is a recurring theme with you, promising protection and not delivering it.”

My leg shook; I wanted tae charge him. He ate as if he had all the time in the world.

Donnan shrugged. “So I ordered some tasks for you, some incentives to help you train. You needed to learn to focus.”

“Games,” I slammed the fork tae my plate. “With my wife’s life at risk.”

“Hush Magnus,” urged Lady Mairead, “watch your tongue”.

“I will nae watch my tongue any more than I will remain here fightin’ for a throne I daena want.”

Donnan looked from my face tae Lady Mairead’s. He seemed mildly amused.

She on the other hand looked furious. “Magnus, much trouble has gone intae getting ye here. Everything I have done is for you, tae prepare ye for this—”

I banged my fists on the table and stood leaning over it. “You have nae done one thing for me. Not one—”

She leveled her gaze. “I got you Kaitlyn.”

“But you dinna let me stay with her!” The guards closed in behind me, four. Twould be difficult tae fight four without the use of my hands.

“Tsk tsk,” said Donnan. “Is this all about the Kaitlyn Sheffield of yore? This is why you’re angry, Magnus? Because Kaitlyn Sheffield is long gone, there’s no sense in dwelling on the past.”

I lunged aiming my bound hands at his throat. “Her name is Kaitlyn Campbell!” I was dragged off the table, draggin’ a plate and a glass along tae crash tae the floor.

Donnan said, “Show him to his rooms.”

I was dragged strugglin’ tae the door by guards.

I managed tae knock a sculpture and then a table over with a crash of glass as they forced me down the room. I was shoved to the hallway, then forced tae stand and walk between the guards down another long stone passageway tae a far away door. I was shoved through.

The door closed shut and locked behind me.

An entirely new room — so bright I could only make out the larger details. I had tae keep closin’ my eyes against the strain of it. There was a wall of windows looking out over a lush landscape. I guessed I was about five stories above the ground. The gardens below had a maze, walkways and paths, and manicured grass stretchin’ a fair distance. I could see the edge of the large arena that I noticed earlier from the bridge. There were mountains in the cloud-covered distance but I couldna make out the peaks.

Within the room against the wall stood a large, ornately carved bed covered in lavish bedding. On the floor was a woven rug.

In front of the far wall, a light-cast, an image — a Scottish landscape, a familiar landscape — highland stones and craggy rocks. It shifted as if twas alive.

There was a fireplace on the opposite wall, with a small crackling blaze on the hearth. The sound of it filled the room.

The only other furniture was a small table with two chairs and beside that, a doorway tae a closet. Another door opened tae reveal a modern bathroom: a shower, a toilet, a sink.

My wrists were still bound. I banged on the door with my fists. “You forgot tae take the shackles off!” The same kind of small opening slid wide. I put my fists through and the metal bindings peeled from my skin.

I rubbed my wrists trying to remove the feeling. I remember… tis like a vibration on my skin. Fury rose in my chest — fury at everything they had stolen — that they were stealin’ from me.

The bathroom had a mirror and I checked around my neck. A square of metal much like a bandage was adhered behind my ear. It wouldna be easy tae escape with this magic on my skin.

The shower controls were confusin’ and I dinna want tae think on it much so my shower was uncomfortably cold.

When I emerged from the bathroom, the wall of windows had turned dark. The gardens below twinkled with lights along the trails and paths. The sound of insects at twilight was amplified uncomfortably loud through the room.

The projected Scottish landscape dimmed as well. I had nae idea if it was truly night — what was real and what was bein’ invented — it all felt much like imprisonment. I climbed intae the bed, pulled the covers up, and the last light in the room went thankfully dark.

My horse was at a full gallop. I held the reins tryin’ tae keep her under control, my sights on the horse ahead of us, tearin’ down the road. Kaitlyn was ridin’ it, and the horse kept going. She was always ahead, never slowin’ or faltering. Fear surged when I saw the horse near a tree, but it dodged without breakin’ stride, and nae matter how I rode, how much I urged my horse, it wasna good enough. I couldna get tae her, fast enough — “Kaitlyn!”

I sat up gasping and clutched my chest tryin’ tae get above the wave of fear takin’ my air.

A woman’s voice beside my ear asked, “Which Kaitlyn are you speaking of?”

I wasna keen on answering, so I ignored it, yet it pressed, “Which Kaitlyn?”

“My wife, Kaitlyn Campbell.” I spoke it intae the dark air with my head bowed.

The light changed in my room and the far wall brightly glowed. I looked up tae see an image of Kaitlyn Campbell that took my breath away. It was large. I was drawn toward it as it shifted. She was lookin’ down and then her eyes looked up, her face opened intae a smile. Someone or something caused her face tae light in happiness.

She was smilin’, staring out at something I couldna see. I changed positions tae look her directly in the eye, but she continued tae stare above my head, beyond me, intae the distance. What was she smiling at? She looked older. Her hair was different. Who was she smiling toward?

I asked, “When was this?”

The voice answered, “This photo was taken on December 10, in Florida, the year 2028. Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell was thirty-four years of age.”

The photo shifted again, Kaitlyn, her face lighting up at the sight of someone.

“How long ago was this?”

“This was three hundred and fifty-three years ago. Would you care to see more?”

I sat down on the bed.

“Nae, tis enough. Keep it on.”

I watched the image shift, Kaitlyn’s face lightin’ up. “Can ye tell me about her?”

“Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell, born December 5, 1993, married to Magnus Archibald Caehlin Campbell,” said the voice, “on July 2, 2017.”

The voice continued, “Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell lost her husband on October 24, 2018. She signed the Death in Absentia judgement and was declared a widow on November 29, 2028.”

“So this image was taken soon after she became a widow?”

“Yes, eleven days later.”

I watched the loop of Kaitlyn smilin’ over and over.

“Would you like to hear more?” asked the voice near my ear.

I watched the shiftin’ and the smile of my wife. “Aye.”

“Kaitlyn Campbell gave birth to a son, Maddox Carter Wilson, born on April 25, 2029.” The image shifted tae Kaitlyn, smilin’ and holdin’ a bairn in her arms.

“Och.” I collapsed on the bed.

After a moment I managed tae ask, “Who was the father?”

The lightin’ in the room shifted. I ken the photo had changed tae the man who fathered Kaitlyn’s child but I couldna look.

“The father was Tyler Garrison Wilson, born January 9, 1992.”

I asked, “Did they marry?”

“There are no records of a marriage between Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell and Tyler Garrison Wilson.”

I stared up at the ceiling. “Can ye tell me what happened tae her, how she ended?”

“Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell died on July 2, 2076 at the age of 83. She was surrounded by friends. She was survived by her son, his wife, and two grandchildren. She was cremated.”

I sat up and looked at the newest image — Kaitlyn, older. Her hair turned gray, her face lined. The smile though. The eyes. Twas Kaitlyn smiling through the years.

“Can ye remind me how long ago this was?”

“Kaitlyn Sheffield Campbell passed away three hundred and five years ago.”

“I daena want tae see anymore.”

The room returned tae darkness.

But when my eyes closed there was a glowin’ shape, Kaitlyn, as if she was an echo inside me.

I pressed m’fists tae my eyes. “She is safe.”

“Who is safe?” asked the voice.

I slammed my fists tae the mattress. “I daena want tae talk anymore.”

“Yes, Magnus, good night.”

I breathed in and out. “She is safe. She lived on. She had a child. She was happy.”

I banged my fist on the mattress. “She lived a long life without me. She was safe and good and wasna that what I wanted? That was all I wanted.” I yelled at the ceiling, “All I wanted was for Kaitlyn tae be safe. Without me she was. She had a child. Grandchildren. Without me she was.”

She was.

She was the past, nae more than dust.

My voice cracked apart and turned tae a cry. “Without me she was.” I hit the mattress. My fists were nae full of fury but of pain. I pulled tae my side and couldna understand how tae go on from here…