Chapter 30

Mystic Kingdom

Angus walked inside Mystic Kingdom’s castle and straight to where the queen was. He didn’t have time to fool around with guards, or anyone else who to tried to stop him, he simply threw them out of his way. Ian had sent him here to do a job, clean up the books, protect the queen. He’d found out this time of day, she was in the library talking with her aids. He was tired of being jerked around and he didn’t care who heard him coming. He pushed a guard out of the way and slammed through the door.

Queen Edina looked up with surprise on her face, which quickly turned to anger. “I suppose you are the one who’s been all over looking for me? Before you say anything, you can leave. I don’t want or need your help.”

The Queen’s closest aid stood with a scowl. “I’ll remove him my lady.”

“You can try, but you willna get verra far,” he said, with a low growl.

The Queen frowned, “Remove him Dedrick.”

Dedrick jumped toward him to grab his throat. Angus stepped aside, flung his arm out, grabbed the back of Dedrick’s shirt and in one smooth movement, sent him against the doorframe knocking him out.

He stayed where he was crossing one leg in front of the other and leaned against the door contemplating his fingernails. Without looking away, he said in a low deadly voice, “If you want that toad tae live, you may suggest tae him, to mind his manners.”

The queens look of anger increased. “Sirrah, I could have you put in the dungeons for your despicable actions.”

He looked at her then and a shock went through him. God’s, she was gorgeous, especially spitting fire from those dark eyes. Though her anger did nothing to temper his.

“You and your army couldn’t put me in your dungeons if my hands and feet were chained. Shut your geggie and listen tae what I have tae say!”

“Guards!” Three came through the door instantly. “Seize this man and take him to the dungeons.”

He pulled his sword. The first went at him and he sidestepped, smacked him on his arse, and sent him flying against the corner of a table, knocking him out. The second had his sword out and ready, he knocked it from his hand, grabbed and twisted the guy around, kicked him in his arse, and shooting him up against the wall. The third came at him with his sword, he parried and punched him square in the nose and down he went. The three guards lay sprawled on the floor, all out cold. He stood and yawned as if bored.

“You need tae listen to what I have tae say and I’m not leaving ’til you do.” He was so angry he flashed a bit of fang.

The Queen’s eyes widened, but her look of annoyance grew. “I’ll give you three minutes, then you leave.”

“That’s a fine thank you for someone who travelled such a long distance tae protect your sorry arse, and that of your kingdom. You need tae have better manners, Queen.”

The Queen looked as if she had never been more insulted. “You, sirrah, are the one without manners! I don’t know if it’s because you aren’t smart enough to know your manners, or you didn’t have a mother to teach them to you. But I, nor my kingdom, needs the likes of you.”

He felt fury. “You can talk all ye want tae about me, but you will not speak ill of my Mither.” He tried to stop it, but his anger brought down his fangs and his fae part made him glow.

Edina looked at him with obvious amazement but not with the fear he expected to see. He knew she saw a huge man, dark shoulder length hair, glowing silver eyes, short cut beard almost a shadow, sculpted face, and fangs. She should be afraid, but she wasn’t, she seemed…enthralled.

“You must be the devil himself,” she said, “but you don’t scare me. I was married to one, and my thanks to the one who killed him.”

“Nae, not a devil, one trying tae save you from them. And that would be my brother you’re thanking. He killed your husband trying tae violate his wife tae be. Only you wouldn’t understand it, because you probably liked it, bein’ as how you married him.”

The queen stood up straight and walked up to him and slapped him as hard as she could across his face.

That shut him up, and he retracted his fangs and dimmed his glow to normal.

“You know nothing of me,” she seethed, “or my marriage. You will explain what you meant by the devils, then you will leave this castle, these grounds, and this kingdom never to return. Do I make myself clear?”

“Maybe I dinna make myself clear. I have a job tae do, and if you doona care aboot yourself, you should care aboot the people in your kingdom. I’m not from here, I come from a different place than your world. A different earth than this. Species you have never heard of live there. They have special gifts unlike humans.

“Merlin, I, and my brothers, have been protecting your sorry arse for hundreds of years, yes, we live that long and longer. There is an evil you can’t comprehend tryin’ tae take over your planet and ours. Your husband was helping him tae do it.

“Athdar? He is the evil and he’s not from here, he’s from our world, and he’s changing our good men into evil, he’s changing your kings and soldiers into evil. If you’ve ever kenned evil, you canna fathom the hell he’ll be creatin’ for you and your kingdom.

“You saw part of what I’m like, I’m half vampire, half fae, with many powers. I can make it rain so hard your gardens, houses, and castle would wash away, I could call the lightning tae strike you, the wind tae blow you away, get where I’m going with this?

“But instead I protect you, your kingdom, and this world from just such things. I’m here because Athdar is after your soldiers, if he turns them, you lose. Do you understand? A bairn was sacrificed to bring him back tae life and your husband helped.”

The queen grew quiet and slowly returned to her chair. Her face confused as she took in his words and what they meant for her kingdom.

A groan came from Dedrick as he regained his feet. The aide immediately turned his attention toward Angus.

Quickly he said, “this man should be executed for what he’s done.” He looked around at the moaning guards. “Guards!” He shouted. “Kill this man!”

“Leave us Dedrick and take the guards with you.”

“But, Edina…”

“Edina, is it?” He laughed. “You let your men call you by your given name?”

Edina didn’t blush, but Dedrick did. He was furious and his hatred showed. His face was beet red and spittle left his mouth. “You let this man beat your men and speak to you like this?!”

“Leave Dedrick, before I have you taken to the dungeons.”

He smiled, “I guess she told you!” He grinned.

The queen became exasperated. “If you two would kindly quit with your cock fight. We have matters to discuss. I won’t say it again. Dedrick, you, the guards, out!”

The two guards pulled the remaining unconscious guard up and out the door. Dedrick brushed past him and growled through gritted teeth, “This isn’t finished, you dirty Scott.”

“Aye, I think you’re verra finished, you slimy Sassenach.”

Dedrick slammed the door.

****

“Let me make myself clear, Mr. Whatever your name is. I don’t like you, I don’t know who or what you are, but I do believe what you’re saying. For the sake of my people, I will listen to you.”

“Weel, the feelin’ is mutual. I doona like you either, but make no mistake, I’m here tae do a job, and I weel do it, and no one weel stand in my way. Do I make that clear enough for you? My name is Angus McGregor and from here on oot, we go by my rules. Which, so you ken, I’ll be takin’ the King’s quarters as my own, while I’m here. It will be the best way tae protect you.”

She looked daggers at him. “You just stay out of my way, McGregor. After you’ve told me your plans, you will see me on a need to know basis only. Do I make myself clear?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She didn’t know why that comment made her feel rejected, when it should have made her happy, but it didn’t. This overbearing, pig headed, insolent, despicable, and infuriatingly handsome man gave her so many mixed feelings that she literally wanted to scream in frustration, and she never screamed.

“While I’m here there will be changes. While I’m protecting this place, I’ll be working for the people. Ian told me of the expenditures the king and you have indulged in. The gold armor and all other gold will be melted down and sold, the money given tae the people. I’ll be going over the books. I’ve noticed the people here are poor and work hard. This extravagance comes tae an end. Now. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

The queen had always felt bad about her people going without. She always tried to give to them. But that did it, she didn’t need this man rubbing salt in a wound she’d carried herself for years. “I have never taken from my people, what I have came from my father, King Aaric Guhn, from the Gealea Kingdom, who arranged my marriage to King Rulm with the promise that he never touch me or he’d die!”

Why she raised her voice and shared that with this stranger, she didn’t know but she was tired of his accusations. “That is why I don’t know the specifics of his activities with women. I’ve only heard rumors. You can sell all his things and give it to the people, it was my intention anyway! And you, you overbearing, all assuming, pig hearted fool, know nothing about me!” She was shaking she was so upset, then she broke out in tears. “Leave! Just get out of here!” She turned away and caught a sob in her fist.

“Look here, Queen Edina. Maybe I was a wee bit harsh on you. Kenning your husband as I did, I thought you were like him.” He walked to her and turned her around and grabbed her shoulders. Then he did the strangest thing, surprising himself. He reached down and kissed her.

She jerked away and backed up quickly putting her fingers to her lips.

“What do you think you’re doing? If you think I’m one of your wenches, you are dead wrong! I could have you hung for that, sirrah!”

Angus laughed, “now, that’s better.” He turned around and walked out leaving her standing with her fingers still on her lips.

She picked up a cup and threw it hitting the back of the door. She heard him walk away, roaring in laughter. She stood there wondering what just happened to her self-control. She’d never acted that way in her life, and in anger she told this stranger more about herself than she’d ever told anyone.

****

Now Angus was curious. He walked up the stairs, went to the king’s chambers, opened the door, and looked in. “Och!” He said loudly. “Opulent arse!” He shut the door and went quickly to the Queen’s door. When he opened it, he was surprised.

It was done tastefully in greens and blues, paintings of people, simple yet elegant things. Perhaps she wasn’t lying. He shook his head and went in search of the weasel Dedrick.

He found him in the ledger room with another man. They looked up at him.

Dedrick glared at him. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“Oot!” yelled Angus. “I’m takin’ control of the ledger room and its contents. You two weasels oot.”

“You can’t tell me what to do!” said Dedrick.

“I verra well can. You better go see your queen and ask her aboot it. Now run along boys, your nae tae come in here again. Your Mither’s callin’ you. Or do I need tae spank your arse again and remove you? Leave the books now!” He took a step forward. The other man figured it out right away and headed for the door. Dedrick didn’t. “You dense man, or just wish tae die?”

“Oh, you’ll pay, Scott,” Dedrick said as he left.

He knew before he even sat down what the books were going to look like. He sighed. It only grew worse as he went over the numbers. He felt a headache coming on. He spent the rest of the day there.

When he left, he was hungry, and his head was pounding. So, he went in search of the kitchens. The cook was there preparing things for morning. She was a big lady, white hair pinned atop her head, tall and very round. She leaned back against the counter and looked at him. He gave her his brightest smile. “You got anything from this evenin’s meal left, my bonnie lady?”

She grinned from ear to ear, and her face lit up. “Well what do we have here? A Scotsman! Well for you, I’m sure I could find something. She went to the fire where some stew was simmering and scooped him a trencher full, got another plate and put some fruit and cheese on it, then grabbed some small loaves of bread.

“You got some mead tae go with that?”

“Of course, I do. What room are you in, and I’ll have it sent to you?”

“Weel thank ye, sweetling. I’ll be up in the king’s room.”

The cook laughed, “You’re serious.”

“Aye. My name is Angus McGregor and I’m here tae set it right for the people and protect the queen. You will probably hear aboot me and probably not favorably. Especially from that walloper Dedrick. What a bawless lizard that piece of dirt is.”

Cook laughed. “That he is. He’s after the queen, has his eye on her, he does. He doesn’t understand she’ll never have any man.”

“How aboot I eat right here at this fine table and you can me tell something aboot her.”

“She was done poorly, I’m afraid her father sold her to that crazy man, king Rulm,” she said as she sat and leaned her elbows on the table. “As far as I can tell the only thing nice he did for her was make sure the king never touched her. They were both bad men, her father and the king, but Rulm the worst, I’m afraid.” She tsked. “There’s stories of what he’s done to ladies that would make your hair curl.”

“I ken, it was my brother who killed him for trying tae take advantage of his wife tae be. He left Elspeth beat up, he did.”

“Our Elspeth? That poor dear. I knew she wasn’t a traitor. She was our healer and a good woman, like our Queen.”

“You sayin’ the Queens good?”

“My yes, it wasn’t her fault she had to marry that black-hearted bastard. She never wanted to, but like I say, the king bought her. She’s always helping the people though. She sees to the sick, the old ones, and provides some tutoring for the children. She always said a smart kingdom is a happy kingdom. She needs a good man. Maybe someone like you.”

He coughed. “Nae, not me. I’m not ready for a permanent woman.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Now if someone like you came along…”

She laughed. “My names Galena, Angus. I’ve probably said more than I should have. How’s your meal?”

“Mostly gone. It tasted great, you’re a damn fine cook Galena. A mon could get fat eatin’ this kind of cookin’,” he said. Then he leaned back and patted his belly.

“I think I’ll take this pitcher and tankard with me and go up. I wish there was some way to shut down the sunshine in that room. Och, how could anybody live in the middle of that much gold?” he shook his head and stood, his head pounding. “Thank you, Galena. That was great,” he said grabbing his head.

“You have a pain in your head?” she asked, concerned.

“All day. I went over the numbers in the ledger room. Seems the pilfering didn’t stop with the king’s death.”

“Dedrick,” she said, knowingly. She turned and grabbed a cup from the sideboard and put in some herbs, poured hot water on top, and handed it to him. “Drink this, tis for your head.”

He sniffed it and cringed, the smell was terrible. He looked up at her and she tilted her head as if to say, “do it, or I will pour it down you myself.”

“My Mither gets that same look,” he said, drinking down the foul brew. Galena laughed. “Thank you, Galena. I’ll be leavin’ now, dinner was good.”

“You’re welcome in my kitchen any time, Scotsman. Don’t you be a stranger.”

“I willna. You couldn’t keep me away. Goodnight.” And he walked out and up to his new room.

When he got there, he stoked the fire, and heard sobbing coming from the other side of Edina’s door. He walked over to it. “Edina, is that you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, “go away.”

“Weel, goodnight, then.”

She didn’t respond.

He lay in that huge bed staring up at the canopy, wondering about the Queen. There was a lot to do here, he thought. He wondered how long he’d have to be here. He fell asleep thinking about his brothers and Merlin. He hoped their luck was good.