The Drunk Wolf novel · Chapter 14 of 32

Chapter 14: My Father's Will

"Wait there," I told Murdo.

"I've waited ten years for this place," he said. "I can wait ten minutes."

"Ailsa," I said. "Nobody comes through this gate till I'm back."

Ailsa stepped into the gap with her thumbs in her belt.

"Lovely," she said. "I've wanted to stand between Murdo Strachan and something he wants since I was twelve."

I took Struan's bike from the stillhouse wall because it was nearer than a horse.

It was a terrible bike. The chain screamed the whole way up the castle road.

The archive is a vaulted room under the chapel, all iron boxes and damp.

The Charter keeper was eating a sandwich at his desk.

He stood up so fast he dropped it.

"My father's will," I said. "The one that was read when I was twenty-two."

"Your Highness, the Regent keeps the key to the royal boxes."

"I'm sure he does." I held out my hand. "And you keep the spare. Because my father told you to."

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he opened his desk drawer.

My father's box was at the end of the bottom shelf, with dust on the lid.

I'd been at his will reading. I'd been twenty-two and I'd heard none of it.

I'd sat in the little hall staring at the window.

My uncle had read it out in his calm voice, and I'd signed where he pointed.

I found the will in five minutes.

The distillery was on the second page.

I read the line twice with my finger under it.

Then I folded it into my coat and ran.

When I came back down the burn road, half the village was at the gate.

Murdo was leaning on the pillar with his arms folded. His men were sitting on the barley trailer, smoking.

Ailsa hadn't moved an inch.

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