Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brianna
Later that morning, I get a text from Brock saying that he needs to stay at the hotel to work on some business.
“I guess it’s just you and me for the Edinburgh tour, Mads,” I say cheerfully.
She sighs. “I guess.”
“Buck up.” I grab her hand as we get into our cab that will take us to the starting point for the tour.
It’s a premium tour on a luxury bus with an actual tour guide and all. We had one tour in London like that, but the rest of the time we checked out the sights ourselves.
Once on the bus, our tour guide, a man named Ferdie—dark-haired, blue-eyed, and sporting a kilt—speaks through the microphone in a fun Scottish accent.
“Our first stop will be Edinburgh Castle,” Ferdie announces. “The castle is perched on Castle Rock and has witnessed centuries of history and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and learn about the castle’s role in Scotland’s history.”
A few moments later, the bus stops. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Ferdie says, “as you approach the castle, you’ll walk along the Esplanade, which is a large open space in front of the main entrance. This is the site of the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the month of August.”
“The bagpipe thing?” someone asks.
“Yes, the bagpipe thing.” Ferdie laughs. “But the Tattoo features more than just pipes. They host a wide variety of military bands, pipe and drum corps, and other performance groups from different countries. If you can get back here in August, it’s something you don’t want to miss.”
I’m not big on pipes and drums, but I bet Jesse would love the Tattoo. Maybe he and I will come back here in August.
I stop myself.
Totally putting the cart before the horse, as my father likes to say.
We leave the bus, and Ferdie is still speaking to us through a wireless mic as we stroll toward the castle. “We’ll enter the castle through the Portcullis Gate, a fortified entrance with a large wooden drawbridge.”
“How can it have a drawbridge?” someone asks. “Isn’t that to let ships through?”
“It’s no longer a functional drawbridge,” Ferdie replies with a chuckle.
The man reddens. “Right.”
“Portcullis Gate leads you into the heart of the castle complex,” Ferdie continues. “Once you’re inside, you’ll be on your own to explore for an hour. One of the highlights is the Crown Jewels of Scotland, including the crown, scepter, and sword that are used in various royal ceremonies.”
“Are they different from England’s Crown Jewels?” a young woman asks.
“They are, though they’re still the property of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. And they’re considered priceless. You’ll also find the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish monarchy. Don’t miss the Great Hall—a magnificent space adorned with armor and weaponry, showcasing Scotland’s martial history.”
I giggle. Ferdie sounds like a robot. I’m sure he’s given this same speech hundreds of times.
“St. Margaret’s Chapel is one of the oldest surviving structures in Edinburgh,” Ferdie continues. “Mons Meg is a massive medieval siege cannon located on the castle grounds. It’s an impressive piece of artillery that provides insight into the castle’s military history. If you have time, check out the National War Museum, which offers an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and exhibitions covering Scotland’s military history. There are a few other sights you might want to see as well. Grab a brochure from me, and we’ll meet back here in one hour.”
Maddie and take our brochures from Ferdie and enter the castle.
I stop in awe, again wishing Diana were here. As an architect, she’d appreciate this wondrous structure far more than I ever could. All I can do is gape at its beauty and majesty. Maddie and I hit everything Ferdie recommended—the Crown Jewels of Scotland were so beautiful—and are about to hit the National War Museum when my phone buzzes.
I have a text…and I notice the time. Our hour is up, and we have to get back to the entrance to meet Ferdie and the rest of the group.
“Mads, we have to go.”
“Already?”
“Yeah. Plus I have a text from Brock.”
“Is everything okay?”
I glance at the text quickly. “Yeah, but he wants us to get back for lunch.”
“But our tour includes lunch.”
“I know.” I tap out a message into the phone.
On a tour with Maddie. Includes lunch.
The three dots move, and…
Okay. Never mind. Finish your tour.
What’s up?
Nothing urgent. Just some changes in our seating for the concert. I’ll talk to you when you get back to the hotel.
“Apparently our seating for the concert has changed,” I tell Maddie. “Not sure why he needed to tell us that in person.”
“Who knows?” Maddie says. “We’d better get back before Ferdie leaves without us.”
We walk swiftly out of the castle until we finally reach the entrance. Ferdie is standing in front of the group, his arms crossed.