Chapter Four
The lass had left before he could ask her name.
Breckin was taken aback by her beauty when he’d first spotted her on the lane.
She was lovely with long, glorious brown hair that curled at the edges.
It was when he was close enough to see her eyes, though, that she thoroughly captivated him.
She had eyes as blue as the sea, so rich in color that they seemed to shimmer with excitement.
He could lose himself in the depth of them and wondered what she found so enthralling.
She fascinated him even from afar and when he noticed a lad getting too close to her, he had to step in when he suspected the lad was going to snatch her coin pouch.
Breckin detested Edinburgh with its crowds and thieves.
He couldn’t stand aside and allow the woman to be filched of her coins.
Yet she wasn’t as appreciative as he thought she would be when he foiled the lad’s attempt to rob her.
He shook his head at the absurdity of her carelessness and continued to walk toward the castle.
Rain soaked him thoroughly from his hair to his boots.
He wanted to get dry, eat a hot meal, and get a night’s rest. All of which had to wait until after he met with Alexander.
Most people moved out of his way as he progressed through the market.
The gate was just ahead and he hastened his steps.
He hoped to get his meeting with the king over with quickly so he could find lodging at an inn close by and on the morrow be on his way home.
He reached the heavily iron gates and stepped close. “Buchanan to see the king.” Breckin needn’t say more.
The guards sprang forth, opened the gate, and moved to the wall to allow him to pass. He marched through and kept walking until he was stopped again at the entrance to the castle. More guards were posted and a man made his way past them. He seemed affable and wore a greeting smile.
“You must be Laird Buchanan? I could tell right off what with Alexander’s description of you.” To the guards, the man said, “Allow him to enter.”
Breckin nodded. “Aye, I am Buchanan. The king called for my attendance.”
“Come, he has been awaiting you.” The man mumbled as he walked ahead, “I am Edmund, our fair king’s chamberlain. I am at your service, Laird Buchanan, if you have any needs.”
He didn’t retort to the overzealous man but followed silently behind him.
“The king is within his private solar.” Edmund knocked and opened the door slightly. “Laird Buchanan has arrived, sire.”
“Well, show him inside,” came a voice.
Breckin entered the chamber and noticed Alexander standing near a window casement.
He seemed to be deep in thought. The small chamber was furnished with a few tables with chairs scattered about.
A larger table was situated on one side and was flanked by an oversized chair.
Although the room was small, it afforded a coziness with tapestries set on the walls and a hearth that had dimmed with its fire long extinguished.
He hadn’t seen the king in recent years.
Not only had he clan troubles and the death of his parents to contend with but there hadn’t been a need to visit Edinburgh or the king.
Breckin took in the sight of his longtime friend and bowed his head in greeting.
His comrade had aged somewhat and was no longer the lanky lad with whom he had visited frequently and sparred.
“Sire.” He bowed.
When he straightened, he discovered that Alexander grinned in greeting. “Breckin, you are here at last. Edmund, bring some food and drink for us. Have someone stoke the fire and light some candles,” the king directed.
Edmund practically bounced on his step and shouted for a page who entered and quickly saw to the task of lighting the many candles in the chamber as well as stoking the fire. The chamberlain disappeared and the page followed.
Alexander neared the door and closed it. “Come, sit with me near the fire. I suspect you were soaked through on the journey and need to get warm.”
Breckin meandered his way past the chairs and tables until he reached the hearth. “Aye, I was, and the journey was longer than I remembered.”
“It has been a while, has it not? It is good to see you, Breckin.” Alexander sat in a chair by the hearth and rubbed his hands together.
“It has indeed. Why have you called me, sire?”
“I have much to discuss with you but before we get to that… I wanted to tell you that I was sorry to hear about your parents’ deaths.
It has been a while since they passed, aye, I know, but I haven’t seen you since…
My father was fond of your da and they were comrades long before my father was named king.
Do you remember when we were forced to go along on their many hunting treks? ”
Breckin chuckled lightly. “I recall swimming bare-arsed in the loch whilst our das fished or foraged in the woods. You always got me in trouble too.”
Alexander laughed with a scoff and raised his hands. “Me? It was you who always got us in trouble. You were older and therefore responsible for our plights. As I recall, I always followed you around.”
“Perhaps.” Fond memories came and Breckin recollected the times he’d spent with Alexander when they were lads, the adventure, and their misbehavior.
That brought a smile to him as he thought about his brothers who were just as adventurous and misbehaved.
Maybe it was just a lad’s nature to be so and he shouldn’t be so hard on his brothers.
“You were always the one who disappeared, and of course, I followed you. Those times hold a great fondness for me and the freedom that we had. How I wish times were as easy now, but alas, life is about to get complicated.”
He frowned slightly at the king’s words. “Is there trouble, sire?”
Alexander shook his head. “Not presently but soon enough, there will be difficult times and strife ahead for us all.”
“What do you mean? Since you are now joined to England what with your marriage, surely there are no difficulties betwixt us? Is there?” Breckin sat forward and studied the king’s face. His sovereign didn’t seem overly concerned.
The king fingered his red beard and then slid his hands down his tunic. “For now, England gives us no trouble. Who knows how long that shall last? I have called you here because—” Alexander ceased in midsentence when a knock came at the door.
The king called “enter” and servants bustled in, carrying trays of foodstuff and a pitcher of ale with cups situated on a smaller tray. Once everything was set on the table between them, the servants quickly left the chamber.
“Let us drink to our good health and success.” The king shifted forward and poured them each a cup of ale. He handed a cup to him and Breckin accepted it. “Slàinte,” Alexander said and raised his cup.
As Breckin lifted the drink to his mouth, he kept his gaze on the king. Before they were interrupted, the king was going to reveal why he’d called him. His curiosity was more than piqued and he was impatient to learn the reason he’d been sent for. “You were saying…”
“Aye, I called you here because you have the fiercest soldiers in Scotland.”
“Are we to war?”
Alexander nodded. “Soon enough, but not until I return from England. I am taking Margaret to visit her family because she intends to have our bairn there. I shall be gone for months but upon my return, I shall call many boots to serve in my army.”
Breckin set his cup on the table and clasped his hands, settling them between his knees. “That is joyous news, sire. About your bairn, I mean, not about the oncoming war.”
Alexander chuckled. “I am certain you are just as pleased by the news of an oncoming war as you are about the news of my child. You Buchanans do have one of the fiercest armies in all of Scotland. My thanks, though, for the sentiment. Finally, the woman does her duty and Margaret is giving me an heir. All of Scotland shall rejoice when the time comes.”
“Indeed we shall, sire. Who are you planning to invade?”
“Norway. I mean to stretch our lands as far north and west, ousting Haakon once and for all. Haakon cares more for religion than he does for his followers. He leaves his brethren open for attack and we shall do everything within our power to make that happen. When the time comes, I shall need your warriors.”
Breckin nodded without hesitation. “Of course, sire. My men are at your disposal whenever ye need them. Ye have only to call on us.”
“Good. Now, there is another matter that we need to remedy. The land you occupy, which, from my understanding, belongs to the Buchanans given to your grandfather by Lord Lennox. Yet no tax has been submitted…ever. It amounts to a hefty sum since no levy has been paid since your family was given the land and took control of the territory.”
Breckin tilted his head to the side and considered what the king had told him. “Sire, the land was given to us by Lord Lennox, and in return, we were to supply him with a pound of wax each year. We have kept to our arrangement and have never been late with our payment.”
Alexander folded one of his legs over the other and leaned back.
“Aye, so you have and so Lord Lennox has told me. I have not received a complaint from Lord Lennox about your payment arrangement with him. Your accord with him has nothing to do with the fact that you were still beholden to pay the tithe on the land to the sovereignty, namely, me. Lennox has not paid it since he is no longer in possession of said land, and your family has not put forth what is owed.”
“We are not in the position at this time, sire, to make such reparations. Perhaps if you give us until the end of the year, our harvest might yield enough to make a small payment.”
The king shook his head. “I doubt that, Breckin, and we cannot accept a small payment. But there is a solution, one which might be coveted by you.”
“And that is?”