Chapter 27
Infernal shaking! Keirah clasped her hands tighter hidden within her skirt folds.
Calm. Breathe. Calm. If Aonghus knew the extent still clouded over her, the same as a fog that would not lift, her knight would make good on the threat of death written in his eyes when he had charged at Lord Kollungr only moments ago.
How? How could she possibly think MacCade would ever wish to see her naked, much less touch her once more, after what Kollungr had said?
Was she mortified? Nooooooo. Horrified and mortified and disgusted and embarrassed.
Throw them all on there! For it was one thing to tell MacCade as she had about her past, but it was a whole other experience to have the one that ordered the grotesque deed, which still caused bile to rise in her gullet, tell the revolting tale!
She went to straighten her shoulders as they entered the private tapestry-walled solar off the great hall which would act as the throne room.
Huh, how odd, they were already straight.
Normally she’d cower before Kollungr. What…
what had changed? First time. This was the first time she had challenged her captor on equal footing.
If someone had declared this remotely possible a fortnight ago she would have cackled a bitter laugh.
Her eyes caught the reason why. Aonghus.
He looked at her across the peat-fumed room.
Somehow, he was driving her spirit to thrash the same as a lash at everything the Northmen’s capture had unleashed within her.
The tormented memories belonging to her time in their grasp nipped at her heels like a pack of hounds from hell.
However, aye, her feelings for Aonghus trenched deeper into her heart; he was releasing her will to fight back at the pack. Take that, Kollungr!
Shoulders stayed straight, but her soul…aye, it still wept that every lad had his limits and MacCade would never wish to kiss her once more after the vile display by Lord Kollungr.
The king, looking stern, sat upon the tall back throne with his two trusted advisors flanking him. “The Lord Chancellor,” she heard Sir James finish stating after she entered, “is in reflection at the chapel.”
King Alexander nodded, and Sir James, facing the king, took his leave. Before shutting the door, he flashed a surly look at her.
“Lady Keirah, as soon as we discovered Lord Kollungr was present, Sir Brayden charged to warn you,” the Lord Constable said, sympathy reflected upon his liver-spotted face.
“We would see fit to expel him directly.” They were going to stand with her to their own fault.
Her hand covered her heart over the gown.
“I am honored by your offer.” She nodded graciously. “However, nae, ’tis what he seeks – a master in the game of bending others to his whim.”
“A trait I am certain he has acquired from King H?konsson,” King Alexander said, smoothing his fingers over his surcoat to add, “The Northman’s king sees to test our fortitude in talks of a treaty by sending such a vile emissary into our midst. In doing so he has shown his hand in not seekin’ peace at all. ”
“I am not certain King H?konsson has summoned Lord Kollungr to this castle.” All eyes turned toward her.
“The lord always carried an air of superiority in all his practices. Even if King H?konsson has sent him before you, my lord king, by demanding a bishop be present he states he does not trust Lord Kollungr implicitly. The bishops never sought to align themselves with Lord Kollungr at King H?konsson’s court.
May I inquire which bishop is present: Henry of Orkney or Gilbert of Hamar? ”
“Both, my lady,” answered the Lord Constable.
“Both?” she sputtered, awestruck.
“Aye, they await in the great hall when we have concluded,” the Lord Chamberlain replied. “To commence the discussion.” Looks like the lord of the purse strings smells coin to be discussed in those negotiations by the greedy way he is rubbing those fingers together.
“What captures you regarding this, my Cluaran?” Aonghus questioned, and King Alexander leaned forward, appearing curious as well.
Her shaking stopped; her hands fell by her sides while she replied. “It seems Lord Kollungr let a wee bit of his mask slip, when he stated that I was too eager, same as King H?konsson.”
“He means to move the demands through hastily,” King Alexander concluded at once.
“Aye,” the Lord Constable joined in briskly. “Regarding what purpose?”
“Before I slaid Seumas, he boasted King H?konsson had amassed almost twenty thousand under his command; ’tis a very grand amount of warriors to feed,” Aonghus enlightened, raising his brows. Right on the mark, my knight.
“The cost alone…” The Lord Chamberlain was again going right for the coin. That figures.
King Alexander shook his head then further questioned the enemy’s tactics. “The supply chains to feed these warriors, Lady Keirah?” Ohhhhh, lord king, this answer is astounding!
She leaned forward to state in one word: “None.”
The king paused to run his fingers over his beard in contemplation, with a slight grin etching his mouth.
Yep, he knew. “None. Almost twenty thousand warriors to feed and nae supply line. The original path holds true: we stay the course, keep them at an arm’s length; perhaps with an edge of luck the storm shall not be required to force a starving horde of ships from our shores,” Alexander declared.
All nodded in agreement before Aonghus directed his next topic toward the king.
“My lord king, may I speak plainly?” Alexander nodded.
“There may be another issue casting darkness in the coming days.” The curve under her knight’s jaw tightened; he was angry.
“Lord Kollungr carries a stern fixation regarding my lady.” He darted his eyes at her.
“If he holds as cunning as you claim him to be in the past” – he nodded toward her before meeting the king’s intent gaze again to finish – “my lord king, forthwith, I fear he may test her.”
“Test?” the Lord Chamberlain chimed in.
“Aye, there was a glimmer belonging to doubt in his eyes when he laid the charge that I had taken her ability as a fate-seer when we were wed,” Aonghus explained, and he must have seen her nod. “You took note of this as well, my Cluaran?”
Had she wanted to? Hell, no! Had she? “Aye,” she concurred, worried.
The king questioned. “What do you propose?”
“If a shadow-glance presents, even if it is forged by Lord Kollungr’s own hand, I propose we choose a cloaked word for my lady to say, thus raising the warning to all who surround.” Brilliant, my knight!
“Clever.” The lines on the Lord Constable’s face grooved deeper in a grin. “What shall it be?”
The king turned to her to say, “’Tis your choice, Lady Keirah.”
All eyes looked upon her. It should be something unique but one that would not give air to suspicion. Hhmmmm. She met Aonghus’s curious gaze – the color, perfection. “Blue.”
“Like the color?” the Lord Chamberlain clarified.
“Aye,” she replied, then met her knight’s eyes. This is in your honor, MacCade. “However” – her tone turned concerned – “when the shadow-glance presents, my lashes close a hard moment; how shall this be concealed?”
“We will simply state it to be a headache. They appear very sternly since your instinct in sense belonging to being a fate-seer has been taken,” Lord Constable offered in a mock tone for future explanations. A trail of ‘ayes’ in agreement concluded the plan forth.
“You bestow the concealed word,” Aonghus instructed, “then lock eyes on who or what will be the element in danger; I shall charge forth to stay the cause.”
How had she ever found brains and brawn in such a delicious Scottish honey cake? Thank you, Lady Fate! “’Tis a shining plan, MacCade.”
Both she and her knight had their attentions taken by the king, who stated, solemnly, “Lady Keirah, this Northman stole you from our shores – my shores – and I reflect in anguish to command you to remain in his presence through the assemblies to come. There is nae other path to hold them at wait till the storm presents in our favor.”
Her mirth vanished to vow, “Aye, my lord king, ’tis a summons I shall not fail.”
The king looked contented, then his attention locked upon Aonghus.
Uh-oh. “You have always been loyal to me, Sir Aonghus; the command I give you now shall forthwith test your fortitude in loyalty unlike any other order I have given you in the past.” He paused in somber expression to finish questioning, “You seek to slay Lord Kollungr?”
She saw the grim look cover his handsome face and his eyes grew dark as the words he growled: “Aye, with my bare hands.”
“You cannot.” The king’s words cut through the air the same as a blade.
“This is my command. Your moment shall come; however, forthwith, he will not be touched. Our wits, not emotions, must prevail. The future of Scotland’s kingdom depends on holding a steady hand within these proceedings.
Stay the course, Sir Aonghus. A grand deed will be bestowed to you once the Northmen are vanquished from our shores.
” The king must have seen the reserved look in her knight’s eyes, then demanded, “I shall and will be takin’ your oath to me in this regard. ”
Please, Aonghus, please agree. Her breath held as her knight looked at her. He looked at her – no, he was looking for her opinion. A king’s demand and he looked at her first before agreeing – had she ever beheld anything so striking? Never. Her brow gave the tiniest incline; had he seen it?
He conceded, “Aye, my lord king.” He had.
Keirah inhaled. There was something she was going to tell him in their bedchamber before Lord Kollungr had appeared about a meeting with the Northmen’s king. Tell it now – perhaps the torment written in my knight’s eyes will find some solace.