Chapter 27 #2
“My lord king,” she began, and Alexander’s intense stare re-focused on her.
“The fates have laid a path yet to come in a night-glance regarding all we now speak. I am to stand before King H?konsson upon his ship once again” – she glanced at Aonghus before reconnecting with the monarch’s surprised look – “with your newly appointed knight at my side. I do not carry the purpose of this meeting yet to come, but there is a way to offer Lord Kollungr a fate worse than death, for one so arrogant. What if Lord Kollungr were cast out as an outlaw in disgrace, stripped of his title of lord by his very own sovereign?”
Those surrounding held silent in interest before she continued the explanation she had spoken of with Aonghus in their quiet times at Stirling.
“Lord Kollungr was ordered by King H?konsson to retrieve his son’s betrothed, Princess Ingeborg of Denmark.
It was a journey filled with peril; the future queen was all but stolen by our hand from her homeland.
I was demanded to be by Lord Kollungr’s side each step.
We journeyed back through the terrain after landing in T?nsberg.
The future queen’s dowry has been a very grand challenge to claim; however, she harbored a wee portion on our travels until taken by outlaws on the final length across the mountains and the gold coin vanished.
It had been a ruse upon Lord Kollungr’s part,” she revealed to those present bearing intrigued expressions.
“The very outlaws he accused of stealing, Lord Kollungr secretly found later. Then he ordered his own warriors, Sv?rn, Torsten, and Rune, to slaughter them, thus enabling him to claim the dowry into his own hands. It was not an act of greed upon Lord Kollungr’s part – he has vast fortune – nae, it was an act of power to take what was meant for King H?konsson’s heir, Magnus, who will someday succeed King H?konsson unto the throne. ”
She stepped up to take a single gold coin from her pocket she had carried many times strapped to her leg in disguise as a bandage.
How long had she waited for this priceless weapon to be unleashed?
More nights than she could remember. She placed the glimmering piece with the silhouette belonging to a princess’s features onto the table between the five, who gazed upon the elegant prize; the Lord Chamberlain took a bold step forward at the coin’s sight.
“These,” she finished her explanation, “were minted with the likeness of the princess in honor for her dowry. King H?konsson will have his hide when he learns of Lord Kollungr’s treachery.”
“My lady” – Lord Chamberlain placed his nose high – “why wait all this time? To deceive is to sin.”
Aonghus glared at the keeper of coin. “So is greed, Lord Chamberlain; however upon last check you counted your coffers with a rather frequent manner.” You tell ’em, Aonghus!
The Lord Constable hooted a laugh. “You cannot argue with the truth,” the elder nobleman declared.
The Lord Chamberlain glared at the elder, then continued his pursuit.
“I am simply airing any concerns in regards to Lady Keirah’s loyalties,” he enlightened viciously.
“Trading barbs will only fester wounds, Lord Constable. My consideration was why Lady Keirah did not present this to King H?konsson when she arrived to Bj?rgvin with the princess.”
Aonghus stepped forward. “Lord Kollungr would have taken her hide,” Aonghus stated, his face a mask filled with anguish and wrath at the Lord Chamberlain’s challenge. The coin counter’s bald scalp released a mist of sweat while he shuffled back.
She forced away the tears trying to wash her cheeks while answering, “Aye, Lord Kollungr’s reach was a force unlike any upon Norse soil.
” She went to retrieve the precious gold off the table and met Alexander’s regal look.
“With your permission, my lord king, I ask that my knight should place this before King H?konsson when the time strikes.”
“I leave it in your care,” the king agreed, “Lady Keirah, how you seek to punish the Northman who captured you from my kingdom. Your loyalties are without fault,” the king declared. Her shoulders grew taller. They are – at least the keeper of the kingdom gets it.
Her full attention turned toward her knight as she pressed the key to Lord Kollungr’s undoing into his palm. Meeting his stern gaze, she whispered up at him, “If I may be so bold to ask for the coin to be held safe by you, my knight, till the time strikes.”
His fist closed around the coin till his knuckles blanched. Lifting his free hand, he brushed his roughened thumb down her cheek to brush away a lone stray tear having fallen. “On my will and word with all that I am as a Scotsman, it shall be done,” he gave his oath to her.
“Sir Aonghus,” the king summoned. Both turned to face their sovereign. “My second command for you is to be a guardian of the room when she is present. Forthwith, you remain by her side at all times. If you cannot see the deed done, Sir James will remain in your stead.”
Aonghus frowned at the second demand. “In regard to Sir James, my lord king…”
The king cut him off, harshly. “Aye, Sir Aonghus, I know you favor Sir Brayden, but Sir James is my choice, and you will abide by my command.” A furrowed brow nodding once was the knight’s reply.
The king then ordered, “Summon Sir James; ’tis time for feasting with King H?konsson’s delegation, then we speak on our terms for the Isles. ” Let the show begin!