Chapter Twenty-Three #2
King Rhun kept his gaze on Lord Cenydd and sighed before he spoke.
“Lord Cenydd, you may have to accept, as I have, that our dear friend and kinsman, Lord Cadell, may have been more heavily influenced by the Norsemen than we had previously realised. Marcant was rightly concerned about the influence of the Norsemen in our lands. We have made our peace.”
“Then Marcant should have come to you, not dispensed justice himself,” Cenydd insisted.
“Perhaps. But your cousin is married to the jarl. She has recently birthed his children. Cadell’s loyalties were divided. We must ensure the safety and prosperity of our own people first.”
“And the safety and prosperity of all the people of Strathclyde is your goal as king?”
“Only a fool would think I wished for anything else,” Rhun replied. For a long moment it seemed as if everyone in the great hall held their breath. “Are you a fool, Lord Cenydd?”
The silence grew and Arne thought Cenydd was going to say more, but after a glance at his advisor, Anwyl, who was seated beside him, he shook his head and sat back down.
The young man’s expression was now carefully blank.
Cadell’s death had resulted in him inheriting lands that would never otherwise have been his.
Cenydd had nothing to lose and everything to gain by supporting Rhun, but clearly Marcant’s presence still rankled and he seemed also to have little love for the king who had made him a lord.
“I am, of course, grateful to the Norsemen for returning you safely,” Rhun said. “Queen Eithne and Prince Eochaid will also be delighted to see both you and Caelin.”
“Perhaps, King Rhun, your sister would be willing to share with us how she managed to escape from Alt Clut. We know the Norsemen were influencing Cadell’s actions. It might be sensible to ensure your sister is not similarly affected,” Marcant said.
Rhun leaned forward, running his finger over his lips as he observed her for a long moment. “Well, sister? Is Lord Marcant correct? Are you beholden to the Norsemen for your rescue from Alt Clut?”
“I am beholden to no one. Caelin and I walked through the gates of Alt Clut alone. Perhaps Lord Marcant should speak to the guards on duty at the time.”
“Princess Maithgemm, the holy men were concerned about your disappearance the morning after a group of Norse traders had arrived at Alt Clut. Did you leave with them?” Marcant said.
“Why would I join a group of Norse traders, Lord Marcant? Perhaps my brother may wish to know why so many villagers at that time were leaving their homes and heading for Alt Clut.”
“There is plenty to discuss, Princess Maithgemm,” agreed Marcant.
“But the news that I have received a full pardon from your brother for all my actions must be remembered. These were done with only the best interests of the kingdom at heart. I gathered an army, yes, but at no time did I use it against the king. Why would I? And you cannot deny that you and your son were not mistreated during your time at Alt Clut.”
“Apart from denying us our freedom—”
“The holy men assured me they were simply keeping you safe.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“Has Marcant also been forgiven the crimes committed in his name against his fellow Britons, those he held captive after the murder of Lord Cadell?” Ulf stepped forward, refusing to back down even if it was clear his audience was not responsive.
Rhun flinched and his grip on the mug of ale he was holding noticeably tightened.
Clearly the king had pardoned Marcant for his own reasons, but that did not mean he had either forgiven or forgotten what had been done in his name.
Perhaps he did not know everything. “The treatment of Britons is not your concern, Norseman. We will discuss these issues later, and in private, Lord Marcant. I am sure my sister and her son are tired and need to eat, then rest. Take their belongings to one of the royal rooms and return to show them the way once they have eaten,” King Rhun ordered a serving woman.
Gemma gave the woman her pack, but Caelin refused to pass over the cubs.
It was only when the woman peered in and smiled in delight that Caelin reluctantly handed them over.
“You can bear witness as we pay the reward money, sister. After that there will be no further reason for the Norsemen’s presence here. ”
Gemma and Caelin sat down next to Lord Fergus. At least she was as far from Marcant as it was possible to be at the table.
“I am sure Princess Maithgemm will confirm we have been hospitable during any time she chose to spend with us.” Ulf looked to Gemma for confirmation.
“Our jarl’s concern, however, is who will be lord of the lands of Ir Ysgyn, as they lie across the firth from our own.
Shall we inform him that Lord Caelin’s lands will be returned to him— remaining as they are now under the stewardship of Lord Fergus—until he reaches his majority? ”
“My nephew’s future is of great importance to me, Norseman. Lord Fergus has been overseeing the lands but always with the expectation that Caelin would take over once he reaches his majority. Nothing will change there.”
“Lord Fergus replaced Lord Marcant. With Marcant’s return, will Fergus retain control?” asked Gemma.
“For now, yes. There is no need for you to worry, sister. I will ensure you are taken care of.”
“Have Lord Marcant’s lands been returned to him?” Gemma pressed, keeping her gaze on the man who had wanted to use her son for his own ends.
“They have.”
Arne caught Cenydd’s eye and, although the other man did not react, Arne could tell by the tightness of his jaw that he was not happy with the situation.
He glanced at some of the other faces and decided several of them were uncomfortable with Marcant’s presence and his pardon.
Perhaps there was hope for their alliance yet.
He was also able to see, from the sneers on other faces, that no matter their opinion on Marcant, some would never choose to side with the Norse.
The kingdom of Strath Clut was far from united.
Cenydd wasn’t strong enough to go against his king alone.
Not yet, anyway. It was not even a year since he had been granted Cadell’s former lands by Rhun and they would be taken away on a whim if the king desired it.
Arne wondered if the time would come when Tormod would be willing to join forces with him.
“Those who stood against Marcant were standing against their rightful lord and deserved their punishments. Marcant has assured me of this,” King Rhun said.
“Does this include the women of Cadell’s household?” Ulf asked. “Marcant had no right to punish them.”
“That is not a matter for you to concern yourself with, Norseman. Alliance or no.”
Cenydd shook his head briefly at them so Arne put a hand on Ulf’s arm. They were outnumbered and the king rightly had the power to pardon Marcant if he so wished, regardless of the reality of what had happened.
Any revenge Rhiannon was entitled to would not be meted out in this court.
But if Cenydd did not want him to press the matter now, then he trusted the younger man’s judgment.
If he got the chance, he would try to speak with him later, but he doubted it would be possible here.
And even if possible, it would certainly be risky for both of them.
“Princess Maithgemm, Lord Caelin, it seems your lands will be returned to you and that you will be safe amongst your own people now, so we will return with your permission to Kirkjaster,” Arne said, then bowed to Gemma, but avoided looking directly at her.
After everything they had shared, he neither wanted to see her dismissal of him, nor did he want to risk letting anyone else in the room see what was between them.
“Don’t leave us, Arne,” Caelin said. Gemma caught hold of him before he got out of his seat and ran towards Arne. Caelin struggled for a moment until she whispered to him and the boy’s shoulders slumped but he stopped trying to run.
Gemma’s gaze met his own over Caelin’s head and although she looked away immediately, her expression showed she was just as torn as Caelin was. They needed to leave. Now. Before any of them revealed more than they wanted to in front of King Rhun and his nobles. He should not have come.
“Thank you for accompanying us to Perthawc,” Gemma said, keeping a firm hold of Caelin’s hand.
“And as soon as you have been rewarded you may leave.” Before Arne and Ulf bowed, she turned away, dismissing his presence.
Caelin gazed over at him, his shoulders drooping, but Gemma didn’t let go.
It was the right thing to do, the best in these circumstances, and yet he hadn’t been prepared for just how much it would hurt.
Gemma, on the other hand, kept her shoulders relaxed and her head held high.
The fact she was the highest ranking woman in the room could not be missed by anyone observing her.
Arne had never truly seen Gemma in the role she had been born for. It gave him hope that, no matter what her brother did, she would find a way to survive as she had done up until now.
“Very well. The reward, then we will leave,” Arne said, redirecting his gaze to Rhun.
If the boy were to reclaim his birthright, if Gemma was to move forward with her life, she was choosing to do so without him and he had no choice now but to accept it.
There was no way for them to be together.
There could be no trust, not as long as things between their people stood as they did.
“The princess came with us of her own free will. We have returned her in good faith.”