Chapter Five #3
‘What do you mean?’ Svanna asked, hating the way the sick feeling returned to her stomach.
‘I seemed to recall that Rand here spent some time in Agthir. Part of Maer’s attraction to him centred around that. I wonder if your paths crossed then.’ Sigmund shrugged. ‘Merely a fancy of mine.’
‘The world has altered much since that time,’ Svanna said. ‘After what happened yesterday, I would have to say the world has become a more dangerous place for Islay and Agthir. We ignore it at our peril.’
‘Putting thumbs in one’s ears to ignore the music is always folly,’ Sigmund replied. ‘The approach to the problem must be carefully considered. No one, not even I, anticipated it.’
‘Svanna has agreed to serve as Agthir’s peace-weaver to Eire,’ Rand said, putting a firm hand on her arm and drawing her back against his hard body. ‘A wise and prudent move, don’t you agree?’
Sigmund sucked in his cheeks as if he had encountered a particularly sour plum. ‘A peace-weaver to Eire? Svanna?’
‘Yes, a peace-weaver to Tara and thus to all of Eire as the high king does command real power and is opposed to the sons of Drengr obtaining more,’ Svanna said, keeping her body still.
‘Most unexpected. At your age, Svanna…’ He coughed. ‘I must admit to wondering if marriage had passed you by. Not trying to be rude, but most peace-weavers are younger.’
He made it sound as if she was a withered crone. She stepped away from Rand’s protective grasp and turned to face the pair of them.
‘My peace-weaving will strengthen your hand with the kings on this island. I know how hard you worked to get the kings to this point. I will not have Turgeis dash this cup from your hand.’ She pressed her hands together and willed him to stop being difficult.
Sigmund rolled his eyes. ‘Once I bested his father. Fair fights hold no fear.’
‘Turgeis struck when you least expected it. Fighting fair is alien to him,’ Svanna said, keeping her voice steady.
‘I refuse to allow their foul odour to seep back into Agthir. The threat must be contained before it grows. A blood alliance with Eire will do that. Will you allow me to serve Islay in this way as well?’
She drew back her shoulders, tilted her chin upwards and dared Sigmund to say differently.
‘The new and increasing threat from Turgeis and his brothers is why my king sent me here,’ Rand said. ‘I suspect their ultimate target is Agthir, but I don’t claim to know their precise mind. My king seeks an alliance with Islay. He knows little of Agthir.’
Sigmund’s mouth dropped open as if he were trying to puzzle out this new development. ‘And you are willing to do this, Svanna? For Islay as well as for Agthir?’
‘You did much for me during the dark period, and I know how dear Maer holds Islay.’ She held out her hands, palms upward, and willed him to understand. ‘What is there for me in Agthir? I’d make a very poor soothsayer.’
Sigmund chuckled at that. ‘You have me there. You’ve never shown any aptitude for soothsaying.’
Svanna’s back brushed Rand’s chest again. Her entire being tingled with unexpected awareness and the sense that someone finally had her back. She instantly straightened. If she started believing in such things, she’d be lost before her peace-weaving could begin.
‘Will Islay support this?’ Rand asked.
‘Are you to be the other half, Silver-Tongue?’ Sigmund’s eyes narrowed. ‘What is in it for you?’
* * *
Rand moved his hands, skimming Svanna’s arms, and tried to come up with a plausible reason, anything to avoid mentioning the elopement.
Defying a direct order from the high king generally resulted in swift and severe punishment.
He couldn’t risk Birdie being put into danger as Máel Sechnaill was unlikely to think him innocent, given the way the elopement had occurred.
He hated that Svanna offered the only viable solution to ensuring his daughter survived and that he had no option but to take it.
‘Máel Sechnaill does prefer kin alliances,’ he said, choosing his words with great care. ‘Svanna was correct in that respect. I have been sent to figure out a way forward and Svanna provided one.’
Svanna made an irritated noise in the back of her throat, a bit like a baby owl that Rand had once briefly kept as a pet. His admiration for her grew. She was the sort of person who he wanted to have on Birdie’s side as she grew.
‘Máel Sechnaill wanted me to supply the bride?’ Sigmund said. ‘Unusual.’
Rand inclined his head. ‘I would be proud to have Svanna Guthardottar as my wife. I understand you and Astrid enjoy a growing bond. It would weave the alliance together.’
Sigmund muttered something about people keeping their long noses out of his private business.
‘He agrees with my scheme.’ Svanna’s smile shone out, but he glimpsed a wariness return to her eyes.
It bothered him that he’d noticed the way her eyes reflected her moods and the desire to banish the storm clouds from them had grown.
‘Shall we announce the proposed alliance to the kings today? I overheard the mutterings earlier and was trying to find you when I encountered Rand. Suddenly, the way forward became clear, rather than littered with boulders.’
Sigmund lifted a brow. ‘Mutterings? To be expected. Yesterday would not have happened if I’d not allowed that fool priest to sway my judgement. But it did and we can only go forward, rather than wringing our hands and lamenting like some wish to do.’
‘The lamenters do not worry me. The leavers do.’ She nodded towards where a petty king stood. ‘An alliance will alter everything, Sigmund.’
‘Do you think a mere betrothal will stem the tide?’ Rand asked.
Svanna’s neat white teeth turned her lower lip the colour of a stormy sunset over Tara. ‘What do you propose?’
‘Only an actual marriage will do,’ Rand said. ‘The kings will most likely discount a betrothal.’
Svanna swayed. ‘An actual marriage? When?’
He watched her from under his lashes. A small part of him twisted.
Was she playing games for some frolic of her own?
Dangling a sweetmeat and then pulling it away?
He’d endured that with Bridget just after they were married.
It had begun to sour the marriage until he’d started to pull her up on her tall tales.
‘As soon as it can be arranged. It’s to both our countries’ advantage to conclude this as swiftly as possible. My king would wish it so.’
Sigmund threw up his hands. ‘Such impatience. What is it with young people and their hurried lives? In my day, we slaked our lust and allowed matters of state to take their course.’
Rand permitted a low growl but held on to the remaining shreds of his temper. ‘Your observation was deliberately rude. Do you want to provoke a quarrel? What will that prove? That I intend not to dishonour Svanna and will not permit her to be dishonoured in the way you suggest?’
‘First time for everything.’
‘People are allowed to grow and alter. I give you that courtesy. Why do you refuse to extend it to me, Lord Sigmund?’ Rand bit out between clenched teeth.
‘I dislike being rushed. Makes me wonder what else is going on.’
‘Forgive me, but alliances of this nature are best settled swiftly,’ Svanna said with a low curtsey.
‘There is little need to draw this one out as there are no obstacles to the union and many benefits to all. You know what Maer would say on the matter and how she will defer to my judgement. A marriage can be arranged in short order if all are willing.’
Sigmund’s face became mulish. ‘Bah. Bullies me like Astrid.’
‘There I couldn’t comment,’ Rand said as his insides twisted. ‘Makes me wonder why you are insistent on it, Svanna. Why such concern for Lord Sigmund?’
‘I gave my word to Maer that I’d do all in my power to ensure an alliance between Islay and Agthir.
We now have that.’ The small upturn of her lips made him realise that she thought ahead instead of acting on impulse but was also willing to seize opportunities when they were presented to her.
‘Have you considered what might happen to your daughter if you fail?’
‘My daughter is always uppermost in my considerations.’
She raised her brow. ‘Most people think it important for a little girl to have a mother. An insurance if something untoward should befall the father. I can understand your reasoning on why you want this completed swiftly so that you can return to your young daughter.’
Sigmund’s face cleared. ‘My dear, of course, I understand now. Thank you for explaining.’
Svanna gave him a nod and he knew she’d used Birdie as an excuse to avoid speaking about the missing lovers. Clever, but he hated that she knew he required it to be kept secret for Birdie’s sake.
‘Tell me something I don’t know.’
‘It surprises me that you feel women can’t be practical.’
In his experience, women were rarely practical in matters of marriage or the heart. Whatever bargain they were making, he would ensure that he obtained the better portion. But sometimes he had to go through an open door and worry about the precise details later.
‘Don’t put words in my mouth.’ He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘I’m wary when life answers prayers, but I know enough to seize the answer with both hands.’
‘There you have it, Lord Sigmund. An actual marriage as soon as is practical,’ she said, turning to him. ‘Will you accept the gift in the spirit given or will you continue to cut your nose off to spite your face?’
‘Attention, attention!’ Sigmund called, before she could say anything more. ‘Come and hear!’
The various kings, including the one who had been standing waiting for the right moment, frowned and came closer with curious expressions.
Svanna gave a little sigh and sagged against him.
He instinctively put an arm about her waist. The faint scent of wildflowers rose to envelop him.
Somehow it felt right to hold her in this way.
She wriggled slightly, putting a distance between them.
‘On second thoughts seemlier this way,’ she murmured.
‘Why have you called us here?’ the king who’d looked ready to depart asked with a faint sneer. ‘Is there some new menace we need to know about? Something you should have warned us of weeks ago?’
The other kings began to mutter.
Sigmund put a hand on Rand’s shoulder and then Svanna’s. He dramatically cleared his throat.
‘I am delighted to announce an alliance between Tara and Agthir,’ Sigmund proclaimed. ‘I had wanted to save the announcement for after the ceremony, but it appears you are in a great hurry, and I will not have gossip about my prospective foster-daughter.’
‘With Islay acting as the intermediary,’ Rand said, fixing the slippery man with an eye. He had come this far. ‘An alliance between all three. Held together with the bonds of kinship.’
‘I’d hardly like to presume without consulting my fellow kings.’ Sigmund held out his hands. ‘What say you? Shall we stand up to the blackguards, these so-called Sons of Drengr? Or shall Islay burn under their sword and weakly give up our women to a servitude too terrible to contemplate?’
The kings stomped their feet on the ground, even the one who’d looked as if he planned to leave, and shouted that Islay would never surrender.
‘It appears that Islay does wish to enter into this alliance,’ Rand said, ignoring Svanna’s smug expression.
Sigmund gave a nod. ‘One more thing, Svanna. I do my own courting. I mean to have your foster-mother as my bride, but allow me to ask.’
She inclined her head, and her lips turned up even more. ‘Did I ever say differently?’
‘Incorrigible.’ Sigmund’s eyes twinkled. ‘Maer would never have dared manipulate me like this.’
She smiled back at him. ‘Who do you think gave me this task? On this, my foster-sister and I are one.’
Rand kept his face impassive. His king would be satisfied.
All he had to do was to acquire a wife, something he’d sworn on Bridget’s grave that he’d never do.
But the compromise meant he had ensured his daughter’s future safety by providing the blood-kinship alliance his king desired.
And it was just possible that he could discover the missing pair before anyone else was any the wiser.
‘Done.’ Sigmund bowed his head. ‘If you can truly peace-weave, then some good will come of this debacle.’
Rand held out his hand. ‘On behalf of Eire and its king, I swear friendship to both Islay and Agthir.’
‘And I swear on behalf of Agthir, friendship to Eire and Islay,’ Svanna said, clasping his fingers with a firm grip.
‘Islay makes the only choice it can.’ Sigmund enclosed both their hands in his grip. ‘Svanna will serve as our peace-weaver with Eire.’