Chapter Eleven #2
In another minute, cooler heads prevailed and the so-called atheling Ehlbert and his son, Tadgh, were quietly asked to put away their weapons and leave by the council members.
At least, I assumed that was what all the soft murmurings were about after they rushed over to put themselves between us.
Fionn sat back down beside me and squeezed my arm, seeming tense and ready to act if they refused.
When I started to ask him about it, he shook his head.
“Not here. We’ll discuss it later, when we’re alone. ”
He turned to the seven council members again once Ehlbert had left with his son, waving away their apologies.
“Perhaps he’s upset by the king’s demise and was overwrought with…
let’s call it grief. We won’t speak of it again for now, but I feel I should point out that I am, in effect, your new king and liege lord.
I didn’t come here to discuss it or make plans about it. I came for the crown.”
The head councilor’s face paled, and he glanced quickly down the table at the other men.
“We understand, Your Grace.”
“Good. Then tomorrow, after the memorial service and while everyone is there, I’ll make the announcement, and you can all swear your fealty to me.”
“Yes, of course, Your Grace.”
“Make the necessary arrangements then. I believe the memorial service for His Grace was scheduled for tomorrow in the early evening. My men and I will make camp outside the gates until our rooms can be readied in the palace. Take out both the king’s and Ehlbert’s belongings and have their rooms cleaned thoroughly.
We’ll see you all at the service tomorrow.
Perhaps the next day, we can convene again.
We might think of a plan together to draw the other old Sidhe kingdoms into one unified Aos Sídhe, with the same rights for everyone and ruled by one king.
And that king, should any of you still harbor doubts, will be me. ”
****
Fionn
We left them stunned and not talking much after that as we went down the steep hill to retrieve our men and make a camp outside the gates. Braden had been quiet since we left, but I could almost feel him thinking hard about the so-called atheling Ehlbert and his handsome son, Tadgh.
I hadn’t particularly liked the intense interest from Tadgh toward my consort, though I knew that Braden was greatly changed since Tadgh had last seen him.
The glamour had cracked and fallen away just enough to draw the young warrior’s interest then—he was obviously the type of man to have easily aroused “interests.” But now that the glamour was completely gone, I knew exactly what he’d been looking at.
Braden was very close to perfection, and the sight of him was enough to inflame and seduce anyone.
I was glad I’d rushed through the wedding ceremony before we came here, and I counted myself very fortunate and grateful to have been the one that King Callum had chosen for his son.
To remind Braden of my claim on him, I reached over and took his hand as we rode out through the city gates, and he gave me a stunning smile in return that made me blink. It was a small wonder that I could barely keep my hands off the boy.
We set up camp about 500 yards from the gates, close enough to be seen across the open fields, but far enough away to maintain a bit of privacy.
I sent a small party of men back into the city to visit the markets for food and anything else we might need to make sure we would be self-sufficient before the gates closed for the night.
It was far too soon to rely on the Gorians to see to our needs, and I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I had that much trust in them anyway at this juncture.
I had already decided to keep the council intact, though of course, I’d add some of my own people to it.
Tomorrow they would swear their fealty to me and to keep them all honest and ensure their loyalty, I’d take their sons (or daughters if they had no sons,) back with me to Murias to live and be educated there.
Once I’d conquered Falias and Finias, I’d do the same with their councils.
Any young, unmarried athelings too. It was my understanding there were two such men, younger brothers or stepbrothers to the kings of those countries—and they would also be found wives among my own most loyal subjects when the time came.
Perhaps I’d offer the hand of my sister to one of them.
The children of these unions would be claimed as Murian citizens.
Or perhaps I might start with Tadgh, the son of Ehlbert.
I had to learn more about him, but I thought he could also make my sister Bridget a good husband.
I would give them one of my castles in another part of my soon to be far flung kingdom to live in.
My mother might even decide to go live with them, if I was very lucky, though that was probably too good to be true.
I loved my mother, but she could be a bit much at times.
And I hadn’t liked what she’d said about Braden.
Maybe I’d give her little choice in the matter, after all.
Once we arrived at a good site for our camp, I joined my men in setting up the temporary structures we’d camp in and in building a simple corral, with a lean-to for the horses to help shelter them from the frequent rain showers prevalent in the area.
Once I was satisfied that we were settled in, I went to find Braden.