As Breckin lifted the drink to his mouth, he kept his gaze on the king. Before they were interrupted, the king was going to reveal why he’d called him. His curiosity was more than piqued and he was impatient to learn the reason he’d been sent for. “You were saying…”
“Aye, I called you here because you have the fiercest soldiers in Scotland.”
“Are we to war?”
Alexander nodded. “Soon enough, but not until I return from England. I am taking Margaret to visit her family because she intends to have our bairn there. I shall be gone for months but upon my return, I shall call many boots to serve in my army.”
Breckin set his cup on the table and clasped his hands, settling them between his knees. “That is joyous news, sire. About your bairn, I mean, not about the oncoming war.”
Alexander chuckled. “I am certain you are just as pleased by the news of an oncoming war as you are about the news of my child. You Buchanans do have one of the fiercest armies in all of Scotland. My thanks, though, for the sentiment. Finally, the woman does her duty and Margaret is giving me an heir. All of Scotland shall rejoice when the time comes.”
“Indeed we shall, sire. Who are you planning to invade?”
“Norway. I mean to stretch our lands as far north and west, ousting Haakon once and for all. Haakon cares more for religion than he does for his followers. He leaves his brethren open for attack and we shall do everything within our power to make that happen. When the time comes, I shall need your warriors.”
Breckin nodded without hesitation. “Of course, sire. My men are at your disposal whenever ye need them. Ye have only to call on us.”
“Good. Now, there is another matter that we need to remedy. The land you occupy, which, from my understanding, belongs to the Buchanans given to your grandfather by Lord Lennox. Yet no tax has been submitted…ever. It amounts to a hefty sum since no levy has been paid since your family was given the land and took control of the territory.”
Breckin tilted his head to the side and considered what the king had told him. “Sire, the land was given to us by Lord Lennox, and in return, we were to supply him with a pound of wax each year. We have kept to our arrangement and have never been late with ourpayment.”
Alexander folded one of his legs over the other and leaned back. “Aye, so you have and so Lord Lennox has told me. I have not received a complaint from Lord Lennox about your payment arrangement with him. Your accord with him has nothing to do with the fact that you were still beholden to pay the tithe on the land to the sovereignty, namely, me. Lennox has not paid it since he is no longer in possession of said land, and your family has not put forth what is owed.”
“We are not in the position at this time, sire, to make such reparations. Perhaps if you give us until the end of the year, our harvest might yield enough to make a small payment.”
The king shook his head. “I doubt that, Breckin, and we cannot accept a small payment. But there is a solution, one which might be coveted by you.”
“And that is?”
“I mean to unite border clans with some of the Highland clans. To do so, I have offered brides to your brethren and do so to you. These marriages will instill my plan to unite our nation. I want Scotland to be united from the southern border to the far reaches of the north, especially before I seek to invade Haakon’s lands.”
“Brides?” Breckin swallowed and tried not to sound outraged.
“Aye, brides. You will be offered a bonny bride. All you need to do to win her hand is defeat your brethren in a hand-to-hand battle and all levy shall be forgiven. Before you speak your objection, the clans involved are the MacKendricks, Camerons, and Mackintoshes. There are four brides in all and are the bonniest women in the land.”
Breckin swallowed his angst before he gave his reasons for rejecting the king’s offer. “I have no time for a wife right now, Alexander. What with the scuffles in the north, I have been trying to win alliances and helping lesser clans secure their lands. We Buchanans have been protecting weaker clans and with spring on our heels, the situation issure to become pressing.”
“Aye, so I have heard of your altruism for the northern clans. They are fortunate, are they not, that you aid them? But it matters not because I will have your agreement.”
Breckin pressed his fingers on his nape and tried to remain calm. “Along with that, sire, I am trying to find out what happened to my sister and I’m trying to be a father to my younger brothers. Lord knows they challenge me at every turn. Nay, there is no time for a wife right now. I thank ye for the offer though.”
Laughter bellowed from Alexander and his eyes shone with his mirth. “’Tis not an offer, Breckin, but a command, unless you wish to be detained. Can you make payment now for the owed tax?”
Detained? Did Alexander intend to imprison him if he couldn’t pay the levy? Breckin fisted his hands and took a breath. “I told ye nay and that I need time…”
Alexander shook his head. “I cannot give you the time you ask for. Either you pay now, marry one of the lasses, or you can take residence in one of the castle cells. Which is it to be, Breckin?”
Bollocks, the king practically put a noose around his neck. He wanted to shout his objection but Alexander forced his hand. Breckin had no option but to accept the offered bride. He was damned irked about it though. “Very well, sire, since ye give me no choice, I will marry as ye bade. Will the entire tax be forgiven? If I am going to accept a bride, then I will not be paying the past debt.” Then a smile twitched at his lips because fighting with Cameron, Mackintosh, and MacKendrick was going to help rid his frustration at this deplorable misfortune.
“Aye, the entire amount owed will be wiped away. Now before you run off to lick your wounds and soothe your pride, Breckin, there are some stipulations. For one, you cannot marry the woman and drop her off on your land. You will be married in all sense of the word and there will be no annulment sought on your behalf or hers. Do not tryto intimidate the lass. The marriage will afford you happiness. Accept that for once in your life.”
Breckin grunted.Happiness? All that marriage would do was saddle him with an unwanted bride for whom he had no time, who would likely be displeased with him as a husband, and cause him endless troubles.
“I will hear your vow to take this woman as your wife and to do everything within your power to enrichyourand her life with this marriage. You see, comrade, I do you a great honor and service. You might not be pleased right now, but eventually, you will see the merit of it.”
He grunted again and fisted his hands but kept them between his legs as he leaned his forearms on his thighs. “You give me no choice, sire, but to affirm this vow.”
“Good, good.” Alexander stood and waited for him to join him.
