‘We’ve formed a friendship after a fashion, true,’ she said carefully and gave Rand a significant look, hoping he’d play along. She hoped he understood that she was giving him the opportunity to speak with Sigmund about the proposed marriage. ‘How could we not after the adventure we inadvertently shared?’
Rand’s voice lowered to a rich purr. ‘Indeed. Most enlightening how quickly ourfriendshiphas developed. Deepening it has caught my interest.’
Sigmund rocked back on his heels, rubbing his hands together as if he was at a marketplace. She had the distinct impression that he was laying traps and hoping for explosions. ‘Good, good. Is this a new friendship or a renewal?’
‘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.
