‘What do you mean, we?’ Rand tilted his head to one side. One thing which he was going to stop was Svanna taking unacceptable risks. There was no need for her to participate in any search. She could easily remain here and build this bond with Birdie. ‘I must find them. The first thing Máel Sechnaill will want to know is that his daughter is safe.’
‘I would have thought it was more important to get to Tara and meet with the high king. He needs to know that you successfully negotiated the alliance with Lord Sigmund,’ she said, lifting her chin and clearly not taking the hint. ‘Why I travelled with you, rather than remaining on Islay until my foster-mother healed. I want to know if Agthir is in danger and what, if anything, Eire can do about it.’
He inclined his head, acknowledging the truth of her words, even if they hurt. He knew she would have to go to Tara and would refuse to be left behind. He’d simply hoped she’d travelled with him because of the intimacy they’d shared as well.
‘I want Thorarinn to be there when I inform Máel Sechnaill of the change in our plans,’ he said. ‘It would be best for all concerned. Máel Sechnaill may bluster, but he does love his children and will forgive Rhiannon in time.’
‘How much time?’
‘It depends, but he has a soft heart for romantic passion.’ Rand scratched the back of his neck. ‘Bridget used that knowledge to convince him to allow us to marry.’
Svanna’s face became devoid of emotion, which meant she most likely disagreed with him. ‘A love story for the ages. One thatskaldscan sing about. The proud princess who will only have the sell-sword and defies her father to get him. Then they live happily ever after.’
‘Like many tales, it contains only an element of truth but didn’t allow it to spoil the story.’
‘Your Bridget knew, which is what mattered.’
Almost too good to be true. Rand hated the unbidden thought, except he knew it had merit. He had not questioned Bridget’s devotion at the time, but later when they’d quarrelled during her first pregnancy, she’d claimed she’d only married him to prevent her marriage to the elderly petty king. She’d tried to unsay the words later, but he’d never forgotten them. It didn’t mean he’d loved her less, but he’d loved her for what she was, even if he hadn’t understood that at the time. And he’d had the family he’d longed for with Bridget, but fate had decided to take his wife, leaving only Birdie.
‘I can’t alter the past, Svanna. Máel Sechnaill forgave Bridget and me, but will he forgive Rhiannon and Thorarinn, particularly if they are not there to demonstrate their love and appeal to his well-concealed romantic streak?’
She tilted her head to one side. ‘Interesting that your father-in-law, who knows the full story behind Bridget’s marriage to you, decided to send you to ensure the marriage of another daughter to an elderly man.’
He hated that on one level what she said had merit. Why had Máel Sechnaill decided that he should escort Rhiannon and ensure a marriage happened? Other warriors were more suitable. He’d argued as much to the king. ‘Máel Sechnaill weaves many webs. While he may forgive his daughter in time, he is very unforgiving of disobedient warriors.’
‘Agthir’s court bore some resemblance to a snake pit while the usurper was in charge. I survived that with my honour intact. Tara holds no fear for me.’ She linked her arm with his. ‘I can spin a pretty tale, Rand. If we work together…’
He firmed his jaw. Svanna had never encountered Máel Sechnaill or his fury. It was fundamental to his scheme to produce the errant pair, both showing the appropriate contrition. But he suspected he would be wasting the spit it took to say the words.
‘Easier if it happens my way,’ he said instead, disentangling himself from her arm. ‘Trust my reasons, Svanna. You don’t want to be there when Máel Sechnaill’s temper explodes.’
Svanna didn’t attempt to cling and wheedle as Bridget would have done but walked over to the embers and gave them a stir with a stick. Rand watched the curve of her neck and pushed the comparison away as being unworthy. Svanna would be unable to resist meddling, and he’d have to pick up the pieces.
‘Do you have any idea where they have gone?’ she asked when the fire burst into life. ‘How long will it take to find them? We don’t know what Turgeis has planned. He was bold enough to attack Sigmund.’
‘Several ideas.’ He shrugged and tried not to think about the scenarios that kept him awake last night. He’d little doubt now that the raid had been carefully planned, rather than a spontaneous decision. ‘But they are only hunches.’
‘No firm knowledge what else might be planned, nor indeed if, fearing for his bride, Thorarinn has turned to Turgeis for assistance?’
He raised a brow. ‘Thorarinn has no great love for them. He rescued me from my beating at their father’s hands and was beaten himself for it.’
Svanna gave the fire another stir. ‘Alliances alter and shift, Rand.’
‘Not with my cousin.’ Rand shook his head. ‘He is completely loyal.’
Normally, people understood his tone and backed off.
‘Perish the thought.’ Svanna made a cutting motion with her hand. ‘But my purpose when I married you was to act as a peace-weaver between Agthir, Islay and Tara. I would like to speak with your king as quickly as possible. Turgeis might be plotting more mischief.’
Her words cut him more than he’d thought they would, but at least they were honest. He’d hoped she’d married him in part because she wanted to be with him.
‘Will you never put yourself first?’
‘If I do not fulfil my duty, I lose my honour. And without honour, is life truly worth living?’ She bowed her head. ‘A lesson I learned many times since my real mother first asked me that question back when I was younger than Birdie.’
‘I see. Honour is everything to you.’
‘Which is why I must humbly ask in the wake of what we know that we proceed to Tara.’
