Rand captured her hand and squeezed it. ‘Most definitely a promise.’
At Rand’s signal, her nurse came forward and gathered Birdie up, saying it was time to feed the chickens as they were her responsibility. Birdie’s eyes shone. She ran to Rand, gave him a huge hug and then a more tentative hug to Svanna, who hugged the little girl back. A lump grew in his throat. Svanna was most definitely willing to play the mother to Birdie. Another practical reason why agreeing to this strategic marriage had been a good idea. Practical reasons, rather than reasons of the heart.
‘Mothering comes naturally to you.’
‘Does it?’ Svanna said, sitting back on her haunches. ‘I treat her like I wanted to be treated as a little girl. I know why you long to be with her, Rand.’
‘How long did I sleep?’ he asked, putting his hand to his head.
‘You slept through the night and most of the morning,’ Svanna said, walking over to a small loom. ‘I didn’t want to wake you to show you this, but I think you need to see it.’
Rand regarded the intricately woven braid with incomprehension. ‘Don’t tell me that Birdie is that accomplished. Even I know how hard it is to produce something of that intricacy.’
‘Rhiannon was working on it when she first came here, but abandoned it.’
‘Other matters in the south required my attention. I kept her safe here.’
‘Thorarinn appeared at some point. They fell madly in love, scarpered, before returning here after you’d departed.’
‘Speaking of which, have the missing pair been found?’
She shook her head. ‘I’d have woken you. You required your sleep more than meaningless updates.’
‘It has been a long time since I slept like that,’ he admitted. ‘Yesterday…’
She put her finger to her lips and shook her head. ‘Behind us. Be grateful for small miracles. If any little thing I did enabled you to sleep then I’m happy.’
‘How do you know that?’
Her lips turned up. ‘The excuse you gave when you told me to drink that potion.’
He held out his hand. ‘What have I done to deserve you? Let me give you a proper good morning kiss.’
She dipped her head and ignored his outstretched hand. ‘The weaving first.’
He frowned. ‘A jumbled mess.’
‘Your sister-in-law apparently gave it to Birdie and told her to practice on it as she no longer had any use for it.’
Rand studied the length of braid. Svanna obviously wanted him to see something rather than pointing it out. ‘What does it mean to you?’
‘A design from Agthir, favoured by Turgeis’s mother. A rune of his name.’ Svanna bit her lip. ‘Birdie’s nurse said that Rhiannon spoke of Turgeis several times before Thorarinn arrived and not after that. She considered him handsome. I suppose some must, but he has very coarse features.’
Rand stared at the braid. In a certain light, it vaguely reminded him of the braids he’d seen in Agthir. ‘What of it?’
‘I fear we might have discovered Turgeis’s spy.’
‘Turgeis’s spy?’
‘Someone must have told him about your intended journey to Islay, and I don’t think it was either of the missing kings. He waited for you. Was he going to capture your sister-in-law? Liberate her, as he’d put it?’
Rand resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. ‘A pretty tale from this bit of braid.’
‘Indulge me. Could Rhiannon have encountered Turgeis? Has he ever been at court?’
Rand pressed his fists into his eyes. How would he know? ‘Rhiannon only has eyes for Thorarinn. I returned from the South to find them cuddling together. Thorarinn said that he was offering her some comfort. We left here together and stopped overnight. At which point, they disappeared. I sent word back to Donaghmoyne to welcome them but keep them there. I had to ensure I arrived for the gathering of the kings.’
‘Does this happen to him frequently?’
