‘I lived in Agthir my entire life until now. I doubt you could inform me of anything I don’t already know.’
Obviously, a withering putdown complete with an arched brow was meant to have him stammering and scurrying away.
‘I encountered the King, his family, and his advisor, Drengr.’ Rand instinctively fingered the scar, which had started throbbing again. ‘It was, alas, a short but instructive stay, in particular my acquaintance with Drengr.’
‘The King is now dead, and his advisor Drengr, along with his family, were banished as wolf’s heads after they tried to usurp the throne.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘I presume you were not overly fond of him.’
‘Fond of him? You mistake me, lady. I loathed him.’
‘That is something, at least.’
Again, that inkling in the back of his mind that he should know the voice. Rand rubbed the back of his neck and hoped that they had not met in his misspent youth. Ever since the attack that had forced him and his cousin to flee, great holes existed in his memory of the time.
‘Sigmund Sigmundson will want to speak to me. There are things the high King wishes him to know about Drengr’s sons’ current whereabouts and the threat they pose to the region’s peace. I need to know he understands the precise nature of the threat.’
‘He doesn’t want to speak to you. Trust me on this. Nothing but strife for you exists here.’ She inclined her head. ‘Forgive me for being blunt, but it’s bestyouunderstand the precise nature of the situation. I’m simply Lord Sigmund’s messenger.’
‘And you are?’
‘Svanna Guthardottar, the dowager Queen of Agthir’s foster-daughter.’
Rand instinctively touched the puckered scar. The dowager Queen of Agthir’s foster-daughter. According to rumours, the dowager Queen had taken Maer as her foster-daughter when she’d married the late King’s son. The only other daughter he’d ever heard about was the golden-haired beauty whom he’d been unjustly accused of kissing. The ice princess in front of him and the Queen’s daughter were probably about the same age. Her name had been…he concentrated and dredged the name up… Ingebord. Were they the same person, or was something else going on? If so, he could use it to his advantage to get this treaty negotiated with terms which would be acceptable to his King and allow Thorarinn to keep his head on his shoulders.
But now he knew where he’d heard Svanna’s voice before—during that unlamented sojourn in Agthir. Ingebord calling for her dog. Odd how his brain recalled the sound when he couldn’t remember having spoken to her as she was closely guarded and sat at the top table during the feasts, but it showed how little things could become embedded. It bothered him that he should remember that voice but knew his late wife’s crystal-clear tones were fading with each day.
‘Svanna Guthardottar, I will bear that in mind,’ he said, inclining his head. He would reveal his knowledge of her true identity when it suited him. ‘But I must insist on speaking with Sigmund Sigmundson. I am prepared to wait.’
‘Lord Sigmund authorised me to speak for him.’ Svanna Guthardottar spoke with great finality, as if she expected obedience without question. ‘Leave in cordiality. Inform your king that Lord Sigmund has never sought war with Eire or indeed Tara. He looks forward to this peace continuing for a long while.’
‘Are you his wife? Is that why you are authorized to speak for him?’
‘Married? No, no.’ She took a step backwards. ‘He instructed me to tell you this. My foster-mother and I are visiting. Lord Sigmund and the Queen have been friends for many years.’
Rand gritted his teeth. As if he would give up that easily. This woman was about to learn a few hard truths about playing games with him. She had no standing. Unmarried? What was wrong with her if she was indeed the Queen’s foster-daughter?
‘It will be worth his while,’ he said, making a bow and attempting to ensure his words were laced with honey. ‘The high king of Eire has sent me as his emissary. What I have to say is for his ears alone.’
‘I doubt that very much.’
‘Why?’
‘Because once a message is told, others hear. If he wanted to speak to Lord Sigmund himself, he would have travelled here, rather than sending someone like you.’ Having delivered the pronouncement with a slight curl of her lip, she started to turn away. ‘If the desire for a strong alliance is the only message, I fear you will be destined for disappointment.’
‘What?’ Rand tilted his head to one side and stared at her, incredulous at her brazen dismissal. ‘You doubt my word? Why do you claim that right? Why do you think you know how the game of high politics is played? A strong alliance is in both Islay’s and Tara’s interests.’
‘Sigmund Sigmundson will parley with the high king when the time is right and not before. They will parley as equals, Lord Sigmund will not be subservient.’ She inclined her head. ‘You can inform your king of that little fact if you wish, but I believe he already guessed this. He sent you on a fool’s errand for reasons of his own, not to better relations between the two countries.’
‘Now, having never met my king, you claim privy to his innermost thoughts.’
‘I believe we are done here.’ She held out her arms in dismissal. ‘I wish you a pleasant return journey, Randolfr Fullrson. You are welcome to return but I cannot guarantee that Lord Sigmund will ever receive you.’
She turned on her heel and started to walk away.
He caught her arm. She gave him an ice-cold look and he slowly released his fingers.
‘I made promises to the high king of Eire. I intend to keep them.’
‘The promises you gave fail to concern me.’
