"Why waste the time?"another councilor interjected."Just make a decision about the woman.She should be wed, not rotting away in an abbey.If there's a dowry then make her dowry in addition to the financial reparation owed."
"To whom?"the king asked.
"Why, to ye, of course, Your Majesty.After all, the breach was of a royal decree.Surely you should receive compensation in return," the councilor replied.
The king laughed."I cannot marry the lass!I already have a wife, and I have enough trouble with her, thank ye."
"Not you, per se.Perhaps someone within your court.Someone in your service who deserves reward."
Boyd felt as if his heart had stopped beating entirely.
"Aye," the king replied, warming to the idea."Aye, indeed.That is a sound solution.I'll need to think on who might be suitable for her to wed."
The discussion moved on to other matters, but Boyd heard none of it.His mind was racing, his pulse thundering in his ears.Bella, unwed and in an abbey.Bella, whose brother had fallen from grace.Bella, whose treachery almost destroyed him.Bella, who might be given in marriage to some other man.Like hell!
The idea that formed in his mind was dark.Vengeful.Completely unlike the man he thought he'd become.But heaven help him, he couldn't let it go.
Moments later, the king's attention returned to Boyd."Ye've been remarkably quiet, Monk.That's unlike ye."
Boyd shrugged."Just thinking, sire."
"About what?"
"About the fact that I've served ye faithfully for ten years and perhaps 'tis time I considered settling down."
The king's face lit up."Ye wish to wed?"
"Perhaps."
The king paced a little and pondered the idea."Aye, I think this is good.'Tis not normal this monk-like existence of yours.I think ye should marry and birth loyal subjects for the realm."
The other councilors nodded, adding their agreement.
"In fact," the king continued, "I've been thinking about how to reward ye for yer loyal service.Ye've asked for so little, Monk.Name it.Anything ye want, and 'tis yers."
The room went quiet.
Boyd could feel them all watching him, waiting.This was the moment.The moment he could ask for anything.More power, land, wealth.
Instead, he heard himself say in a voice that was barely more than a growl: "I want Bella Sutherland."
The silence that followed was deafening.
The king blinked."I beg your pardon?"
Boyd stood slowly, his chair scraping against the stone floor.He met the king's gaze without flinching."Ye asked what I wanted as reward for my service.I want Bella Sutherland.As my wife."
"The sister of the man we're punishing?"
"Aye."
The king studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable."May I ask why her?"
A thousand reasons flashed through Boyd's mind.Because she haunts my dreams daily.Because I want her to suffer as I suffered.Because ten years ago she made a fool of me, and now I'll make her pay.
But what he said was: "She has a dowry.She's from a good clan, despite her brother's failures.And it seems fitting that I should have a wife who understands what it means to lose everything."
The king leaned back in his chair, studying Boyd with those sharp, calculating eyes unusual for one so young."Have ye seen this woman recently?"
