"I'm perfectly serious."
"She's the king's chosen bride. Ye've already refused her in front of witnesses. What more dae ye plan tae dae, throw her back on the ship yerself?"
Magnus stopped walking. Turned. His friend stood a few paces back, arms crossed, expression caught somewhere between concern and exasperation.
"That womankissedme," Magnus said, keeping his voice low despite the fury burning in his chest. "A year ago at Arisaig Bay.She kissed me, used me as a shield against her father's men, then vanished before I could even ask her name. Imagine what she must have done with other men to protect herself! I didnae want tae say something in front of Brian and ruin her, but I willnae be married tae a woman I dinnae trust."
Torvald's eyebrows rose. "Maybe it's fate."
Magnus shot him a look that could've frozen fire.
"Or nae," Torvald amended quickly. He followed Magnus into the study, closing the door behind them. "But ye have tae marry her. Ye ken that. The king willnae accept refusal, and Brian's nae the type tae lie in his report."
"I ken that." Magnus moved to the table where maps of Barra's coastline lay spread out, though he wasn't really seeing them. His hands braced against the wood, shoulders tight with tension. "But how am I meant tae trust her? Tae bind meself tae a woman who's already proven she'll use whatever means necessary tae get what she wants? That cannae be loyal."
"She was runnin' from her faither's men," Torvald pointed out.
Magnus didn’t say anything and Torvald was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was gentler. "This isnae really about her, is it?"
Magnus's jaw tightened. "Dinnae."
"Freydis—"
"I said dinnae." The words came out harder than he'd intended. Magnus forced himself to breathe, to unclench his fists. "This has naething tae dae with Freydis."
"Everything ye dae has tae dae with Freydis." Torvald moved closer, his tone careful but firm. "This woman, Ada, she's nae Freydis," Torvald said finally.
"How dae ye ken that? Because she looks frightened? Because she's being forced intae this marriage too?" Magnus moved away from the table, paced to the narrow window that overlooked the courtyard. "Freydis looked frightened when I first met her. She was young, alone, her family had just died in a raid. I thought I was saving her. Protecting her. Giving her a home."
"And she betrayed that."
"Aye. She did." Magnus stared out at the gray stone walls, the guards walking their posts. "So tell me, Torvald. How am I meant tae trust another woman who appears out of nowhere, desperate and alone, needin' protection? How am I meant nae tae wonder if she'll dae the same thing, use whatever I give her, then betray me the moment it suits her purpose?"
Torvald sighed. "Ye're nae meant tae trust her. Nae yet. But ye are meant tae marry her. Those are yer only choices—marry her, or lose everything ye've built here. Everything yer people depend on."
Magnus knew he was right. The king's decree left no room for negotiation. Marry the Highland bride, or watch Barra fall.
"I need tae speak with her," he said finally.
"Now?"
"Aye. Before Brian comes lookin' fer me with more threats and ultimatums." Magnus turned from the window. "If I'm going tae marry this woman, I need to understand why she did what she did. Need tae ken if she's capable of honesty, at least."
He left Torvald in the study and made his way to the east tower. The blue chamber was at the end of a quiet corridor, away from the main keep.
He knocked once, hard enough that the sound echoed down the corridor.
"Enter."
Her voice was quiet. Wary.
Magnus pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Ada stood by the window, still wearing the damp traveling clothes from the dock. Her blonde hair had come loose from its braid, falling in tangled waves past her shoulders. She looked small in the large room, fragile even, with dark circles under hereyes and her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold something together.
When she saw him, her expression shifted—surprise, then wariness, then something that might have been anger.
"Ye shouldnae be here," she said.
