Magnus rode into the courtyard just as the first ship was docking. Torvald was already there, organizing men to help unload supplies.
"When did they send word they were comin'?" Magnus asked, unable to keep the slight smile from his face.
"They didnae. Just showed up an hour ago." Torvald grinned. "Thought ye might want tae ken before they descended on yer hall."
"Ye thought right." Magnus dismounted, handed his horse to a stable boy, already feeling lighter than he had all day. "Where's Ada?"
"In her chamber, I think. Want me tae fetch her?"
"Nay. I'll go meself." Magnus paused. "How many are there?"
"All four. Harald, Ragnar, Ivar, and Erik brought his wife. She's heavy with child, from what I saw."
Magnus nodded thoughtfully. Erik's wife Claricia was the first Highland bride, the one who'd survived kidnapping and clan warfare to make her marriage work. Having her there would actually be good, she could help Ada understand what lay ahead, perhaps ease some of her fears.
"Make sure they have chambers prepared," Magnus said. "And tell the kitchens tae prepare a proper meal fer taenight. A feast, even."
He took the stairs to the east tower quickly, his mind already spinning. The other jarls would want to meet Ada. Would want to assess whether this marriage had any chance of success.
Ada would be terrified.
He reached her door, remembered at the last moment to knock this time.
"Enter."
Ada stood by the window, still wearing the simple wool dress from that morning. She turned when he entered, and he saw the tension in her shoulders immediately.
"Magnus. Is somethin' wrong?"
"Nay. Well. Nae wrong, exactly." He moved further into the room. "We're havin' guests fer dinner taenight. I wanted tae let ye ken before ye walked intae the hall and found it full of Vikings."
Ada's eyes widened. "What kind of guests?"
"The other jarls from the Pact. Harald of Lewis, Ragnar of Uist, Ivar of Mull. And Erik of Skye brought his wife Claricia."
"All of them? Here? Taenight?" Ada's hand went to her throat. "Why?"
"Because we're gettin' married in two days, and they want tae witness it." Magnus kept his voice gentle. "They're me closest allies. Me friends. They'll want tae meet ye."
"I—" Ada swallowed hard. "I dinnae ken what tae say tae them. What if I say somethin' wrong?"
"Ye'll be fine." Magnus crossed the room, stopped an arm's length away from her. "Just be yerself. Be honest. They'll respect that more than any pretty words or court manners."
"I've never met any Norse jarls before."
"Ye've met me."
"Aye, and look how well that's gone." But there was the hint of a smile in her voice.
Magnus felt his mouth twitch. "Just dinnae let them intimidate ye. They're large and loud and they like tae test people. But they're nae cruel. Nae tae women, anyway."
Ada took a deep breath. "All right. When dae I need tae be ready?"
"Sundown. I'll come fetch ye meself."
He left before she could respond.
The great hall felt smaller with five jarls and their retinues filling it.
