Iain still stood behind her, and he said, “We should take Brodie before we march on Elgin and Banf. It is undermanned, and if Godfrey thinks to resist, it would fall in hours.”
Alana jerked to glance up at him. Was it possible she would be in command of Brodie so soon? Well before this war ended?
“You are so eager to install your mistress there?” Bruce asked, but he was smiling, clearly amused. Then his smile faded. He looked at Alana. “You will have to swear your allegiance to us, mistress. You will have to make an oath of fealty.”
Alana stiffened. Hadn’t she already proven her loyalty? “I betrayed the Earl of Buchan, my uncle.”
“Aye, you did, but a man’s pledge is of even greater significance than a single act. Are you unable to swear your fealty to us?”
Alana had already chosen Iain over her own father, and the choice had been oddly easy to make. But acting out of fear for Iain’s life was one thing. She would betray her father and her uncle a dozen times over to keep Iain safe—she knew that. But to make an oath of fealty to King Robert was a pledge that screamed louder than any action ever could. It meant she was declaring her loyalty to Bruce, vowing it before God, for all the world to see. It meant she was walking away from her Comyn family, once and for all. There would be no turning back from such a pledge.
“Alana?” Iain said. He clasped her shoulder.
“I hate my uncle,” she said, her tone sounding choked to her own ears. “But I do not hate my father, and I do not even know my sisters.”
“So you will not swear fealty to me?” Bruce wasn’t smiling now.
Tears flooded her eyes. Alana knew she did not have any other options. She shook her head, stood and dropped to her knees, bowing her head. “I will take the oath now.”
“Good.” Bruce spoke from above her. She then felt his sword’s blade upon her right shoulder. “Uncover your head, mistress. Do you carry weapons?”
Alana removed her hood, so she was bareheaded, and shook her head, as she did not carry even the tiniest knife.
“Speak as I speak,” Bruce commanded.
Alana nodded, still bowing her head. Her tears fell freely onto her hands. She hoped no one could see.
“I, Mistress le Latimer, daughter of Elisabeth le Latimer, bastard of Sir Alexander Comyn, do swear before God, that I will be faithful to my lord, King Robert Bruce of Scotland, now and in the future, and that I will never do him harm, never cause deceit, and will faithfully obey in all things, all commands of King Robert Bruce of Scotland, may God strike me down otherwise.”
Alana inhaled. “I, Mistress le Latimer, daughter of Elisabeth le Latimer, bastard of Sir Alexander Comyn, do swear before God, that I will be faithful to my lord, King Robert Bruce of Scotland, now and in the future, and that I will never do him harm, never cause deceit, and will faithfully obey in all things, all commands of King Robert Bruce of Scotland, may God strike me down otherwise.” She felt his sword upon her other shoulder.
“You may rise,” Bruce said.
Alana began to get up, but Iain lifted her effortlessly to her feet. She blinked back her tears rapidly as their eyes met. He smiled encouragingly at her.
“Mistress le Latimer, of Brodie Castle,” Bruce said, raising his cup.
Gilbert Hay, Sir Robert Boyd and Iain all raised their mugs, smiling. Alana looked at the circle of men and felt faint. Was this truly happening?
“Will you not drink?” Bruce asked pleasantly.
Alana looked at him. Did she dare? “Your Grace? May I ask one more thing?”
Bruce started, surprised. “You wish for more than Brodie Castle?”
Alana felt Iain grasp her shoulder. She ignored him. “I wish for what all women wish for, my lord—a husband.”
She felt Iain’s hand tighten on her. Bruce relaxed, appearing thoughtful. Iain dropped his hand and walked around her to look at her, his stare hard and surprised.
But she refused to look at him. She stared at Bruce, instead.
“Of course you wish for a husband,” he said. “All women do. And you are young and beautiful. How old are you, mistress?”
“Twenty.”
“And you have no children?”
“None, Your Grace.”
