There on the floorboards was his father’s axe, Vengeance. Determined not to take the challenge and smear the promise made to Keirah, he heard Lord Kollungr taunt further: “You make certain the axe remains in your hand for the time when I am not so” – he paused to finish in a rasp of threat – “agreeable.” Kollungr placed his attention back on Keirah to say in cloaked meaning, “You remember, do you not, my lady, when this was not the case?” What was the arsehole referring to?
A tiny voice replied, “Aye.”
“However” – Lord Kollungr gave the words with a large sigh – “this is rarely the circumstance.” The tormentor cocked his head to one side and said with a nasty grin, “I must say, marriage shines on you, my lady. A bloom in your features I have not seen since the time of your bare moonlit swim in the fjord at my command when I was in a less ‘agreeable’ time. Tell me, Scotsman, does she still blush upon her breasts when flustered?”
No! Death will not wait!In two steps, he swept Vengeance by the handle with a full rip by his shoulder.The sadist’s skull will journey back to hell!Snarling a curse in Gaelic,his foot surged forward the same second Keirah grasped his arm like an iron cuff and Sir Brayden pounded on the door; being unsecured, the oak timber popped open and the friend declared, “Sir Aonghus, our lord king summons you both to the throne room! The High Steward of Scotland has declared the delegation has already arrived and…” The words died in Sir Brayden’s throat when he spotted Lord Kollungr alongside the volatile scene before him.
“Ahhh, your lord king.” Lord Kollungr strung out the words, poison lining each letter toward Keirah, who continued her fierce grip on Aonghus’s arm. “Forever seeking the grand Alexander. Your wish is granted, my lady, you are finally at his side.”
“You know I never swore an oath to King Håkonsson, nor shall I –ever,” she retorted, anger raising her tone. “You have and would be well served to hold your tongue and your place, or shall I summon a bishop who has traveled by your side here?”
Aonghus saw a veiled glimmer of shock take the opponent’s eyes before they turned into ice again. He held steady as Keirah gained strength by challenging him further in a cloaked meaning: “The bishops – you recall them, do you not, Lord Kollungr? Pray tell, who has traveled with you at King Håkonsson’s order? Henry of Orkney or Gilbert of Hamar? You truly must think me a fool if you would have me believe thatyourlord king would send youallalone on such a mission of supreme delicacy.” Silence, with the exception of a snap from the peat brick, sounded the room. She took a step forward, her shoulders square and chin high. “You have an issue with your reply, Lord Kollungr? Or has your tongue been clipped alongside your wings,myFálki?”
The Falcon plastered a false smile upon his face to nod, then twisted the topic while he headed for the door. “You aretoo eager as always, my lady, the same as my lord king. I am simply returning the weapon your pretty lad left behind.” He strode past them then paused by the door Sir Brayden grasped open. With one last look at Aonghus, he tossed a final threat like brimstone upon hell at Keirah: “Enjoy the time with your Scotsman.”
Chapter 27
Infernal shaking!Keirah clasped her hands tighter hidden within her skirt folds.Calm. Breathe. Calm.If Aonghus knew the extent still clouded over her, the same as a fog that would not lift, her knight would make good on the threat of death written in his eyes when he had charged at Lord Kollungr only moments ago.
How? How could she possibly think MacCade would ever wish to see her naked, much less touch her once more, after what Kollungr had said? Was she mortified? Nooooooo. Horrified and mortified and disgusted and embarrassed. Throw them all on there! For it was one thing totellMacCade as she had about her past, but it was awholeother experience to have the one that ordered the grotesque deed, which still caused bile to rise in her gullet, tell the revolting tale!
She went to straighten her shoulders as they entered the private tapestry-walled solar off the great hall which would act as the throne room. Huh, how odd, they were already straight. Normally she’d cower before Kollungr. What…what had changed? First time. This was the first time she had challenged her captor on equal footing. If someone had declared this remotely possible a fortnight ago she would have cackled a bitter laugh.
Her eyes caught the reason why. Aonghus. He looked at her across the peat-fumed room. Somehow, he was driving her spirit to thrash the same as a lash at everything the Northmen’s capture had unleashed within her. The tormented memories belonging to her time in their grasp nipped at her heels like a pack of hounds from hell. However, aye, her feelings for Aonghus trenched deeper into her heart; he was releasing her will to fight back at the pack.Take that, Kollungr!
Shoulders stayed straight, but her soul…aye, it still wept that every lad had his limits and MacCade would never wish to kiss her once more after the vile display by Lord Kollungr.
The king, looking stern, sat upon the tall back throne with his two trusted advisors flanking him. “The Lord Chancellor,” she heard Sir James finish stating after she entered, “is in reflection at the chapel.”
King Alexander nodded, and Sir James, facing the king, took his leave. Before shutting the door, he flashed a surly look at her.
“Lady Keirah, as soon as we discovered Lord Kollungr was present, Sir Brayden charged to warn you,” the Lord Constable said, sympathy reflected upon his liver-spotted face. “We would see fit to expel him directly.” They were going to stand with her to their own fault. Her hand covered her heart over the gown.
“I am honored by your offer.” She nodded graciously. “However, nae, ’tis what he seeks – a master in the game of bending others to his whim.”
“A trait I am certain he has acquired from King Håkonsson,” King Alexander said, smoothing his fingers over his surcoat to add, “The Northman’s king sees to test our fortitude in talks of a treaty by sending such a vile emissary intoour midst. In doing so he has shown his hand in not seekin’ peace at all.”
“I am not certain King Håkonsson has summoned Lord Kollungr to this castle.” All eyes turned toward her. “The lord always carried an air of superiority in all his practices. Even if King Håkonsson has sent him before you, my lord king, by demanding a bishop be present he states he does not trust Lord Kollungr implicitly. The bishops never sought to align themselves with Lord Kollungr at King Håkonsson’s court. May I inquire which bishop is present: Henry of Orkney or Gilbert of Hamar?”
“Both, my lady,” answered the Lord Constable.
“Both?” she sputtered, awestruck.
“Aye, they await in the great hall when we have concluded,” the Lord Chamberlain replied. “To commence the discussion.”Looks like the lord of the purse strings smells coin to be discussed in those negotiations by the greedy way he is rubbing those fingers together.
“What captures you regarding this, my Cluaran?” Aonghus questioned, and King Alexander leaned forward, appearing curious as well.
Her shaking stopped; her hands fell by her sides while she replied. “It seems Lord Kollungr let a wee bit of his mask slip, when he stated that I was too eager,sameas King Håkonsson.”
“He means to move the demands through hastily,” King Alexander concluded at once.
“Aye,” the Lord Constable joined in briskly. “Regarding what purpose?”
“Before I slaid Seumas, he boasted King Håkonsson had amassed almost twenty thousand under his command; ’tis a verygrand amount of warriors to feed,” Aonghus enlightened, raising his brows.Right on the mark, my knight.
“The cost alone…” The Lord Chamberlain was again going right for the coin.That figures.
King Alexander shook his head then further questioned the enemy’s tactics. “The supply chains to feed these warriors, Lady Keirah?”Ohhhhh, lord king, this answer is astounding!
