The king sat back on his heels while saying gravely, “A command which will march them into a certain slaughter.” His gaze caught on her and she grew to be a stone. “My lady, what say you?”
Salt stung the back of her glance. Dammit! No! She would not cry, and she wouldnotshow weakness; this king deserved more.Get it together!“Forgive me, my lord king, the fates have not shown me a more stringent timing upon when the storm shall rage,” she explained. “There is a night-glance where I have seen you signing the treaty you seek; the sum you pay for the Isles, ’tis four thousand marks and an annual payment to King Håkonsson’s successor, his son…”
The man of the cloth, the Lord Chancellor, gave a gasp to interrupt: “My lady, where did you learn of this amount?”
“Lady Keirah declared it to be a foreshadow.” The Lord Constable rolled his crinkled eyes.
“Aye,” she confirmed and meet the three advisors’ bulgy stares. “Why do you seem taken back by the amount? ’Tis a fair trade our lord king offers…”
“Forgive them, my lady,” the king broke in to explain, “the amount you have seen is the very same which lies in the sealed missive upon this table your eyes have yet to behold.”
The Lord Chancellor’s expression changed to a mask of accusation. “Sir James has made his belief known that you are a traitor. Who would have told the Northmen regarding the knights gathered?”Oh no he didn’t.
What was next? A tunic with “Traitor – throw fruit here” embroidered upon the front?
Aonghus stepped up at once with a glare. “Are you callin’ my lady a traitor and spy to the crown? The very same Scotswoman who chanced more than you have ever been asked to in standing here before you?”My knight in shining chainmail.
“Nae, Sir Aonghus.” Alexander looked sternly at the chancellor. “He is simply a man of the cloth tryin’ to place the elements into a circle when ’tis a square.” The red hue belonging to her knight’s face eased and Alexander turned back toward her with a questioning look for her to finish the original query.
She replied, “My lord king, I take solace the night-glance deemed worthy to reveal the outcome. Why, I put to the fates? Why bother to reveal it to me at all? The path we walkmustbe the just one; time is still our strongest ally.”
“Aye, my lady,” the Lord Constable murmured somberly. “However, I believe our ally has just fled. We have nae more to give.”So true, dearest friend.
“Perhaps you have a turn to take.” The Lord Chamberlain wiped his shiny scalp when all eyes fixed onto him. “Lord Kollungr, he seeks you, Lady Keirah. I need only catch a glimpse at his expression each time you cross a threshold. In this very chamber, Sir Aonghus, you have declared he swore never to leave these shores without Lady Keirah at his side.”That isn’t going to go over with the Highland bull.
Aonghus widened his stance. “Surely you are not offering my wife as bait?”
“Time,” the lord of coin clarified. “What if Lady Keirah can bide us this precious commodity?” The bald scalp then turned toward Alexander with his plan. “Dismiss Sir Kolbein and I see Lord Kollungr stepping forth with an offer for Lady Keirah to return before King Håkonsson – our time sought for the storm to come to pass is bought.”
“With a lady’s soul,” the Lord Constable scoffed, stunned. “What of the moon cycle? It may well be the next – what then?”Ugh, he may be right!
The Lord Chamberlain ignored the question and posed his own challenge at her. “Have you not stated that you have held a glance where you stand before King Håkonsson with Sir Aonghus by your side?”Yet, so was he!
“Aye,” she concurred.
“If I am mistaken? Then the delegation leaves, and we are where we currently stand; we shall be forced to send the five hundred knights into war,” the chamberlain finished, gravely, “and death.”
Keirah met her knight’s gaze; a fist clutched her heart. Aonghus.Aonghuswould be one of those knights headed to slaughter that the chamberlain spoke of. Perhaps this was their fate – taking a chance to stand before Håkonsson, buying thetime needed, and battle the storm for survival. What could possibly go wrong?
The king must have seen her struggle. “Allow me to try once again,” he offered toward her gently.
She asked, “If Sir Kolbein refuses?” Her stomach twisted.
His brow gave a tiny bow to the fates. “War,” King Alexander replied.
The Lord Constable and the Lord Chamberlain said in unison, “War.”
The clergyman Lord Chancellor looked heavenward. “War, may God have mercy!”
“Sir Aonghus,” the king commanded, “bid them to return.” A stiffness took his steps at the order.
A solid creak sounded from the forged hinges and she cringed at the sound. The finch flew out. If only she and her knight were part of the finch’s flock.
Chapter 32
“You will find, Lord King, the twenty thousand Northmen who shadow your shores” – Sir Kolbein’s tone suffocated the room to Keirah – “will bring hellfire upon those in your kingdom! Your choice is cast.”So is yours, Northman – you should have sailed away.
The icy stare the knight owned glimpsed at her a hard moment before he tore from the room, leaving the door gaping open in his wake after he refused King Alexander’s gracious offer once again. The bishops filed out, appearing rather dejected, while a tense blanket hung in the air; she met Kollungr’s stare. They were about to test the Lord Chamberlain’s theory. Would it work?
