“Why—” Gemma began, glancing from her brother to Lord Marcant.
“You seem well. We were worried about your safety. Lord Marcant told me that for a while you were at our childhood home, but then you mysteriously disappeared. It seems clear what happened to you.”
“Does it, brother? And what do you think happened?”
“That you were kidnapped by the Norsemen and held captive in their settlement,” Rhun said, glaring at her. “I should never have accepted their offer of an alliance. This gives me good reason to end the alliance and see them thrown off our land forever.”
There were murmurs of agreement from around the great hall. Arne looked at Cenydd, but he was one of the few who was not agreeing.
“The Norsemen have never held me prisoner,” Gemma stated. “Which is why I wasn’t in Kirkjaster the other day. I had left of my own free will.”
“Then why were you with them?”
“I was visiting with my dear friend, Aoife, until a few days ago. Then I decided to head north, but Caelin and I were delayed by the storm. The Norsemen kindly sent warriors after me when they heard you were looking for me. Caelin and I had taken shelter on the moors and they brought me back here to you, brother, in order to collect the promised reward.”
Rhun frowned. “You have been missing for months, sister.”
“Lady Aoife was glad of our company after her recent tragic losses,” Gemma said, glaring at Marcant as she spoke. “Were you not worried about us? For months you sent no one at all to look for me. In fact, your delay in searching for us is why I chose to head north with my son.”
"Why did you not simply return here? Why wait for me to search?” Rhun shot back.
Gemma shook her head. “You were the one who sent us away, brother. After we were kidnapped on the road to Car Luel and taken to Alt Clut — by Britons, not Norsemen — I felt the wisest course of action was to remain in safety with Lady Aoife.”
“Kidnapped?”
“Yes, perhaps Lord Marcant can tell you more as he was also present in Alt Clut during the time I was held there.”
Marcant shook his head. “But it was not I who kidnapped you, was it, Princess Maithgemm?”
Gemma inclined her head, as if acknowledging there was a possibility what he said might be true. “Maybe not, but we were forced to spend last summer in the ruins of our childhood home, held prisoner by a group of holy men. Were you not the man on the rock whose existence they tried to keep secret?”
She saw Marcant hesitate, but only for a moment. “I was indeed, but only because I too was a prisoner there.”
“Really?” Gemma scoffed, then turned to stare at Rhun. “What made you look for us now?”
“Lord Fergus tells me the Norsemen rescued a fishing boat just before the snows,” Rhun said, indicating Lord Fergus, where he sat at a table on her left. He did not look happy to see her. “One of the fishermen was sure he had seen you at the settlement. I sent soldiers to enquire after you as soon as I heard. At that time the jarl said you were not there, but I didn’t believe him and sent them back today. How surprising that they found you.” Rhun lifted his drink and swallowed it.
“The snow forced us to return, brother. The jarl didn’t lie to you, although there is someone here who might be. When I was sent to Car Luel, I thought Lord Marcant was to be executed by Lord Cenydd upon his arrival here.”
Rhun scowled. “During his trial, I was not aware of all the relevant information. But with the passing of time and a greaterunderstanding of his motivations, I have seen fit to pardon Lord Marcant.”
Arne and Ulf exchanged a look.
“You will, of course, relay this information to your jarl.”
“We will,” Ulf agreed. “My cousin will be most intrigued to know what has prompted this development and what it means for our alliance.”
“At present, our alliance holds, or you would not be standing within my great hall armed as you are.”
The hall grew silent. Arne watched as many of the nobles as possible, ensuring no one was moving from their seats, nor signalling for others to attack them. He knew Ulf would be doing the same. He glanced behind them, towards the door. Thankfully, their exit remained clear.
A chair scraped back on Arne’s left. Lord Cenydd slammed his hands onto the table in front of him and stood. “He murdered my uncle.” Everyone looked first at Cenydd, then back at Rhun, who merely inclined his head towards Marcant, who stood and faced Cenydd across the hall.
“Lord Cadell was a traitor. His daughter is now one ofthem.King Rhun has forgiven me, because he now realises I merely fight for our people, not these foreigners. Princess Maithgemm, we are glad you have returned to your family rather than living in exile amongst the Norse. Your son should not have to pay the price for your poor decisions.”
“Then my brother must restore Caelin’s lands.”
Beside him, an older man pushed himself awkwardly to his feet. “I must disagree, King Rhun. Lord Caelin is too young to control his own lands.”
