“I understand well enough, Husband.”
“Do you?” Giric asked, beginning to lose the remaining patience he had. “Your people took the land you now inhabit and it is likely it will be taken from you again.”
“You’ve said enough, MacDomnail,” Gunnar said.
Saga looked at him with wide eyes, her jaw agape. At that moment he was not sure if she was about to burst into a rage or weep. He was not sure which he would prefer and his heart squeezed when she chose the latter. Before he could say anything she ran from the hall and up the stairs—he hoped to their chamber.
“Well now that you’ve made my sister cry, I guess I have to beat you senseless,” Gunnar said with a straight face.
“I sincerely hope you do not mean that,” Giric said as Osgar moved a little closer.
Gunnar stared him down for what felt like an eternity before the corners of his mouth started to curl.
“I am not trying to hurt your sister,” Giric said.
“Nay, it appears that it comes naturally.”
“Gunnar, we are running out of time. The king arrives on the morrow and I need to be sure we have an understanding.”
“That is your perception. We can return to Islay any time and defend our lands. And ja, they are our lands.”
“By conquer, Gunnar. Do we really need to have a philosophical discussion about land ownership?”
“Mayhap we should. You are not native to your lands. The king granted them to you and the peoples who lived there before you were driven out. You are not better than us, though you appear to believe so. I understand why my sister is upset and it is because you have treated us like the pet you wish to display but are challenged to keep under the yoke.”
“You have it wrong, Gunnar. I do respect you and your kin. Hell, I married your sister. What more commitment do you want?”
“You are committed to a cause that has some nobility, I will grant you that. But you cannot bend us to your ways. We are a fiercely proud people, and while I do agree that violence is not always the answer, it does serve a purpose when necessary.”
“My cause is noble. Peace is noble and we must find a way to work together to ensure a tyrant does not take that from us.”
“We already have peace. Why should we concern ourselves with your worry?”
Giric was not sure if Gunnar was baiting him or disagreeing with him. This was a far different conversation than the one they’d had on Islay a few weeks ago.
“Because if you do not, and the English are successful, they will not stop with the mainland of Alba. Unchecked, they will continue until they possess all there is to be had.”
“Giric, I agreed to come here to listen to you and your king’s proposals, and I am a man of my word. But I do not like what I see in my sister’s distress and I do not like what I see in your approach. I can only assume the king will have his own thoughts on how we should proceed.”
That was not a full agreement, but it was a small concession and he would take that if it meant keeping Gunnar here until the king’s arrival. He’d not really considered that all parties would not agree to his suggestions. Perhaps Osgar was right. Perhaps he had not quite thought this through and the whole business was doomed to failure. And where would that leave him and Saga? Nay, he could not think like that. He must stay the course and remain vigilant when others around him lost faith.
“I appreciate your concerns, Gunnar. I will strike a bargain with you. If you still feel the same way as you do now once the king’s visit is complete, I will not stand in your way to return to Islay and I will not hassle you for your allegiance for the upcoming conflict. But know this, my wife will remain here.”
“My sister will go wherever she pleases whether you like it or no.” Gunnar downed his ale and loaded up his trencher as if to settle in for a long repast. “You still don’t comprehend, do you MacDomnail?”
“Comprehend what?”
“Saga cannot be tamed.”
Giric didn’t reply to that statement. How could he? And was that what he was trying to do? Tame her? He didn’t think so, but mayhap that was the impression he’d left with them all. With the king’s arrival mere hours away, he had little time to do anything about it. So much depended upon this meeting and if Saga was upset, more than his marriage could be at stake. He needed to find her and do what he could to smooth things over with her else all could be lost.
His plan to seek out Saga was interrupted when Magnus entered the hall.
“I thought you did not wish to meet the king,” Gunnar said.
“I have news that may impact your talks here,” Magnus said.
“We’re listening,” Giric said. Why did he suddenly feel like a load of stone was about to drop on his head?
