He looked down at her. Her cheeks were red from the biting wind, but she looked relaxed. She smiled at him and hugged him tight.
“The last time I was here, our tour was stopped short,” she said. “I am looking forward to learning everything about the way of things here.”
“Then I look forward to showing you.”
Together they walked to the longhouse, but the door opened before they reached the end of the wharf. Gunnar walked quickly toward them and looked behind them. He frowned for a moment, but he appeared to mask his expression again.
“I am pleased to see you brother,” Magnus said. “Elspeth and I have been married and have come here to make plans for our future.”
“Welcome to our family,” Gunnar said to Elspeth and kissed her on both cheeks. “I am afraid though that planning may have to wait.”
“What’s happened?”
“Come inside,” he said. “Magnus. I need you on your best behaviour.”
“Gunnar, what’s going on?” he asked not liking the sheen of sweat on Gunnar’s brow or how pale he looked.
“Einar is here. And Short-Beard. They are trying to claim the lands I put aside for you.”
“Do not bring her inside.” Magnus left Elspeth with Gunnar and marched to the hall. Once inside he quickly located the two snakes and stood over them with his arms crossed.
“Will you two never cease to stir trouble?”
“Magnus, before you blow that hot head of yours—” Earl Einar said.
“I will blow more than my hot head if what Gunnar tells me is true.” To Short-Beard he said, “You know you have no claim on any lands outside of those you currently occupy. We have returned all that was taken from you in this summer’s raid and you have no reason to be here.”
“My family is expanding,” he said. “We have just as much right to this land as you do.”
“That’s not true,” Magnus said. “All of Islay was granted to my grandfather except the portion set aside for you. And you own a quarter of the island. That is enough for you.”
“I disagree,” Einar said. “As Earl of this region—”
Magnus leaned down close enough to the man that he was forced to stop talking. “Hear my words, and hear them now. You have been stirring trouble for an age. You have no power here and you have no authority to reassign land that was legitimately granted.”
“I am an Earl!”
“You are pathetic.” To Short-Beard, he said. “What did he tell you to persuade you to travel all this way? Did he say he can speak for the king?”
“He said he has documentation that proves he has authority over Islay.”
“Does he now? Well this is documentation I would like to see.”
“I obviously do not have it with me.” Einar said. “I have it in a safe place.”
“And you think to come here to convince me that you have imaginary authority.”
“The last I checked, your brother was chieftain,” Einar.
A month ago, even a week ago, Magnus would have grabbed Einar by the scruff of his neck and thrown him out of the hall. Now he felt only pity, rather than rage.
“Short-Beard, you are welcome to stay and partake of the wedding feast we will host in my honour and perhaps we can discuss why you need to press your land boundaries.
“Einar, you are not welcome here. As you have not been welcome here for a long time. You have insulted every member of this family and you have proved time and again that you are not deserving of the Earl’s title. Your desperation for land ownership is doing nothing to benefit Short-Beard or us. Leave here now.”
His voice was calm and clear. Perhaps it was that calmness that seemed to draw a reaction from Einar. He paled and looked quickly between the two men.
“You are married?”
