“You shall always be myweebrother.”
Alec arched a brow. “Also, a sire to a strapping wee laddie of three and soon-to-be sire to another bairn.”
Callum hugged him. “Ahh, wee brother! Deidre is with child?”
“Aye, she just told me upon my leave. Aonghus has promised to protect all of them in my brief absence. Sir Brayden.” Alec grinned, slapping the broad knight on the shoulder.
“Always a pleasure to see the youngest MacCade brother.” Brayden smiled. “Cursing and colorful as always. Court has been so very dull without you here.”
Alec inquired toward Callum. “Where are you both chargin’ in a rush upon such an early hour?”
The mirth was stolen from Callum. “I was about to inquire to Sir Brayden regarding this before we arrived in the great hall.” Callum turned at the fellow knight. “Our lord kinghas begun his dawn with affairs beholden to the kingdom rather than his usual prayer. Something must be terribly wrong.”
The three strode for the passageway, once they had stepped by two pages and a squire. “A missive has arrived,” Sir Brayden whispered as he opened the door into the solar.
A cluster belonging to the king’s council and high lords filled the chamber with an air tense as the bow string which was swung forever upon Callum’s shoulder opposite the sword scabbard. Lord MacParson wore his usual shadow of a smirk while Lord MacBenrick nodded in greeting. The robust-built Lord MacBenrick wore a grim look where a smile normally was held – it must be most dire.
“Sir Callum, Chieftain MacCade if you would care to remain as well,” King Alexander began once formalities in greeting the monarch were seen to. “The Northern delegation is almost upon our soil for the signing of the treaty in mere days.”
“Aye.” Lord MacParson took the hint in providing insight at the king’s stare. “Chancellor Askatinus, and Andreas the son of Nicholas, Baron, we have been told are to be present upon King Magnus’s behalf. One of the royal guards flanking them shall be Sir James.”That traitor dares to show his face here!
Lord MacBenrick said to Callum in a dry tone, “Wealldetest Sir James returning unto his home soil after the traitorous acts toward our lord king’s crown. My apologies for the grievance you suffered after Sir James sought harming your brother, Sir Aonghus and his lovely wife Lady Keirah. And to you, Sir Brayden.” He hissed a sigh born by frustration. “Alas we are bound by honor to Norway’s crown in the form of our word to leave the leech be.”
Sir Brayden nodded his head, grin gone.
Grievance? Honor? Really? The arsehole, Sir James, had left both his brother, sister-in-law, and Sir Brayden to die! Callum tightened his jaw but bowed his head inacknowledgment. Three years; he had waited three years for this moment. Would he find a way to set the balance right on the scale when the time presented?Without a doubt.
The king took helm, speaking toward Callum. “This treaty in Perth shall be a bestowment after the blood shed at Largs, but there seems to be a grave element unfolding in the kingdom.” Callum straightened his spine. “Word has arrived from the lands belonging to Lord Bentley; crofts have been burned far north of Loch Lomond with rumors by those present the raids were cast by Northmen’s hands themselves. Thistle Glen Abbey’s abbot is to be present for the treaty’s signing by my request. I fear for his safety and the treaty itself in this mayhem. You are to leave my side and this keep at once. Sir Sean shall remain in your stead with Chieftain MacCade since the fates have graced us with his earlier arrival.” The king took a step closer. Determination rode his face like a sea captain commanding his crew away from a deadly tempest on the horizon. “After speaking with my council and the high lords, there are two tasks I bequeath you. Take Sir Brayden and two more knights you trust, then travel to Thistle Glen Abbey. Seek the abbot who previously journeyed on my behalf with Chancellor Askatinus to Norway’s kingdom. This abbot ensured those negotiations for the treaty were a success. The abbot is to be brought safely to the signing of the treaty at Perth. Next, choose a second gathering of royal guards to discover who is at fault for these raids upon the Highlands.” The sovereign looked at Callum a hard moment. “I do not place this task with a light consideration. You are my greatest hope, Sir Callum, the same as the day you saved my life all those years ago when another sought to dash the kingdom into chaos.” The king paused, looking at Callum’s surcoat bearing the royal mark. “As then, it shall be once more. I seek this to be seen to with the utmost discretion. Nae surcoats are to be worn by those who seek the traitors. I cannot have word spreading in the taskyou are ordered to complete in finding these true traitors. When your brother Sir Aonghus took his leave to his clan, an empty trench, deep as an ocean, was left behind regarding someone I could trust on the most delicate tasks. Your time here in this castle and keep these years past have set a stronger standard than I ever thought possible to fill this void. My late sire gave his life before he was able to secure this treaty. The need weighs heavily upon my soul that this shall be done on the second day of July year of our lord 1266.”
Callum vowed, “We shall not fail you, my lord king, nor the honored memory of the late king, your sire.”
The king revealed a signet ring in his grasp. “Keep this with you. If a need arises to reveal your task, do so with great care in only the gravest of circumstances,” the king demanded. “Once again, Sir Callum, discretion is paramount.”
Callum took the ring while nodding solemnly. The full moon was in three days’ time; would he make it to Thistle Glen Abbey by then? Absolutely!
Chapter 3
Cavern Near the Thistle Glen Abbey
Nella’s gaze darted toward the cavern’s opening which was concealed behind bramble to the naked eye. At the last chronicle there had been silence at the abbey, only a hum from ashes crackling. The warriors had ridden away long ago after torching the abbey. A place which had offered her refuge when fleeing Keithen’s sire. Her chin lowered.
Perhaps they had spared the barn. At first light they would know; for now, she glanced back at everyone huddled about trying to stay warm. The mossy-fumed dampness gripped them in the cavern accompanied by water dripping from the ceiling, which had led her to the hidden find originally.
All slept; even Keithen gave a snore. The only exception was a young friar who stood second watch. So did she, even if she gave the appearance at resting.
Augh! That third mead-filled goblet never should have been drunk with supper.After laboring in the garden before Keithen had even arrived, her thirst was not being denied. This cavern wassosmall.No, not here; go journey for the nearby grove in relief.
Carefully standing, she walked toward the face specked by youth. “I shall be but a moment. A need arises which must be answered.”
Even in the shadows a flush took his cheeks. “Aye, Lady Fawnella.”
She gathered her skirts. She need not chronical the area; it had grown silent with exception from the lingering by hunters who answered only to Mother Nature. She shuffled then found a secluded spot behind a boulder to squat. Once done, skirts smoothed over by palms, her gaze shot up at four horses headed toward the abbey. They were back! No! She tilted her skull, and a voice sounding panicked reigned the air.
“Look at the abbey! By all above, not a soul abounds. We have arrived too late!”Not the raiders.“The king shall turn into pure wroth.” The rider finished declaring then ordered, “Both of you check the barn, which still stands for any who may have survived the raid.”
“Aye, Sir Brayden,” two voices answered.
The king. They had to be friends and not foe, but had Callum MacCade’s crass manner years ago taught her not all appearances were as they seemed? Completely. If they were men-at-arms for the king… She swallowed the bile down. Could one be Sir Sean? The pair looking at the barn had not been nor this Sir Brayden but what of the last who rode beside Sir Brayden who hadn’t spoken?
