Page 3 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

Elspeth’s green eyes widened, then narrowed in confusion. “Aye, but I still donae ken what they are?”

Bruce chuckled. “They’re the crown, the scepter, and the sword the rightful king or queen wears on their coronation. They cannae be king or queen without the royal regalia.”

“Aye,” the Bishop nodded. “The regalia is what gives them their divine right to rule. If they donae have it they donae have God’s will and their reign will be woefully short.”

“For nae one would take them seriously.”

“Aye, anyone could lay claim to their throne. The regalia legitimizes the line. It legitimizes their right to rule.”

“Are they with the English now?” Elspeth asked. “Because they rule us now.”

The Bishop made a face. Bruce tried his best not to laugh. He had heard the Bishop’s bemoaning of the state of Scottish monarchy for years now. The lack of a suitable candidate for king in a sea of Lairds, the shackles of English servitude–he’d heard it all. Elspeth was in for a long lecture. He hoped, for her sake, the shadow puppets would start soon.

“Nae for long, lass.” The Bishop looked at Bruce with an odd light in his eyes. Bruce blinked, trying to decipher the look. It was a mix of fierce affection, pride, and hope. “I hope to see a day when Scotland will rule free under a worthy king. Ye can say it is my life’s mission.”

“I thought yer life’s mission was to serve God,” Bruce countered, trying to lighten the mood. Elspeth stared at him, horrified at his cheek.

“To bring Scotland its rightful king under the Honors given by the Church of God Himself is serving God, ye insolent rascal,” the Bishop growled, swatting at him with his handkerchief. “Yer cut is clean, sweet Elspeth. Just keep it tied with this. It’ll mend on its own.” He wrapped the handkerchief around her palm and tied a knot to keep it in place. “Now let’s go see about those puppets.”

Bruce was glad that the strange, fierce glow in the Bishop’s eye was gone. It had made him deeply uncomfortable. Bruce was no stranger to people’s high expectations of him, but the expectations he saw in the Bishop’s eyes were astronomical, much too high for him to even contemplate reaching.

The burden of being an heir was enough for him to be getting on with in this life. He did not need another to carry.

Leo was already in the tent where the shadow puppets were going to be played. He was sitting next to Domnhall Buchan, but when he saw Bruce enter he wiggled to make space for him. Elspeth joined the young girls at the front.

As Bruce sat down he let go of the uneasy feeling that had risen within him. Surely the Bishop had no such plans for Bruce. Their conversations were just that, conversations. Deciding that he was making a mountain out of a molehill, he gave himself up to the images before him.

He was young, surrounded by friends and allies, watching an intriguing tale of good versus evil and true love conquering all, and had a book on the Honors of Scotland to look forward to. His life was going to be tranquil and peaceful. Right?