Page 100 of The Refuge

The words of the dismounting warriors were muffled but Margaret could see there had been no battle. No blood covered their mail and the horses appeared calm.

A few moments later, the door of their chamber swung open and Malcolm stood before her.

She wanted to run to him, to thank God for the war that would not be, yet his forlorn look told her all was not well. “Did you agree on terms, My Lord?”

Running his long fingers through his dark locks, he came to her, kissing her cheek before he slumped into his chair. “Aye, we have agreed on terms, though I like not all of them.”

One hand on her rounded belly, she eased herself onto the bench next to him. “Tell me, my husband.”

“I have secured my lands in Cumbria but allowed William’s authority over them. He is to leave Scotland with no demands on her and no taking of plunder or rapine by his army as they go, though I expect he will allow them free rein once they cross into Northumbria.”

“To agree to his overlordship for your lands that lie so far south of Lothian is not as grievous as it could have been.”

“Aye, mayhap, but the rest of it you will like less well.” His disquieting gaze told her what she would hear would be dark news, indeed. “As I anticipated, Edgar will not have my support again for a try at England’s throne. William would prefer your brother leave my court, but I agreed only to convey that request to Edgar. I refused to demand it of him.”

“I think even Edgar anticipated William’s concern for his crown.”

“Aye. Not all are content with his ruthless domination of England, and well he knows it.”

She sensed from Malcolm’s somber mood there was more. “What else?”

“He required a hostage to seal my bond.”

“Who?”

“Duncan.”

She gasped. “But you have only just gotten him back and he is but a youth!”

“Aye, mo cridhe, but he is my heir and the Norman Bastard sees only that. If I know William, he thinks to make a Norman of my son. You must set your prayers against it.”

“You and I were both raised in England, My Lord, you away from your beloved Scots and I away from Hungary where I was born. Yet here we are, both in Scotland, committed to her cause. Surely Duncan can spend the rest of his youth in England and return a Scot to lead his people.”

“Remember, mo cridhe, it was pious Edward’s England where you and I spent our youth, I in Cumbria and you in Wessex. The Norman king is not Edward. He is treacherous and will try and deprive me of my eldest son by making him like one of them. I can only warn Duncan of what William no doubt intends and hope the lad’s heart is not turned.”

She took Malcolm’s hand and kissed the back of it, covered in scars from his many battles. A warrior but with a father’s tender heart. “You did what was right, My Lord. This may be a hard ending, but is it not better than war?”

“Aye, that is what I tell myself, though my sword cried to be unsheathed the whole time I listened to the pompous Frenchman spout his demands.”

“When is Duncan to go?”

“Tomorrow. I will take him to the narrow place in the River Forth where the Normans will cross on their way south.”

“My prayers will go with you and Duncan.”

* * *

A solemn cloud hung over the hall the next morning as Steinar broke his fast with the king and his men. The court ate in silence, all knowing the king would soon leave for the place where Duncan was to be handed over to the Normans. Duncan ate only at the urging of his father.

“You must keep up your strength, my son.”

To Steinar, the youth appeared near tears, but he blinked them back and reached for a piece of bread. It was a dark day for Duncan who was saying goodbye to his Orkney half-brothers as well as his father.

This time, Colbán would lead the guard and Steinar would join them. Duff insisted on riding the short distance to stand with his friend, the king, in his difficult hour and Malcolm had allowed it.

The ride was slow, due to the pace set by Malcolm in respect for Duff’s still healing wound, but Steinar believed it was also because of the reluctance of the king to be about the task at all.

When they reached the bank of the Forth where William waited with his army stretched out behind him, Malcolm dismounted, pulled Duncan from his horse and walked to one side with the youth, away from the Normans but not so far that Steinar, Colbán and Duff could not hear.