Page 3 of Bride Takes a Laird (Highland Vows & Vengeance #2)
M agnus was miserable and discontented. The trek to Edinburgh was hampered by spring rains that dampened his tartan. By the time he reached the gates to Edinburgh Castle, he was soddened through and somewhat cross. The weight of his vow to avenge his brother and the gloomy dismal rain dampened his spirit and temperment. He was in no mood to attend to whatever duty the king required of him, entertain his sovereign, or participate in the revelry that would keep him from his sacred duty.
He’d only brought Winston, his attendant, with him. With the death of his brother, he thought it best to leave his soldiers home protecting his fief and clan. Until he learned the truth behind the treachery, he would be cautious. Now he rode up a small rise, which took him between two tall stone turrets and through a gatehouse. At the gate’s entrance, Magnus dismounted, removed his satchel, and waited for Winston to take the reins of his horse.
“I will await you in the stables, Laird. If ye need me, just have someone fetch me.”
He nodded to his attendant and said to the guard by the castle’s entrance, “The king has called for me. Magnus, Laird Cameron.”
At once, he was led inside. His boots muddied the entrance of the castle as he followed the escort. He was met by the king’s chamberlain, a burly man who was overzealous in his greeting and demeanor. “ I am Edmund, the king’s manservant. Welcome, Laird Cameron, we are excited to have you here. The king will be pleased that you have finally arrived. He is expecting you. Follow me and I will take you to Alexander.” Edmund led him through the hallways to the king’s private chamber and knocked at the door. “His Grace should be within.”
Someone inside the chamber called “entrance” and the chamberlain opened the door, waving him forward. Magnus noticed the page who stood alone beside a great chair near a table, but the king was not in evidence.
“I will find Alexander and let him know you are here. Take rest from your travel.” Edmund twitched a finger at the page who scurried forth and poured him a cup of ale.
Magnus took the drink from the page and settled into a chair facing the plush seat by the table. He suspected that was where the king sat and no others partook of its comfort or the authority it imparted. The king’s chamber was otherwise sparsely furnished, except for some chairs and tables situated around the small area. A window with a view to the courtyard took up one wall and the others had tapestries hanging from the ceiling.
Edmund left hastily and Magnus leaned back in wait for the king.
Many moments passed and he enjoyed the solitude of the chamber which left him to his thoughts—the many that pressed him. He was able to shake off the cross attitude he’d picked up on the way to meet with Alexander and wasn’t filled with such angst.
A door creaked and his eyes shot to a wall panel where the king made his entrance. Magnus rose, bowed, and stood awaiting the king’s greeting. “Sire…”
Alexander crossed the chamber with a quick stride. He waved off the page who awaited his command and poured himself a cup of ale. The king appeared weary and rubbed his hands over the red hairs of his beard and then flapped his hands at the page. “Be gone. ”
The page left with a bang of the door.
Silence overtook the chamber as Magnus surveyed the king’s mood. Alexander ignored him as he set his cup to his mouth and drank deeply before finally setting the cup on the table. Then he thumped down in the overstuffed chair across from him. Magnus’s curiosity was piqued but he wasn’t about to question his overlord before being given leave to do so. He had to remain patient and wait for Alexander to tell him what he wanted from him—a feat to be sure, since he wanted to find out what was so dire he needed to arrive so quickly, and hopefully then, he could be on his way.
The king waved a hand at him. “Cameron, I am pleased you came hastily. Sit down.” He considered Magnus thoughtfully. “I heard about the passing of your brother. You have our sympathies, mine and Margaret’s.”
By now word of his brother’s death had probably reached the border of Scotland. Magnus bowed his head to his sovereign and retook his seat. “My thanks, Sire.”
“I expect you are needed at home, but this could not wait. I have asked you here this day because…” Alexander appeared to hesitate. “I mean to unite the lands of Scotland’s Low and Highlands. ’Tis time to put our beloved Scotland to the test and take the lands held by Norway. I mean to see our borders extended to the very north and west, with your aid.”
Magnus remained silent as he listened to the king’s rambling.
“The first step in my plan is to unite northern and southern clans. I want you to take a wife from the border region. With Scotland united, the overtaking of Haakon’s lands will come easier. With the arms of our brethren, we will face Haakon’s fleet of men easily and extend our borders.”
He tried not to scowl at what Alexander had just told and asked of him. His king wanted him to marry. Magnus hadn’t considered such a request but before he could reject the king’s offer, Alexander cleared his throat and leaned forward.
He continued in a softer tone, “I confess, there are benefits to your marriage. For one thing, you will reap the tithe on your land for one full year and I will forgo your land’s tax. Additionally, you will find yourself married to one of our most bonny lassies. With that, I will give you the ability to choose your bride. All you must do is defeat by way of hand-to-hand combat the other grooms.”
As Alexander continued to ramble, Magnus’s frown furrowed his brow even further and he felt the pull of it between his eyes. The shock of his king’s request nearly forced his mouth to hang open, but he held firm.
“Other grooms?” he asked with a little animosity in his tone.
“Aye, I have asked the same of Lairds MacKendrick, Buchanan, and Mackintosh. With these marriages, I hope not only to unite the clans but also to bring about peace in the northern region. I’m aware of your discord with the Chattans.”
Magnus grunted. “Aye, still they pester us with minor scuffles.”
“This is your opportunity to win over the Mackintoshes to your side. That they sit betwixt your lands, the Mackintoshes have made a complaint that they have suffered from the affray betwixt your clans. I mean to see an end to your discord.”
“Ye know, Sire, that Clan Cameron supports ye and supported your father as well. The Chattans give ye no loyalty. I expect our strife to rise and there might be a possible war betwixt us. Och , I will not allow the Chattans to take a single trace of my land.” He hadn’t meant to put such vehemence in his tone, but that couldn’t be helped.
Alexander nodded. “I have heard of the discord. If you need my support when the time comes, you have only to ask. The Chattans have made it known they do not support me and I have yet to deal with them. Rest assured, they will be dealt with.”
“I trust not the Mackintoshes because they’re aligned with the Chattans. ”
“Aye, still, the matter will be put aside for now,” Alexander said.
He studied the king’s manner and although Alexander was a young king, he still had two years before he’d reach an age where he could fully take the crown. Presently, he ruled the kingdom with the aid of advisors and a large council. Magnus wanted to stress the urgency of dealing with the Chattans, but it would come off sounding more like a plea and he wasn’t about to beg the king for aid. His soldiers were capable of handling the Chattans for now.
Magnus sighed deeply and had no words to rebuff what the king told and asked of him. He wanted to refute the marriage and all the trappings of giving his accord to his king, but he was in no position to do so. The king had his support regardless of what he’d asked of him.
He changed his expression to one of acceptance and jested with Alexander. “Who are these brides? Are they worth accepting or are they hags who ye seek to be rid of?”
Alexander slapped his knee and bellowed a laugh. “You see, I told my chancellor that of the four of you lairds, you, Magnus, were the most agreeable. The brides are from the Forrester, Graham, d’Avranches, and Scott families. They are the most winsome women within the land and rival the queen’s beauty, if such a thing is possible.”
Now the king jested. Though Queen Margaret was somewhat bonny in her body shape, she was dull in her appearance. Definitely not the fairest lass in the land, at least, not in Magnus’s opinion, but he wasn’t about to say so. “When will these marriages take place?” Magnus hoped he had time to return home so he might find his brother’s murderer and perhaps return when he had more time to deal with the king’s request.
“Within the sennight. You will stay here in the castle and a few days hence, we will have a gathering. There will be a feast where you shall meet the lasses and perhaps get to know them before you must choose one of them. The following day, the battles will commence and the brides chosen. The marriages will take place immediately because I am soon to take my leave of Edinburgh.”
“Ah, the reason for the haste. Ye are leaving Edinburgh, Sire?”
“Aye, for I must. I promised my wife that I would take her to England to see her family. She wishes to have our bairn there.”
Magnus grunted at that. The king didn’t seem pleased at having to visit England. Hell, no one from Scotland wanted to step foot on English soil, let alone visit for a time. He had heard of the king’s disagreements with Henry, the King of England, Margaret’s father, had simmered but there seemed to be peace amongst them. Magnus didn’t envy his sovereign’s inlaw but the king must have settled his troubles with Henry since he was taking his wife for a visit.
“ Slàinte , Sire, on the forthcoming birth of your bairn.”
Alexander nodded at his cheers to his news. “Aye, I need an heir and hopefully my wife will do her duty. Now that I have your accord, we should discuss the details further.”
Magnus was no fool; he could tell there was something the king wasn’t telling him. Alexander averted his gaze. “Your war with Norway… How do ye want our involvement?”
The king chuckled. “Well now, I will likely need foot soldiers, many, for Haakon, once he learns of my plan, will send his army to defend his lands. We will need many boots to keep those lands from him. I deem Haakon doesn’t deserve to keep his lands for he is more interested in religious matters than that of his countrymen who are left to their own, way up in the north.”
Magnus heard Haakon had left the mainland and absconded back to Norway. He hadn’t returned and yet his fleet of ships continued to control the northern coastal routes. Magnus hadn’t given his allegiance to Haakon but supported the Scots in recent years. If his king needed his arms, he wouldn’t deny him.
“Aye, I will give you additional men for your cause, but there’s no need for a marriage. ’Tis the truth, Sire, I have no time to attend to a wife and only recently became the laird of my clan. I thought to marry someday, but presently, I am more concerned for my clan’s safety and finding out who murdered my brother.”
Alexander stared hard at him. “I understand you have much on your young shoulders, yet who does not? We all have duties but still maintain relations with our wives. Appease me, Cameron, for I want my clans united and the only way to do that is through marriage. You will wed one of the chosen lassies and I shall hear no rebuke. I will have your agreement now.” The king’s tone rose slightly and it was hard to argue with his authority.
Magnus gripped his knees, grimacing deeply at having to concede. “I can do naught but agree then. Of course, I graciously accept your offer, Sire.”
The king shot to his feet. “Good. Then there is much to celebrate. You will not be disappointed, Cameron, with your bride. I promise you that. I will have you taken to a chamber where you can rest from your travels.”
Magnus grunted. Until he sought vengeance for his brother’s death, he would not celebrate his marriage. The woman was nothing but a means to placate his king—nothing more.