Page 2 of Bride takes a Scot
But it mattered not to him because Declan was loyal to Scotland, and if his king needed additional men with swords, he certainly had the wherewithal to supply him with such. He would be free and if the king needed him to marry a woman from the southern region as well as the use of his army, he wouldn’t gainsay him.
“Do ye have a specific lady in mind, Sire?”
Alexander turned from the window and smiled at his acquiescence. Declan noted the widening of his lips behind his reddish, straggly beard. “You are not the only groom. There are four women who I mean to betroth.”
Declan grunted. “Do I get to choose from these lassies? Who are the other grooms?”
“Lairds Cameron, Buchanan, and MacKintosh.”
He shifted forward on his chair and scowled. His discord showed on his face because he couldn’t hide his outrage at hearing the names of the other clans involved in Alexander’s ploy. Though he wasn’t on good terms with those clans, neighbors whose lands butted his, they weren’t particularly rivals either. At least the king hadn’t included the Campbells, his most hated enemy of late. The Campbells had befriended many clans in the Highlands, but Declan was unaware of any alliance with the Camerons, Buchanans, or MacKintoshs.
“Before you balk at being in their company, MacKendrick, you should know that I have asked those lairds because they,like you, are unmarried. They also have fierce armies, which I will call upon when needed. King Haakon cares more about Norway’s piety than he does about keeping his lands. If he cares not for them, then those lands are there for the taking. I want to stretch my kingdom as far north and west as I can. With the Highland clans’ aid, I mean to do just that.”
His suspicions came to fruition because the king wanted something more from him than to unite his subjects. He wanted his army, but Alexander would need skilled soldiers if he intended to go against Haakon and his invincible fleets. Haakon’s fleets ruled the northern and westerly waterways which probably caused Alexander’s grief.
If Declan’s freedom wasn’t in jeopardy, he would have scoffed aloud at the man and told him to find another milksop to do his bidding. It was enough that he paid a handsome levy to the king for his vast lands, but now he wanted his soldiers to fight for his gain as well. Being far north, he and his brethren could easily give their fealty to Haakon, the king of Norway, or they could give it to Alexander. Declan gave his loyalty to Scotland’s sovereignty because he would rather serve a demanding king than an absent one.
“Your scowl tells me you’re in disagreement, but before you say nay, I would tell you that there are other important incentives to consider. You will wed a woman from the border, and shall offer your army when in need, and in return, I shall forgo the tithe on your lands for one year.”
The inducement of Alexander’s offer raised his brows because the king practically offered a fortune in the dispensation of tax for his acquiescence. Of course, he wasn’t about to turn Alexander down, regardless. Gaining his freedom and the opportunity to wreak vengeance on his enemy was enough to gain his favor. It mattered not who the king insisted he marry, nor that he wanted his army to fight for his causes. But theexemption of paying the tithe was of great interest. With more coins in his coffers, he’d be able to use them to secure his clan and enrich his farmers, something which greatly mattered to him. Clan MacKendrick’s future was looking brighter by the minute.
“There is one further benefit to your accord.”
He shifted back in the chair and focused on the king’s face. Alexander appeared sincere in his offer and so Declan decided to give him his full attention. “Aye, Sire, and that is?”
“I am aware of the rivalries in the north and that you often fight amongst yourselves. You are not on friendly terms with the Camerons, Buchanans, or MacKintoshs, I take it?”
“We are not on friendly terms, nay, but we are not warring at the moment.”
The king chuckled. “Aye? You’re all a bunch of misbehaved bairns—aye, like children—there in the north fighting amongst yourselves over a mile here and a mile there of land. Fortunately, you are all far enough away and I rarely have to contend with your squabbles.”
“We do appreciate a good fracas once in a while.” Declan almost smiled at the king’s banter.
“I have decided to hold a hand-to-hand battle without weapons. This shall settle the matter of the first choice of bride. I will select the matches. The winner of each match will choose his bride until all the lassies are selected.”
Declan wanted to bellow with laughter. The king wanted entertainment, and he used his ploy to bring him a show of their strength. Yet Declan was in no condition to fight anyone, though perhaps in three months or possibly more, he would regain enough vigor to be effective enough. He wasn’t about to lose to his fellow Highlanders, but he wouldn’t say so to his overlord.
“I understand you have been kept in the dungeon for months and are in no condition for such a melee,” Alexander said as if reading his thoughts. He returned to his chair but didn’t sit.
“Aye, without a trial,” Declan said with angst.
“I cannot speak to that, MacKendrick, because I only just found out that you were there. This matter must be settled at the soonest because I am leaving after the weddings and am taking my wife to see her family in England.”
“Ye are traveling to England, Sire?”
Alexander scowled as if he wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of visiting England. Declan suspected that had more to do with Alexander’s relatives, the King of England himself, Henry, Queen Margaret’s father.
“Aye, my wife wishes to have our bairn there amongst her family and I promised I would take her for a visit. Be warned, MacKendrick, always follow through on your promises to your wife. For if you do not, it will make for a hellish life, especially when your wife’s father is a damned king.”
Declan resisted chuckling at Alexander’s disgruntlement. He’d heard there had been discord between Alexander and his wife, which appeared to have been settled since he was taking her to England for a visit with her family.
“I shall remember that, Sire, and will follow your advice.”
Alexander leaned on the edge of his chair and nodded. “You’ll need a wee bit of time and so I will allow you a month to heal and to settle your clan matters. You will return here on the first of April, and we shall have the battle, the wedding, and your signed accord. You may bring family with you if you wish, for it is your wedding and a time for joyous celebration.” The king chuckled under his breath, albeit sarcastically.
His hanging was sounding better with each passing moment, but Declan wasn’t about to declare that to Alexander. “Ye havemy accord, Sire.” That wasn’t much time, but Declan would have to make do.
“Good…Good. Then I shall have you taken to a chamber where you can bathe, eat, and rest before your journey home on the morrow.”