Page 50 of Come the Morning

Long after the banqueting with the king’s family, knights, court, acrobats, and musicians in attendance, Waryk spoke with the king again in his chambers.

He’d slept, but remained tired. He’d kept his distance from Mellyora, yet he’d begun to dream about Blue Isle, being laird of Blue Isle. Tonight the king looked more fierce, like a Highland chieftain, for he wore a rough fur coat thrown around his shoulders against the cold and he paced his room with a purpose, drawing imaginary pictures on the floor with his fire poker.

“This property can only be maintained by my most staunch ally, Waryk,” David said, “for you see, here lies the island, and just across the water on the mainland lies the old Roman road connecting much of the Lowlands with the Highlands. The little bay is sheltered—the island creates a breakwater—offering excellent defensive positions against raiders and dockage for commerce ships. The castle on the island is impregnable; for the Romans, the legends say, it was their last bastion, the place they ran when they skirmished with Highlands tribes, but could fight no more. Troops under William the Conqueror seized it for a time, which was beneficial, since William’s architects and masons rebuilt the walls and strengthened the structure. Mellyora MacAdin’s maternal grandfather was the man who won the fortress back under my father’s rule, and I do not intend to lose it again. If this fortress falls into the wrong hands, my enemies could spill into the country behind me—you’ll note theproximity to my stronghold here.” He paused, looking at Waryk. “I’m sorry. You’ve fought for me a long time. I had not intended to put an enemy into your marital bed.”

Waryk looked at the king, started to speak, then hesitated. It seemed very strange. He could remember the night when he had first stood with a sword in his hand, while all around him, his kin and friends had lain dead. He’d expected nothing much from life except for the opportunity to avenge the deaths of so many. He had followed the king and become such a renowned warrior knight because he’d had a passion then to kill his enemies to purge the pain the night had brought. He’d known that one day the king would reward him, but he’d never imagined this. Sweeping lands, a fortress to defy the devil himself, cattle, sheep, artisans, masons, an entire feudal community. He was sorry about his bride as well, but for this great a prize …

Well, she could just rot in a tower, if that was what she so chose.

“We will come to an understanding,” Waryk said.

“The wedding will come in two weeks’ time now, for the night of the full moon. I want as many of my nobles and warriors—and even my enemies—present so that there is never any question about the legitimacy of the marriage.”

“Two weeks’ time,” Waryk mused dryly. The night of the next full moon. When the lady in question had sworn to meet another man as payment in her quest to be free from him. “It seems a long time with the lady not my wife, and yet in my keeping. What do I do with her until then?”

The king was angry and his tone was as harsh as his words. “Chain her, drug her, tie her down!” he swore impatiently. “As I told you before, do with her what you will. Before the wedding, though, see to it that she is properly dressed and groomed, by her woman and ladies of the court. We will follow every tradition.”

Waryk arched an amused brow. “Chain, drug her, cast her in a dungeon. Ah, sire! Would that be appropriate behavior for a bridal groom?”

“When she leaves your chambers for her own, I’ll see that the windows are barred, no scaffolding is near, and that guards line the corridors.” The king poured wine, bringing a chalice to Waryk. “To your future, sir. May God give you strength.”

“You, sire, have given me power. May God help me wield it well.” Again, he hesitated. “David, your ward is capable of being very stubborn.”

“Of that I’m well aware. But I am stubborn as well. I’ll drag her down the aisle to the altar.”

“She may still refuse to wed.”

“If she chooses to be that stubborn,” David said, eyes narrowing, “she will suffer for it, as I told you before. If I’m forced, I will seize her lands and bestow them upon you. I will not lose land my father claimed back from William the Conqueror. I will not let it happen. Rather Mellyora should live out her days in a stone chamber in a deep, dark dungeon. And though I would be sorry, I do mean that.”

David spoke with a gravity that was chilling, though Waryk could not believe that so just a king would deal so cruelly with a young woman.

“We might have difficulty there, sire. I’m certain the people of her homeland must be very fond of her. Her mother’s family are the ancient rulers. Adin proved himself a just and mighty lord. To dishonor the rightful issue of those two—”

“It will mean insurrection, and it will mean that people will die, and that you will live a hell for years to come. But I will not let that property fall prey to any man who is not my loyal champion. Not with the English unrest, and certainly not when a Viking threat remains so close. You’ve seen why.”

Waryk stared at David, and the king lifted his powerful arms in an expression of aggravation. “I wish the lady no harm, Waryk. But I am the king, and by God, she will honor me!”

“Aye, David. As you say.”

“You may tell her where she stands in this.”

Waryk decided that he must do so.

The truth of her situation might be the strongest weapon he could wield against her.

At the archway, Mellyora stood with her uncle, shaking, excited, afraid. She hadn’t thought that he was coming, she hadn’t believed that hecouldcome. She had given up almost all hope of help.

She had spent so many hours alone! Waiting, terrified, defiant. She dreaded Waryk returning; then she grew angry that he did not. The hour came when she knew that all the fortress would have assembled for the evening banquet, and she knew that he would be there, while she remained a prisoner.

Then Daro had come. And his urgency had sent her into a burst of speed. Now, she waited with him, because they were not escaping alone, Anne was escaping with them. Theirs was a daring and bold plan, with no help available to them should they make any mistakes. They were on their own; she had to move with the greatest secrecy.

With each passing second, she grew more anxious. She was greatly relieved that they hadn’t killed Angus.

She was terrified that they would be discovered, and that swords would be drawn.

And blood would be spilled.

“Why is she taking so long?” she whispered to her uncle, referring to Anne.