“Bradana, are ye ill?”
“Nay. Just…” Clearly she had no words for what she felt.
“I will send the healer.”
“Nay. Do not. I wish only to be alone, save for Wen.”
And him? Did she want to be with him?
She had seen nothing of the settlement or this land he loved so well. No more than a glimpse of it on their way in.
Once he showed her all that lay here, she would settle. She would be happy.
“Aye,” he said again. “I will send someone with food and water for Wen. I must go and attend my father. Make my explanations.”
“Go.” She kissed him softly, and the glimmer of a smile lit her eyes. “Husband.”
He should not worry, he told himself as he stopped by the kitchens with his request, as he headed for the great hall after. Their love would hold them, wherever they might be.
Baen was still with his father when he reached the hall, which made him scowl. He did not want to do this in front of his oft-superior brother.
But aye, Baen had failed in the same task as he. What cause had his brother to find fault with him?
The two men had been speaking avidly, but broke off when Adair came in.
“Sit,” Gawen bade him. “Quench yourself. Baen has just been telling me he what he remembers of Mistress Bradana from his visit to Dalriada. He says she was betrothed then to a chief in the north.”
“A chief’s son, one Earrach.” Adair sat down and poured a mug of ale. “Dead now.” He drank deep. “I killed him.”
“What?” Gawen fair roared the word. He exchanged an incredulous look with Baen. “This was to be a goodwill mission. And ye come home wi’ blood on your hands?”
“And bringing your victim’s woman?” Baen added.
“’Tis a long story.”
“Ye had better tell it, then.”
Adair did, to the best of his ability. It made no favorable impression on either of his listeners. Before he finished, Baen got up and began pacing. His father just stared at him in angry disbelief.
“So,” Baen said when Adair reached an end, “ye ha’ destroyed relations wi’ Kendrick instead of bettering them.”
“And,” Gawen added heavily, “ruined any chance of our gaining our lands there.”
Adair sighed and shook his head. “Father, I am not certain ye want lands there in Alba. They would be of dubious worth and hard to hold.”Strange land. Magical land. Wild with beauty.
“That is not for ye to decide, Adair. Those lands are owed me in good faith. They were to be my legacy to Daerg. I have to say, I expected better of ye.”
A spark of anger joined the frustration and worry already in Adair’s heart. Despite his weariness, he got to his feet.
“Why? Why should ye think I would succeed where my brothers both failed? Ye never expected much o’ me before.”
Gawen too sprang up from his big chair. “I never required much o’ ye. A lad wi’ two fine older brothers need not trouble his head over much, and I let ye run as ye pleased. Mayhap I did not ask enough o’ ye. And the very first time I do?” Gawen seemed to choke on his own words. “Ye come home wi’ someone else’s woman. And trouble behind ye!”
“Bradana is no one else’s woman, save mine.” Of all things, Adair was sure of that. “If we are not welcome here, we will leave.”
“And go where?” Baen challenged. “Have ye not burned your boat behind ye?”
Indignation joined Adair’s other careening emotions. “That is not fair—”
