“He will go nowhere,” Killian promised. “I mean only to speak with him. And if he tries to escape, you have permission to kill him.”
At that, the man acceded. He opened the gate and allowed Killian inside. “For a few moments, then.”
Inside the underground space, there was hardly any light at all. King Devlin was confined to the opposite wall. That was a torture in and of itself, being kept in constant darkness.
“Who are you?” the man croaked, clearing his throat.
“I am Killian—” He started to say MacDubh, but altered it, finishing with, “Ó Connor. The High King’s son.” The words felt strange upon his tongue, but more than that, the name was so very different.
“What do you want from me?” There was no fear in the man’s voice, only resignation.
“Your daughter, Taryn, is here.”
He waited for the man’s reaction, but there came only silence. It was as if Killian hadn’t spoken at all.
At last, the old man said, “She should not have come.”
“She pleaded with my father for your life. She claims you are innocent of treason.”
Again, the King said nothing, and Killian’s senses went on alert. Most fathers would react in some way if his daughter had come on such a journey. Instead, this man offered nothing at all. He was beginning to wonder if Maeve was right about Devlin. Was he truly the sort of man who could harm his own daughter?
Instinct told him to walk away and leave the man alone. But then, Devlin had been confined in this place for weeks. It mightbe that his lack of interest was weakness from imprisonment. “Your wife is here as well.”
The man’s silence suggested that he didn’t care that anyone had come for him. Or perhaps he believed that Killian was here to torture him or draw out information that could be used against his family.
Taryn had pleaded with him to save this man, while Maeve wanted him to die. Imbolc would begin on the morrow, and this was Devlin’s last day to live.
“Do you want to see them?” Killian asked. He waited for an answer, but Devlin only lowered his head.
“Nay, I’ve no wish for them to see me like this.”
He could understand that—especially if he believed their lives would be in danger. “Your daughter asked me to intervene on your behalf,” he told the King. “She begged me to set you free.” Killian hardened his tone and continued, “Why are you worth saving? Or shall I just let you die?”
“I have no intention of dying.” There was enough arrogance in the man’s voice to make him wonder what the King’s intentions were. “The High King is trying to use me as an example to other kings. If he executes me, he risks losing the support of his allies. And the Normans will not look upon him with favor.”
The man’s treason was clear enough. He had betrayed his kinsmen, and there was no remorse in his actions.
“Why did you ally with our enemies?” Killian asked.
“Rory will not keep his throne unless he forms an agreement with the Normans. His plan to raise an army against them will cause hundreds of men to die. If we negotiate with them, it will save many lives.”
“I suppose you already have an ‘agreement’ with them.” Now he was starting to gain a stronger understanding. If Devlin intended to overthrow the High King, it would give him a position of power among their enemies.
“The Irish will never come together as one kingdom,” Devlin said. “They raid against the other tribes, and there are so many kings, they squabble among themselves.” His voice grew quieter, and he added, “Rory is a weak High King. He will never hold his throne against the Normans. Strongbow knows it, and so do I.”
Richard de Clare, a Norman nicknamed Strongbow, had brought his own invasion only a few years ago. His men had remained within Éireann, and the Norman King Henry had visited Tara to establish his own dominion.
Killian probed further, wanting to know more about Devlin’s plans. “And what about Queen Maeve? Your wife intends to rule Ossoria without you.”
“Maeve knows nothing of how to rule,” Devlin said quietly. “Men do not listen to her.” He turned to face Killian at last. “I know you were sent to question me. But ask yourself this. What will happen when the Ard-Righ is stripped of his throne because he did not acknowledge the greater power of our enemies? If you do not carefully consider your loyalties, your head will be beside his. Think upon that. The Normans intend to seize land, while King Henry plans to claim Éireann. Unless he already has a man loyal to him who takes command as High King.”
Devlin made it sound as if an attack was imminent. And whether or not it was, there was no doubting that the man held no allegiance toward Rory Ó Connor. He was indeed a traitor.
“And what of your daughter? Were you intending to give her in marriage to one of the Normans?” He couldn’t keep the fury from his voice. Taryn did not deserve such a fate.
“I doubt she will ever be able to marry,” Devlin said. “If you have seen her, you know the reason why.”
Anger darkened within Killian. These were not the words of a proud father who loved his daughter. And yet...although Devlin could be lying, pretending as if he didn’t care for her at all, the dull tone in his voice suggested otherwise.
