Warned in advance of King Philip’s nefarious intent, Rónán, along with a sizable portion of the Brotherhood, had loaded most of the Templar treasures aboard their ships and sailed from La Rochelle before the arrests began. Five galleys and their crews had headed to Scotland, led by the fierce warrior at his side. The remainder of the fleet had traveled to Portugal.
Though a year and a half had passed since the arrests had begun, heartache still filled Rónán at the loss of men who were like brothers. Nor could he forget the brutality endured by those still imprisoned in France.
“During my last meeting with King Robert,” Stephan said, drawing Rónán from his somber musings, “he mentioned that he is seeking supportfrom Ireland.”
“’Twould explain why Lord Sionn is here, but not the reason the Bruce would request my presence.”
“Perhaps the king seeks a trustedIrish adviser.”
Rónán shot his friend a skeptical look. “As I havena been in Ireland since my childhood,that I doubt.”
“But with your Irish roots, along with our king’s Templar ties, a motive that makes sense.”
Learning King Robert was of the Brotherhood over a year before had left Rónán stunned. Stephan’s reasoning could indeed explain why the monarch had asked him here, a rationale Rónán prayed was wrong. The very thought of returning to the land of his youth chilled him.
“If Lord Sionn has joined the Bruce’s cause,” Rónán said, shoving aside the dreaded possibility, “Lord Comyn and the Englishwill be irate.”
His friend grunted. “There is that.”
Paces ahead, torchlight illuminated a statue of Jesus, and another of the Virgin Mary.
“I regret to have missed Sir Cailin’s wedding,” Stephan said.
Rónán smiled at memories of his friend’s marital vows. “You would like Elspet. In addition to being beautiful, she is an intelligent and strong woman. A fine match for Cailin.”
Humor twinkled in his friend’s eyes. “Mayhap a union in which our king had a hand?”
“A thought I considered. Though Cailin protests that fact, he canna deny that King Robert sent him to meet with her father.” In brief, Rónán explained.
Sadness edged Stephan’s face as he passed below an arched, stained-glass window softly illuminated by the last rays of sunset. “I regret the lass had to endure such treachery from her liege lord and stepbrother. That justice has been served, and she and Cailin have found love, is whatis important.”
“Indeed.”
Eyes softening with humor, his friend arched a brow. “Mayhap ’tis why the king has called you here, not to have you meet the Earl of Sionn, but to announce the lass you are to wed.”
At his friend’s teasing, Rónán shook off the claw of dread sliding through him and forced himself to shrug. “With the Bruce preparing for his first parliament and nobles and clergy arriving in force, I far from think he has time to ponder the future of anunwed knight.”
“Mayhap.” Stephan waggled his brows. “But the earl has a beautiful daughter, one who accompanied himto St Andrews.”
Far from worried, a smile touched Rónán’s mouth. “A woman who I will never meet, nor will she play a part in my life.”
“Given the dangerous situation created by those seeking to dethrone King Robert, that her father allowed her to travel with him is surprising.” Stephan shot him a wry look. “Unless her presence here, like yours, was requestedby the Bruce.”
“I am without a title, a rank her station demands when she weds. Nor does this conversation hold any relevance. ’Twas only the Earl of Sionn who was mentioned in the Bruce’s writ.” He held up his hand as Stephan started to speak, missing their verbal spars over the years, appreciating that regardless whether his friend had reclaimed his father’s title, their strong bond of friendship hadn’t changed. “As for a reason she accompanied her father, I remember another stubborn lass who confronted our king in her efforts to accompany our force as we sailed to seize her home.”
Stephan turned a corner, the waning sheen of colored light sifting through the crafted glass window lending a demure cast over the corridor. “’Twas a differentcircumstance.”
“Indeed, but unlike you, I willna marry the lass, much less meet her,” Rónán said, amused at his friend’s attempt to make him worry about Lord Sionn’s daughter. “Speaking of beautiful women, when I first saw you in the stable, you mentioned that Lady Katherine is here. Nor have I congratulated you on the birth of your son.”
Pure joy swept Stephan’s face. “I thank you. Three years ago, I never could have imagined myself married with a child; now I canna imagine myself without them. And King Robert has agreed to be Colbán’s godfather.”
“Wonderful,” Rónán said, surprised by the tug of envy. Why? He’d never pondered thoughts of marrying, much less of having a family. That his friend had found both was a blessing, but not alife for him.
With Scotland far from united, the years ahead would be dedicated to fighting beneath King Robert’s standard. Though Rónán had somehow managed to retain a sense of humor and an appreciation for friendship, ‘twas a foil against the bitterness in his heart, one forged by his brutal youth, many battles fought, and of witnessing too many of his friends dying beneath a blade.
A familiar trickle of laughter sounded from an open door ahead, an elaborate crucifix centered above the entry.
“’Twould seem,” Stephan said, “that my wife has found somethingto amuse her.”
