“There is talk stirring of Norse who may not fully appreciate being here,” I informed Alexander one evening as I sat with him, Declan, and Gustav in a small cottage provided to the king. I had hoped to speak to him and Declan alone, but it would have looked odd given Gustav's esteemed position with the king if he weren't present, so I had no choice but to share news that likely pleased him greatly.
“Where are these traitors?” The king frowned from where he stood in front of the fire, rubbing his hands together to warm them. His eyes flashed with anger. “We will deal with them straight away.”
“Not here,” I assured. “’Twas spoken about by Scotsmen passing through heading north mere days ago. Men who claimed they had heard rumors of these traitors and were warning others to be wary of their Norse neighbors.”
Which was the last thing I wanted to hear, given my efforts to assure Scots their fellow Norse were peaceable.
“Did they say where they were going?” Alexander asked. “Or from what village these Norse traitors hailed?”
“They could not say,” I divulged, sipping my whisky. “Only that they were Scots rallying on your behalf.”
“Were they warriors?” Declan frowned. “Or merchantmen?”
“’Tis said they appeared merchantmen,” I replied, equally unsettled. “They carried no weapons that they could see.” Shaking my head, I looked at the king, certain I had gained his trust in such matters. “Rest assured, you have no enemies in this village or any of those behind us.”
“Unless these traitorous Norsemen were heading south, and arrived there after we left,” Gustav pointed out with disgust, taking a swig of whisky. “In that case, who knows how much Norse dissent lies in our wake.”
“None,” I cut back firmly, frowning at him, frustrated by the seeds of uncertainty he tried to plant in King Alexander’s mind every chance he got. “Those behind us will not be swayed away from the love of Scotland and its king.”
“I believe her,” Declan said, supporting me as always. He looked at the king with reassurance. “As should you, my liege.”
“And I do,” Alexander said without hesitation, speaking to not just the trust I had gained with him but to our growing friendship. Or so it had seemed when we spent long hours alone, talking so he might better understand my people and culture. That told me he did, in fact, want peace for all, as long as his country was his own in the end, and I well understood it.
“With that trust,” the king went on, “comes an even greater importance that no harm befalls you, Astrid.” He looked from Declan to Gustav. “That said, I would have you both guarding her with your lives as we continue to the next village.” His attention returned to me. “’Tis more than clear you can fight, lass, but ‘twould comfort me knowing you are even more protected, as you have become a boon to me indeed, and I will see no harm come to you.”
Though I sensed Declan’s tension matched my own at Alexander’s request, we had no choice but to comply. Notsurprisingly, Gustav agreed without pause, too. Despite how much the way he occasionally looked at me since battling unsettled me, he had done nothing untoward, so it made sense the king might ask this of him.
Especially if he were eyeing Gustav as my potential husband.
“Of course, my liege,” Gustav assured. Even though he offered me a warm enough smile, I still saw the predatory gleam in his gaze when he looked my way. “’Twould be an honor to look after someone so determined to protect our homeland.”
“Verra good,” Alexander said, making clear we would set out first thing in the morning. “Declan, I need to speak to Gustav alone so see Astrid back to the family with whom she lodges, then seek out Gustav in the morn so you two might protect her together as we continue north.”
“Aye, my king,” he said. “As you wish.”
With business settled, we left soon afterward into a cold night that smelled of potential snow, remaining silent until we were alone, only for Declan to end up revealing something that chilled me to the bone.
Chapter Sixteen
-DECLAN-
The last thing I wanted to hear from Stewart was the news he had shared with me that morning, after spending an evening in the tavern. News that I had no choice but to share with Astrid after the king requested that both Gustav and I watch over her from now on, due to rumors of unrest among the Norse communities.
“’Twas said by one of the king’s men in a drunken state that when he'd been imbibing with Gustav, the MacGreggor laird boasted you would soon be his,” I divulged as we made our way toward the cottage in which she currently resided. Few torches still burned, and most of the village had gone to sleep, leaving us alone in the stillness of the evening. “He claimed the king just bided his time for now so that you might see to your duties.”
“A lot of foolishness can be spoken when one is in their cups,” she reminded softly, no doubt praying as much as I that those were not King Alexander’s intentions.
“Aye,” I agreed, yet my worry about where all this would lead only grew, and I knew it did for Astrid, too, whether she would admit it or not. She might claim she had developed a friendship with the king, and I believed it, yet still.
Gustav was proving more difficult to predict the more I was around him.
Since the night he’d sat with us by the fire, he hadn't sought us out again nor made any advances toward Astrid. Nevertheless, despite seeming amiable enough to us both, I distrusted his thoughts when it came to her, convinced he wanted to both slake his lust and, at the same time, cut her down the first chance he got.
“Whether or not ‘tis true Gustav and the king have been having private discussions about me,” she said, “I’m certain I will have a say in the end, Declan.” She nodded firmly. “That I have earned that at the very least.”
“’Tis impossible to know what you could truly earn in all this, lass,” I warned softly, lest her eyes not remain wide open. “You must remain verra vigilant if not wary.”
“To what end?” she said just as softly as we headed into an especially dark woodland area. “If ‘tis true, what choice will I have but to comply? We all knew the risk in this so—”
