Page 25 of Summer Warrior

His mouth twitched up at one end. “One does not exclude the other. And, even when I am not with them, my men monitor the isles to discourage pirates.”

The king drew his attention with his words. “My trip to Irvine has brought many here who might not call upon me at my castles in Carlisle and Roxburgh. At Irvine, those who travel by ship can sail nearly to my door.”

“’Tis true,” said Somerled. “We who travel the sea lanes are more comfortable on water than land.”

“Tell me of this ship the Earl of Orkney has allowed you to keep.”

“That ship was one fairly claimed as spoils, Your Grace. Rognvald’s man, Sweyn, attacked the people of Islay and I defended them.”

“Ah, said the king. I have wondered, though Rognvald assures me he is no threat.”

Somerled was disinclined to believe the earl’s motives were pure but he would not slander the man to the King of Scots. “Let us hope that is true.”

David looked across Somerled to Ragnhild, now conversing with de Morville and his wife. “I noticed you have an interest in the Princess of Man. Many other men here do as well.”

“Aye, she is beautiful and intelligent and would make any man proud to have her by his side.”

The king acknowledged the truth of it and expressed his deep felt loss of his queen. “Her presence is missed every day.”

Encouraged by Somerled, David spoke in gracious manner of the years since his wife had died and his plans for Scotland, including the abbeys he had yet to build and how he had changed the administration of his country, patterned after all he had learned in his long sojourn in England.

Somerled thought here is a man who does not put on airs or act in arrogance, demanding his due, but, rather, a man content to be in service to his God and his people. Here was a man Somerled could like.

The music resumed as they partook of the varied dishes set before them. Venison stewed in red wine and spices and roast fowl stuffed with spiced bread were offered them along with vegetables simmered in herbs. Bread, butter and cheese were also placed on the high table.

Though Somerled was fervently aware that Ragnhild was barely inches from him, so close he could smell her rose perfume and feel the heat of her body, he managed to attend to his food. He had not eaten so well since dining with her father.

RAGNHILD’S HEART POUNDED in her chest as she had watched Lord Somerled stride into King David’s hall, unaware she stood among the gathered crowd. Her heart leaped within her to think he was here. Eyeing him pensively, she had noticed a new air of confidence about him in the way he held his head, only hinted at before. She wondered at the battles he had fought in the short time since she had last seen him yet there were no signs of wounds, none visible at least. He walked without hesitation or limp. Ragnhild chided herself for examining his person as might a concerned wife. She had never had such thoughts for another man.

Who was that lovely creature who had followed on his heels, gazing at him with adoration in her beautiful eyes? Even now, she kept watch on him from where she sat at one of the trestles. She could not be a wife as she was not by his side at the king’s table. Who then? A mistress? The possibility grieved Ragnhild.

She had come with her father to King David’s court several days ago, her father now considering King David’s invitation to stay longer. She enjoyed Irvine with its markets where there were goods aplenty. All manner of merchants had come to serve the king and his entourage. And there was hunting in the forests nearby, which she dearly loved.

While Fairhair was not with her, King David and his retinue had brought many horses to Irvine and the castle’s stables were available to his guests. Too, there were interesting women to converse with. She and de Morville’s wife, Beatrice, had become fast friends.

Now that Somerled was here, her spirits rose even higher.

Ragnhild gazed down the table to her right to Rognvald who had come the day before to pay homage to the king and assure him that Orkney had no designs on Scotland. Thankfully, he had left Sweyn behind.

Having reminded her father she did not favor the earl, she hoped Olaf and Affraic discussed no betrothal with him. But her father was ever the statesman, bargaining whatever he had to gain security for his kingdom. And Affraic would see Ragnhild gone if she could.

She stole a glance toward Somerled. He bent his head to speak to King David, one fair and one dark but seemingly of a like mind as they laughed easily together. Her heart had fluttered and her palms grew moist when he looked at her with admiration. One glance from Somerled’s piercing blue eyes could stop her heart.

Perhaps he had not forgotten her. For certes, she had not forgotten him.

THE KING SET DOWN his wine and glanced in Somerled’s direction. “How did you come to the position you now hold as leader of the Gaels?”

“I did not seek to be their chief or their king, if that is what you are asking, Your Grace. When the MacInnes Clan lost their chief to the Norse pirates, they came to me to lead them.”

“Ah. We have that in common, for never did I, the youngest son, believe I would wear Scotland’s crown.”

Somerled nodded, glad that David and he shared a similar beginning—both of royal linage but without expectations of rising to lead a kingdom. “The people of Argyll and the Isles were suffering under the Norse yoke,” he went on. “I accepted their request to help them throw it off.”

“For that, you have my gratitude,” said David. “I have been concerned about the continued attacks of the pirates on the Isles and Scotland’s coast but with little time to attend to it. Only recently did we send the Norse invaders fleeing from the Firth of Clyde’s Isles of Arran and Bute.”

“I, too, have worried over those isles,” Somerled said. “In the hands of the Norse, they would present a threat to the whole of southern Argyll, especially Kintyre.”

“For protecting Scotland’s western coast, I am inclined to grant you a boon,” said the king. “Is there something you would have of me?”