Malachi had to conceal a smile as the man sat there. All of the farmers had been surly and taken it personally that he wished to discuss their farms. They had also taken it personally when his men or himself had mentioned that they might have problems. Many of them hadn't come right out and said it, but they had implied the problem was interference by higher authorities, in other words, King Edmund. "With all due respect, Mr. Cameron, I am not here to tell you how to run your farm. I am merely here to get to know you and your farm and the people in this area. I would like us all to get along and to trust each other and to work well together so that the entire kingdom can prosper." Cameron snorted, a clear sign he did not believe a word Malachi had just said. Malachi sighed. "I know that you all are finding it a wee bit hard to trust me or to believe anything that I say. You all naturally associate King Malachi with King Edmund, but I assure you I would like my people to feel that they can speak their mind to me openly, that things can be discussed. Aye, I am King, and ultimately I will make the decisions, but I do care about the input my people have in the prosperity of our kingdom and believe me when I say Edmund and I are completely different people. The two of us cannot be any more different than we are."
David cut him off rudely. "I'll believe that when you keep your hands to yourself and not on our daughters."
Malachi raised an eyebrow. Well, that's progress. At least one of them is coming out and saying why they are afraid of me. Maybe now I can move forward, Malachi thought to himself. Then he smiled and replied, "I have no interest in innocent young lassies, nor do I have interest in an unwilling companion. You will find my men do not either. My men are interested in finding wives, and I, myself, am interested in having a wife. I do not want a closet full of mistresses. One woman will suffice, and I appreciate you pointing out that concern aloud. Please tell your friends if y'all have any concerns, bring them to me. I'm willing to hear, Nay! I am eager to hear them."
David looked at him with surprise. After a long minute he said, "Is it true you brought in your own farmers to take over our farms, to run us off our lands?"
"Absolutely not! My men have their own farms. I sent for the men I consider to be farming experts to advise me on the situation, that is all. All they are here to do is advise me, and perhaps offer a few words of advice to others, no more. I assure you I do not want you off your lands. I want you to prosper on your lands. I want your children, especially your daughters, to feel that they can grow up, marry, and have a family and not worry about some asshole coming along and ruining it all. That's all I want for my people. That all I want for myself." Cameron shifted uncomfortably in his chair. It looked as though he wanted to say something, but was still a little bit unsure. Malachi said gently, "Please, if something else is troubling you? Tell me, I cannot help if I do not know."
"When I was waiting in that room with all them tables, a lass came in, very pale. Is that Anderson's lass? She were taken seven year ago?" David was surprised the young man immediately looked grim.
Malachi sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I would ask that you not say anything to Anderson or anyone about this, because I don't know if that's his lass or not. She was King Edmund's concubine and he treated her very badly. For seven years, she has been a complete mute. It's only been since Edmund's death that she has said a few words, but she refuses to give her name. Everyone around here merely calls her 'slave'. What do you know of the details of Anderson's daughter's disappearance?"
"Weren't much to tell. Anderson came home, found his lad dead on the floor, throat cut, lass gone. Horses and a carriage had been outside." The older man shrugged his shoulders. "Don't recall the lassie's name, something funny like Fry me, came from some book. Anderson, he's a learned man; but that's Anderson's lass, know her right off. When you meet him, you'll understand. Spent his whole life working in the sun."
It was Malachi's turn to shift uncomfortably in his chair, then he cleared his throat and said, "Is there anything else you wish to discuss? If not, I would not wish to make you late for lunch. The women here are very good cooks, you will enjoy your meal immensely."
David looked a little sad, slowly shook his head, and got to his feet. "I might be wrong, but I think you and I will get along quite nice. Good day to you, Your Majesty."
Malachi sat in silence for some time. He had known that the slave's family was out there somewhere. He had hoped to find them without her help, now he didn't know what to do about it. She was so terrified at any mention of her family. He wondered if they too had mistreated her, or was she just too ashamed to go home? He sighed and rang a bell. He did not wish to eat in the Dining Hall. He wanted to eat alone in his office. He was still sitting alone shortly after lunch when there was a knock at the door. He sighed and murmured to himself, "Here we go again." Then he called louder, "Enter."
Duff entered, escorting a man in his mid-thirties. "King Malachi, permit me to introduce Miles McTavish."
Malachi got to his feet and extended his hand. "It's very nice to meet you Mr. McTavish, please be seated." Malachi seated himself as he waved Duff out, then he smiled to himself as he thought, Aye indeed, I am very pleased to meet you, Miles. I hope you're fond of Roberta. Aloud he said, "I'm sure my representative informed you that this is just a casual wee meet and greet. I'm wanting to better understand the farmers in this region of my kingdom, so if you don't mind, why don't you tell me a wee bit about yourself, your family, and your farm."
"If that is what you wish, Your Majesty. My farm is actually the nearest farm to your castle. Like all the farms in the area, we've been having a wee bit of a problem with our crops; but also like all the farms in the area, if we were left to our own devices, we wouldn't be having any problems. Most of the farmers around here are seven, eight, nine generation farmers. We know our business, and we don't need to be told how to do it." Miles realized he had spoken more heatedly than he should have. He suddenly looked concerned as he looked up at his new King, but to his surprise, King Malachi was nodding his head.
Malachi remarked casually, "You're not the first man to tell me that. Granted, you are the most heated, but apparently you must have something against me. Is it something we can get past, or are you going to join the list of people who it's better if we're just not social?"
Miles tried not to roll his eyes. He didn't succeed. "Your Majesty, you're a King and I am a farmer, don't pretend as though we'll ever socialize."
Malachi sighed and leaned back in his chair as he called, "Duff, would you please come here for a moment."
Duff reentered. "Aye, Your Majesty?"
"Who did I have breakfast with this morning?"
Duff looked momentarily puzzled and said uncertainly, "This morning you were at table with Young Alec, Alec, Benjamin, myself, I think Broderick came in at some point in time and sat with us, but I don't remember, somebody else had left. I don't remember." Duff shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, if there was someone I was supposed to remember. I don't remember there being anyone strange at table."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Duff, you proved my point. I have breakfast and lunch every day with my men. I sit at whatever available seat. I am not Edmund." Malachi spoke more heated than he intended. He was getting tired of reassuring everyone, including his lover, that he was not an evil bastard. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then said calmly, "I hope that reassures you."
"You know, King Malachi, I don't know anything about you. How long have you been King of … How long have you been King?"
"If I wanted to be specific, I could say that I've been King for more than twenty-five years, but as we both know, I wasn't the one calling the shots. General Septis Mackall, my late father's cousin and my mother's second husband, ruled until I was seventeen years of age. At that time I took the throne, so officially I'm about to celebrate my tenth anniversary." Malachi hesitated a moment then asked, "What about your family, wife, children?"
Miles hesitated a long moment. "My parents have both
passed away. I was an only child and I never married."
Malachi hesitated a long moment, then he decided to go all in. "One area you will find that I am especially not like Edmund, I do not believe that it is acceptable behavior for men not to take responsibility for their … actions. Or perhaps a better way to put it is, if you wish to carry on an immoral relationship with a woman, as long as you are both consenting adults, I feel it is wrong; but we are all human and make mistakes. If you're going to carry on with a married woman, then I believe you had better be prepared to accept the consequences for your actions. If you are a married man carrying on with an innocent lass or a married woman, it doesn't really matter which; but once again, you better be prepared to pay the price for your sins because some irate husband or father is going to beat the shit out of you, or even kill you. And you're not gonna get any sympathy from me." The corner of Malachi's lips turned up just a little as he watched Miles squirm uncomfortably. "But I believe if you liked her well enough to be having a sexual relationship and you get her pregnant, you better be prepared to marry her, or at least support the child if you're already married; but since you're not married, that really doesn't apply does it?"
Miles stared at the King for a long moment, digesting what he said. Then he said slowly, "You want me to marry Queen Roberta?"
"That would be correct …" Malachi shot a warning glance at Duff before he said, "After all, it is your child, is it not?" Miles nodded his head slowly. "You do realize that I'm not actually ordering you to do it. I merely feel that you did like her well enough to assist her with her problem. Do you like her well enough to help her now?"
"You know what happened?"
Malachi's face darkened. "I know what Edmund did. I know what prompted Roberta's desperate actions, and I would like to think that you would never have involved yourself with a married woman had the situation not been so desperate."
"I will not lie to you by saying I wasn't already very much in love with Roberta. We'd been riding together for months; but I would never voice my thoughts and feelings aloud. I knew what Edmund was. Everybody knew what he was. Everyone has heard the stories. Those of us who lived close enough to drink in the same tavern as his men; we've heard them boast, heard them talk. We knew how cruel he could be." Miles took several deep breaths, then he said, "I love her. I would be honored to take her as my wife, and of course raise Edmund's child as my own, so that you would never have any fear of it rebelling against you, of course."
"Of course … and I think we understand each other perfectly. And as much as I would like that woman out from underneath my roof, unfortunately I'm afraid we will have to delay your wedding until after my brother's. I think Roberta would be devastated not to be here when Princess Abigail marries. So perhaps a couple of days after my brother's wedding, a nice, quiet service here."
Miles asked with curiosity, "Why do you have a problem with Roberta?"
Malachi laughed. "I do not have a problem with Queen Roberta. Queen Roberta has a problem with me."
"Why does Queen Roberta have a problem with you, Your Majesty, if I may ask?"
"Queen Roberta is having a hard time accepting that I am not King Edmund. My brother is marrying Princess Abigail in two weeks. How about two and half weeks for your quiet wedding?" Malachi said, deliberately changing the subject.
"Two and a half weeks will suit me just fine, Your Majesty." Miles hesitated a moment, then asked, "Would you permit me to see Queen Roberta?"
Malachi considered for a moment then said, "I see no problem with you meeting alone with Queen Roberta in the Council Chamber as long as you remember that she is not yet your wife. I will insist upon you preserving her reputation." Malachi started to dismiss him, then a thought struck him. "And one more thing. Upon her marriage to you, Queen Roberta will from that day on be referred to as Mrs. McTavish, is that understood?" Malachi hadn't been sure how Miles was going to take it, but to his surprise he smiled broadly.
"That, Your Majesty, will suit me just fine."
"Duff, would you be so kind as to escort him to the Council Chambers and send for Queen Roberta?"
"As my King commands." Duff bowed and led the way.
Chapter 26
Malachi was exhausted. It was past ten o'clock and he had seen three more farmers. Most of the conversations had gone the same way; they neither wanted, needed, nor required his assistance. They just needed to be left the hell alone, which according to his farming advisors, was probably really all they needed. Which made him glad he didn't have to listen to any more farmers. Once he was done meeting them all, he sighed as he walked down the corridor to his room. He was so exhausted, he opened the door slowly. The door was only about a quarter of the way open when something attracted his notice, he wasn't sure what. He went on alert. All the hair on his neck was standing up. He opened the door just a bit more. This permitted him to see the trunk at the foot of his bed. Lying across it was a very familiar shawl, and not a pleasant one to see. He grimaced inwardly, cleared his throat in the same manner his brother always did, and altered his voice slightly, something he'd not done in a long time. He hoped he could still sound exactly like Broderick and said, "Malachi, are you in here?"
A moment later, Wendy replied in a soft seductive voice, "I believe your brother is working late."
Still making himself sound like Broderick, Malachi made that little noise his brother always did when he was uncomfortable and said, "Apologies." He closed the door abruptly. He turned and strode angrily in the direction of his father's quarters. Arriving at his father's door, he yanked it open without knocking. His father was sitting in a chair reading, his feet stretched out in front of him on a stool. He sat up at Malachi's entrance. Malachi spoke before his father could. "There's something in my bed. Have it removed and then have guards posted at my quarters and my office, and while you're at it, have my assistant change the sheets." Not waiting for a reply, Malachi turned and started to walk away when he added, "I will be in my office. Have someone inform me when it has been dealt with." Malachi slammed the door behind him.
Septis blinked at the now closed door. He hesitated a moment. Whatever it was, he wasn't sure he wanted to deal with it alone. If Malachi didn't want to face it, he decided he definitely needed someone else. If he rang for a servant, they would come up the back stairs and the back stairs was the fastest way to Alec's quarters. He jerked the bell pull, pulled on his boots and headed for Alec's quarters. He was halfway there when he saw the hurrying servant. He halted her. "Are you coming in response to my ring?" The young woman nodded. "Good, would you be so kind as to find the slave and inform her that I wish to see her at the end of the corridor from the King's quarters; but tell her not go near the King's quarters until I come for her." The lass' eyes widened and she nodded, then turned and headed back the way she came.
Alec had heard the commotion in the hallway and had gotten up and opened the door. "Something amiss?" he demanded.
"Aye, and I don't know what it is, but you better come with me. I am not going by myself."
Alec nodded, returned to his room, and was back a moment later. "It's not like you to want backup."
"It's not like Malachi to tell me to deal with something."
Alec stopped walking and turned to stare at him as he said, "What?"
"I know, it startled me too, but Malachi just burst into my room, said there was something in his bed and told me to deal with it." Alec made a face and looked worried. "I know, me too."
The two men arrived at Malachi's door. Both being unsure of what they were going to find, indicated the door to the other. After a moment's silence, Alec held out a fist and the two men shook their fists up and down three times. Septis held out scissors; Alec held out paper.
Alec made a face and mouthed, 'Dammit,' opened the door and entered. His eyes immediately went to the bed. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he knew it wasn't the redheaded woman he saw lying completely naked in Malachi's bed. He knew she was completely naked bec
ause though she was sort of under the covers, they were more about her waist allowing him to see her bare breasts. She screeched and yanked the covers up. Alec started laughing and gestured for Septis to enter. He did so, then looked appalled. Alec said coldly, "It's a wee bit late to be shy now, lass. I suggest you get up, get dressed, and get the hell out of the King's bedchamber now."
Wendy spoke in a condescending tone. "Not that it is any of your business, but I am awaiting my lover, so why don't you go somewhere else?"
General Mackall replied, "My son sent his Fathers to remove you from his bed. Now you can either get up and get dressed and get out, or I will pick you up in exactly what you are wearing and carry you from the room, and I really don't care who sees you naked and who doesn't; so the choice is yours, lass."
"That is impossible! The only person who knows I'm in here is the King's brother!"
Alec and Septis exchanged amused glances. Both Broderick and Malachi were quite good at sounding like the other. They were forever getting each other in trouble for failing to do something they had been told to do; though in reality it was the other brother who had been given the order and failed to do it. Septis decided not to give Malachi away and said, "I am sure upon finding you in his brother's bed, Broderick went straight to Malachi and informed him, then Malachi came directly to me and ordered me to get you out of his bed. Now you have until I count to five to begin to dress, or I will drag your arse out of that bed. Do I make myself clear, lass?"
Second Age of Darkness Page 19