Beloved Ruins, Book 1

by Marti Talbott

  Kester looked at Balric suspiciously, looked away, and then looked at him again, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned her attention back to the king. No one else dared speak either, she noticed. She had seen kings before, but not this one. This one she rather liked and hoped to meet before he left.

  At length, the king turned his attention to Dalldon. “What are you doing here?”

  “I have come for Seona, naturally. Command Michael to give her to me, for he says...”

  The king lifted his hand. “First, there is a matter to settle between you and I. Where is Osgar?”

  While Dalldon began to shake his head, Michael pointed toward the edge of the forest and spoke up. “There, Your Majesty.”

  Osgar was done for, and he knew it. He thought to run, thought to fight the guard behind him, and even thought to cry like a baby, but he contained himself and walked boldly forward until he was close enough to kneel before the king.

  Still seated on his horse, the king told him to rise and then ignored Osgar for the moment.

  “Where is Seona?” he asked Michael. The king followed Michael’s gaze and when he spotted her, he shouted. “Come down, Seona.” She did not obey and instead defiantly folded her arms, so he tried again, “Come down, or I shall have you thrown down!”

  She supposed he was enraged enough to truly do it, turned, and started down the stairs. A moment later, she timidly walked into the courtyard and stopped. When the king motioned for her to keep coming, she reluctantly did as he wished, although she expertly stayed out of her father’s reach. She imagined Dalldon was looking at her with murder in his eyes, so she avoided looking at him. She was, however, thrilled to see Osgar. Osgar did not look pleased to see her. She brushed her hair back once more and looked to see why the king was being so quiet.

  Not finished gathering those involved, the king searched the faces of the Dalldon warriors until he found who he was looking for. “Barra, come.”

  Barra, the guard who was supposed to spend Osgar’s money keeping Tam alive was astonished that the king even knew his name. He was certain no good would come of what the king had to say, but he walked through the Dalldon warriors until he found his way to the king. He had already knelt once, but he was so nervous, he quickly knelt again just to make sure. When he looked up, the king was no longer watching him and had instead turned his attention to Laird Dalldon.

  “Dalldon,” the king loudly asked, “Where is your son?”

  With pretend, yet impressive sadness, Dalldon answered, “Passed, Your Majesty.” He failed to notice his daughter’s indifference to the news.

  “By your hand?”

  “Of course not,” Dalldon huffed.

  “Barra,” he asked, not taking his eyes off of Dalldon, “how did Tam die?”

  Barra was a dead man – the look on Dalldon’s face told him so. On the other hand, Osgar might have told the king where Tam was, so in the end, Barra decided to tell the truth. His hands were still trembling when he answered, “He died in his father’s dungeon.”

  “I see,” said the king still watching Dalldon. “Tis not the only lie you have told. Did you not tell me you paid your taxes while King David yet lived? Balric could find no such payment.”

  “I swear...” Dalldon tried.

  “SILENCE!” the king shouted. He watched as Dalldon began to cower and then continued. “Balric also found such small payments for the two years prior, as to be a discomfort to us all. Know you not of King David’s good accountin’?”

  At last, Dalldon dropped his eyes. “I...”

  “Apparently not,” said the king. “Therefore, to compensate Scotland for taxes owed, you are commanded to forfeit your castle, your lands, and all that you own.”

  “What?” Dalldon asked. His eyes were huge, his mouth dropped and his knees began to grow weak.

  Perhaps Dalldon was slow to understand what was happening, but a smile soon crossed Osgar’s lips. Tam was dead, Seona was a simpleton, and Dalldon was now stripped of his holding. No wonder the king wanted Osgar brought to him – he was the next in line and about to become wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Fearing the king would notice his delight, Osgar quickly collected himself.

  “Furthermore,” the king told Dalldon, “for the murder of your son, I banish you. Let your face never again be seen in Scotland.” That said, the king nodded to two of his men.

  Both drew their swords, rode forward and called for Dalldon’s horse, but Dalldon was not about to go peacefully. “Kill him!” Dalldon screamed as he ran toward his men. Not a one of them moved, for they were the same men he had belittled and cheated out of their fair wages. Defeated, the proud and arrogant Dalldon began to sob. “Osgar, save me!” He screamed. He got no reply and soon, two of his own men lifted him up, forced him to mount his horse and let the King’s men take Dalldon out of the glen.

  As soon as her father was gone, Seona breathed a huge sigh of relief. Osgar, she noticed, had come closer to her. She forgave him for his foul expression before, smiled, gladly took his arm, and was standing next to him when the king remembered her.

  “Seona Dalldon,” he asked in a loud enough voice for all to here, “who is the father of your unborn child?” She instantly saw the beauty in his question and smiled. “Osgar Allardice, Your Majesty.”

  “What?” Osgar asked. “You lie, Seona.”

  “I do not lie,” she returned. “I am three months gone. Who else could it be?”

  “Stop your squabblin’,” the king demanded. He looked behind him once more, found what he was looking for, and motioned for the priest to come forward. “Osgar Allardice, I command you to marry her.”

  “Marry...” Osgar began to protest, but was that not Osgar’s intention all long? The next in line to inherit and married to the only other member of the family surely sealed his glorious fate. He glanced at Seona and turned to the king. “I shall do right by her.”

  The king finally dismounted and went to stand next to the priest. “Indeed you shall.”

  There was more than one happy face in the MacGreagor glen when the priest began the wedding. Murran and Owen were particularly pleased, and the rest could not wait to have Seona out of their lives forever. All the warriors relaxed, all but two of the king’s men dismounted, and the members of the other clans waited to see what would happen next. The only ones disappointed were Laird Kennedy and Laird MacKintosh, for with Dalldon banished there clearly would be no reward to collect. Even so, they had set aside their disgust for each other, at least temporarily.

  When the priest got to Osgar’s part of the wedding, Osgar quickly and happily said, “I do.” Seona was beyond thrilled and said “I do,” even before the Priest asked. It was done then. With Seona as his wife, he was certain to inherit all of Dalldon’s holdings, so he proudly lifted his head and waited for the happy news.

  He was mistaken.

  Before the priest could instruct them to kiss, the king cleared his throat. “Osgar Allardice, for disobeying me in this matter, I banish you - and your wife with you. Show not your faces in Scotland ever again.” Once more, he nodded to the two guards still mounted on their horses.

  Osgar was beside himself with astonishment. This was not at all what he expected. Banished? Never to return to Scotland? But all his hidden wealth...his holdings...his fair lasses... Overcome, Osgar slowly let his head fall forward. Before he could gather his wits and think of a good enough argument, he was on his horse. Michael lifted Seona up and put her in Osgar’s lap. Still the newly banished man could think of nothing to say. Words had always been at his immediate disposal, but his mind was suddenly void of all intelligent thought.

  That is, until the king’s men had escorted them all the way to the far end of the glen.

  “I do love you,” Seona said as she stroked the arm he had around her.

  Osgar rolled his eyes. “I assure you, you shall not love me for very long.” Just before they went out of sight, he heard the MacGreagors begin to cheer.

  She was
gone, and Dalldon was no longer their laird, but his men knew not what to do. When the king realized it, he told Barra to take them home and await word from him. Barra nodded, quickly mounted his horse, and led the Dalldons away. Before the king could question or admonish them, Laird Kennedy led his men out of the glen and the MacKintosh soon followed.

  No one was more relieved than Michael when the glen was finally cleared of Dalldons. He remembered to breathe, playfully slapped Ferguson on the back, and then turned to the king. “Will you not come in?”

  At last the king smiled. “I shall, if you tell me how Dalldon and all his men got so dirty.”

  Swinton grinned. “Catapults.”

  “Brilliant,” said the king. “I shall remember that. Ferguson, where is that bonnie wife of yours?”

  “Here, Your Majesty,” Meghan said coming to stand beside him. “My husband thinks you fancy me.”

  The king leaned a little closer, “He is right.” When Meghan laughed, so did he. “And Elena? Where is she?” he asked as they walked into the inner courtyard. He abruptly stopped. “MacGreagor, why have you not planted flowers here? The dirt begs for color and so do I.”

  Walking behind the king, Michael studied his inner courtyard. “I had not thought of that.”

  “See to it,” the king commanded.

  Michael smiled.

  IN THE MACGREAGOR GREAT Hall the king sat at the head of the table and Kester sat next to him with Birdie at her feet. She was so enamored with Robert II of Scotland, she had yet to say a word. Conversely, sitting across the table, Elena and Meghan had plenty to say to him. The three lairds remained standing, and no one mentioned what had just happened to the Dalldons, until Balric came in.

  “Your brother,” the king told Elena as he watched Balric find a seat at the table next to his sister, “nearly killed himself coming to fetch me this morning. I was not yet dressed and as it was, I scarcely could believe what he was telling. When I dinna grasp it, do you know what he said?”

  “What?” Elena asked.

  “He said I frustrate him beyond measure.”

  Elena grinned at Balric. “He says the same of me too, but just now I am frustrated beyond measure with him. He might have said he was going to get you.”

  “I was not certain the king would come,” Balric explained.

  The king took a sip of the good wine and set his goblet down. “When he said there was to be a clan war, I feared our design has not worked.”

  “On the contrary, it has worked too well,” said Balric.

  The king nodded. “Well, there was always a chance of that.”

  Ferguson looked to see if Michael was as confused as he, and then asked, “Precisely what design, Your Majesty?”

  The king stood up, unfastened his silk robe, took it off, and then laid it over the back of his chair. “‘Tis true,” he said returning to his seat. “When the Marquis asked for Seona, I thought it the perfect match. “Twas Balric who said if the marriage took place, Seona was such, that France might well turn against the Scots.”

  “You knew her before?” Elena asked her brother. “You said nothing of it to me.”

  “Or me,” said Michael.

  Balric addressed his sister first. “I knew of her. Osgar tells all when he has more wine than he can handle. I could not tell you, Michael, for it would have ruined our plan.”

  Meghan gave the king a suspicious look. “Do tell, did you arrange Seona’s escape?”

  The king chuckled. “For the right sum, Osgar will do anythin’.”

  “You told him to bring her here?” Michael asked.

  “Not at first. At first, he was merely to hide her. It was not until Dalldon offered a reward, that I sent word for Osgar to bring her here. I knew of the edict and knew you’d not let her father have her back,” the king answered.

  “Even I was not certain I would protect her,” Michael confessed.

  “If you had decided against it, Balric would have told you the truth,” the king said. “Dalldon would not have killed her, but he would have threatened to unless she married the Marquis.”

  “Let me guess,” said Ferguson. “You sent Balric here too?”

  The king grinned. “My friend and confidant knows many skills, and when Michael sent for an English master, it fit our circumstances perfectly.”

  “If Osgar did as you asked, why did you banish him?” Swinton asked.

  “I might not have, save for after Balric told me of the arrangement you made with Osgar. I must say I hope you know Osgar would never have delivered the ransom, and it would not be the first time he has neglected to pay a debt. He is, after all, Dalldon’s nephew.”

  Everyone in the room, save Balric was surprised to hear that.

  “Well now,” said the king as he glanced at all the eyes watching him. “I do hope I have not convinced you of my devious nature.”

  “All kings have a devious nature,” Kester mumbled before she caught herself. Thankfully, when she looked the king was grinning.

  “Aye, they do and they must, if they are to stay a king for very long.” He abruptly stood up and reached for his robe. “I must be off now. The Kingdom does not get on well without me.”

  Everyone quickly rose and watched as he went to the door. The king stopped and turned back. “How goes Lindsey’s bridge.”

  Holding the door open, Rory cleared his throat. “Michael, do you not recall? I know not how to build a bridge.”

  “Fear not,” said the king. “Balric shall instruct you, if he cares to stay.”

  Soon, all eyes were on Balric. “I should like stayin’ very much.” As soon as the king left, he hurried to follow him out. “I shall bring Beitris to meet you someday soon, providin’ she will have me.”

  The further away he got, the more the king’s voice faded. “Beitris? I say, do you...”

  Pleased her brother was going to take a wife, Elena could not help but smile at Michael, but Michael still had not looked her way. When he left to see the king off, the rest of them followed. Soon, everyone wished their new king well and watched as he, his guards, and the priest left the glen.

  “I best be goin’ too,” said Swinton. “Come see me about that shop,” he told Michael as he signaled for his men to bring his horse. He thanked Mistress Ferguson for her headache remedy, mounted and then he and his men went home.

  Everything was quickly going back to normal in the peaceful glen. When it was time for the evening milking, the maids headed off down the path, the warriors put away their weapons and put on their work clothes, the chickens pecked at morsels on the ground, and the dog still had not caught the cat.

  “My love,” said Ferguson as he put his arm around his wife, “Shall we not see about our clan?”

  “Aye, I miss them terribly.”

  “Make ready, wife. Tonight we sleep in our own bed.”

  Excited, Meghan took Elena’s hand and hurried back inside the castle.

  BEFORE BALRIC REALIZED it, Beitris was standing beside him. “I would have gone with you if you had said you were off to see the king,”

  “There is time yet for you to see the king.”

  “Is there?”

  He seemed to stand a little taller when he answered, “I intend to take you there in a day or two.” Just then, he noticed Kester in the middle of a group gossiping. “What do you suppose they shall have to talk of now that Seona is gone?”

  “I can hardly believe she is truly gone. Tomorrow, I shall take great pleasure in cleanin’ her filthy bedchamber. A good scrubbin’ will do...”

  “Beitris, you miss the point.”

  “What point?”

  “I was talkin’ of givin’ the clan somethin’ more to talk about. If we walk together in the glen, will that do it?”

  She timidly looked in his eyes. “Aye, and ever more so, if you take my hand.”

  His excited grin matched hers as he held out his hand. She took it and together they headed across the outer courtyard, down the road and into the glen.
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br />   ELENA WAS HOPEFUL WHEN she went to find Michael. Laird Ferguson had come upstairs to help his wife gather their things, so she decided it was a good time to explain. The first place she looked was atop the outer wall, but he was not there. He was not in the Great Hall or in the dining room either. Neither was he among his people in the village. He was, of course, in the last place she looked, which was at the end of the path that once led to Lindsey’s cottage.

  “Michael,” she said as she approached.

  Seated on a large rock near the edge of the river, he quickly got to his feet. “Aye.”

  “I have come to beg your forgiveness. I was...” Elena stopped when he raised his hand.

  His eyes were unkind and what he said was a statement, not a question, “You believed her.”

  His words stung her very soul. All she could do was bow her head.

  “I cannae take you to wife when all trust is gone.”

  Her nod was slow in coming and tears began to well up in the rims of her eyes.

  “Perhaps you are better served with the Fergusons,” he continued.

  He had spoken the words she feared most, and there was nothing more to say, so she nodded, turned, and walked back up the path.

  An hour later as the Fergusons prepared to leave, Laird Ferguson helped Elena mount her horse, and then Michael kissed Brenna’s cheek and set her in her mother’s lap.

  “Forgive me, Michael,” Elena whispered.

  He nodded, but it was clear he had not changed his mind. He moved out of the way so Kester could hand the kitten to Brenna. As soon as Ferguson mounted, Michael lifted Samuel and gave him to Michael’s new, and now cherished Ferguson friend. “If ever you are in need...”

  “You must come see us often,” Ferguson said. “My wife demands it.”

  “Aye,” Michael promised, but both men knew it might be a while. He stood back, and watched as the Fergusons walked their horses down the road. When Mistress Ferguson turned to wave, Michael waved back. Elena did not look back, and it was just as well. By the time he started to the castle, half the clan was watching him.