“Aye, I ken it cannot be easy for you Brodie, but trust me, brother. All will be well.”
“How the hell do you ken Dalziel? Nothing will ever be well again.”
***
The Wedding March
The musicians played a slow tune as a hush came over the Chapel.
Brodie was oblivious. He just stared straight ahead at the Chapel windows and blocked everything else out of his mind.
Brodie could hear people milling about and still he refused to look anywhere but straight ahead. Eventually he heard people taking their seats and the rustling of material and slight footsteps.
He had no intention of greeting his bride. She could rot in hell for all he cared. He kept a scowl on his face and refused to turn.
Brodie could see from the side of his eye the shape of a woman in a heavy veil slowly making her way down the aisle, but he did not bother to pay any attention. No doubt she was concealing her baby bump with all that frippery. He just clenched his jaw.
Brodie turned to look at Dalziel, who just shrugged his shoulders. He looked to his right side and saw the King and Queen with Beiste, Amelia and the bairns, Jonet, Sorcha and Morag. He also noticed golden hair and wondered what the hell Torstein was doing there. Then he saw Jarl Thorfinn and Ajani and Kato. What he did not see was a single member of the Murray clan.
Just who the hell was he marrying?
He whirled back to the front and noticed his bride had just reached the altar beside him.
“Good Lord, you smell like a brewery Brodie Fletcher! What the hell have you been drinking?”
Brodie froze. He knew that voice. He had dreamed of that voice a thousand times.
He turned to look at her for the first time and without warning he ripped off her veil and stopped breathing.
“Orla?”
She scowled at him. “Brodie Fletcher, it took me an age to get my hair done and now you’ve gone and ruin—”
Before she could finish Brodie pulled her into his arms, and his lips came crashing down on hers.
“Och, stop that now, no groping in a Church!” Thorfinn growled.
Brodie kept touching Orla’s face and her hair, her arms. “But how?”
He suddenly felt weak, as if he were going to fall. He stopped for a moment and looked around.
Brodie looked at Abbot Hendry, Beiste and Amelia, the three of them looked shocked. Jonet and Sorcha had their mouths wide open.
Brodie looked at Dalziel and noticed the man was not the least bit surprised. Then Brodie saw red.
He drew back his arm and punched Dalziel right in the face. “What the devil did you do?” He roared as he leapt on Dalziel to pummel him some more.
“This is the house of God, there will be no violence in here!” Abbot Hendry was shouting and trying to gain control.
Dalziel dodged the blows as best he could until Beiste and Torstein restrained Brodie.
“You son of a bitch!” He yelled at Dalziel.
“Aye, I deserved that brother,”—Dalziel rubbed his sore jaw— “I’m sorry, but I’ll explain later. You need to get married before everyone changes their mind.”
“You’ll keep.” Brodie glared at Dalziel before turning back to Orla and asking, “Why?”
Orla said, “Twas out of my hands, Brodie—”
“I dinnae care, tell me later.” He pulled her into his side and ordered the Abbott to, “Get on with it!”
At the end of the ceremony and as the certificate of marriage would attest, Brodie Fletcher was officially married to Zala Thorfinnsdottir.
***
There was a small wedding feast afterwards, but Brodie was not having a bar of it. He grabbed Orla’s hand and stormed past everyone.
“Brodie, where are you going?” Amelia yelled.
He turned to the room, “I am going to bed my new wife Zala and make sure tis legal! Do what you like.”
He could hear the sounds of chuckles and guffaws, and he did not care.
Brodie marched his bride up the stairs.
When they reached his room (which he was glad someone had cleaned in his absence) he slammed the door shut, put Orla on her feet and just stared at her.
His heart was full to overflowing, his cock was hard as iron, and he looked like a wild animal starved of affection for far too long.
Orla stared at her lover, her nipples hard, her core wet with anticipation and breathing heavily.
Then, as fast at lighting, they attacked one another in with frantic need.
Brodie tore the clothes from her body, grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her hard as Orla pulled off his plaid and tore his shirt open. They sucked, bit, and licked wherever they found exposed skin. Orla wrapped her arms about his neck to deepen the kiss.
Orla moaned when Brodie lifted her up so she could straddle his hips.
“Wrap your legs around me. I’m going to take you standing.” He growled.
“Aye.” Orla moaned as she ground her core against his length and bit his neck.
Brodie pushed her back against the wall and suckled her nipples.
“I cannot hold out much longer love,” he said.
“Shut up and do it I’m tired of wait—"
Before Orla could finish her line, Brodie jerked his hips and thrust his full length inside her. She threw her head back and moaned. She had forgotten how large he was.
Brodie groaned at how tight his wife felt. He placed his forehead against hers, then pounded her against the wall with deep thrusts.
The sensation was so overwhelming Orla screamed as she met his deep thrusts in return, biting and licking, gripping his shoulders and hanging on.
Brodie took her with such force the wall shook as he moved inside her.
After what felt like an eternity, he hit her pleasure spot and she came instantly. Her channel spasmed so hard around Brodie’s cock it triggered his climax. He groaned and jerked several times inside her before he flooded her with the warmth of his seed. Her inner walls shuddered as she gasped.
Orla felt euphoric, sated and complete. She finally understood firsthand how such an activity could be accomplished against the wall.
Brodie kissed her softly. “I’ve missed you, Zala Fletcher.”
“I’ve missed you too, my love.”
***
Sometime later while they were dressing so they could join the wedding festivities, Brodie said, “Tis glad I am I dinnae have to wed a woman with a bairn already inside of her.”
Orla took a deep breath and said, “Well husband, there may be a slight problem with that.”
“What do you mean?”
Orla grabbed Brodie’s hand and placed it on her belly.
“You jest?” Brodie said in awe.
She shook her head. “You’re going to be a da Brodie.”
Brodie’s face split into a wide grin and before she could say anything else, he picked her up and planted another searing kiss on her lips.
Then he stilled.
“What’s wrong, Brodie?”
“Did I hurt you or the bairn, just now, against the wall, was I too rough?”
“Tis fine husband, we are fine.”
Brodie started pacing again and running his hand through his hair. “Tis not fine Zala. Tis dangerous. From now on there is to be no coupling between us.”
“Excuse me?” Orla raised a brow. She also noticed how Brodie only called her Zala now, and she liked it.
“Aye, you heard me, you saucy vixen, I cannot be gentle where you are concerned so you will need to not attack me.”
“Attack you?”
“Aye, you need to stop this obsession you have with my body. Tis not safe for our bairn.”
“My obsession? You’re the one who keeps tearing all my good clothes!”
“Tis precisely my point. From now on your will wear many layers of clothing to bed so we cannot couple in haste.”
“Mark my words husband, there is no way I am going to not ride your glorious manhood every chance I
get, so be warned.”
Orla opened the door and was about to storm down the stairs when Brodie picked her up and carried her. She had no choice but to put her arms around his neck as he walked them downstairs.
“What are you doing?” Orla asked.
“You are not to walk or run or even skip downstairs. You could fall and hurt yourself.”
“Brodie Fletcher, you cannot stop me from walking!”
“I can and I will. Come to think of it, you are not allowed to ride a horse or go outdoors either.”
“Then how will I move around the Keep?”
“I will carry you wherever you need to go,” he said in all seriousness.
“No, you willna carry me about like a bairn!”
“We’ll see,” he said in a smug voice.
“Brodie Fletcher you are the most irritating man I have ever met.” Orla huffed.
Brodie chuckled, gads how he had missed his wife and now the sexy minx was back.
Not only had his lover and soul mate returned to him. They also had a babe on the way.
***
Plans Revealed
The next day, Dalziel explained to the MacGregors and Brodie why they had to fake Orla’s death. It was because the bounty Moddan set on her head was too high. Men would keep coming after Orla unless the Jarl formally recognized her as his daughter and under his protection.
Thorfinn could not formally recognize his illegitimate children until he wed Ingibiorg. Magnus placed that condition on Thorfinn to ensure he kept his agreement to exile Ingibiorg’s uncle Kalf at Orkney.
Naturally, it took some time to convince Ingibiorg to marry in haste. In the meantime, they needed an interim plan.
“Twas Moddan, who gave me the idea. He told me men would keep coming after Orla unless she was dead. So, I made the arrangements. Only Macbeth, Thorfinn and Ajani kenned the plan,” Dalziel said.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Beiste asked. “The anguish we went through was terrible.”
“It had to look real. Only raw emotion and open grieving would ensure the word spread. Even Orla was not aware of what I had planned. I slipped her a drug which slows her breathing down but does not kill. I needed as many public witnesses to her death as possible.”
“Is she safe now?” Amelia asked.
“Aye, the plan was only to buy us enough time until Thorfinn could enact his part. Rognvald is oblivious to the truth.”
“So, what happens now?” Beiste asked.
“There is one more thing left to do.”
“What’s that?” Brodie asked.
“You need to go to Orkney.”
***
Chapter 19 – The Reckoning
Brusi’s Island, Shetland
Rognvald Brusisson received two missives. He opened the first one and saw it contained Moddan’s handwriting. It was dated to the previous month. He settled in and smiled the more he read until he was virtually dancing around his chambers. It was the news he had waited to hear. Orla was dead. Thorfinn never knew of her existence and was returning to his seat as Mormaer of Caithness, where he would share the rule of Orkneys.
The second missive was from Thorfinn, notifying Rognvald he was returning home and invited Rognvald to a celebratory feast in Kirkwall.
***
Kirkwall, Orkney Isles
Rognvald walked with a spring in his step as he ascended the steps to the Jarl’s stronghold. The long absent Thorfinn ‘the Mighty’ had finally returned to settle in Orkney and rumor was he was in a festive mood. Thorfinn was known to hold large celebratory feasts lasting several days.
Rognvald breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had dodged a fire arrow and congratulated himself on tying up loose ends before the Jarl arrived.
He thought it strange Moddan had yet to return from Dunsinane, but it was possible the man had other matters to attend to.
Rognvald hoped that now the air was clear between them, he and Thorfinn could begin a new peaceful era between the Earls of Orkney. Now that it was just Thorfinn and Rognvald left of the Sigurdsson line, he had hoped Thorfinn would look upon him as a son and not just a nephew.
They ushered him to the High table of the Great Hall, which was brimming with people. Thorfinn greeted him.
“Come nephew, tis wonderful to see you again.” Thorfinn hugged him then directed him to his seat.
“Welcome home uncle, I trust your raiding was successful.”
“Aye, it wis. But now, I have a mind to settle doon. Allow me to introduce my new wife, Ingibiorg.” Thorfinn ushered a beautiful woman forward, and she was genteel with blue eyes and golden locks. She was also softly spoken.
Rognvald made the polite greetings, then resumed his seat. He was surprised first that Thorfinn was married but also how Thorfinn’s face softened when he gazed at his wife.
Rognvald watched Thorfinn fuss over Ingibiorg. He even pulled her chair closer to his and held her hand.
They served a light repast as they spoke for some time bout matters regarding the Isles.
Rognvald noticed several empty seats at the High table. He wondered who the other guests were when the doors to the Hall opened.
A hush fell over the crowd as all conversation and music ceased.
Rognvald turned to see a tall man with light brown skin and strange robes walking into the Hall. Behind walked an older man with darker skin and similar robes. On either side of his garments hung a scabbard and curved sword.
There was something familiar about the younger man. The way he strode into the room and his striking brown eyes. Rognvald knew those eyes well. He turned to look at Thorfinn and saw a replica pair staring back at him.
His heartbeat faster. As he tried to piece together what he suspected but could not accept as feasible.
Thorfinn stood and spoke in a booming voice, “Allow me to introduce my… first born, son, Kato Thorfinnsson of the Royal House of Habesha and his guardsman Master Ajani Nuru.”
Murmurings started from the crowd as people stared, mesmerized by the strange turn of events.
“Tis fortunate for you, he doesn’t want our territory, he has his own Kingdom many miles away,” Thorfinn quietly said to Rognvald.
Prince Kato took his place at the High table, but Ajani preferred to stand guard along the wall.
“But how…?”
“Moddan may have killed my beloved Izara, but he underestimated one thing, a mother’s protective instincts for her children.”
Kato said, “She saved her babies and gave her life for them.”
Rognvald was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
The crowd hushed and Rognvald looked beyond Thorfinn to see another woman emerge from the side chamber.
He gasped, “No it cannot be?”
Thorfinn once again addressed the crowd. “May I present Kato’s twin sister, Zala Thorfinnsdottir… she is under my protection.”
“Fletcher, her last name is Fletcher.” Brodie grumbled quietly as he followed behind Orla, now formally referred to as Zala.
Thorfinn just rolled his eyes.
An attendant brought forth Thorfinn’s golden spear. Thorfinn held it, then addressed the Hall.
“Heed my words!” He roared. “Anyone who harms my offspring will die by my hand and I will paint the soil red with the blood of their descendants!”—Thorfinn did a war cry and hurled his golden spear across the Hall so it lodged in the main door—“Spread my words far and wide lest my golden spear comes for you in the night!”
After his words, the crowd got to their feet a roaring chant erupted as they banged their feet on the wooden floorboards and pounded their cups on the tables.
It satisfied Thorfinn that by nightfall tomorrow, his message would have spread across most of Alba and the Isles.
When he sat back down, the musicians resumed playing as platters of decadent food and jugs of ale flowed freely. The festivities had well and truly begun.
Hagan, Runa, Torstein and his men were also present at the feast. Thorfin
n gifted them with land and riches to thank them for protecting his twins. To Torstein he gifted a snekkja warship of his own.
Thorfinn also arranged a large sum of coins gifted to Beiste and to Morag to thank the Clan for sheltering his daughter. Thorfinn forbid Norse raiders from Orkney and Shetland to raid MacGregor land.
As for his son, Kato, and Master Ajani, Thorfinn had already decided he would transport them back to the Port of Zeila himself. There was much Thorfinn wanted to learn about alternative trade routes and continents, he also had restitution to pay to an Abyssinian queen.
Rognvald could not stop perspiring. It was the most uncomfortable feast he had ever attended. But he knew his days were numbered and that King Magnus his once closest ally had abandoned him. He knew this because in all the missives he had received from Magnus, the King never mentioned that Orla was at Macbeth’s castle with Thorfinn.
Late into the night, when people were well into their cups, Thorfinn approached Rognvald. “Moddan is dead, and so are all your followers. Enjoy your seat in Shetland for now. But ken this, nephew, by the time my new wife gives me a son, your reign will be over.”
Rognvald paled in his seat. Thorfinn just tapped him twice on the shoulder and walked away.
***
Ring of Brodgar, Stenness, Orkney Isles
It was a cool autumn day the sun was shining its glorious rays upon a breathtaking landscape.
Zala and Brodie walked in silence, hand in hand among the stone circle just enjoying the peaceful surrounds and each other.
Zala felt a deep connection to the Orkneys. It was in her blood.
They had spent two weeks enjoying the scenery and the coastal air and were travelling home the following day.
In the time they had spent in Orkney she knew Ingibiorg better and liked the woman. Thorfinn had warmed to Brodie, and he had taken him on short sailing trips to the outer isles. Thorfinn even had a square head axe with an Orkney crest made especially for Brodie. Brodie begrudgingly admitted that Thorfinn was an outstanding fighter despite being an ‘old decrepit man’.
Zala also spent a great deal of time with her twin brother Kato and Master Ajani. They had given her a ‘shotel’ sword of her own, which she carried everywhere in a specially made leather scabbard. It had been forged in an ancient place called Eritrea, and Orla carried it with pride. She still could not believe they were Abyssinian royalty and had much to learn about the new worlds he opened up to her.
Handfasted to the Bear: Reformed Rogues Book 2 Page 16