The Price of Freedom by Carol Umberger Page A

felt his breath stir her hair. She detected the fragrance of mint and a musky, masculine scent that, coupled with his chest touching her shoulder, she found disconcerting. She forced her thoughts back to the singer and his tale.
    â€œScotland’s current troubles began over the love of a woman,” Sir Bryan spoke softly. “For hundreds of years, royal descendants of Ceann-Mor ruled our fair land. Gawen is now listing each of those kings. Shall I repeat them for you?”
    She shook her head, content to listen to Gawen’s strong, clear voice as he counted the great, and not so great, past kings of Scotland.
    â€œCome, Bryan,” Adam said. “’Tis my turn to regale the lady.” Adam picked up the story. “All through these times, England and Scotland were good neighbors and friends. Tonight we hear the tale of Alexander III, well beloved king, whose wife bore him two sons and a daughter. None, alas, who outlived their sire. Upon his first wife’s death, Alexander took a second, much younger wife. He was quite delighted with her, and took every opportunity to attempt to create an heir.”
    Kathryn heard the mirth in Adam’s voice and looked at him to confirm it. He made a comical face and she felt herself blush. Black Bryan did not join in the frivolity, and Kathryn wondered that such a stern man could be a friend with a man such as Adam.
    She brought her thoughts back to Alexander, the king who had found delight in being a husband. Would Kathryn ever elicit such devotion from a man?
    Bryan shifted in his seat, and now his thigh touched hers. Deliberate or not, it made her uncomfortable, and she pulled away.
    Seeming not to notice her retreat, Sir Bryan interrupted Adam and continued with the story. “One winter night, the king met with his advisors some distance from his home. The meeting ended well after dark, on a cold, blustery evening. His squire and others tried to persuade Alexander to wait until morning, but visions of his lovely young wife rose in his head, and he started for home.
    â€œWhen the king’s riderless horse arrived at the castle later that night, a search party set forth. But it wasn’t until morn that they found his body lying at the foot of a cliff. He had apparently urged his horse forward, but the beast, sensing danger, had stopped suddenly and Alexander tumbled over the animal’s head to his death.”
    â€œAnd how did this lead to our present difficulties with England?” Kathryn asked, as Gawen sang the final verse.
    â€œAlexander’s heir, an infant granddaughter, died before taking the throne. With the monarchy in chaos, the nobles fought amongst themselves and are still trying to regain control a quarter century later.”
    â€œAnd I take it you blame all this on the love of a woman?”
    Black Bryan’s scowl returned. “Aye.” The tone of his voice cooled dramatically. “If Alexander hadn’t been so besotted over his wife and her charms, perhaps he would have listened to reason and lived long enough to father a suitable heir.”
    â€œSo, duty comes before love? Or do you not approve of a man loving his wife?”
    Bryan answered, “A house divided cannot stand, nor can a man see to his duty if his loyalties are divided.”
    Adam said, “Come, brother. Kings have a duty to produce heirs.” At this a look passed between the two men that Kathryn couldn’t unravel.
    â€œSo they do,” Sir Bryan agreed.
    Kathryn knew that Bruce’s only legitimate heir was a young daughter about Kathryn’s age. Was Bryan her older half brother? Did he entertain hopes of inheriting Bruce’s crown? If he did it would create as much instability as had the death of King Alexander’s granddaughter.
    He had moved to the other side of the bench and turned his back to her, deep in conversation with Adam. She glanced at him and wondered if he ever laughed in the company of people or