Wordless with wonder, Alyce sank into a sitting position with her son cradled in her lap, taking comfort in the circle of Kenneth’s arm, watching as the king laid the sword across the open doorway and came to crouch before them. She could not bring herself to question what he had done, or even to offer comment. She knew only that what had occurred had felt right, if unexpected, and that he was fully her match in all that they had done together that night.
«I will come again when he is older, to complete the binding», the king said quietly. «It is not necessary for you to understand all aspects of what has occurred tonight; only that I have done what I felt necessary. He will have suffered no harm.
«Of course, you will speak of this to no one», he went on, eyeing both of them. «Not even to one another — nor, Alyce, to your sister».
She nodded, not daring to speak, as he glanced back at the sword across the gateway, then returned his piercing gaze to her and Kenneth and the child sleeping on her shoulder, while getting slowly to his feet.
«Guard him well, my faithful friends», he said in a low voice. «And know that you have a king’s gratitude for your love and loyal service».
For a moment, as he stood there silhouetted against the candles at the altar, it was as though he drew their glow around him like a mantle, enveloping the four of them. But then the grey eyes shuttered, and the moment was past. With a slight bow, he turned and moved back to the eastern quarter to pick up the sword.
She little remembered closing the circle, or putting the sleeping Alaric to bed, or returning to her chamber with Kenneth, just as she was unable, the next morning, to recall many details of the night’s work. She knew that the king had come into the chapel, that the two of them had Named Alaric by a name she had not chosen — and her beloved Kenneth had played an unexpected part. But the whole affair had taken on a dreamy, unreal quality that increased with each passing day — and Kenneth, for his part, said nothing.
It was not for want of wondering. Kenneth remembered that night, perhaps more clearly than Alyce, though he understood far less. When, a few days later, a courier arrived with a summons back to Rhemuth and duty, he brought the order to Alyce, where she was dozing in the dappled shade of the garden, near to the little chapel. Alaric was down for a nap, as were Duncan and Kevin, and Vera had gone hunting with her husband and several of their retainers and their wives.
«Unwelcome news, I’m afraid», he said without preamble, showing her the document with the king’s seal as he came to kiss her on the forehead. «I’m commanded back to court. Not merely summoned, mind you, but ‘commanded.’ He’s given no specific reason, but it can’t be trivial. He knows I had hoped to stay longer, perhaps even through the New Year. But it may be some weeks before I can return. And if the weather is bad…»
She did her best to hide her disappointment as she took the missive from him and quickly scanned it, but Kenneth knew. But he did not anticipate her next words.
«Perhaps I should go back to Morganhall for my lying-in, then», she said matter-of-factly, looking up at him from under long lashes. «The summer heat is past, and ’tis far closer to Rhemuth — and much less apt to be snowed in. And I should very much like to have you at my side when our daughter is born».
«And I should like to be there», Kenneth replied. «Do you think that Vera would come there to be with you?»
«I don’t see why not», she answered. «’Twould be easier for her and Jared, as well, especially if Jared is also called to court — which could well happen, since you have been called. They would like another baby, you know — and that’s rather difficult if they hardly see one another».
«There is that», Kenneth agreed. «But Culdi is larger, and far more comfortable».
«But not as close to Rhemuth, and you», Alyce countered. «Morganhall will be fine. And your sisters will be thrilled to have a new baby to coo over».
He inclined his head in agreement. «I’ll not argue that».
«Then, it’s settled», she said.
Kenneth dared not delay to travel with them, for the king seemed to require his presence urgently — and, in fact, had summoned Jared as well, by means of another courier who arrived later that evening.
«You have no idea what this is about?» Jared asked him, handing him his own summons.
Kenneth shook his head. «None whatsoever. But Alyce had already asked whether Vera and your boys might accompany them to Morganhall. There’s room — just. And it’s far closer. You could see your wife more often», he added with a sly grin. «I know you’d like another bairn».
Jared’s smile spoke volumes. «I’ll not deny that», he said, «though it isn’t for want of trying».
«Well, you can try more often, if your wife is at Morganhall», Kenneth retorted. «Shall I write to my sisters, and tell them the ladies are coming?»
«Do», Jared agreed. «Better yet, we can stop there on our way back to Rhemuth and tell them in person. The women can follow by easier stages. And I’ll have extra provisions sent as well. They’ll have more mouths to feed».
Kenneth inclined his head in thanks. «My sisters will be grateful».
He and Jared left the next morning, charging Trevor and Llion with the task of moving their wives and sons by slow stages. On reflection, Jared offered the use of his coach — which Kenneth gladly accepted. It was a ponderous thing, but easier and safer than travel by litter, with Alyce now seven months gone.
«And Lady Alyce is not to travel by any other means save the coach, no matter how she might protest», Kenneth told the two knights, «with plenty of pillows and featherbeds to cushion her».
«Kenneth, I am not ill!» Alyce protested. «I am simply pregnant».
«Yes, and you are carrying a precious burden: our daughter», Kenneth replied coolly, though he smiled as he said it, a hand lightly skimming her abdomen. «Trevor, you have your orders».
«Aye, m’lord», Trevor said with a grin.
Alyce made a moue at her husband, but then she twined her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss before heading off to begin packing for the journey.
The distaff-halves of the two families were resettled at Morganhall by the middle of October, much to the delight of Kenneth’s two sisters — and with the approval of Alaric, Duncan, and Kevin as well, for there were other children to play with, and more hounds to induct Alaric’s new puppy into the canine mysteries. Claara, the younger of the sisters, had been widowed young, and had a daughter and granddaughter staying with her until the spring. Little Clarice was nearly four, slightly younger than Alaric, and as full of mischief as any child Alyce had ever seen.
By contrast, Kenneth’s other sister, Delphine, the elder of the pair, had never married, but she adored her nieces and nephews, and was delighted to have the extra company through the end of the year, especially with the promise of additional provisions to feed them all. It was Delphine who ran the Morganhall estate on her brother’s behalf — and usually turned a profit.
She was also, it soon emerged, an accomplished poet, and soon had enlisted Alyce’s services in copying out a small collection of her poems as a Christmas gift for her brother. The familiar work set Alyce to remembering the days she and Zoë had spent together in the scriptorium at Arc-en-Ciel, and the illuminated book the two of them later had crafted for the king for another Christmas, now several years past.
She wrote to Zoë shortly after her arrival at Morganhall, informing her of the move down from Culdi and her scrivening project, and inquiring after Zoë’s new pregnancy, for her heart-sister was due to deliver early in the new year.