Summer Warrior (The Clan Donald Saga Book 1) by Regan Walker

Author:Regan Walker [Walker, Regan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance
ISBN: 9780997990584
Publisher: Regan Walker Publishing
Published: 2020-10-06T18:30:00+00:00

Castle Rushen, the Isle of Man

RAGNHILD WAS RESTLESS. All Saints’ Day was approaching and Advent just behind it and she had much to do. Besides that, they were expecting a visit from Queen Affraic’s father, Fergus, Lord of Galloway.

Fergus always arrived with a great show. On his head of limp brown hair would be a golden crown, despite that he was a liege man of King David. Fergus’ face, like his beard, drooped in a weary way. Yet his apparel would be so rich as to rival an English king’s. His wife, Elizabeth, likewise would glide into the castle with her nose in the air, reminding all she was the daughter, albeit illegitimate, of Henry I, England’s dead king.

Ragnhild considered Fergus’ son, Uchtred, in a better light, for he had been her childhood friend. But Fergus’ kerns, his foot soldiers, were unruly and coarse, rivaling even Sweyn Asleifsson for outrageous behavior. Not a man among them did she trust. It was with good reason they were called the Picts of Galloway.

Her father’s guards, when hearing of their coming, had exchanged speaking glances. Nevertheless, the Wolf of Galloway would be entertained in grand style, for he was her father’s ally as well as King David’s and possessed a great fleet of longships. Hence, Ragnhild had many tasks awaiting her this day.

“You have seen to my father’s chamber?” asked Affraic in a disdainful manner.

“Of course,” replied Ragnhild. “The same one he occupied the last time he and your lady mother visited. I have asked the kitchen to prepare your father’s favorite dishes as well.” She had to wonder what Affraic would do when, one day, Ragnhild would leave the isle. She had never before looked upon such a fate as one to be desired but all that had changed with Somerled.

What would it be like to be wed to such a warrior? She suspected ’twould not be an easy life but then she did not desire a life without challenges. She would take the man no matter there would be arduous days.

“You might think to have a new bliaut made,” said the queen, giving Ragnhild’s simple green dress an appraising glance.

“The gowns I have are more than adequate,” said Ragnhild. “In one of them, you will recall, I greeted King David.”

“Very well,” said Affraic, “do as you wish.” She turned in a haughty manner and walked away, reminding Ragnhild of Affraic’s mother, the Lady of Galloway.

Several days later, two longships from Galloway entered the harbor. Watching Fergus’ men descend from the ships, Ragnhild was glad she had thought to clear one of the buildings that housed her father’s unmarried warriors across the moat and outside the palisade so that Galloway’s kerns could be housed beyond the castle. She would ask her father to build additional soldiers’ quarters so there would always be a place for the troublesome warriors of visiting nobles to lodge.

She asked the garrison commander to dispatch two of Man’s most trustworthy guards to Fergus’ ships to escort Galloway’s warriors—all save Fergus’ personal guard—to the quarters prepared for them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.