Nona waited outside Bebbanburg’s hall, squinting in the bright spring sunshine. She stood beside Oswy’s queen, Eanflaed. Oswy was beside his wife, along with three of his trusted Dál Riatan warriors who had come out of exile with him when he came to take the Bernician throne. Celyn waited next to Nona, and behind her, Bronwyn’s steady presence was a comfort.
Conaire mac Alpin would arrive within minutes. Her future husband was a high lord of the Dál Riatans and would be welcomed to Bebbanburg with honour. The king and his warriors, who all knew Conaire from Oswy’s time of exile in Dál Riata, were eager to make his acquaintance once again.
And of course, as his betrothed, Nona must welcome him as well. But oh, how she wished she could have stayed in her bedchamber, nursing the headache t
