“My brother is driving into the north-east of Scotland on a punitive expedition. He has commanded me to take the fleet to Caithness to attack the seat of Forres.”
“Do we have a quarrel with the Picts?”
“Not as such, but Constantine absorbed Fortriu into his kingdom three years ago. Nominally, they form part of the kingdom of Orkney, so we shall have our hands full!” Edmund laughed off the danger as if the campaign was no weighty matter. Iolyn liked him the more for it.
“We should take advantage of the favourable weather because rounding the northern cape in worse than these conditions can be a hazardous business. Unless, of course, your men are tired and need to rest.”
“What? We have only sailed from Gwynedd this morning. I watched your king leave for Alba with his troops this morning.
