Beneath a Dark Highland Sky: Book #3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

receive great pleasure from seeing the severed heads of my enemies on pikes. What king wouldna? Dangerous law breakers ha’e to be suppressed for the good of Scotland. And the Black Douglases ha’e always been law breakers who until recently thought they were more important and more powerful than a king.”
    Malcolm shook his dark head, for he had not dreamt of any battles like Arkinholm. “But I ken ye and yer brave men invaded England earlier this month, and destroyed seventeen towers and fortalices! I wish I could ha’e been there and drawn my sword against the Sassenach!”
    “Yea, we did. Yer a brave lad, Malcolm. I ha’e no doubt ye’ll see many battles and be victorious. The day may come when ye’ll fight the cowardly rotten whoreson English yerself. Now dunna be afraid to tell me more, especially of this lion ye saw in yer vision. I am most curious about that.”
    Malcolm nodded. He searched for the right words. “I do ha’e a warning of sorts. Dunna stand too close to the lion and dunna pull its tail.”
    There was more laughter from the men and women in the room, and Malcolm began to feel bewildered.
    “Dunna pull the lion’s tail!” James said, slapping his own thigh in mirth. “Ah, Malcolm, dunna look so bemused. I am sure ye give me good advice and I will remember it, but ye see why it is funny? Because I am the lion!” The king caressed the embroidered lion on his rich, gold-red satin doublet, which gleamed with rubies. The lion stood upright, forelegs raised, claws unsheathed, as if ready to strike. “Malcolm, did ye ken, hundreds of years ago, the symbol for Scots Sovereignty was a boar ? Imagine how silly my royal title would be if it were the ‘Boar of Scotland!’”
    People raised their goblets high. “Long live the Lion Rampant of Scotland!”
    “Enguarrand and Jehanne,” James said, “Ye ha’e brought that magnificent bronze lion to my court. Now let us hear it roar!”
    Enguarrand nodded at his son and they both raised their arms and began to chant. The crowd held its breath, waiting. Enguerrand curled his fists and concentrated, glaring at the beast. Jehanne did the same, his small hands imitating his father’s movements with precision. At the same moment, they both lowered their arms with a flourish. The gilded lion blinked its eyes and beat the ground with its tail and then opened its mouth and gave a dreadful roar, its bronze tongue quivering. The crowd gasped in delight and applauded.
    “Most magnificent!” James said.
    The people repeated their cheer. “Long live the Lion Rampant of Scotland!”
    “They say King Solomon’s throne was the most wonderful throne any king ever sat upon,” James said. “’Twas fashioned of ivory and covered in gold, set with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious stones. Six steps led to the seat. Each step had two animals opposite each other. On the first was a golden lion and a golden ox. On the second, a golden wolf and a golden lamb. On the third, a golden tiger and a golden camel. On the fourth, a golden eagle and a golden peacock. On the fifth, a golden cat and a golden rooster. Does anyone ken what was on the sixth and final step?”
    Jehanne bowed. “I heard it was a golden hawk and a golden dove, yer Grace.”
    “Yea, it was!”
    The crowd was enthralled listening to the king speak.
    “’Tis said when Solomon stepped upon the first step, the ox and the lion each stretched out a foot to support him and help him rise to the next step. As he continued to climb, the animals helped the king up until he was comfortably seated upon his throne. Then a golden eagle brought the crown and held it above Solomon’s brow so it should not weigh too heavily on his head.”
    He looked at Enguarrand and Jehanne. “I am impressed with yer magic and yer bronze lion. Can ye show me anything else?”
    Enguarrand nodded. “I can make my son float in the air and hover above the ground.”
    James clapped his hands together like a small