The Promise of Peace (30 page)

When the priest pronounced the prince and princess as man and wife, Kathryn placed her hand on the enameled white rose she wore fastened to her shawl. Bryan had commissioned a silversmith to create the piece of jewelry for his wife to remember the peace offering he'd once given her from Homelea's garden. From that beginning they had forged a life together.

Now, after years of war, destruction, and death, Scotland stood on the brink of peace. Many men on both sides had given their lives or returned home wounded and maimed.

The priest's prayer broke into Bryan's dark thoughts. “Oh, Lord of Heaven, we ask that you would create from these two a single mind and purpose. And further, that you would form your faithful people in both England and Scotland into a single will. A will for peace. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise. Remind us that amid all the changes of this world, we should fix our hearts where true love and joy are found: in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.”

Bryan added a heartfelt “Amen” as the bridal couple faced the audience to accept felicitations.

Kathryn's daughter Isobel moved forward, and Bryan took Kathryn's elbow to follow. Isobel, the illegitimate daughter of Bryan's one-time enemy, had grown into a beauty. She had also become the daughter of Bryan's heart. Although he and Kathryn had three other children, Bryan and Isobel shared a special affinity because of the shared circumstances of their births.

Having congratulated the solemn couple, Bryan led his family to the church door. “You go ahead to the pavilion—I must accompany David and his bride.”

Kathryn said, “'Tis a shame your father cannot be here to perform that duty.”

“Aye. But Edward of England chose not to attend as well. 'Tis probably for the best, as I'm not sure they could have spoken civilly to each other.”

Kathryn smiled. “King Robert could charm a smile from a stone, Bryan. Nevertheless, your point is well taken. Come, Isobel. We will wait for your father as he asked.”

KEIFER MACNAB leaned on his cane beneath the shade of an old oak tree. Although he still limped and relied on the cane for balance, he was far from the hopeless cripple he had once imagined. He shuddered when he remembered how close he'd come to succumbing to the darkness.

But here he stood in the town of Berwick, gathered with his family and friends to celebrate the marriage of David Bruce and Joan Plantagenet. These two young children held the promise of peace for their respective countries. Keifer prayed for God's intervention in their lives—that genuine love might form between them as they grew up—much like it had between Keifer and Nola.

It seemed that all the nobility and half the peasant population of Scotland had been invited to the celebration. Robert the Bruce had spared no expense on the lavish wedding feast, even going so far as to purchase clothes for the guests to wear.

Children of various ages—including Keifer's nieces and nephews—darted among the guests as they played tag and blind man's bluff under the watchful eyes of their mothers. 'Twas a restful, pastoral scene, one Keifer savored in the sheer joy of being alive.

Sir Bryan joined him under the tree's sturdy branches. Keifer greeted Bryan and said, “ 'Tis too bad your father cannot be here today.”

“Aye. He decided to remain in seclusion at Cardross. He just hasn't been the same since his wife died. I fear for his health. But this,” he said, waving about him, “this is the culmination of all his dreams, everything for which we worked.”

Freedom from an oppressor's rule. Men had given their lives— men like his father and brother and others before them. A pang of grief shot through Keifer, but along with it came assurance. Surely Da and Gordon looked down upon today's celebration and knew that their sacrifice hadn't been for naught.

On this beautiful summer day, as Englishmen and Scots celebrated an end to the seemingly endless issues that separated them, Keifer recalled the Bible verse the priest had quoted in today's wedding ceremony:
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Keifer swallowed. The future was never a given, but it was always worth living for. He could see the future's promise in the scene before him. He saw it there under the trees where children of Scottish and English blood played together as if their fathers and grandfathers had never warred against each other. He saw it in his father-in-law, Adam, earnestly speaking of his prized new ram rather than of borders and battle plans. He saw it in the warrior, Ceallach, who once could barely care for a child but now reached out to hug his young daughter.

Keifer could see the future in his beloved Nola, her body swollen with his own child. Such hope! Such promise!

Keifer fingered the braided strand of silver on his wrist, Nola's favor, the one he had promised to wear until he died. He would keep his promise to her, just as God would keep his promise of peace for all those who believed in him.

He gazed again at the scene before him.

Keifer believed.