Page 9 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Eva’s voice carried to him. “I’m coming too. I wish to be aware of all that is happening. I have a bad feeling, Lennox. Don’t tell Mama.”
He ushered Eva through the crowd of villagers coming inside the curtain wall, the curiosity on each face as clear as could be. They had no idea what had transpired.
Dyna Grant was off to the side, trying to stay a distance away. “Please, we need your help.”
“I’d say to come in, but I just invited all the women and bairns inside.”
“No time for sitting, anyway. My daughter was kidnapped. Please help me find her.” Dyna’s face was so fear-stricken that Lennox wished to bring her inside, but she wouldn’t be getting off her horse.
“Come, I have an empty cottage out here. We can chat there. It’s starting to rain.” He helped Dyna dismount, and two menalso dismounted, motioning for the others to stay where they were. They had brought another ten guards. Too many for a visit.
Dyna said, “This is Alaric, in charge of our guards, and Broc, his second. We left my husband and Alaric’s wife home with the other bairns. They’ll not step outside the gates.”
Lennox led the way, saying, “You are not alone. It happened to Sloan’s sister. Her son of six winters is missing.”
Dyna said, “Bloody hell! What is wrong with these bastards?”
They were about to go into the cottage when they heard another group of horses approach. Lennox guessed it to be Sloan and his men, but he was wrong. Thane MacQuarie appeared, his brother behind him, along with a few guards, and he had the same look on his face.
“We need your help.”
Lennox waved to Thane in the rain. “Come inside. Send your guards into the stables to keep dry.”
Thane approached, Brian accompanying him.
Once inside, Lennox pulled out stools from a storage closet. The house was larger than most. Eva had followed and said under her breath, “Whose cottage is this, Lennox?”
He gave her a small smile and said, “Mine. When I need quiet.” He knew his way around and sent Taskill to build the fire while he opened a bottle of wine and offered it or mead to everyone.
Eva arched a brow but said nothing. Once they’d all settled, Lennox said, “Marta Rankin’s son was stolen early this morning.” He nodded to Dyna, giving her the next chance to speak.
“Someone stole my daughter too. They tried to grab all of them, but we kept Sylvi and Sandor away. They grabbed my sister’s horse, led it into the woods. We found Astra later onthe ground with her horse nearby, but Tora, the middle one, is missing. I’ve never felt so powerless. What do you suggest?”
Lennox put up his hand, motioning her to hold her tongue so Thane could speak next.
Thane said, “Some men stole Magni and Lia too. We were on the beach. They tried for Tamsin’s daughter and for Mora, but we saved them. We were too late for Magni and Lia. Five men survived to take them into the woods.”
The door opened, and Sloan Rankin entered. “How many others are missing?”
“Three,” Lennox replied. “Two from MacQuarie and one of Dyna’s daughters.”
“I’ll kill them all when we find them.” Dyna couldn’t stop pacing.
Members of the group talked over one another, guessing who it could be, how to attack the problem, but there was no final agreement on who could be at fault.
Lennox held up his arms to quiet the group, then said, “We have to search the entire isle. I’ll start by searching the ports. Find out who has been in and out. We need to determine if they are still on Mull or if they’ve left.”
Thane said, “So we divide up the search? How many are we taking total, so we can divide evenly? Do you not agree? You have more men than I do.”
Sloan said, “I have three score ready to go.”
Lennox said, “I have two score.”
Dyna said, “We have a score between us.” She pointed to Thane. “We need more. I sent word to my sire.”
“Who is your sire?” Sloan asked.
“Connor Grant.”
