Page 30 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Lennox said, “The two lads are coming with Alasdair.”
“And Lia?”
“We had her, but she disappeared in the crowd. She gave some odd tales to the other three. We will send someone back for her. As for their abduction, I searched the area half a day east of Oban when I thought I saw Magni running about, so I followed him. This lass threatened to throw an axe in my chest if I approached Magni. She had them well hidden in a cave, but she’s feverish from a wound. Tora said she saved them from a kirk, someplace they were locked up. That’s all we know at the moment, but she is very sickly. We’ll ask the bairns once they are inside and settled. They are exhausted, hungry, and skittish. Tora seems unharmed.”
Dyna glanced over at Meg. “Who is she?”
“I thought you might know her.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen her. You didn’t ask?”
“Once I got the axe from her and found the four bairns, she fell off the boulder in a faint and has only come to when she heard the nameTamsin. Said her sister’s name is Tamsin and she’s going to visit with her.”
They arrived at the promontory and Dyna led them to the castle walls, calling ahead to open the gates and let them all in. Once they dismounted, Dyna said to Derric as he approached, “Take them to Eli. I’ll get Tora. She’s with my mother.”
Derric said, “You found them? Is that not Magni with the Rankin lad?”
“Aye, I’ll explain inside.”
Derric led Lennox, Meg in his arms, into the keep just as Alaric and Eli opened the doors to greet the guests, with Broc behind them.
Derric said, “Eli, she needs you.”
“Who is she? I’ve never seen her. Was that Tora’s voice I heard?” Eli asked, peering over their heads. “Please tell me you have them with you, Lennox.”
Lennox said, “Three of the bairns are safely with us. Lia is still missing. This is the lass who saved the bairns. Helped them escape from a locked chamber in a kirk.”
“By all means, bring her in. Alaric, why don’t you go with Broc? There are lots of horses still coming up the hill to be settled in the stables. See Murreal first for a light repast for all. Dyna will be too upset to think clearly.”
Eli led Lennox into the healing chamber and pointed to a large bed. “Set her there. You can tell me what you know, then I’ll ask you to leave so I can wash her and get her out of that filthy set of trews she has on. Start with her name.”
Lennox did as she said, then found a stool and fell onto it. He had to admit that he didn’t like letting the lass go. “Her name is Meg, that’s all I know. Once they escaped the kirk, she kept them safe, I think two or three days before I found them. They slept in a cave a half day east of Oban. She had an axe and was ready to kill me if I stepped any closer.”
Eli said, “An axe? I am impressed. I’ll have to take some lessons. So, she found the four of them, and they are all here?”
“Aye. Well, almost. Lia stayed behind at Oban because she tricked everyone. She rode with me until we arrived at the ferry. She managed to get lost in the crowd of horses. Told the others she had something to do.”
“A lass that young?”
“Ask Tora. She’ll tell you things I question.”
“I’ll trust Dyna to take care of that. The three bairns are all hale to your eyes?”
“Aye. All happily jaunting toward Oban. Afraid, hungry, dirty, but anxious to get away. And they trust the lass completely. They’re verra worried about her.”
“I’m not worried. We’ll go back for Lia. Back to this lass. Why is Meg feverish? A wound?”
“Aye. The bairns said she cut her hand chopping vegetables at the kirk two or three days ago. She held up until Rowan ran into my arms, then she fell off the boulder she was sitting on.”
“Strong woman.”
“Aye. One of the strongest, and I fear that axe could have landed in my chest.”
There was a knock on the door and Eli said, “Enter.”
Lennox’s mother came in.
“Mother, how did you get here so fast?”
