Page 8 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Tamsin screamed but was caught in her gowns. “Alana, nay!”
Thane went after Alana, reaching her just before one of the horsemen did, scooping her up with one arm. His weapon was at the ready, and he swung his sword so hard he nearly took off the man’s arm, causing him to drop his weapon.
“Mora, run!”
Mora had her bow at the ready, firing as she hurried toward the castle while Brian and the other guard went after two men.
Thane grabbed Alana out of the path of the next intruder, then turned to Tamsin and pulled her close to him. He turned around to look for the others, though he only had two hands. “Magni, hurry!” But his warning was too late, and he was too far away to stop the bastards.
Two men grabbed Magni and Lia, then took off into the woods.
“I’ll protect her, Thane. Do not worry!” Magni shouted after them.
Brian and Bearnard headed after the two men with the bairns.
Thane tossed Tamsin and Alana on one horse, slapping the animal’s flank to send them toward the castle gates, then mounted his own steed. He set off toward the castle and leaned over to grab his sister just before another charging horse reached for her. He swung her up roughly, but he caught her, and she hung on tightly. Once she was behind him, the other man turned tail and left.
“Brian, I’ll be right behind you.”
He had to get Mora, Tamsin, and Alana safely inside the curtain wall before he could leave. Who were the men? He’d just begun to feel safe again after the failed attack on Duart Castle. Killing MacDougall and Raghnall Garvie hadn’t put an end to their terror.
What the hell did they want with the bairns?
Once they were inside the gates, he spoke to Artan, “Let no one in. I’m going after the men who stole Lia and Magni. Do not leave here, Artan. You are in charge.”
Mora hugged him. “Please save them, Thane. We need Magni and Lia. They are such an important part of our clan.”
He helped Tamsin down and she cupped his cheeks. “Many thanks to you for Alana. Now go save those wee ones.” She gave him a quick kiss and he left, glad to hear the gates close behind his departure.
Where the hell would they be taking the two?
He found the path where Brian and Bearnard had gone. It took nearly half the hour to catch up with them, but they had both stopped in a clearing, scanning the area.
Bearnard was shaking his head. “Chief, they disappeared. I have no idea where they are. We saw one horse, but they split, and we must have followed the wrong one.”
Brian rubbed his chin. “What do we do now?”
Thane searched the area briefly, then said, “We go back. I’m leaving you all at the castle to protect what is ours. To protect Mora and Alana. Get all the guards’ families out of their homes and bring all the women and bairns inside the keep. There’s room. We must warn the others that the men looking for lasses are back. I’ll go to Clan Grantham to see if anyone else has had trouble. We need more men than we have.”
On the way back to the keep, all he could think of were Lia’s last words to him.
Fear not—all will be well, eventually.
How he prayed she was right.
Chapter Six
Lennox
Lennox had to ignore his mother for now. He stepped outside the great hall just as the gates opened, lines of women and their bairns hurrying inside the curtain walls.
“Many thanks to you, Chief,” one said, and then another and another.
He nodded to each one and said, “Come in where it’s warm. We’ll have pottage and bread for you. Be careful as you go up the steps.”
Lennox neared the gates, and Taskill yelled down, “Outside. The Granthams are here.”
This could not be good. He couldn’t recall the last time they had come along for a friendly visit other than after they’d moved in.
