Page 49 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“How long before you send the men in?”
“Less than a quarter of the hour.”
“Good. We wait.” He nodded to O, who had the six men masked and ready to go with their weapons. He decided he had to send six to grab four bairns and the mother. The mother and the wee lad would take one, then the golden-haired lasses, all three if they could get them, and finally, the other lad. He was to be left behind if they couldn’t get them all. Wee bairn, mother, and the golden-haired lass were his focus.
He glanced over at the other two boats awaiting transport, one to head to Ulva and one to go across the sound to confuse anyone following them. His boat would head back to Kilchoan until he received word of the successful transfer of the captives to Coll, where he would meet up with them again. First Ulva, then Coll.
Then his wish would come true. The faery would have to grant his request. He’d threaten to kill the mother of the wee one if she didn’t, so all would be done as he instructed.
First, he would find his daughter, then, a thousand gold coins. Next, a golden castle of his own wherever he decided to have it. And lastly, a successful attack for his dearest wife. Hewanted the faery to allow an easy takeover of the Isle of Mull. That would require many dead Ramsays and dead Grants.
His wife was angry with the Ramsays and the Grants for killing her grandfather. He had his own crosses to bear. He would settle up with the Menzies, especially the one known as Avelina, the one who stole the sapphire sword.
O asked, “How did you know about the tunnel into the cellars?”
“I have my ways. I paid MacDougall to tell me all the secrets of the castle. The tunnel entrance, the place in the cellar, and the best places to hide during an attack. My wish will be complete soon enough.”
He’d thought to grab the bitch Avelina, but he decided she had too many powers. He had no idea where that sapphire sword was at the moment, but when he learned the faery that had the ability to grant wishes had arrived, he dismissed the idea of the sapphire sword. If he was right, the faery could grant him the secret weapon made from gems. All he had to do was wish for it to come from her hands.
Mayhap later. He took three steps and stared up at the curtain wall. No movement. The men who’d been given the brew had passed out. Now was the time to move.
O looked at him and waited for approval.
“Aye, send them.” K rubbed his hands together, a wee sense of glee coursing through him.
The bairns would be his soon enough.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Eva
Eva stood near the hearth taking in everything in the hall. She made sure that she always knew where Sloan and her brother were. Now she knew, without a doubt, that Sloan Rankin would always protect her, and it gave her more comfort than she would ever tell anyone.
Riding with him to Duart Castle had been the nicest experience she’d had since the attack. No matter what happened—rain, thunder, another attack—she knew he would protect her.
Thoughts of that brute who assaulted her never left her alone for long. Oh, she could converse with others, carry on conversations without fear, but once she stopped, the man appeared in her mind.
His dirty hair, his stench, his cruel eyes.
His touch.
Would she never be free of him?
Alycia appeared in front of her. “New wine for everyone and it is a fine one.”
“My thanks, Alycia. How are you? Where is Elvard?”
“He’s here somewhere. First with Alana, then with Sylvi and Sandor. Bouncing about. I have to get moving. Have fun, Eva.”
Eva nodded to Alycia, Eva’s eyes darting to every man on the opposite side of the hall. She took one whiff of the wine in her goblet and decided not to drink it. She handed it to Tamsin who had finished one goblet already and gladly took hers.
Maeve held the bairn and stood next to Maitland, Dyna moved around the hall checking on things, Eli and Alaric groped each other, and Connor and Sela stood close to the bairns. Everyone sipped their wine or their brew. Sela never took her eyes from her three grandbairns, Astra standing next to her. Surprised to see Sela hand Astra a goblet, Eva was moresurprised when she drank it down with one sip. Eva had heard the kidnapping had affected the poor lass terribly.
That’s when it started. She glanced away from Astra only to see someone’s head fall and hit the table, then another, and another. Lennox went for Meg, just catching her before she fell to the ground. Lennox went next. Tamsin fell after that, Thane catching her just as he collapsed.
Sloan called out to her. “Eva, don’t drink it.”
She hadn’t, but he had, and before he could reach her, he fell to his knees and then crumpled onto the hard stone floor.
