Page 54 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
Thane said, “I’ll go. I know the isle best. Only two more, one archer, one swordsman.”
Logan said, “Eli and Alaric. Ready yourselves. The rest of us will plan the other two groups and the one to stay here. One more to MacQuarie land and one to Rankin land. We’ll gather over here to make our plans.”
Connor said to Logan, “You decide. I’ll go wherever you send me. Sela, Astra, and I will go to the kitchens in the meantime to prepare food to send along. I want to speak with the serving lasses too. We have to be prepared.”
Sloan moved along with Lennox, Eva between them. He couldn’t have been more surprised when she said, “I’m going to Ulva.”
Sloan said nothing, waiting for Lennox to speak. “Eva, you have no skills to help.”
“Is Meg going?”
“Aye, the way she throws her axe, I want her with us. We’ll go to Rankin land with Sloan. She’s proven her value.”
“But I learned how to throw an axe too.”
Lennox took his sister’s hands and said, “Eva, I love you dearly, but you are too emotionally involved to go with us or with the other group. Do you know how to get to Ulva? Know you anything about the isle?”
“Nay, but it’s small. Thane said it was. I’m not asking to go to Coll. I wish to go to Ulva.”
Eva’s fury was not hidden at all. Sloan ran his hand up her back but said nothing. “Lennox, could she travel with us? Or she could be in my group that will head to Coll once we see the activity there?”
“Nay, I forbid your involvement at all, Eva. I’ll drop you off along the way. Meg and I will go to Rankin land, so we’ll see you home.”
“I’m going to lie down. I feel dizzy all of a sudden,” she whispered.
Lennox turned to Gwyneth who was seated by the fire. “Is there a place where Eva could rest for a wee bit until we head back to our land?”
Gwyneth said, “Our chamber. It’s the door next to the kitchens.”
“My thanks,” Eva said.
Sloan followed her along and once she was at the door, he said, “I apologize for your brother, Eva. But mayhap a rest first is a good idea. Is there anything I can get for you?”
She shook her head and said, “Many thanks. I’m tired.”
She stepped inside and closed the door.
Sloan turned around and looked at the group and all that was being planned. Yet he had the oddest feeling that Eva wasn’t happy with her brother’s decision.
He’d wager she was going to follow along behind her brother’s group once they left MacVey land. But he had another sudden question.
Where the hell was Rinaldo?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Avelina
Avelina led Dyna up to the parapets, looking over the water in the same direction the boat had gone. “Sometimes, being near water helps. If we put our minds together, we’ll learn something.” She had to. She could not watch their son go through this torture again. They had to get Maeve and Grant back.
Maitland, Drew, and Derric stood behind the two, Derric with a tight hold on Sylvi who’d not left his side since the attack. “I miss Tora and Sandor.”
Derric said, “We’ll find them. Mama and Lady Menzie are going to help us now.”
“Papa, if I see anything, should I tell you?”
He arched a brow and looked at Dyna who nodded. “Anything at all, tell us, Sylvi.”
Avelina and Dyna faced the water, Avelina taking Dyna’s hand in hers, then said, “Sylvi, would you like to hold Mama’s hand?”
