Page 71 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
Lia joined them and said, “You know, I’m a bit tired so I think I’ll go inside for a nap. Well done, everyone.” She brushed something off her arm, and it fell to the ground.
Maitland said, “Maeve has Grant inside, feeding him.”
“I do indeed need to take a nap first.” She smiled as she glanced up at the clouds overhead, pausing, then stopped near Maitland. “I let Sylvi and your mother know that everyone is safe so your father and Derric won’t worry. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Maitland sat up, peering at her oddly. “Don’t you wish to follow Grant?” She’d never been away from him since he’d arrived on the Isle of Mull. Not even for a few moments.
Lia stared at the clouds for a moment longer, but then said, “Nay, he doesn’t need me now. I promised Magni I’d come home for a bit. And Mora too. Pardon me all.”
Mora chased after the lass. “Lia, did you not wish to ask if the bairns all made it back? They could have been hurt by thatcreature, or the fire, or when the boat tipped over. Or what about when all the swords and the men were punching everyone? I’ve not seen anything like it. Don’t you wonder how everyone is?”
“Nay, Mora. I know you would have told me if there were any problems.” Then she yawned and waved as she moved into the keep.
Mora whispered, “Does anyone else think Lia is a wee bit odd?”
Thane snickered. “We’ll talk later, Mora. You’ve missed a bit.”
Mora reached down and picked up whatever it was that Lia had brushed from her arm. “What is this, Thane?” She handed it to him. “It’s a different color of green, or is it gray? I’ve not seen anything like it. Where do you suppose it came from?”
He studied it for a few moments. “It looks like a scale to me.”
Maitland said, “I’m not asking any more questions about her because I don’t think I wish to hear the answers. I’m just grateful to all, Lia included.”
Tamsin got up and paced closer to the beach. “Thane, did you recognize any of the men? I swear that when I stepped out here, I recognized the man who was bellowing all the orders to the other man. Voices carry so across the water, and I thought he sounded familiar. Did you know any of them?”
“Nay, but one did seem familiar …”
“Which one?” Connor asked.
“He had a name. I heard them call him something.”
Eva said, “O. One is K, one is D, and the other was O.”
“Oh my word, Thane. Odart! It’s Raghnall’s second. That’s it.”
Sloan asked, “From Ulva? Odart, the fool who assisted Garvie?”
“Aye,” Tamsin explained. “He ran everything when Raghnall was traveling. He’s the one who drove the boat when Raghnall tried to drown me. He knows the isles verra well.”
Sloan said, “So, in other words, Odart just took over Garvie’s business of selling bairns like Mora, Brian, and Thane?”
“And Magni.”
Sloan thought for a moment, thinking about all the evil the bastard had caused everyone on the isle. “Eva and I will be taking our leave in about an hour.”
“Back to Rankin land?” Connor asked. “Because we forgot to tell you that Sylvi said your castle will be attacked by someone on the morrow or the next day. Sorry, but we had to focus on this first.”
“Dun Ara? On the morrow?” Eva turned around to look at him, but Sloan knew what he had to do. She’d never be right until they settled the issue with the bastard who attacked her.
“Nay, not returning yet. Those are words from a wee sweet lass. If it turns out to be true, then I’ll be there by the morrow. Lennox, Miles, and Ingelram will protect Dun Ara in my absence, but I have something more important to take care of, and it is sitting on the Isle of Coll.” He squeezed Eva’s hand. “I will escort Eva there. Anyone care to join us?”
Maitland said, “I’m sorry, but I cannot help you. I am presently incapable of leaving my dear wife and son. I’m staying here.”
Connor looked at Alasdair and tipped his head while Alasdair gave him a subtle nod. “Alaric and Eli will join you. They went in to eat. Anyone else wish to go?” Connor asked. “Dyna will stay here. The bairns need her.”
Thane said, “Oh, I’ll be there. You and Eva have just due for one man, Rankin, but I get Odart. We have a score to settle.”
Connor asked, “The man they call K. Is he from Kilchoan?”
