Page 81 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
He wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “She’ll come to it on her own. Her belly is growing, but I ignore it.”
“Da and I are so proud of you, Thane. I don’t know how you were able to keep your brother and sister alive living in the forests.”
“We had help. Artan admitted he used to leave us food every week. He was the fisherman who rowed his boat here with that wicked bitch. Said he came back to check on us and when he discovered the cave we slept in, he left us what he could so we wouldn’t starve. The man even left blankets once and an extra tunic for each of us.”
“How did you find Artan?”
“We didn’t. He found us. Eventually, he convinced us to come here and help build the castle. We gladly joined him and the others.”
“I’m glad I didn’t know. I would have worried every night.”
Mora approached and said, “Mama, look at these tarts I made. Do they look all right? Will you taste one, please? I think Iburned a few, but are they still edible? And the berries? Are they sweet enough? I used the honey, but I may need to put more in.”
Thane watched the two go back into the kitchens, so pleased to see how Mora had improved since their parents’ return. Much of it was also due to Tamsin, Alana, Lia, and Magni. Mora had gone from being a sad lass to one who was blossoming into quite the young lady.
He’d stared at his lovely wife for long enough, knowing he had work outside, so he headed to the hearth, leaning over to kiss Tamsin’s cheek. “I think I’ll go out to the lists, then I have some repairs needed for the stable. Magni, join me?”
“Aye, Chief. I’ll help.”
“Lia, how long do you plan to stay with us?” He agreed with everyone else about Lia, though none of them had decided exactly where she came from. Under a leaf just didn’t answer enough questions for Thane, though Magni believed it with all his heart.
“I’ll be here for another moon, my lord. I may have one other place to visit on the isle. Will that suit you?”
Tamsin’s head jerked up quickly. “Grant does not need you for a moon? What about after that?”
Lia laughed and waved her hand in dismissal. “Grant won’t need me again until he’s nearly grown.”
“Then who is next?” Tamsin asked, frozen. Thane knew she feared it would be Alana, but for some reason, he was quite certain Alana would not be bothered again.
“I think I’ll go into the forest for a wee bit. I’ll meet you in the stable later, brother Magni.”
Lia disappeared without answering their questions, something she excelled at. But Magni grinned with pride. “She is my sister. I tell everyone she is, yet no one believes me. She just had to find me in an odd way.”
Thane ruffled his hair and said, “I’m heading out, Tamsin.”
“Me too?” Alana asked.
“Nay, Grandmama and Mora made fruit tarts for you.”
“Yum!”
Thane reached the door, Magni running along behind him, and he knew the boy would ask him the same questions he always did.
Magni ran in front of him and spun around. “Tell me about Odart again. He was a mean bastard.”
Thane arched a brow at him.
“Sorry, Chief. I meant he was a mean man. Grandpapa Logan lets me curse. Sorry, I forget.”
Thane grinned. Logan had adopted Magni as his grandson, and Thane considered it one of those endearing things most people wouldn’t understand. But Logan was exactly what Magni needed. He gave the lad undying love, something Magni often doubted he deserved.
Logan was just the person to convince him of his value.
Magni hadn’t been distracted from his purpose, so he carried on. “Odart was a mean soul. He tried to kill Tamsin before. What would Alana do without her mother? What did Odart say about it all? Was he in charge?”
Thane answered Magni again; he was sure it was the fifth time he’d told him the story of finding Odart on Coll. “Odart said he only drove the boat for Raghnall with Tamsin in it. Said he had no idea what his boss had planned to do. He said he liked Tamsin, but he hated Garvie. After Garvie died, he said the man on Kilchoan informed the group left on Ulva that one of them had to manage the business. If they didn’t, they’d die, so Odart killed the other one who wished to challenge him.”
Magni chuckled, his hand going over his mouth. “And tell me again what he said about hating bairns and what you did …”
