Page 55 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
Sylvi nodded, and the three stood together while Maitland moved to his mother’s side, Derric on the far side next to Sylvi, Drew behind Avelina.
Avelina glanced at her son, her heart so wounded for his pain that she vowed this had to work. She said some quick silent prayers, then began her favorite chant that she’d learned from a friend long ago.
“Close your eyes, Sylvi, and think while Lady Lina chants,” Dyna said.
Avelina saw the boat in her mind as soon as she finished her chant, the vessel nearly rounding a bend, indeed headed to Ulva as they had thought. “I see Maeve in the lower deck, eight men rowing. Grant is on her lap laughing with Sandor who is huddlednext to Maeve. Lia is on the other side of Maeve huddled with Tora. They have blankets wrapped around them. They are all hale, Maitland.”
“Praise God for that much.”
Dyna added, “The men are all afraid of Tora.”
“Why, Diamond?”
“Because she told Maeve where they were going, and they overheard her,” Dyna said. “She was right, and they wanted to know how she knew. That’s my girl!”
Sylvi said, “Hush, Mama. Lia is trying to talk to me.”
Avelina and Dyna both opened their eyes, the group glancing among themselves, the hope in the group heartbreaking. Avelina said, “Listen and tell Mama everything she says, Sylvi. Good job.”
Sylvi kept her eyes closed, squeezing her mother’s hand. “Lia said they’ll be at Ulva for one night. Then the morrow’s eve, they’ll take two boats to meet one big boat in Loch Tuath not far from Thane’s land. She said to be ready for them there.”
“Anything else? Be patient, lass. In your mind, ask Lia why we can’t get them at Ulva.”
She concentrated, then replied, “Lia said you’ll never find them. Be ready for the boats.” She stared up at her mother. “Did I do good like Tora?”
“Aye, lassie. You did a great job.” Dyna kissed the top of her head.
“Wait, Mama, Lia is calling me again.” Sylvi closed her eyes. Then she said, “Someone wishes to steal Rankin land from Sloan. Someone he knows. In three days. From Kilchoan.”
Sylvi smiled and looked up at her mother. “Am I like youandTora?”
Dyna, teary-eyed, picked her up for a big squeeze. “Aye, you did a great job. And Derric? She’s staying here with you so we can relay any messages.”
Avelina turned to Maitland and hugged him. “Lia said to tell you to be at Loch Tuath on the morrow and all will be well. You may have to swim.”
Derric said, “Tora is a decent swimmer, but Sandor is not.”
Maitland’s eyes widened because Lina knew that was one of his worst fears. Maeve couldn’t swim, and their son surely could not either.
“We have to trust that Lia will help them all.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Eva
It had been a quiet ride from Duart Castle to Dounarwyse Castle, everyone alert to any activity going on around them. It was the middle of the night, though the moon was bright. Eva suspected that the Grants and Ramsays knew little of the trek that would take them to MacQuarie land.
But Thane knew how to get there the quickest.
Once they arrived, the group stopped to make adjustments and water the horses briefly before the next leg of their various journeys. Sloan helped Eva down, and she said, “Many thanks for your assistance.”
He gave her an odd look but said, “We’ll get him for you, Eva.”
“Well, if you do, please bring him to me so I can put an axe in his private parts.”
Sloan arched a brow but said, “I can agree to that. If he’s still alive. You realize Maitland might choke him with his bare hands.”
“Understood, but there are six of them. I have just due for that troll.”
