Page 58 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
Sure enough, Eva waited long enough, popped out of the forest with her dog on her lap, and followed the others.
So Sloan followed her. He waited until they were halfway to Thane’s castle before he ventured up behind her, startling her a wee bit, but she’d traveled alone for long enough.
“Sloan?” she asked, a little nervous.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to escort you back. I didn’t agree with your brother. After training as an archer and then working with Meg, you’ve got enough skills to help us, Eva. And you have a good reason to wish to see this whole situation finished. I don’t know where these men are from, but we all hope to see it come to an end.”
She let out a sigh and said, “My thanks, Sloan. My brother is overprotective.”
“He is, but don’t be too harsh on him. These men are ruthless and dangerous, but you demonstrated the amazing ability to be quick on your feet, lass. I don’t think he gave that much consideration.”
“I did?”
“Most people save themselves when confronted with an outright attack. Verra few can think enough in that type of situation to save two bairns. And even after you saved two, you saved Magni when he came along. He was risky. He’s been abducted by them before.”
Eva nodded and said, “I didn’t really think, Sloan. I have to admit it was just instinct. I love bairns, and I didn’t wish to see any more taken. Poor Dyna and Maitland.”
“And Derric. He acts strong for Dyna, but he’s writhing inside, I would bet. Not one but two of theirs. I’d be beside myself.”
They rode in silence for a bit, then she asked, “Do you think they’ll send me back?”
“Nay. You can be helpful in some way or another. Or were you going to try to go before the first group goes? You wouldn’t be foolish enough to try on your own, would you? Against eight rowers and six masked men?”
“Nay. I need some rest first. Even a corner in a servant’s chamber would suit me right now. I’d forgotten how tiring it is riding a horse. But I will be there with the others at first light. I’ll do whatever I can to help. Does Lennox know?”
“Probably by now. I told Ingelram to go on ahead and tell Lennox I’d be there in a few days. I told Ingelram only that I suspected you were going to try to follow along. He’s not to tell Lennox anything about you unless someone comes from his castle for you. Ingelram will tell your brother that I decided to go with this group, but I’d be back on my land the day after the morrow.”
“My thanks. I just wish to be helpful. I don’t like sitting around and watching others while I do nothing.”
“You’re maturing, lass.”
“I guess I am,” she said, a bit wistfully.
Once they arrived, he covered for her and said the two of them had decided to assist this group for now. No one questioned them, and Eva asked Tamsin if she could find a bed for a short respite. Sloan was glad to see her go with Tamsin.
Eva was a stubborn woman, but even that didn’t change how he felt about her. If anything, his feelings for her were becoming stronger.
He followed Thane and Maitland outside, and at the last minute, he decided to go along with the group. As they rowed over to Ulva in two boats, he took in the view from Thane’s land. Nearly as nice as his own.
“Have the inhabitants changed much since Garvie’s death, Thane?”
“Nay, not that I’m aware of. There were verra few who lived there because Garvie chased them all away. As far as I know, the structures had not been kept up, so no one was interested in staying. There were no vendors or markets on the isle. Too few people to buy. The one baker I spoke with said Garvie forced them to come once a fortnight. Said he’d never come back if Garvie hadn’t forced him. He preferred Mull.”
“Why would one prefer to be isolated if you had a choice?” Maitland asked. “Mull has more resources, better hunting. True, the views might be better, but at what price? I’d stay on the larger isle.”
“Thane, what about his men? Second-in-charge? Any guards of his. Could they be part of this group?”
Thane thought for a moment and said, “Surely, it’s possible. They had nowhere to go and no coin, though they probably took everything of Garvie’s they could. Tamsin didn’t take anything of his.” He held up his hand as they approached the isle. “See, this is eerie to me.”
“Why?” Dyna asked.
“Because there are no signs of life. No boats, no torches lit anywhere. No animals. It won’t take us long to search the isle. There were only four or five structures and they’re all close to this side. The other is all forested coastline. Uninhabitable. If no one is here, no one is on Ulva.”
Maitland asked the question everyone was thinking. “Then where would they be?”
Thane’s gaze searched the surrounding sea, off toward Tiree and Coll especially. “I don’t think they would cross to Coll at night. They would have had to stop somewhere along the way, especially with bairns. They have to feed them somehow, give them liquids.”
“Another place on Mull? MacClane is building on this side of the isle.” Sloan looked back onto Mull for any sign of life past the area where most of the fishermen kept their boats.
