Page 55 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Lennox led the way off Grantham land and they headed back to Clan MacVey, not slowing to chat.
When they neared Dounarwyse Castle, Taskill said, “You’re worried about Mama.”
“I am. Dermot is unstable. I would wager she’s not here, and we are headed to Rankin land next. Although looking at the activity near the gates, something is going on.”
They approached the castle and Lennox shouted to Jasper on the curtain wall. “Where’s Mama?”
“She’s not here, Chief. Sloan came looking for Dermot, and he’s inside with Eva. Your mother’s horse is here, but she’s not. I don’t know how she got past us.”
Lennox and Taskill entered just as Eva came out of the keep, frantic, Sloan directly behind her. “Where the hell is Mama, Lennox? She and Dermot are both missing. I don’t like this.”
Lennox dismounted and said, “Calm down. We’ll figure this out. Neither of them is young. If they’ve gone anywhere, theycan’t be far. She doesn’t even have her horse. How far can she go on foot?”
Sloan shook his head. “Don’t discount the craftiness of the two. My sire is capable of many things when he sets his mind to do it. But the last I knew, the two were not getting along, so that part bothers me most.”
Taskill gave Eva a hug and said, “I’m worried too. Dermot was here.”
“When?” Sloan asked, now holding Eva’s hand.
Taskill lowered his voice and explained, “Early this morn. Dermot was crying about Sheona, asking for Mama’s help. I did my best to overhear what I could, and these are my thoughts on it. The abbess asked Dermot if Sheona had been abused, and now he fears something happened because Sheona told the abbess she wished to take her vows.”
Sloan cursed. “Sheona said what? Are you sure you heard that correctly? Hell nay. She’s not going to be a nun. She doesn’t have the constitution.”
Lennox said, “Let’s go into my solar.”
The group moved inside, but Taskill couldn’t sit. This was too much to absorb. Sheona was in trouble, and his mother and Dermot were both missing.
Taskill repeated all he’d heard from Dermot and his mother. “Dermot was more upset than I’ve ever seen him. Did he speak with you at all, Sloan?”
“When he returned from the abbey two days ago, he seemed fine, but he headed straight to the parapets. I asked him questions, but all he would tell me was that he would go back for her in one sennight. That she’d agreed to stay, and he’d spoken with the abbess. Damn it all!”
“What?” Lennox asked.
“I can always tell when the man is lying. I knew something was not right with him. We need to send a search party out for them.”
“They’re not at Duart. We were just there,” Lennox said. “I’m not that worried. Without her horse, Mother would not have gone far.”
“That’s shortsighted of you,” Sloan said.
Eva said, “Mama is craftier than you think, Lennox. I’m worried now.”
“How far could she get on foot?”
The others all stared at Lennox, but it was Taskill who said, “Boat, Lennox! She snuck around back and climbed into a vessel with someone.”
“Oh, shite. I never thought of that. Mama doesn’t like boats.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Eva said, looking from one brother to the next. “But I don’t like the look on your faces. What else aren’t you telling me?”
Meg came flying in. “What’s happened?”
After Eva filled her in, she said to Lennox, “Out with it. You’re holding back.”
Lennox ran a hand down his face, then nodded to Taskill.
He closed his eyes and tipped his head. “When we were in the great hall at Duart, Tora ran over to her grandfather in her usual way and told him that bad men were after ‘Sona’ at the abbey.”
“Sona?” Meg asked.
