Page 68 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“I need to get another fur on it as protection after we move the chest.”
She hurried to the other side of the solid trunk and helped her husband move it over in front of their one window. It took them a bit to maneuver it with the furs, but they managed. Once it was in place, she breathed a sigh of relief, grabbing one of Derric’s tunics to wipe up the rain on the floor. Once she sopped everything up, she let out a low whine, grabbing her head.
“What is it, Diamond? Who is it?” He lifted her up into his arms, cuddling her close.
“Derric, check the bairns. I have a powerful headache. Something is happening.”
Derric set her down and helped her out of their chamber and over to the balcony so they could both look into the hall to see that all was well.
Maitland left the chamber, then returned quickly. “Mama’s got a sudden headache.” He glanced up at the balcony. “Dyna? What’s wrong?”
“Headache.” She cradled her head with both hands as she let out a low moan.
Derric picked her up in his arms and headed down the stairs.
“The bairns, Derric. Where are they? I can’t see right now.” Her voice came out in a strained tone they rarely heard from her, but the pain was so outrageous that it hurt to speak.
“All three are in front of the hearth, though I’m moving them back. The flames are dancing from the wind.” Her father had already gotten out of his chair and approached the bairns. “Move back. Sylvi and Tora, if you move back, Sandor will move back.”
But Sandor got up and ran in circles around the great hall, giggling and slapping at something.
Her father whispered, “Nay, not again.” He glanced up at his daughter to see if she’d noticed Sandor’s behavior.
Sloan pushed himself to standing. “What the hell does all this mean?” He spun in a circle, staring at Dyna and Sandor and Connor.
Lennox said, “The two seers have headaches, and Sandor is chasing ghosts again.”
“Bloody hell!” Dyna roared. “My head!”
Drew entered with Avelina in his arms. “Dyna? You too? Her headache is horrible.”
Her father stood in the middle, looking from one place to the next, uncertain what it all meant. “Dyna?”
“Just make sure the bairns are away from the fire. I don’t know what is happening.”
Drew set Avelina into a chair near the hearth. “It started so fast that I didn’t know what to do.”
Avelina moaned as she held her head. “Water. I need water.”
Tora ran over and tugged on her grandsire’s plaid. “Up, Grandda. Up!”
Dyna whispered, “Nay …” Now it was Tora too. She knew what was coming, sadly.
Her father lifted Tora into his arms and gave the sweet lass all his attention. “What is it, Tora? Tell me everything.”
Her hand cupped his cheek and said, “The boat bwoke.”
She pushed to get down, but Connor held firm. “Whose boat, Tora? You have to tell me who is in the boat.”
“Sona.” Then she shoved away and hopped down.
Her father then went after the youngest of the bairns. “Who is chasing you, Sandor?”
“Unca Shakie chaseen me aden. ’Top it, Unca Shakee.” Then he paused, grabbing his belly and giggling. “He tickle me.”
“Uncle Jake, what is it?” Dyna bellowed. “Help me, please!”
Sandor stopped and stared up at the rafters. “Unca Shakee say bad men chaseen Sona.”
