Page 123 of The Splendor of Fire
It was her letter to Léo. He’d found it. That’s why Léo had signed her name, and that’s why they were calling her Aileen now. He knew. They all knew.
She nodded.I am A-I-L-E-E-N. Not M-O-I-R-A.
Hector wiped his nose. “Aye. I know exactly who you are, and so does Lachlan. You’re Aileen Lorna MacLean. You were born on February 2, 1352, in Gaodhail, on the Isle of Mull. Your father was Iain MacLean and your mother was Shona Morgan. They loved you very much and mourned you until the day they died. Your favorite food is mussels, and you cannae go tae sleep without a light on. At least, you used to. You’ve always been our wild lass. Always tagging along with us so you didn’t miss a thing.”
Mussels. Her favorite dish. Emotion clogged her throat, her hands beginning to shake.The only thing I can remember of my family is my father carrying me up the stairs when I had fallen to sleep. I remember his big shoulders. And I remember his black spirals of hair.
Hector and Lachlan looked at each other. Lachlan swallowed hard, struggling to keep his voice steady. “Lass, our father had spirally hair, that’s true. But his hair was red.”
Feeling as if she had just watched a gold coin fall into a loch, her heart dropped. Of course, it couldn’t be true.
“Hector takes after our grandfather, Malcolm, who had black hair. It was Hector who used to stay up with you and tell you stories until you fell asleep. Hector who would pick you up and carry you to bed each night and leave a rushlight for you. You were inseparable.”
But he would have been only seven or eight years old then. Not as large as my da.
Lachlan chuckled. “Aye. No’ quite as big as Da, but much bigger than an average eight-year-old, and bigger than me at twelve. He was already over five-and-a-half feet tall.”
Aileen barked with silent laughter and investigated Hector’s face, the feeling of always wanting his approval suddenly making sense. Her heart had recognized him when her mind had not.You’re the one who carried me to bed?
Hector sniffed tears away. “Every night for almost a year. You thought the monsters were afraid of me cos I looked like a meanie.” He laughed and wiped his eyes. “You called me Toad because I was so ugly I scared the banshees away. Of course you wouldnae have known me as Hector.”
Sobs escaped her throat and she laughed, amazed that her brain had clung to this tiny character trait from her youth. Toad, her first sign-name. One of her favorite nicknames for anything ugly or repulsive.All this time I’ve been with you—you were my brother?
He nodded.
Without hesitation she jumped into his arms, laying her head upon his strong chest. He closed his arms around her and rumbled with laughter.
Hector was her brother. Her brother! She had two brothers. And a mother, and a father. A middle name, and a birthday. They knew who she’d been and could tell her anything she wanted to know. She had a family. She belonged to someone. Many someones.
How, God? How have you loved me this much to bring them back to me?
Hector sniffed. “The day we sailed to Staffa to steal the MacKinnon treasure you popped out from under the oilcloth. I wanted to take you back, but it took us all day to row there. Lachlan didn’t want to give up and go back without even going in. We fought, and while we were occupied, you fell out of the boat right at the mouth of the cave and went under fast, just like the guard you pushed. I’m so sorry, lass. I’m sorry. If I hadn’t fought with Lachlan, you never would have been lost. Iwasnae paying attention like I should’ve been. You were my special girl, and I let you…I let you…”
Lachlan’s hand came to her back. “It’s me that should be apologizing. I’m sorry I started the fight with Hector—that I took everyone out on that tiny rowboat all the way to Staffa. I’m sorry, lass. I should’ve known better. I always have been stubborn. It’s why you called me Donkey.”
Toad and Donkey. The names of her long-forgotten brothers. That’s why the names Hector and Lachlan had meant nothing to her—she had never used them.
Aileen pushed out of Hector’s arms and dabbed the tears from her pummeled face with her sleeve.You two are mad. What can be done about it now? We were children. I’m not angry with you. I’m O-V-E-R-J-O-Y-E-D I have you. Besides, I finally stole the MacKinnon treasure.
All three of them laughed, and she wrapped her arms around her brothers, finally feeling whole.
Calum shivered. “Och. Those eyes. Seeing all three of you with them is unnerving.”
Aileen pointed to the boats on the horizon.That’s more unnerving. Let’s go. I’m sure Léo has already landed. I’m starving. Does anyone have a bannock, or something I could eat?
All three men gave her the same worried look.
What is it?
Hector fidgeted in the pouch on his belt and handed her a handful of dried meat. “Here, it’s venison. Come on, let’s go. We need to hurry.”
She took it and began to eat, and Calum handed her a skin of water, the same worried look in his eye.
Something’s wrong. What is it?
They trudged up the pebbled shore heading toward Dun Ringill, all conversation coming to an abrupt halt. Finally, she stopped.
Tell me what’s wrong or I won’t move another inch.
