Page 31 of The Splendor of Fire
“Oh, why. Because these five men are part of a team that makes up the Beithir.”
She drug one finger across her palm and mouthedwhat.
He repeated her sign for what, then began his explanation. “You know that my sobriquet is the Beithir. Perhaps you’ve heard the tales.”
Moira nodded. Father McElduff had mentioned it.
Hector looked at the men standing in the clearing with a look of pride. “What the islands and highlands don’t know is that our escape from Lochindorb took all of us here. We are the Shield. The first defense against the Wolf. Together we infiltrate his territories to cripple him before he can strike the Isles nations. By using our combined talents, we bring the fight to the Wolf and push back against him on his territory, keeping our citizenry protected here at home.”
Hector put his hand out and gripped the shoulder of a gangly young man with a shock of red hair and the fuzzy beginnings of a red beard. “This is Chief Iain MacLeod. He lives on Skye, on the other side of the mountains at Dunvegan.”
Everyone on Skye knew the tragic story of Iain MacLeod and how he’d become chief. Yet she hadn’t realized that Laird MacLeod was still so young. She cradled an invisible baby in her arms and rocked it back and forth, signingbairn.
The circle burst into guffaws of laughter and she grinned, pleased that she had made them laugh.
Iain’s accent was so thick Moira had trouble understanding him. “Ooo ha ha, verra funnae. Shut yer geggies and awa’ wi’ ye.” Every man mimicked a baby in their arms and Iain’s face went red as his hair.
Hector put his arm around Iain. “Iain sailed us like a mad man to get us around Mull and up Loch Linnhe when we realized where Cara had been taken. He’s the best seaman in the Islands. Because of him we made up half a day’s journey. I’m also told he’s quite good with a spear, though I’ve no’ seen it for myself yet.”
Wanting to give the young lad a boost, she scooped inward, turned, then pushed out swiftly, creating a mighty wave.Sea.
The men mimicked the sign and repeated the name. Iain’s chest puffed out. “Aye noo thas more like et.”
Hector motioned and a muscular man about her same height stepped forward. “This is David MacKenzie, high chief of the clans that form Chattan. He guided us through the snowy December mountains and got us safely to Lochindorb and back. Without him we would have never been able to get through the passes at that time of the year. He also gave us safe passage through the Chattan territories, which can be quite hostile to outsiders.”
David’s hair was shaved to his scalp, his dark beard groomed against his face, and his body wide with mountains of muscle, as thick as rock. Mountains. Rock. She made two fists and knocked them together mouthing,Rock.David mimicked her motion, his highland brogue creating a burr in the word. “Rrrock. I like that.” The group mimicked her sign.
Hector paused and rubbed his neck remembering the next piece of the story. “You know that Léo was injured helping us escape.”
It was a story Léo hadn’t shared. She shook her head, and motioned from her lips outward.He didn’t tell me.
Hector explained. “Lochindorb is a curtained keep, set in the middleof a loch, about a fifth of a mile from shore. Léo and I have been battle bonded in over a dozen battles and skirmishes, so he volunteered to climb the curtain wall and infiltrate the fortress with me. We painted ourselves in seal grease and swam to the island, then climbed the walls and entered through a window.”
Seal grease. The sticky substance lingering on his skin the day he arrived at Cràdh.
“Once we located Cara, the guards made chase. We fought together and managed to get to the water gate, and had just made it to a boat when the guards caught up with us. Léo shoved Cara and I away in the boat and ran back into the crowd of guards. Because of him we had a sliver of advantage to get away. We wouldn’t have made it without his sacrifice. He saved us, and Eamon. He’s the reason we’re alive. Léo is not just brave, he’s selfless. He’s…my brother.”
Chills rose on her arms and her infatuation once more rattled the chains on her heart. Her hand went inside her leine and she withdrew the heavy gold necklace, then holding her hands out, she curled her fingers toward her palms like claws.Lion.
The others copied the gesture, all traces of mirth gone and concern on every face.
Hector moved between Calum and Murdoch and put a hand on each man’s shoulder. “When Cara and I made it to the shore, three boats of pursuers were following us. Murdoch waded into the water and took down two boats of men as swift as the wind. Calum took Cara and ran, giving her a head start. They’ve been a team since I came to Mull, restoring order in this clan and working together to heal our territory.”
She pointed to Murdoch and positioned her fingers as if she had an imaginary ball between them, then rotated her poised hands in opposite circles away from each other.Thunder.She pointed to Calum and created the cloud and zigzag.Lightning.
A rumble of approval rounded the group as they mimicked her signs.
Hector moved in front of her. “Chieftain Angus MacKay is the greatest tracker in Scotland and the Islands. When we were searching for the path they used to abduct Cara he found it, and the routes the Wolfuses to exit Lochindorb. It is how we knew where to escape and not be detected. Once we fled, he followed behind and disguised our trail.”
Moira looked around but didn’t see him.
“I’m here.” A soft, deep voice sounded in her ear and she jumped.
The men laughed as she clutched her thudding heart. He had appeared from nowhere as if he were a ghost. There was nothing remarkable about the man except for his height, and eyes that were nearly the same honeyed shade as Léo’s. Instead of the handsomeness of Léo, Angus looked a bit mad and disheveled with long scraggly hair, and ghostly angles to his face. She held her left arm parallel with the ground and moved her right hand beneath, extending her fingers up.Shadow.
Iain bristled. “Och. That woon’s better than mine.”
She pulled her mouth into a line and signed bairn.
