Page 31 of Kranow (Brides of the Mylos #4)
Marley looked out the window of their small plane as it flew out over the Atlantic. She thought back to what Kranow had told her just days before. She ’ d been agog to hear that the device held evidence that Jerome Shaw, O ’ Hannigan ’ s personal assistant, had planted the incendiary device. He ’ d been injured when the fire from the initial explosion triggered a second explosion from the kitchen area. Serves his ass right. But why did he do it? She rubbed a hand across her forehead. Whatever the reasoning, she had faith that the Mylos would uncover it. In the meantime, she had the rest of her honeymoon to enjoy and she ’ d be damned if she let anyone get in the way of that.
She glanced over at her mate, taking in his rigid posture. She reached over, clasping his hand in hers. He flicked his eyes towards her, his mouth grim as he tried to reign in his deep misgivings about the human aircraft with its glass windows. She resolved to ask if they could experience the ferry ride to Oban and have a shuttle craft pick them up from there instead of taking a flight back when it was time to return. She found the flight thrilling but it was apparently very much an Achilles ’ heel moment for her otherwise brave warrior.
She squeezed his hand reassuringly as the pilot informed them they were coming in to land and a quick glance out the window showed them flying over small islands. Then they were approaching the beach and before she knew it, her hand was being crushed as the small craft ’ s wheels gave a series of small bounces as it landed upon the sand.
“ We ’ re here, ” she said in a strangled voice as he released her hand.
“ Yes, it appears we have made it without incident, ” Kranow concurred. “ He glanced at her hand as she flexed her fingers and grimaced. “ I apologize. I had not realized that my grip was quite so firm. I merely meant to reassure that we were going to be fine. ”
She gave him a wry smile. “ We ’ re fine, apart for my hand which I ’ m sure will be right as rain in a few minutes. But, I think for the trip back to the fleet, it might be nice to ride the ferry to Oban and have a shuttle pick us up? ”
He nodded. “ It would give us yet another memory, of sailing upon the sea. Perhaps it will also be less fraught with anxiety for you. ”
“ Less anxiety would be good, ” she agreed.
“ I would certainly prefer to try a different conveyance, ” Yartle said, unbuckling himself from his seat and standing up to face them.
“ I found it quite fascinating. These are actual glass viewing ports and they have no anti-grav boosters, ” the other agent, Krilit, said. “ The pilot has been well trained and the vehicle is well maintained. We were in no actual danger. ”
“ I think I still would prefer the ferry, ” Marley said. “ Even if it ’ s just so I can say I ’ ve done the sailing and the flight. Who knows when I might ever get the chance again? ”
“ True, ” Krilit agreed. “ It would be yet another experience to have had. ”
The group fetched their carry-on bags and made their way carefully down the steps onto the beach. Marley clapped her hands when she saw the baggage claim area. “ Look, Kranow! The claim area is at a bus stop! ” They followed the crew as they carried baggage to a bus shelter edifice which was marked as baggage claim. In place of seating, it held a rack for holding luggage.
“ I ’ ll go pick up our vehicle rental, ” Krilit said, disappearing into the small building. He reappeared moments later, keys in hand, and pointed to an electric Renault in the parking lot. “ That one ’ s ours, the clerk said. ” Moments later, the luggage was in the trunk and they were driving away from Barra Airport.
Several minutes later, the Sat Nav led them to a large circular road. “ Hey, look, ” Marley said. “ Doesn ’ t matter if we go left or right, the road ends up in Castlebay. ”
“ The road goes around the island in a circle and runs through the middle of Castlebay, ” Krilit said. “ It was the first thing that caught our attention when we looked at the map to familiarize ourselves with the island. ”
Of course it was.
“ Would you like to visit the castle out in the bay tomorrow? ” Kranow asked her.
“ Oh, yes, can we? ”
“ We can, ” he affirmed.
Marley bounced excitedly in her seat. “ I ’ ve always wanted to see a real castle! Even if it was just a ruin. This one isn ’ t though, right? It ’ s intact and we can walk around inside. ”
“ Yes, though we must catch a boat to visit it. ”
The car entered the outskirts of Castlebay, Kisimul Caste in the bay easily spotted much to Marley ’ s delight. The car continued through the village and along a rise before turning down a side road. Marley was surprised to see a croft acting as a campground with several cars and campers parked. “ Wow, they must have brought those campers across on the ferry! I bet that was expensive, ” she said musingly. A loch came into view and the car slowed before turning into a graveled drive, pulling up alongside a traditional Highland dormer cottage. A newer, smaller traditionally styled cottage was behind it, a short distance further down the drive.
The car came to a stop and Marley looked about expectantly. “ This is it? Do we have the keys? ”
“ I was told a Mrs. Roberts would be meeting us. It appears she may be late, ” Kranow replied, getting out of the car and turning his head to look about.
“ There ’ s a woman from the house at the bend waving at us, ” Yartle said. It soon became apparent that this must be Mrs. Roberts as she was clutching two sets of keys in her hand.
“ Sorry ' bout that, ” she panted, her face rosy from exertion. “ I thought I had time to get me washing out on the line before ye came. I ’ m Jane Roberts, if you need anything at all, just come knock on me door. ” She held the sets of keys out straight in front of her. Kranow relieved her of them. “ That set there is for the big cottage, ” she said, her hand darting forward and touching a set of the keys. They ’ ve got the yellow tag, see? T ’ other is for the small one. Not that we bother all that much with locks here, but visitors always want the keys. I ’ ve put some basic things in, but you ’ ll need to go get most of yer shopping done yerself. There ’ s a Co-Op in Castlebay. ”
“ I ’ m sure we ’ ll find it, ” Marley reassured her before surprising herself with a large yawn.
“ I ’ ll just let you settle in then. You ’ ll be ready for a nap, I expect. There ’ s fresh sheets on the bed, ” Jane sad before turning swiftly and hurrying back to her own cottage.
“ Mmm, bed sounds nice, ” Marley said sleepily. She was all too happy to follow Kranow into the first cottage ad burrow her face into the fluffy softness of the master bedroom ’ s bed pillows. She never even noticed when Kranow brought in their luggage before climbing into bed behind her.