Page 26 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Sloan

Sloan rubbed his head, the headache from whatever brew they were given unrelenting. Eva looked as though she was trying not to fall apart, Maitland was about to succumb to sheer panic, and Dyna sobbed, Sylvi in her arms while she leaned against Derric.

“Not again, Derric. And Sandor too.”

Derric said, “But Maeve is with them. And Lia too. I don’t know what faeries can do, but I’m going to believe that she stayed by his side for exactly this reason. She knew someone would come for him, and she wasn’t about to be left behind.”

Magni said, “And Tora scares them too.”

“What? Explain that, Magni,” Dyna said.

“Because she sees things. Tells them what she knows just like she does here. Then they get scared and leave her alone. She told the other man before that she knew what was in his pocket. He never touched her again.”

Derric smiled. “That’s our girl, Diamond. They’ll be fine. Maeve and Lia will protect them all.”

Maitland came over to take a seat as soon as Connor returned. “Get everyone together so we can plan our attack.”

Maitland’s parents had come down the staircase, their eyes wide. He filled them in on the details, and his mother hugged him. “Nay, Maitland. Not Maeve and Grant.” He switched seats, giving his mother the chair. “But do remember what the lass told you. That light would prevail over the darkness. She knew this was coming.”

Drew said, “We should have come down for the meal, but we were both overtired.”

“Da, I’m glad you and Mama were above stairs. I didn’t have to worry about you two, and Mama can help. Have you seen anything about it, Mama?”

“Nay,” she whispered. “Has Dyna?”

“Not yet. Once we discuss everything, we’re going to make a plan.”

Avelina lowered her voice, but Sloan could still hear her. “Remember, I believe Lia is an angel so she will protect all of them. And once the discussion ends, I’ll speak with Dyna.”

Eli let out a shrill whistle and everyone came running in to gather around Connor in the center. Maitland said, “Please. We have to do something, Connor.” His parents stood behind him. “I cannot do nothing and wait.”

Avelina said, “Once everyone calms down and I find out what we’ve learned, Dyna and I will go on the parapets to see what we can uncover with our visions.”

The last two to enter were Broc and Logan from the cellars. “Quiet, everyone,” Logan said. “We’ve uncovered how they were able to get inside past the guards. They came by three galley ships. There’s a door to a tunnel in the buttery. We followed it out, but we were too late. However, we learned a few things. Broc, tell them what you heard.”

Broc stood in the center of the hall. “We could hear sounds from a boat but couldn’t see it. Then at the last moment, two boats left shore and headed down the Sound of Mull, both toward Craignure and Kilchoan. Logan followed them to see what he could find out, but I could hear another boat. I ran in the opposite direction and pushed through the bushes until I could see the vessel. It was a good-sized galley ship—I would guess eight rowers. As it shoved off, I heard a scream, and a woman, who had to be Maeve, ran to the edge of the upper deck and shouted, ‘Ulva and Coll. We’ll end up at Coll.’ Then she was grabbed and shoved below.”

Maitland grinned. “That’s my lass.”

“But she said at Coll. What does that mean?” Lennox asked.

“She doesn’t know Coll is an island. Probably thinks it’s a village.”

Connor said, “That makes sense. So we need how many groups?” Then he stopped and said, “Maitland, I hope you approve, but I’m going to pass this over to the three men who know the area best. Lennox, Sloan, Thane. Tell us about the isles and how best to go about this.”

Maitland nodded, his face more hopeful.

Lennox looked to him, so Sloan explained, “Imagine Mull is a big rectangle, then Ulva and Coll are both islands off the opposite corner from where we stand in Duart. Since Loch na Keal is in the middle of Mull, the best way to those isles would be to head toward my land, and there are a couple of routes between MacVey and Rankin land to take you toward Ulva, which is almost due west of where we are now. Ulva is a short boat ride across Loch Tuath while Coll is a much more difficult boat ride across the rougher waters of the sea. They are taking the long way around, or the way least traveled, and will probably stop at Ulva for a night or two before attempting to cross over to Coll. Then, from what I’ve learned, they could go to Kilchoan or be sold directly from there.”

“Sold?” Maitland asked.

“Bairns can be sold to Mideastern groups or Europeans.”

Maitland ran his hand down his face and began to pace. “Boats, Rankin. Who has them? How many groups do we need?”

Sloan looked to Thane, who said, “The first group should head straight to Ulva. I have three boats to take us there. It’s a small isle with less than a score of livable buildings on it. Coll can be reached from my land or from Rankin land. Definitely weather dependent, though, as it’s imperative to check the roughness of the sea. Ulva is more protected and much closer to Mull.”

Sloan said, “Take one group to Ulva, another to Thane’s to be ready for the boats, and one to my land to watch. Have two of the groups ready to head to Coll when the weather is right. But the group from Ulva can also report back and assist at Thane’s. Hopefully, we’ll never have to travel to Coll. If we can find them on Ulva, it will be ended quickly.”

Lennox said, “I’ve heard mention of three groups. What say you, Ramsay? Grant? Any input?”

Connor looked to Maitland and said, “What do you wish to add, Menzie? Or Dyna?”

Dyna looked to Derric, who said, “We’ll go along with any advice. One of us will stay here, one will go to Ulva. Doesn’t matter who we go with.”

Logan said, “Send Dyna. We’ll need archers. Derric, you can defend here, especially now that we’ve found the tunnel. Odd no one discovered it before, but MacDougalls are wise.”

Connor crossed his arms in front. “What say you, Maitland?”

“I’ve asked my mother and Dyna to try to see what they can learn, then I’ll go with the first group to Ulva. My lass told me where she was headed, and I need to be there. I don’t wish to waste much time—I’ll be ready to leave in half the hour. I’ll be in the first group because I cannot sit and do naught. Thane, you’ll give us a boat? I’ll take Dyna and whoever else wishes to go with me.”

Thane said, “I’ll go. I know the isle best. Only two more, one archer, one swordsman.”

Logan said, “Eli and Alaric. Ready yourselves. The rest of us will plan the other two groups and the one to stay here. One more to MacQuarie land and one to Rankin land. We’ll gather over here to make our plans.”

Connor said to Logan, “You decide. I’ll go wherever you send me. Sela, Astra, and I will go to the kitchens in the meantime to prepare food to send along. I want to speak with the serving lasses too. We have to be prepared.”

Sloan moved along with Lennox, Eva between them. He couldn’t have been more surprised when she said, “I’m going to Ulva.”

Sloan said nothing, waiting for Lennox to speak. “Eva, you have no skills to help.”

“Is Meg going?”

“Aye, the way she throws her axe, I want her with us. We’ll go to Rankin land with Sloan. She’s proven her value.”

“But I learned how to throw an axe too.”

Lennox took his sister’s hands and said, “Eva, I love you dearly, but you are too emotionally involved to go with us or with the other group. Do you know how to get to Ulva? Know you anything about the isle?”

“Nay, but it’s small. Thane said it was. I’m not asking to go to Coll. I wish to go to Ulva.”

Eva’s fury was not hidden at all. Sloan ran his hand up her back but said nothing. “Lennox, could she travel with us? Or she could be in my group that will head to Coll once we see the activity there?”

“Nay, I forbid your involvement at all, Eva. I’ll drop you off along the way. Meg and I will go to Rankin land, so we’ll see you home.”

“I’m going to lie down. I feel dizzy all of a sudden,” she whispered.

Lennox turned to Gwyneth who was seated by the fire. “Is there a place where Eva could rest for a wee bit until we head back to our land?”

Gwyneth said, “Our chamber. It’s the door next to the kitchens.”

“My thanks,” Eva said.

Sloan followed her along and once she was at the door, he said, “I apologize for your brother, Eva. But mayhap a rest first is a good idea. Is there anything I can get for you?”

She shook her head and said, “Many thanks. I’m tired.”

She stepped inside and closed the door.

Sloan turned around and looked at the group and all that was being planned. Yet he had the oddest feeling that Eva wasn’t happy with her brother’s decision.

He’d wager she was going to follow along behind her brother’s group once they left MacVey land. But he had another sudden question.

Where the hell was Rinaldo?