Page 33 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)
Sloan
When Sloan finally had Eva warmed up and calmed down, he said, “Come. We have to try to find the bairns. We need to go wherever they go. Maeve will never be able to save them on her own. We can help.”
“Aye. Give me my axe and I’ll tuck it away.”
“Only if you promise me not to use it here unless it’s saving a life. We’ll need it on the boat. You know we can swim to shore, and the group will be watching from the coastline somewhere. Sylvi told them to, so all will be well. No trouble until we are on the boat. Then we’ll have plenty of help when the two boats wait to meet the larger boat.”
“Agreed. But I would feel better if we could find them. Let’s see if we can. But how are we going to get out?”
“The key is on the wall. We’ll have to find a way to get it off the nail.” Sloan got up and wiggled the wooden door to test its strength. “This is a weak door. I could probably kick it in rather than waste time trying to get the key.”
“But will the noise draw them down the stairs?”
“Nay, when they brought me in, no one was upstairs or down here. They were all near the boats with crates of different weaponry. That’s all I saw.”
“We don’t have much time,” Eva said.
Sloan smiled and took Eva by the waist and set her aside. “Then allow me, my dearest.”
And with one kick, he broke the door, giving them the ability to turn the handle and get out. He took her hand and escorted her out, then said, “Wait here while I look through the windows of the other doors.” There appeared to be four separate chambers or cells, whatever they were used for. They could be sleeping quarters or prisoner cells.
“All empty. Show me where you went.”
The underground passageways were dark and very damp, and they had no idea what time of day it was. They crept as quietly as possible, closing two doors behind them without making a sound. The other passageway was exactly like the one they’d come from.
Sloan pointed to one side. “You look in those windows, and I’ll look into these.”
But as they drew closer, they both heard movement and whispering in the last cell. Sloan held up his hand to stop Eva, then crept down and peeked in the window.
Sandor waved to him.
He found the key and unlocked the door, Eva joining them. “Oh, thank the Lord,” Maeve said. “Are we free? Is Maitland behind you?”
Sloan sighed and said, “Nay. We were both captured for sneaking around outside, but together we will make a stronger force against them. Let me tell you what we learned, Maeve. Avelina and Dyna saw that you were being held on Ulva. Lia told Sylvi that you would be moved by boat and told Maitland to be in front of Thane’s land to watch for the boats midday today. They will be there.”
Maeve closed her eyes and whispered, “I hope so, because I cannot swim, and small boats scare me. If we tipped over, I wouldn’t be able to save Grant, and Sandor can’t swim either.”
Sloan and Eva both sat on a pallet. “Then let’s think of how we can do this. I have no weapons, so I can’t fight with anything but my fists. Eva has one axe that we are saving. So, let’s say this. If you think the boat is going over, come next to me, Maeve, and I will hold both you and Grant up. Eva can handle Tora and Sandor. Lia, can you swim?”
“Of course.”
Eva said, “I can tie these blankets on me in such a way that I can slide one of the bairns inside. Sloan can wear one too. We’re both strong swimmers, Maeve.”
“I can swim too,” Tora said. “Maeve, do not fear. Eva and Sloan belong togethew so they will save us.”
“What?” Maeve asked.
Tora pointed to Eva and Sloan. “They are one. Stwongew togethew so they work togethew, and all will be well.”
The wee lass delivered a punch in his gut unlike any he’d ever received before. Sloan stared at Eva to gauge her reaction, but Maeve spoke first. “They do belong together, I think.”
Eva peeked at him with a look that nearly did him in. He’d known his feelings were strong for her, but her next words sealed his fate.
“Sloan does belong with me, Tora. You are right.”
Sloan fell in love with Eva all over again, just from the smile she gave him. It was a smile of hope, of promises, of certainty. She’d faced down a nasty earl and a cruel attacker and yet she could still smile in the middle of adversity. He loved her with all his heart, so pleased with her that he nearly burst with pride. But he forced himself to focus on the important events at hand.
Maeve nodded and said, “I think you should tie one on me too in case I go over with Grant. I won’t have to worry about him if he’s tied to me.” Maeve began to cry, but her tears stopped quickly when the door opened and three men entered.
The man known as O said, “You found your way here. Makes it easier for us. I’m moving all of you, splitting you up into two boats. Then you’ll be moving to a larger boat in the middle of the sea. Then we’re off to a much bigger island. If anyone fights me, I’ll throw the bairn overboard.”
Maeve gasped and tugged Grant tighter to her. Sandor climbed up on Sloan’s lap and Tora found her way to Eva’s lap, neither saying anything.
O looked at Sloan. “In fact, I thought of killing you, but I could use an extra man with some strength. The lass I can sell with the bairns, but you? I’ll keep you for your brute power.”
Sloan was about to respond to him about selling people but thought better of it. He feared they might leave him behind or put a sword in his belly, and he surely did not want either.
O crossed his arms and tipped his head to the group. “Which one of you is the faery?”
Lia smiled sweetly and said, “I am. I will go with you willingly if you free the others.”
“You will grant me my wish when I am ready. And nay, I’m not letting the others go. What power does the lad have? And is it the wee one or the other one?”
He looked from Maeve to Sloan and then to Eva. The two other men snickered. Sloan was glad to see that Eva’s attacker was not one of the three men in front of them, or he would have had to use his fist on the fool. No one spoke.
“Fine. You don’t wish to answer, then I’ll find out myself.” He reached for Grant, but a flash blinded them all and his hand jerked back. “What the hell! Something burned me. It was like a bolt of lightning shot through me.”
No one said anything except Grant who giggled uncontrollably.
“You wee piece of shite. Give him to me.”
Maeve said, “Nay. Leave us be.”
O moved over next to Maeve and said, “Fine. Then I’ll take you, you whore. You two are both coming with me, then I’ll figure it out on my own.”
He touched Maeve’s arm, grabbing her, but Grant let out an urgent squeal.
O jumped back, the skin on his hand smoking from the burn. “You bitch. You burned me!”
He swung his hand up in an arc aimed at Maeve, but Sloan caught his wrist, and Lia said, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The laddie burned you twice. If you touch any of us again, it will be worse. Can you not see it in the lad’s face?”
Grant scowled, his gaze locked on the man’s hand that had stopped in midair. O’s hand turned a deep red, and he shoved at Sloan, then the other two, and all three ran out the door, locking the door behind them.
“I’m never touching either one of them again. Get me the hell out,” O said. “Leave them here until we ready the boats. Then we’ll return for them.”