Page 36 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Eva

So far, all had worked out exactly as they’d hoped. Eva was with Sandor and Tora in one boat with two of their captors while Sloan was in the other boat with Maeve, Grant, and Lia, also with three men. She and Sloan were both at the end of the boats, easy enough to slip over the side.

Their captors busied themselves with the view of the large galley ship in the distance, which helped their escape plans because they paid them no mind.

Sloan had fashioned two loops of cloth from the dirty blankets to hold Sandor and Tora close to Eva’s body when she climbed into the water with them.

Tora said, “I can swim. Sandow swim with you, Evie.”

She prayed Tora could keep herself above the surface until she was able to get in the water with Sandor. She noticed people on the beach, praying they were from Thane’s castle, but Sloan, Maeve, and the children blocked the view of Eva in the water, something she needed, before the men in the boats noticed them. Dyna was on the far bank observing, if Eva guessed right.

The plan was for Sloan to start a disturbance to distract the men so Eva could slip over into the water. Maeve was petrified of a rocking boat, but she’d tied Grant to her chest the same way Eva would do with Sandor.

As soon as the boat stopped to await the approach of the larger boat, Sloan pointed to the farthest boat and told them it was sinking, his planned distraction, and then nodded to Eva. She set Tora in the water and grabbed Sandor, slipping him inside the tight loop and climbing over the edge to drop into the sea, her breath hitching at the temperature change.

She took Tora’s hand and pulled her close, slipping the loop over Tora’s head and chest, then Eva rolled onto her back, swimming for all she was worth, one arm after the other reaching over her head and keeping her kicks underwater as fast as she could, hoping she had enough time before the men noticed.

The boat erupted into chaos, men shouting and arguing, about to jump after her when Lia shouted, “Do not dare go after them!” She stood in the boat and raised her arms, a giant black thundercloud appearing out of nowhere, lightning shooting through the air, one bolt hitting a tree not far away.

O bellowed, “Let her go. We have the faery and the lad. We don’t need them!”

And all the men sat down again, but the boat rocked, and Maeve screamed.

Eva kept swimming, talking to the bairns. “We’ll be fine. I bet someone is swimming straight toward us.”

“Watew wocking,” Sandor said, enjoying the swim. “Wawm too. Gwandda comeen.”

“Just keep your mouth closed, Sandor. I don’t know who is swimming this way, but I bet you know them. Mayhap it is Grandda.”

Sandor waved at some unknown person, but Eva ignored him. “Can you see, Tora? I hear someone swimming from behind us.”

“Aye, is Mama. She’s coming.”

Eva swam as hard as she could, another boat approaching that she guessed would be Thane and his men, so she kept her strokes steady. When she heard Dyna’s voice, she nearly cried. “Eva, Maitland and I are coming up behind you. Keep swimming until we are next to you.”

Eva waited until they sounded closer, then she stopped and treaded water, knowing she was losing steam, but she stayed strong, pulling Sandor out of the fabric loop just as Maitland approached and took the lad from her.

“I have him.” Maitland grabbed the boy who didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the situation.

But the men on the boat saw them, and arrows flew across the water, missing by a great deal. Eva was pleased when she caught sight of Eli firing back, hitting one of the men who then fell into the water with a loud splash. She managed to get Tora out of the loop and handed her over. “Dyna, take Tora, and I’ll go back for Grant.”

Maitland said, “Nay, you take Sandor, and I’ll go.”

Dyna grabbed his shoulder. “Nay, Maitland. You know a female would be safer. They are watching you now. They’ll kill you on your approach. They aren’t paying Eva any attention at all.”

Connor approached from behind them and shouted, “She’s right. They aren’t watching Eva. She’s a stronger swimmer than I am, and she’s nearly back at the boat already. Get the bairn in, Maitland, before an arrow hits him. That’s my grandson!”

Maitland did as he was told, so Eva continued to swim wide, heading to the other side of the boat where no one was. She still had the loops around her. She couldn’t handle both Maeve and Grant, but she could get the bairn away while Sloan handled Maeve.

Thane’s boat was nearly there just as all chaos broke out, one boat rocking so that it nearly tipped over. Maeve screamed again, but that helped Eva to know exactly where she was. Reaching the side, she tugged on Maeve’s gown and whispered, “Hand him to me. Maitland’s coming. Until then, stay near Sloan. He’ll save you.”

No one paid them any mind, because Thane’s boat had connected and the sounds of swords clashing and grunts of pain rang out over the water, sounding like the largest battle ever. Maeve sobbed but handed Grant to Eva, helping her to get him into the loop on Eva’s chest. She kissed her son’s head and said, “Go, before he slips from my hands. There’s water in the boat, and we’re going over.”

Eva kicked away, struggling with Grant a bit until she calmed him, but then Lia handed Maeve something and said, “I found it. The Norse use it to keep their head above water. Hold on to it and go, Maeve. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Maeve glanced over the boat’s side and froze. “I can’t.”

Eva treaded water, holding Grant’s head next to hers with no problem. “You have to. If the boat tips over, you’ll get knocked in the head. I’ll keep you up, and Maitland will be here soon. I promise. He and Connor are nearly here.”

Maeve shook her head. “I can’t. Go with Grant, and tell Maitland I love him.”

Eva kicked away because she saw Lia come at Maeve with a force, and Grant’s mother flew over the edge, landing in the water with a splash and a scream, but she held the device tight and came bouncing up.

“Get her!”

O stood in the boat and ordered men to jump over, but Lia raised her arms above her head and a creature rose from the depths below. It scared the hell out of Eva, its body sluicing through the water faster than any ship she’d ever seen. She moved closer to Maeve so the poor woman wouldn’t panic and managed to grab her gown, tugging Maeve along next to her the best she could. They moved around the side of the boat and toward shore, kicking so hard she nearly cried.

The creature’s head looked like a giant snake and its tail cut a wide arc next to the boat, finally whipping into the vessel and overturning it, sending all its occupants into the water.

Eva swam and swam as men shouted, swords clashed, fists crunched, and blood stained the waterway. What the hell was she seeing? Maeve sobbed but kept her head above the surface.

And to scare the hell out of Eva even more, Sloan’s face popped up from underwater, but she’d never been so glad to see anyone.

“Eva, do you have him tight?”

“Aye, but grab Maeve, she’s panicking.”

With two strokes, he was next to her. “Maeve, I’m here. I’ll support you.”

Sloan took one arm and wrapped it across the top of her chest, sliding his body underneath her to lift her head above the water. “I’ve got you, but don’t fight me or you’ll take us both down. Relax, Maeve.”

Connor’s voice called out, “We’re coming. Dyna and Maitland are almost to you. Hang on.”

The creature came up out of the water again, and Grant laughed, waving to the reptilian monster.

What the hell was happening?

Maitland appeared between Sloan and Eva. “I’m here, Maeve. Who shall I take?”

Sloan said, “Neither one, Maitland. Grant is safely tied to Eva, so swim next to her until she can touch. Maeve is calm with me, and I’d rather not move her. Too much fire and chaos to stop.”

Maeve said, “Maitland, I’m fine. Sloan and Eva saved us both.”

Connor and Dyna swam on either side of them and Dyna said, “Da, are you watching your nephew and the creature?”

Connor said, “I noticed. He’s enjoying this, is he not?”

Dyna said, “A wee bit too much, I think.”

Maitland looked around and asked, “Where’s Lia?”

Eva said, “She was still on the boat when we left.”

Dyna whirled around in all directions before continuing. “I don’t see her in the water, but I wouldn’t worry about her. I think she’s controlling everything.”

Maeve said, “She pushed me in the water before the creature appeared. I haven’t seen her since.”

Grant pointed at the creature and said the first word they’d ever heard from him, “Wia.” Then he giggled again.

“Wia.”