Page 7 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Avelina

Avelina Menzie leaned against her husband, still as strong as ever, his heat warming her as she tugged her scarf tighter around her neck. “I know the weather is still quite warm, but not on the boat.”

Drew pulled her in closer, wrapping both arms around her in a hug, grinning. “I love having you this close. When do you hold still for this long except when you are cold?”

“So true.” Her breath caught as she watched the landscape come closer as they crossed the firth, heading toward Craignure and the Isle of Mull. “I cannot wait to see Maitland with their new son. And I just adore Maeve. She will be the perfect mother.”

“He deserves every bit of happiness coming their way. I’ve already heard that the isle is wonderful. Lots of fish and deer, good clans, and the castle they say is finely built.”

“I’m so excited. I hope Connor and Sela are still there.”

“You never know who you will see around Clan Grant.”

“Or Clan Ramsay. I wonder where my brother has gotten off to.” Logan was one of the two brothers who remained since Quade’s passing many years ago. “I hope Gwyneth is still with him. I worry about him. Where do you suppose they went?”

“Probably to Edinburgh or even London to find a strong healer.”

“Better than Brenna or Jennie?” She glanced back over her shoulder at her husband. There were no better healers, in her opinion.

“Mayhap he’s found one of the doctors who’ve come from Europe. I’ve heard of them.”

“Only the best for his Gwynie.” She leaned back against the railing, the narrow seat as cold as the wind. “Oh!”

“What, Lina?”

“I’m not sure. Just a moment.” She blinked several times because sometimes she feared her eyes had aged enough to deceive her. The clouds had begun to change, rolling quickly over the mountains on the isle, darkening, the wind now picking up.

The captain of the ship yelled below. “The wind is buffeting us in the wrong direction. Keep rowing. I have to pull the sail down. We must hurry. I don’t like those clouds.”

“Neither do I,” she whispered to herself, but Drew heard her.

“What is it?”

“The clouds. They remind me of the day when Alex came out of the mountains, the time of the sapphire sword. Those are ominous clouds, the kind I’ve only seen twice in my life. Oh, Drew.”

“What are you saying?”

Avelina stood, tugging her husband with her to the other railing so she could see better. But what she saw was not good, and what she felt was worse. “There’s an aura, a type of warning from the heavens. The gloomy yet menacing forces behind it, the kind I cannot control.”

“But what does it mean, Avelina? Tell me it’s not about Maitland or Maeve or their bairn. Please.”

“I can’t tell what it means. I can only tell you one thing.”

“Do tell. Please.”

“It’s hovering over Duart Castle.”

“And?” Drew asked, holding his breath.

“We better get there soon. Someone at Duart Castle is going to need our help.”

“Your help. I can do nothing when it comes to your special talents, Lina.”

“Nay, but I need you there to support me. Between Dyna and me, we’ll find out what is happening. I’m certain of it.”

“Can you stop it?”

“I don’t know, but I will fight with all of my being.”

A sudden gust sent the ship rocking, the rain suddenly coming down in sheeting waves of a pulsating force she didn’t like.

“Captain!” Drew yelled. “Do something!”

“Get below deck!” the captain yelled to the half-score of passengers. “Take your things with you. This will not let up, and it’s dangerous up here.”

Drew tried to push Lina over to the stairs to head below deck, but she shoved his hands away. “Nay, Drew. This is about our son or our grandson. I’ll not allow this to happen to him again! I’m staying here!”

She shoved away from him and threw her arms up over her head with a scream of fury, her head dropping back so she could stare at the clouds above. “Nay, nay, nay! Not now!”

The boat rocked back and forth, the captain grabbing her arm, but she pushed him away. Avelina chanted and prayed and begged for assistance. “Angels above us, I beg for your help now. I beseech you to bring us to the port safely and to send the ill-omened clouds of doom to another place.”

Drew came over and stood behind her to support her, the rocking of the boat and the winds nearly knocking them both over. “I have you, sweet Lina. Help them,” he whispered while the storm buffeted them back and forth. Her arms swayed and moved rhythmically, and as if lifted by an unknown force, the boat propelled toward the port, docking in less than a few moments, the pelting rain stopping as soon as they tied off.

Avelina fell into her husband’s arms, exhausted from the battle she’d just endured with unknown forces. “I’ve got you, Lina. Come. We have a grandson to meet.”

Avelina kissed her husband’s cheek and said, “I can’t wait to get to know Grant.”

“Is that what they are calling him?”

“I think so. We’ll see.”

They gathered their things and headed up the incline to the small village. He found the local stable and paid for a horse to take them and their belongings to the castle. They were halfway there when they saw six horses approaching from Duart Point.

“Who is it, Drew? Is it Maitland?”

They approached the group of horses, pleased to see familiar faces. Drew said, “Aye, I see Maitland with a wee lad strapped to his chest, a bald head sticking out, just like our wee ones. On one side is Connor Grant and the other side is Dyna. I think Alasdair and Broc are behind them. And the last horse? Saints above, I think it’s your brother Logan, with a wee lass riding in front. Golden-haired. One of Dyna’s daughters, possibly?”

Lina studied the group, pleased to see it was indeed her brother and their youngest son. Maitland looked as happy as she’d ever seen him, his bairn carefully protected from the weather, riding against his chest. The Grants all looked strong and intimidating, but that wasn’t what caught her attention.

“You see Maitland, aye?” Drew asked.

“I do.”

“And your brother?”

“Aye.”

“Then what is it? I know something else has your attention.” Drew had learned to pick up on her strange auras.

Avelina patted his arm. “Aye. It’s a good thing.” She’d keep telling herself that, no matter what else she thought. “The lass with my brother.”

“Dyna’s lass?”

“Nay.”

“Then who?”

“Alexander has his own angel. Her name is Lia.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The wee lass. Do you not see the rays from heaven surrounding her?”

“Nay, I see naught.”

“I do. She’s an angel. A guardian angel. She’s here to protect our grandson.”

From what, she didn’t know. For now, she was grateful to see the tiny warrior, her powers shining around her. They had a grandson who was indeed special.

And a wee angel sent from the heavens to protect him.