Page 11

Broc

The next afternoon, Broc grabbed a meat pie from the sideboard and strode over to the group near the hearth.

Alasdair and Emmalin stood chatting with Gwyneth who was seated, enjoying a goblet of wine.

Dyna came down the stairs carrying Sandor while Tori and Sylvi followed.

“All rearranged, Emmalin. We have you set up in the larger chamber. The housemaid moved all your belongings.”

Sylvi said, “I helped.”

Tora said, “Me too.”

Connor and Logan came in from outside, arguing about who was the strongest swordsman in the lists.

A serving lass set a platter of fruit and cheese on the sideboard with a pitcher of wine, and the group grabbed what they wanted and settled around the hearth, some standing, some sitting. It would be a couple of hours yet before the evening meal.

Laughter and boisterous chatter echoed through the hall until Tora ran over to Connor, climbed up on his lap, cupped his cheeks, and said, “Pay ’tention, Gwandda.”

Then she hopped off her grandfather’s lap and raced over to Alasdair and repeated herself.

Connor paled, and the group quieted as Sandor got up from his spot on the floor with his toys and began to race in circles, Tora doing the same in a different direction.

Alasdair glanced over at Connor, then moved over to Emmalin and gripped her hand. “Come,” he whispered. “I’d like your opinion on this. Listen carefully.” Then he leaned over to the lad. “Sandor, what are you doing?”

It became so quiet that they could’ve heard the pitter-patter of a mouse scurrying across the chamber. All eyes were on the two wee ones giggling and running in odd paths around the hall.

Just like before.

Sandor giggled and waved his arms. “Stop, Unca Shakie. Stop ticka me.” Sandor would stop and wave his arms, then take off running again, giggling uncontrollably. Every once in a while, he would pause, his wee hands pushing against an invisible force. “Stop, Unca Shakie.”

Emmalin whispered to Alasdair, “Unca Shakie? As in Jakie?”

Alasdair nodded. “We think so.”

Uncle Connor said one word, “Tora.”

“’Tis Gwandda and Uncle Jakie again.”

“But I’m here, Tora.” Connor’s gaze locked on the two bairns in front of him, his elbows resting on his knees.

“Nay, Gwanda Alex ticklin’ me.” She stopped and pushed both hands against something.

Sandor howled with glee and shouted, “’Top, Unca Shakie.”

Connor stood and strode slowly over to Tora, then Alasdair and Emmalin did the same to Sandor.

Connor said, “Tell me what Grandda Alex wants, Tora. Tell me. Why is he here?”

Tora stopped and tipped her head back, looking up in the opposite direction at nothing. “Gwandda says be caweful. Twouble coming.”

Alasdair stood still, Emmalin behind him with her chin on his shoulder. She whispered, “Jake, I wish to meet you sometime. I adore your son.”

A sudden breeze of mint leaves blew her hair away from her face and she smiled.

“What, Da? Why are you here?” Alasdair asked.

Sandor stopped and made a fist with one hand, shoving it in one direction, then the other. Alasdair whispered, “What does Uncle Jakie say, Sandor?”

“Unca Shakie says keep da bwue sord cwose. Shon need his sord.”

Broc moved closer to the group, then looked from one face to the next, not understanding what the entire situation was, but he’d heard that Alasdair believed his deceased father could speak through Sandor. Was it happening in front of him?

Then Sandor stopped and waved at the door. “Bye, Unca Shakie.”

Tora said, “Bye, Gwandda.”

No one spoke, but the door opened and another five people entered. Connor rattled off a list of names and said, “In the solar now.”

Broc was shocked to be called among the others, but he followed the group inside, still wondering what he’d just observed. He couldn’t wait to hear everyone’s interpretation.

Broc sat in the back of the solar, glancing from one person to the next. Uncle Connor, the two chieftains—Dyna and Maitland—Logan, his parents, and cousins Alasdair, Alaric, and Eli. The gathering alone told him that something big was about to happen.

Once everyone had an ale in hand, Maitland motioned to Dyna, and she shut the door.

Then the two stood in front of the group.

Maitland started, “Based on what we just saw and heard, we have trouble coming. Broc, I want a full retelling of all that you saw and heard at the MacLean holding. It has to be related.”

Broc straightened in his seat. “Kelvan came in a galley ship with six men. Wanted his daughter returned. According to Tristan MacClane, his sister Nara was married to this man Kelvan, who came through and massacred an entire village in the Borderlands, including Nara and the MacClane parents. This was almost a year ago. Kelvan stole anything of value and left. Tristan was at Clan MacLean when it took place. Nara gave her infant daughter to their younger sister Merryn to hide when she saw Kelvan and his men coming. Merryn and Shealee were the only survivors. When we told the story of K and his attack on Mull, Tristan and Merryn both believe Kelvan to be the man we know as K.”

Logan asked, “Seven arrived. How many left?”

Broc replied, “Three. Kelvan and two guards. Buried four. Said he would be returning for Shealee, which is why we brought the two here. Kelvan also threatened to take Merryn as a plaything. She’s terrified of him.

She actually witnessed Kelvan thrust his sword into her sister’s back, killing her within moments. ”

Eli added, “I’ll add that Merryn said she’d never let him touch Shealee.

She’s fiery, but she’s not skilled in any combat.

She was learning archery from someone known as Simmy, who lives on Iona but comes to Mull for the deer.

I’ve asked Grandmama if she knew her, but she’s playing innocent.

Says she has no idea who she is. Grandda? ”

Logan smirked but shrugged.

“Who is she, Logan?” Connor asked.

He deftly changed the subject. “It’s time for a visit to Kilchoan.

I’d like to meet Kelvan, or K, myself. I’ll ask him directly if he’s missing a daughter.

Kyla, what do you know of Glenna? Finlay, did you ask Fergus?

” Finlay’s brother Fergus was married to Davina, Glenn of Buchan’s only daughter.

The couple had no sons, so Glenna could not belong to them.

“Aye, I spoke with him,” Finlay replied.

“Apparently, Glenn had a son he kept hidden from all. The youngest son was sent to live with Glenn’s brother when the trouble started.

He didn’t want his bloodline totally lost. Davina said her brother took over the castle a decade later, married, and had three daughters.

Two have left and married, but Glenna is the odd one.

Tried to convince King Robert that she deserved Ramsay land and the castle, but he sent her away.

So now she’s angry at our king and all the Ramsays.

How she met up with Kelvan, no one knows.

Are we sure he’s the same man as the one at the MacClanes? ”

“We won’t know until we ask. I’m going to give Glenna what she wants. Time to meet the bitch. Who wishes to go with me?” Logan stood and moved over to the door.

Connor said, “Logan, you shouldn’t go without a force of two score or more.”

“Nay. One-to-one this will be. I wish to meet the two without warning, see the true situation there. How many. Their weaponry. Their ships. You’ll never know unless you go unannounced.”

“You can’t go alone, Grandda,” Eli said.

“I’ll take two. Any volunteers?”

Alasdair said, “I’ll go.”

“Emmalin will skin me.” Logan stopped to shake his head at Alasdair. “Nay. Who else? And I’m not risking my neck being slashed in the middle of the night by a Norse princess, Connor. You’re out too.” Connor’s wife Sela was Norse.

Dyna giggled, but said, “Nay for me. Not with the three bairns.”

Broc said, “I’ll go.”

Alaric said, “Me too.”

His mother said, “Broc …”

Logan turned on her before she could finish her sentence.

“He’s old enough and one of the best swordsmen here, Kyla.

I need him. He and Alaric and Eli are the only ones who saw Kelvan, and I wish to know if K and Kelvan are the same man.

I have to bring Alaric or Broc to uncover the truth.

Are we fighting one person or two? And Broc is not married either, so no wife will cut my throat in the middle of the night.

Broc’s coming with me and Alaric, if Eli agrees. ”

Eli said, “Me too.”

“Nay,” Logan quickly barked at his granddaughter. “You’re staying back. No couples going together. This is a Buchan we’re dealing with, and no Buchan is trustworthy. Even Davina tried to bring harm to Torrian.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” Maitland called out.

The door opened and a serving lass said, “There’s someone who wishes to see you.”

A small golden-haired figure moved the serving girl out of the way. “Pardon me, but I must speak to someone.”

Maitland took one look and said, “Shite.” He fell into a chair and waved for Dyna to take over.

“Who are you here for, Lia?” Dyna asked, her voice trembling.

“Where’s the new lass? I’d like to meet her.” Lia smiled and folded her hands in front of her just before someone shoved her to the side and bolted into the solar, throwing himself into Logan’s lap.

Dyna whispered, “Shealee. She’s here for Shealee. That’s a good thing in my eyes.”

Magni whimpered, “Protect me, Grandsire?”

Logan wrapped his arms around the lad and whispered, “With my life.”

Broc shuddered, an uncontrollable force overtaking him. He had the oddest feeling that no one knew how close to the truth Logan’s statement would prove to be.

Logan said, “We leave on the morrow.”