Page 16

Eli

Eli had been pacing at the top of the parapets for the longest time.

She was never away from Alaric for long, but it was important that he completed this task on his own, much as she hated not to be there to protect him.

That made her smile because Alaric always viewed it the other way around—he always protected her.

She let him think that, though she knew better.

Pausing to listen, she thought the sound of horses’ hooves were a distance away. She leaned over the parapets, staring at the three horses coming up the path. She saw her husband first and waved, a sigh of relief coursing through her. How she adored the man.

Then she looked at her grandfather in the back, but he didn’t ride like her grandsire. He rode more like Sloan Rankin.

Confused, her gaze went to the third horse, noticed it was Broc, but someone was in front of him.

Grandsire. She let out a wail when she saw the blood and noticed he wasn’t moving.

“Is he dead?” she screamed as loud as she could, knowing everyone would hear her but she didn’t care. “Is Grandda dead, Alaric?”

Her husband shook his head, so she raced down the stairs to the gates that had just been lifted, the three horses going straight to the keep steps.

She ran behind the animals shouting, “What happened?” It was time to get her emotions under control. Aunt Brenna had warned her many times that when it came to the worst injuries, she would have to throw her emotions aside and act like her patient was not someone she knew.

But Grandsire? Could she do it?

The courtyard filled as Alaric dismounted and shouted to Eli. “Get your needle ready. You have to sew him up. Go ahead of us, Eli. He needs you. We’ll bring him in.”

Maitland was out the door next, cursing. “Shite. Who did this?”

“Glenna,” was all Broc could get out. He was exhausted but so wound with fear that he kept going.

Maitland said, “I’m taking him, Broc.”

“Nay, I have him.”

Uncle Connor came up behind Maitland. “Let him go, Broc. You’re about to drop from exhaustion. We’ll get him inside. You got him here and that’s what counts. We’ll take him. Follow us in, and you and Alaric will tell Eli what she needs to know, then you’ll leave him be.”

Broc said, “Nay, I can’t leave him.”

Uncle Connor came behind Broc, stopped him by grabbing his shoulders, and said, “Hand him to Maitland. We’ve got him.”

He handed Logan over to Maitland and said, “His side. His sword side took the slice.”

Maitland took Logan from him while Uncle Connor took Broc’s shoulders and led him inside the keep. “You’ll sit in the chamber and drink. Alaric will talk. You did well getting him back here. I can see that it was a struggle. And Sloan wouldn’t have escorted you back for no reason.”

Eli motioned them to the healing chamber, looking at her husband first, then Broc. They were both ready to drop, if she were to guess. Alaric kissed her cheek and said, “You can do this. Love you, El.”

“You are hale, husband?”

“Broc and I are fine. Fix Logan. He’s lost a lot of blood.”

Eli nodded, then pointed to the bed, and Maitland settled him on it the best he could.

Aunt Kyla appeared in the doorway. “Broc! What happened? You look awful. And Logan?”

Uncle Finlay said, “I’ll get Gwyneth.”

“I’m fine, Ma. A drink, if you please.”

Maitland let out a whistle and said, “All quiet. Whoever was with him when it happened, tell Eli the exact details, then we are all stepping out. Kyla and Dyna will help you, Eli.”

Broc took a quick swig of a goblet that was handed to him, then swiped his hand across his mouth before he spoke.

“Logan went inside and met with Glenna and Kelvan. K and Kelvan are the same. When we left, we walked out the front of the keep and across the drawbridge to go around the curtain wall to the back. Glenna was hiding in a hidden section in the wall. Came out before I could stop her, sliced Logan’s side before he could draw his weapon.

Alaric and I stemmed the bleeding enough before we got him in the boat. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Alaric, anything you wish to add?”

“Just that I can’t believe Broc was able to keep him on the galloping horse for so long.”

The door opened and Finlay held Gwyneth in his arms. “Oh, Logan. Glenna?”

Broc replied, “Aye. My apologies, Gwyneth.”

Maitland said, “Everyone out. Get Alaric and Broc something to eat, Kyla. Then we’ll meet in my solar. Many thanks for escorting them back, Sloan. Get yourself a drink too.”

The group exited and left Gwyneth with Kyla and Eli. Dyna came in and said, “I brought a basin of water to clean the wound, Eli.”

Gwyneth tugged on Dyna’s hand and said, “He doesn’t look good. Send a messenger for his brother and Brenna too.”

Dyna nodded and left. “I’ll tell Avelina.”

Eli set to her task, removing Logan’s tunic and cleaning the wound with Gwyneth’s help. When she was ready to sew him up, Logan’s eyes opened and he said, “Don’t give up on me yet, wife. Eli, don’t be timid. Just sew it.”

Aunt Kyla said, “You are drinking this, Logan.”

Aunt Brenna had always insisted on giving her patients water that had been boiled, something her mother and grandfather had taught her. Everyone told her it was foolish, but she insisted.

Gwyneth, being very familiar with Brenna’s practices, asked, “Boiled earlier?”

“Aye,” Aunt Kyla said. Logan drank it before Eli set to her task.

“I love you, Grandda.” She pierced his skin and began sewing.

He never made a sound.