Page 20

Merryn

Two days after the attack, Merryn sat at the table, working on her letters, when Broc came in from the lists, working hard on his sword skills. She’d never known anyone who worked as hard as he did. He grabbed an ale and moved over to take a seat next to her.

Kyla and Dyna were by the hearth watching the bairns: Sandor, Tora, Sylvi, Lia, Shealee, and Magni. Shealee’s giggles were like music to Merryn’s ears. Every once in a while, the lass would run over and set her head in Merryn’s lap, but then she would run back to her new friends.

It was almost as if the lass recalled losing her mother and feared losing Merryn too.

Logan hung on, fever raging through him so badly that some thought the worst. Gwyneth hadn’t left his side, and Eli only came out when she needed to eat or get a hug from Alaric. Eli carried their first bairn, a wee mound to her belly, and Alaric protected her as if she were a bairn herself.

“How are your letters coming? We can work on it again later, if you like.”

Merryn glanced up at Broc, the man who was causing all the oddest feelings inside her that she didn’t know what to think of.

Except that he surely grew more handsome every day. Was that possible?

“Just a moment, Merryn. I have to tell Dyna something.” Broc turned around and strode over to the hearth.

Merryn’s gaze locked on his swagger as he made his way across the hall. “Mama, Dyna, I noticed a line of horses headed in this direction. It could be Aunt Brenna.”

Dyna jumped up and clapped her hands. “Oh, thank the Lord above. We need her poultices and potions.”

The door flew open and everyone jumped. A large man filled the doorway. Tall with massive shoulders, he had dark hair nearly to his shoulders and a full beard. “Where’s my brother?”

“Uncle Micheil!” Eli flew across the hall into his arms just as a tall, thin woman stepped in behind him. Micheil moved back and took her bags and her arm to support her.

“Aunt Brenna! We’re so glad to see you!”

Avelina flew down the stairs and people popped in and out to greet the two. Broc had explained the elders in the Ramsay family to Merryn. Quade had married Brenna Grant and, as eldest, was the clan chieftain. Logan was next, then Micheil. Avelina, or Lina, was the baby of the family.

It was a joyous reunion except for Logan not being there. Avelina hugged the large man and said, “I’m so glad you came quickly, brother dearest.”

Broc greeted the newcomers, introduced Merryn, then said, “Mama, we’re going out to practice our archery. We’ll stay away until everyone is settled.”

Kyla greeted the newcomers, then turned back to her son. “That’s a great idea, Broc. Dyna, I’ll take the bairns to the courtyard and under the apple trees, let them run about a bit. It is busy, and the talk is going to be quite serious with Micheil and Aunt Brenna here.”

Astra chimed in, “I’m coming too!”

Magni and Lia followed.

Broc took Merryn’s hand after Shealee ran over to grab her. “Ou’side?”

Dyna shouted, “Kyla, inside the wall only. They cannot even peek through the gate. I don’t care how many horsies Sandor sees.”

The group headed out while others fussed over Brenna and Micheil, both anxious to see Logan.

Once in the lovely autumn sunshine, Broc said, “Mama, do you mind watching the bairns so Merryn and I can practice our archery a wee bit?”

“Aye, enjoy yourselves, Broc. Astra and Magni are here. They will help.”

“Many thanks, we won’t be long.”

“Go ahead,” Kyla replied. “We’ll be right here under the apple trees. I can sit on the bench, and they can play catch or pick the apples. Go have some time together.”

Merryn gave Shealee a kiss and said, “Go play with Lia and Sylvi.”

Sylvi rushed over and took Shealee’s hand. “Come, we’ll play save the castle.”

Then he turned to Merryn. “It is a beautiful day. A perfect day to shoot a few arrows.” Broc squeezed Merryn’s hand and led her over to the small archery target.

“It’s not the best, but there’s too much going on outside the walls.

Uncle Connor’s next group of guards arrived with supplies.

Aunt Brenna has tons of crates too. She is the healer we all look up to.

She’s the best in all the land, she and my aunt Jennie. ”

“And she is a Ramsay?”

“Aye, and a Grant,” he said, setting his sword down in the grass while he reached for a supply of arrows.

“It’s a great story. Logan kidnapped Brenna to heal his eldest brother, Quade.

Stole her away in the middle of the night because Quade was nearly dead.

She saved Quade and healed both of his bairns from an odd sickness.

She married him shortly after her clan forgave the kidnapping.

She’d spent a considerable amount of time healing the two bairns, and they fell in love.

Once Grandda forgave Logan, they married shortly after. ”

“Wasn’t he married if he had two bairns?”

“His first wife had already died. So, Brenna Grant married Quade Ramsay, and that was the beginning of the alliance between the two clans. Grandsire Alex loved Quade and Micheil … he got used to Logan after a while. Micheil is next in age, married Diana of Drummond, and Avelina was the baby. She has seer powers too, much like Dyna. You’ve met her. ”

“Is Diana the chieftain you told me about?”

“Aye, she is. We all love Micheil. He is the nicest and most helpful, always laughing. Unlike Logan. But Logan has special skills. Logan and Gwyneth were spies for the king for years. They are both amazing but verra different.”

A scream ripped through the air, and Merryn spun around to see strange men dropping ropes over the curtain wall, climbing down, and running straight for the bairns, weapons drawn and clashing with anyone they ran into.

“Shealee!”

Broc pushed her and said, “Get her. I’ll protect you.” He picked up his sword, swinging it at the first attacker, sending the brute’s weapon flying through the air and over the wall.

Merryn ran for Shealee but couldn’t reach her in time.

Someone grabbed the wee lass, and Lia followed.

Sandor ran toward Merryn, so she caught him and held on tight.

Sylvi ran screaming, so Merryn snatched the young lass just as a man reached for her, and Merryn kicked him in his bollocks.

He froze, the fury on his face there momentarily before he lifted his sword, but Broc approached, killing the man before he could use his sword or seize Merryn or either of the bairns.

Merryn watched as a man climbed the wall, Shealee held tightly in his grip. She wished to grab a bow, but to do so, she would have to let Sandor and Sylvi down. And what if she hit her niece by mistake?

As quickly as they came, the ones who were still standing took off.

But she got a look at the attacker who held Shealee.

Kelvan.

One look at the evil man sent so many emotions through her that she could only cling to the two bairns she had in her arms. The moment reminiscent of the time when Kelvan had killed her sister, shock and fear shot through her from the tips of her toes to the hair on her head.

Nausea, fear, anger, all fighting to be the strongest.

Yet she couldn’t move, paralyzed with fear.

The fear of the same sword piercing her own belly, of dying in an instant, of never seeing her family or her loved ones again. Of losing Broc or what could have been.

She should have been able to go after Kelvan, but she was frozen with shards of fear.

Fear of dying.