Page 28

Kelvan

Kelvan climbed out of the boat on the far coastline of Tiree, anxious to see his wee daughter. Shealee was a beautiful lass, and when he’d held her before, she’d always smiled at him, and he told Nara that she even tried to kiss him once. She’d been about three full moons by then.

Samuel strode next to him. “I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see you now, Chief. She was upset over the chaos of the kidnapping, of being moved to a new place. That’s all it was. She’ll be fine now.”

“I hope so. I plan to bring her back to Mingary so I can see her first thing every morn. She was brightest and sweetest after Nara fed her and changed her raggies. It was the best part of the day.”

Samuel smiled and trudged ahead, scanning the area as they moved closer to the cottage where the bairns were held. There were two older men watching over the five people, keeping the wee ones and the Grant woman locked inside and feeding them.

Kelvan nearly walked up to the door, but then Samuel held up his hand. “Our men should have just left. Allow me to enter first. One never knows who might be inside.”

“Of course. I admire your wisdom and your loyalty, Samuel, which is why I keep you around. The others are daft losers.” Kelvan was the most important of all. Why didn’t everyone understand that basic truth? He was the wisest by far. Everyone had to see that.

Samuel used the key hung on a nail and opened the door to the hut, then stepped inside and went down the passageway to the locked chamber, opening it finally before he called to Kelvan.

He was not surprised to see the four bairns huddled around the one adult, Glenna’s arch nemesis, the woman named Kyla.

Kyla spoke quickly, “Let us go now.”

Kelvan chuckled. “You are not in a position to give orders. I am, and now you will keep your mouth closed.”

“I’ll speak if I like,” she said, setting the child who was on her lap behind her. She pushed herself to a standing position. “Leave the bairns alone. I’ll stay willingly if you set them free.”

He settled his hands on his hips to stare at her. Aye, she had that foolish look he’d seen in some females, but ones who didn’t live long. He did his best to intimidate her, stepping closer and narrowing his eyes, but she didn’t budge.

So he promptly slapped her.

Twice.

And the bitch stood and glared at him. “You’re an evil man who has a foolish belief that he has the right to take whatever he wants.”

“And I do,” he proudly announced.

“Not for long. The Grants know who you are, and once they find you, it won’t be pretty.”

He laughed, tipping his head back.

“And what happened to Glenna’s sire, Glenn?”

Kelvan slapped her again. “Close your mouth. You’re naught but a worthless female.”

Lucky for her that wee Shealee began to cry.

He spun around and reached for his daughter. “Oh, my sweet. I would never hurt you.” He picked her up and kissed her cheek, waiting for the girl to realize who held her so she would stop her crying. “You are my sweet lass. I’d never hurt you. I’m Papa. Say it. Papa.”

The bairn screamed louder and shoved against his chest. “Mama. Wan’ Mama.”

“Mama is dead. You’ll never see the bitch again,” he said through gritted teeth. How he hated that woman.

Shealee began to kick and fight against him, so he raised his hand up to her, but Kyla grabbed it, stopping him. “How dare you hit a child, you cruel, weak bastard.”

He hesitated, realizing that he did not wish to hit such a wee one, but he’d hoped that striking her would put an end to her tirade.

Samuel must have been able to see in his mind. “Chief, bairns cry louder if you hit them.”

He tossed the screaming lass onto the bed and the three others cuddled her, the wee faery wrapping her arms around the child until she quieted.

He grabbed the faery’s arm, but it felt like it was full of nettles. He let go and nearly hit her, but the look on the faery’s face stopped him. She whispered, “You don’t recall the battle in the sea? The lightning, the creature?”

Turning to Samuel, he shouted, “What the hell is wrong with my daughter? Last I saw her, she adored me.”

Kyla said, “If it was more than a moon, she won’t remember you. Bairns don’t recall things for long. She’s already forgotten you.”

“She remembers her mother, and she died a year ago.”

“Nay, she remembers Merryn, not your wife. Merryn is Mama now.”

Tora said, “You killed hew mama a yeaw ago.”

“You shut your mouth too unless you wish for a slap.” He grabbed Tora by her tunic and lifted her into the air. Kyla tried to stop him, but Samuel held her back.

“You are the witchy one. Send me the coins that I deserve.” He twisted the tunic and Tora stared at his shoulder, her gaze locking on the fabric, and then she blew on it.

The arm of his tunic erupted into a blaze of fire.

“Och!” He dropped Tora onto the bed, and he and Samuel grabbed a fur and smothered the flames.

He backed up and said, “Samuel, send them a message. I’ll do a trade because I don’t want those two wee ones. I want the one with the special sword.”

Samuel opened the door, and Kelvan couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He nearly ran to the ship because he had a sudden fear of the witchy one and the other one with the golden hair. What the hell were they? Seers, witches, faeries? He didn’t know how to deal with any of them.

But he’d heard about the lad with the sword. “What about the sword? What did you call it, Samuel?”

“They call it the sapphire sword. It is said that it holds the power to bring the gates of hell up to thrash the wicked. And that whoever holds it is protected and directs the powers.”

“What powers exactly?”

“Of that, I’m not certain. It’s said it will protect the holder from any harm. So, the one who carries the sword into battle will be protected. But I also heard it will go against any evil forces in the land of the Scots.”

“Then why does a lad hold it? That doesn’t make sense.”

“It was held by a lass long ago, one who brought fields of men to battle over her heart, so they say. One man was about to gain it from her, but she raised it to the sky and the rains came down from heaven and gave the power to her allies.”

“Who the hell were her allies? Do you know?”

“Aye. The Grants, Ramsays, and the Menzies.”

Kelvan stopped before he was about to jump onto the ship. He spun around and bellowed, “Why did you not tell me this before?”

“I didn’t think it mattered. Glenna is fighting with the Ramsays. Is that not who she struck down?”

“Aye, she struck down Logan Ramsay. But the woman inside with the bairns? Do you know what clan she’s from?”

Samuel shrugged. “I thought Clan Ramsay.”

“Nay, fool. She’s from Clan Grant. Her sire is Alexander Grant.”

Samuel whistled. “Och. That’s the one who helped the lass win the sapphire sword. And Alex Grant gave it to the lad.”

“Who is the lad who has it now?”

Samuel sighed and took a step back before he replied. “Alex Grant’s great-grandson.”

“Shite.”