Page 45

Dyna

The next morning, Dyna led the group down the staircase after spending some time on the parapets, not liking everything she had learned.

Avelina and Sylvi had gone with her, and while she didn’t think Sylvi had interpreted everything the same as she had seen it, she was quite certain that Avelina knew everything.

Everything.

Avelina had stopped her, conferring at the top before they went below stairs. “They aren’t going to like this.”

Dyna sighed. “Nay. But it makes perfect sense. They will have trouble accepting the truth of it, but everyone will understand. Grant has been unsettled ever since they were taken. Maeve said he hardly slept last night, and she’s beside herself with worry over the sweet bairn.

” And she knew exactly how difficult it was to see your bairns be kidnapped and held away from you.

There was no worse feeling in the world.

“My son will be wild and so will Drew at the mention of it.”

“Lina, we are not here to force anything. Remember that we will tell what we learned. It is up to them to do what they wish with the information.” Dyna took both of Lina’s hands in hers and nodded.

“We do what we must, and they’ll decide.

But I fear Kyla and Alasdair are depending on our help, however we do it. ”

Logan bellowed from the gathering around the hearth. “Stop your planning and get down here, Dyna. We need to know what you know.”

Dyna said, “We’re coming. I just wished to see if Avelina saw what I did.” She approached the group around the hearth—her parents, Uncle Finlay, Broc, Drew, Merryn, Alaric, Emmalin, and Maitland. Maeve was feeding Grant in the tower.

Dyna moved over to join Derric, who came in the door. “Simone will be here shortly. I can see them on their way.”

Her father said, “I wish to hear what you two learned before Simone arrives. Then we can compare it to what they discovered.”

Avelina nodded to Dyna, giving her the opportunity to tell all. “They are all hale. Lina, if you saw anything different, please stop me. Kyla is kept in one spot while Alasdair is with Lia and John. At least for now.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Logan asked.

“Are they in separate holdings?” Uncle Finlay asked.

Broc added, “I was hoping Alasdair would be with Mama so he could help free her. I considered him an asset.”

Dyna glanced at Lina who nodded to her.

“Stop that, you two,” Logan barked. “No secrets. Just tell us.”

Lina said, “Alasdair is going to be moved to Kyla’s chamber.”

Connor thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t understand. Why would they do that?”

Dyna looked to Lina again. She sighed and said, “I’ll not hold any secrets. Alasdair told Kelvan he was Broc. He was taken away from John to go to Kyla’s chamber.”

Emmalin bolted out of her chair. “Please tell me they don’t plan to cut off Alasdair’s hand.” She covered her mouth and then fell back in her seat.

“We saw no indication of that, Emmalin. Have faith in Alasdair. He had a reason to tell them he was Broc.”

“What reason?” Broc asked. “That’s a foolish move on his part.”

Dyna and Avelina stared at each other, and Logan barked, “Hellfire, here we go again.”

Tora ran over to her grandfather and climbed up on his lap. Everyone quieted to listen to the wee seer, her movements obvious now. She cupped her grandfather’s face and said, “Gwandda Alex tole him to find his lassie.” Then she hopped down and ran back to the other bairns playing.

Emmalin got up and paced. “Oh, this is too much for me. Ghosts, seers. Oh my. Alasdair, John, Lia, Kyla. We have to find them soon. I cannot bear this. What else do we know? Where exactly is Kyla? How far before Alasdair is with her? And is John still safe?”

“This is the problem. We couldn’t determine exactly where they were. There was no building, no cottage or castle. We have no hints as to where they are.” Dyna looked at Lina who nodded her agreement.

“It was quite vague.”

Connor cursed under his breath. “Hellfire. We don’t know the area that well.”

The door opened and Simone entered, Artan behind her.

Logan stood and said, “Tell us what you learned.”

Brenna came out of the kitchens and handed goblets to both Artan and Simone. “Refresh yourselves first. The old goat can wait a few moments.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at Logan and smiled.

Logan slapped his hand on his forehead. “Brenna, is it not time for you to go back to Ramsay land yet?”

Brenna leaned down and kissed Logan’s cheek. “When I’m ready, I’ll go and not before.”

Simone took a few sips of the warm broth, then sat in the chair Broc offered her while he moved to stand behind Merryn.

“I’ll tell you all we learned, then see if it matches what Aunt Avelina discovered.

They’re all in the same place in Drimnin, but they’re in an underground holding of some kind.

The entrance is hidden and will be difficult to find.

I gave this information to the messenger at Lochaline, and he left right away. ”

Connor said, “Perfect. Many thanks for that effort. So pleased to hear our men were waiting for you. Anything else?”

“Glenna slept in a large chamber in Mingary with only one maid. A few guards were at the drawbridge. No one at the water’s edge.”

“That’s it?”

“Other than the fact that Glenna lies and twists everything to her benefit? It’s your fault she lost her hand, Logan. Blames it all on you and blames her grandfather’s death on Kyla. She didn’t appreciate the truth as I told it, but she learned not to disagree with me.”

Logan snorted. “Wish I’d been there to watch that. I’m betting she was convinced before you took your leave.”

Artan only smiled.

Maeve came out of the tower chamber, Grant whining and wiggling in her arms, reaching for something. “Wia.”

Maitland got up and took his son, kissing his head before finding the plaid to wrap him to the front of his chest.

Emmalin said, “He hasn’t been happy since John was taken, has he?”

Maeve tugged on her hair, “He slept terribly and so did we.”

Maitland paced with the lad; sometimes he would smile and then he would cry. “He’s always been such a happy lad. Do you think he’s teething or something, Aunt Brenna?”

“He’s a bit young, but possibly. I showed Maeve how to feel his gums.”

Maeve just shook her head.

Logan said, “Back to our problem. Does anyone have a suggestion on how we can find where the hidden holding is? Do we need to get Sloan and Lennox to help us?”

Artan said, “They are not going to know where something is if it was built into the ground near Drimnin. It’s pretty isolated and there is lots of land—forests, hills, no inhabitants.

It’s lush with overgrowth and animals. It could be anywhere.

Without landmarks, we’ll never find them.

Our only chance is to get the men at Mingary, if they are still there, and have them lead us to it. ”

“What about Glenna?”

Simone snorted. “Anyone ever met a wise Buchan? Because I surely did not. What a lying fool.”

Logan snorted again.

No one answered.

Simone drawled, “And you never will see a wise Buchan. Glenna only knows her name and her enemies. Believe me, I tried my best tricks to get her to reveal all she knows, but she revealed naught. And I believe she knows naught.”

Connor began to pace. “Did you see anything else, Dyna? Was there anything in your visions? Anything we could use to find this holding?”

Dyna stared at Avelina who shook her head so subtly that she hoped no one saw it. Fortunately, Tora interrupted everyone’s thoughts, their gazes all following her path back to her grandfather. She tugged on his plaid and said, “Up, Gwandda.”

Her father picked up her daughter, Dyna nearly in tears watching the two together. “Gwandda, Gwant knows.” Then she slid down to the floor again and ran.

Maeve screamed, “Nay!”

They all stared at her.

“Nay, Grant is a wee bairn. He does not know where John and Kyla and Alasdair are. Lia will save them all. They do not need him.” She teared up as she tugged on some loose strands of hair, wrapping them around her finger. “Nay, just nay,” she whispered.

Broc strode over to Maitland and said, “Walk that way.”

Maitland walked away from the door and Grant cried. The farther away he moved, the louder he cried. Maitland glanced back at Broc, who said, “Now, walk toward the door.”

Grant stopped crying and kicked his legs, giggling. He pointed to the door.

“Nay!” Maeve moaned, her tears now flowing down her cheeks. “Maitland, please.”

Broc went over to the door and said, “We have to test this out, Maitland.”

Maeve yelled, “Do not leave here with our child, Maitland Menzie.”

“Maeve, I promise we won’t leave the gates, but I have to know. We’ll be right back.” Maitland adjusted his son before going outside, grabbing another plaid to cover him with. “Broc, open the door.”

Dyna came up behind Maeve, hugged her, and took her by the hand. They followed Maitland and Broc along with Avelina, her father, and Uncle Finlay.

If Maitland moved toward the gate, Grant squealed and kicked his legs, swinging his fists with joy. “Wia.”

If Maitland turned back toward the keep, Grant screamed and cried and kicked furiously until his father turned back around. Maitland gave Maeve a look that said he was sorry. “I wish it weren’t so, Maeve, but it is. I don’t understand what their connection is, but it’s there. You can’t deny it.”

They neared the closed gate just as a green light approached the castle. Everyone stopped as the gates opened, and Lia strode through. The fear coursed through Dyna as much as Maeve, if she were to guess.

“Nay, Lia. Nay. He’s not going. He is too young to go to battle.

” Maeve walked backward as she spoke, her hands fisted.

“I don’t care if he does have Grant blood in him.

” Then she did the oddest thing. Maeve tipped her head back and screamed, “Da! Nay! Please. Mama, convince him it shouldn’t happen. ” The tears covered her cheeks.

“I’m not here for Grant, Maeve.” Lia strode over to her and took her hand.

“Then who?”

“Grant will not be hurt, but it will surely torture you when he goes. Maitland will handle him just fine. But I’m sure it will be difficult for you.”

“Who are you here for then, Lia?” Maeve asked.

Everyone held their breath.

“I’m here for you, Maeve. We’re going too.”