Thane took two bites of his meat pie and closed his eyes to savor the taste before leaning back in his chair with a sigh ofpleasure. “Brian may not have learned much, but I learned more than I expected.”
Brian stood up and said, “What? What did you learn from that world of no ones?”
His brother loved to be dramatic, something else he depended on. If he wanted someone to stir up the villagers, Brian could do it and do it well.
“I visit and ask questions. Mora, will you allow me to tell you what I learned without interruption?” He took another bite and a sip of ale while he waited for her to accept what he asked.
“I’m ready, Thane,” she declared with a wide smile and a nod.
“So, while you were napping in the stables, Brian, I had a chat with Alaric Grant. I also spoke with Eli and Dyna Grant, along with a merchant just leaving their castle.”
Brian said, “Dyna Grant? I only saw one lass, and her name was Eli.”
Thane grinned. “True. You were snoring when I found the lass in a meadow with an archery target set up on bundles of hay. Too bad because I’ve never seen any archer better than that woman. She made me think there might be a few women in this world worthy of getting to know, unlike many of the ones in my past.”
Mora scowled. “We are not all like Mama or her petty friend Maidline either.”
“You are right, Mora. I have complete respect for Eli Grant the healer, Dyna Grant the archer, and you. Three.”
“And Tamsin,” she announced with a scowl.
“Nay, I do not know her well enough to declare that. So may I continue?”
Mora hung her head and nodded. “Please continue.”
“Clan Ramsay and Clan Grant ran a patrol to protect the Highlands from the English who were on a mission to kill asmany Scots as they could. King Robert was in Ireland assisting his brother. Once that battle was won, he returned and awarded Duart Castle to the Ramsays to do as they wish. His anger with the MacDougalls has not changed, apparently.
“So, Clan Ramsay and its allies decided to send six of their people to manage Duart Castle under the name Clan Grantham. Eli Ramsay is newly married to Alaric Grant.”
“Who the hell are the Ramsays and the Grants? Why did the MacVey healer know them?”
Brian’s face had changed from boredom to curiosity. His brother never understood how important it was to search out information. They’d have never found Artan or their castle if Thane hadn’t been one to talk with others. He pursued information the way his brother searched for the best meat pie.
“Alaric’s grandsire is Alexander Grant and Elisant Ramsay’s grandparents are Logan and Gwyneth Ramsay.”
“Hellfire, truly? Even I have heard of Alexander Grant and his battle prowess. Did they bring warhorses?” Brian asked, wide-eyed.
“If you’d checked the animals in the stable besides sleeping in the one next to it, you would have seen one of the most beautiful black destriers I’ve ever seen. Midnight Moon was his name, and he was glorious. He pranced for me a wee bit, and I was duly impressed. And he snorted at me when I stepped near Dyna. Apparently, he’s fond of both lasses. I’ve never seen a woman ride a warhorse.”
“I’ve never seen a warhorse,” Brian drawled. “I’ve only heard of them.”
Mora shook her hands in front of her like she often did when she got upset. “Wait. You have not answered the question. Who are they? The Grants and the Ramsays. What did they do? Why do you know them? And how did you know they had warhorses?”
Thane brought the tone of his voice down to that calm tenor he often used for his sister. Living with mostly men had not been easy for her. “Alexander Grant and his brothers fought in the Battle of Largs, his huge warhorse dressed in chain mail. They have the finest horses of any clan, and he and his sons have been renowned as the finest swordsmen that live. Their horses can fight laterally, so its rider can swing on both sides, so they say.”
“And the female? Who is she?”
Knowing how Mora ached for female kinship, he decided to tell her all he knew of the women he’d met. They were the kind of role models she needed to see, not the kind their mother had been for her. Ruthless, nasty, and selfish. Those were not the characteristics he would hope to see in his sister. Perhaps he would take Mora with him for the next visit to Clan Grantham. “Logan and Gwyneth Ramsay were spies for King Alexander before his death. Gwyneth Ramsay is known as the finest archer, even better than the men, and she’s trained her daughters to be the same.”
“Eli is one and Dyna? But you said she was a Grant.”
“Eli is Gwyneth’s granddaughter. Doiron knew that her aunts were the finest healers in the land. Can you believe our good fortune?”
Brian stared at Mora, who looked back at him. “Nay, please explain, Thane,” Mora said.
“If we can become allies of Clan Grantham, we could learn archery, train someone to be a healer, train our guards to be better swordsmen, and pay for the use of the stallion. They have all the things our clan is lacking.”
“Wonderful. What will I be?” Mora asked. “And what about Tamsin? Did she fix her? Will she come and live here? Will I have a new friend finally?”
