This spot was unfamiliar, so she had to be careful.
She vowed to make it to the grass because it was the safest place. At least if she were to die there, someone would find her. If Raghnall had his way, she would wash out to sea, never to be found again.
Alana would never know what happened to her mother. She was sure her evil mother-in-law would tell the girl that her mother had deserted her.
As she moved along, fatigue plagued her. Raghnall had hauled her out of their bed late at night, so she had little sleep, the worries always there in her mind.
She started, shook her head, and shivered. The water was up to her chin, waking her from a brief nap, something she hadn’t known she’d done.I cannot sleep, cannot sleep, cannot …
Her eyelids fluttered closed again, but she forced them open. She knew that in order to survive, she had to get to land. It was the only way.
But if I took a wee nap here, I could make it to the grass. Then I would be safe. If I don’t, I’ll never make it. A wee nap, just for a moment. Then I’ll be safe forever.
Just for a few moments, then I’ll continue …
Chapter Twenty-Three
Thane
Magni proved to be quite inquisitive. Thane had to smile at the lad’s continuous onslaught of questions, only to be stunned by the amazing insight wee Lia offered about her brother and their situation, her golden hair coming free of its plait as the group rode their horses back to the castle. Lia sat in front of Thane while Magni rode with Artan, firing questions about everything he saw.
Lia patted Thane’s hand and whispered, “May I speak freely?”
“Please do. Talk as you wish, lassie.” Thane couldn’t help but grin at her maturity for her age. Mora would love this girl.
“You are probably wondering why he talks so. We were not allowed to speak because we are bairns.”
“By Garvie?”
“Mostly his mother. Bairns are ignorant, stupid, and…idjits. I think those were her words. He will be happy if he is free to ask his questions.”
“You both may speak whenever you wish, as long as you do not keep us awake at night.”
“Magni has a verra quick mind.”
“And where are your parents?”
“Our village was attacked on Coll. They killed all the elders and took the children to various isles. We ended up on Ulva.”
Thane couldn’t believe how well-spoken the child was.
“I’m nearly six.”
Could she read his mind too?
They approached the gates, and Magni finally stopped speaking, the awe that crossed his face at the sight of the castle something to watch.
“Is this our new home?” Lia asked.
“If you wish it to be,” Thane answered. “You may take your time to think on it.” Why he said such a thing, he didn’t know. Ever since he’d seen Tamsin tossed on a rock, everything he believed had been challenged. He didn’t trust females, other than Mora, but now he’d met Dyna and Eli, two skilled and honest women.
He said he would never have bairns about because they were too much work.
And now he had a lass of nearly six in front of him, and she and her brother had made him smile more times since he’d met them than he’d smiled in the last year.
“Lia, look at our new home!” Magni’s arms pointed over his head, his excitement contagious.
They crossed the bridge, were let in the gates, then headed to the stables. As soon as Magni’s feet hit the ground, he took off at a sprint, tearing in circles as he examined his surroundings.
