The two giggled about that thought until they both stopped. Dyna chewed on her lip and crossed her arms. “Do you suppose Garvie might attack Thane’s castle while he’s gone? Could that be possible?”
Eli let out a low whistle. “Let’s hope not. Poor Thane.” She couldn’t help but think about how he’d become involved in a marital affair between two strangers, yet he’d acted as honorably as any Highlander. “Your grandsire would have been proud of Thane, Dyna.”
The door opened and Alaric held it open for Thane to enter.
“Set her here, Thane. Is she awake?”
He shook his head. “She awakened once when Magni spoke to her, but we think she thought Magni was her daughter.”
“Magni?” Eli looked behind the men but saw no one.
Then a lad jumped inside the door. “Me! I’m here. May I please bring my sister Lia in to sit? She’s tired.”
Eli chuckled as the cutest lad she’d seen in a long time—wavy dark hair to his shoulders with one plait at the front—jumped inside, a golden-haired lass half his size following behind him. She beamed with a smile.
“May I sit inside where it is safe, if you please? I pledge not to be a bother.” Dressed in a dirty gown with worn boots that were too big for her, Eli glanced at Dyna, who reacted faster than she ever could.
“Come right over here, Lia. Magni, you stay with Thane. Lia, sit over here by the fire, take off those ill-fitting boots, and warm yourself. Here’s a fur to warm your feet and I’ll find you a clean gown. But not until I find a warm tub for you once the men depart.”
Lia smiled and gave a small bow as if she were the queen of the land, her natural sparkle lighting up the chamber. “Many thanks to you for your kindness. And while I bathe, you can all tell me what your wishes are.”
Dyna’s head turned toward the lass. “Wishes? We don’t have any special wishes.”
“Well, I only have one. I wish my grandmother was still alive.”
“You miss her?” Lia asked.
“Aye. More than you would understand. I adore her and she left too soon. I would love it if my grandparents were both on the isle. But she has passed on, I’m sure.”
Dyna added, “That would be a treat.”
“We’ll see later about your wish, my lady,” Lia said.
“I have a few questions for Thane before he and Magni leave, Dyna. Just a moment.” Eli brought over a clean gown andlinen squares to wash Tamsin’s face, but first she wished to hear Thane’s thoughts.
As Dyna fussed with Lia, Eli asked Thane, “Where did you find her?”
“On the beach. If you look at her hands, it looks as though she climbed across the rocks. Her skin is torn. The place where we found her is craggy rocks for great lengths. He must have left her far out hoping the tide would drown her quickly, but she crawled her way to land.”
Eli picked up the edge of her gown with one hand. “My guess is her knees are just as bloody.”
“Can you save her?” Thane asked.
“I’ll try my best. Why did she awaken?”
“Because Magni said he knows where her daughter is.”
“Magni, where did you come from?”
“Ulva. The evil Garvie wished to sell us, so I stole both of us away. We hid in the bushes until I saw the chieftain and his men arrive the next morn. We were verra fortunate they came then. I knew they were safe, so I waited in his boat.”
“And this happened when?”
“Late morn,” Thane explained. “We were walking around our curtain wall when Magni saw a body on the beach. I never saw her. She owes her life to Magni and his good eyesight. Once I ran down to check on her, I knew she was in worst shape than the last time. As soon as Agnes got her wet clothes changed, we set out for here right away.”
Maitland entered the room, closing the door quietly as he took everything in. “Magni, are you hungry yet? We have meat pies left over if you can eat one.”
“A meat pie?” The lad began to cry and then asked, “For Lia too?”
