“She’s not your sister, but it is lovely to meet you, Lia.” He took a moment to assess the lass carefully. He wasn’t yet ready to admit to the others exactly what he’d learned about her, but he did wish to take in her presence himself.
“She is too my sister.”
“Och, my mistake, lad. Of course she is.” He ruffled Magni’s messy hair. The lass looked to be five or six but had a presence of a hundred more years.
“Have you a wish, my lord Ramsay?” she asked, her fingers fanning the skirt of her green gown.
“That’s the same green color my wife prefers for her leggings. It’s the exact color of a forest in spring.”
“It is my preferred color too. Dyna and Sylvi were kind enough to allow me to wear Sylvi’s gown since she prefers leggings. When Magni and I ran away, I had no clothing but what I was wearing, and after living with the Garvies, well…it was not fit to wear again. The Corbetts graciously shared their clothing with both of us. This is my favorite gown. Your wish?”
He narrowed his gaze at her because he couldn’t quite figure out the lass, and there’d been less than five people in his life who he couldn’t assess instantly.
But she was different.
“No wishes. I’m a happy man, Lia. Take care of Magni.”
Magni shouted, “But I take care of her. It’s my job.”
Logan patted the boy’s head and said, “Of course you do. My mistake.”
Thane asked, “With all due respect, could we return to the details of the attack on my castle, if you please?”
“Of course,” Logan said, taking a seat again. “MacDougall has about a score of men he’s hired with the coin his brother gave him before he banished him from Clan MacDougall. They are poorly trained, have paltry weapons, and only exist for coin. Most are English.”
“Say no more,” Maitland said with a snort.
“On the morrow?” Thane persisted.
“The plan is to attack during the evening meal.”
“Then I guess we’ll be leaving.” Thane looked to Maitland to see if he had any suggestions.
Maitland said, “Alaric and Eli will go with you. Dyna, Derric, and I will stay here. What about the bairns?”
Magni shouted, “I’m going with Thane.”
Thane said, “Nay, Magni. I’m going to leave you and Lia here. I cannot worry about you during an attack. And I wish to help Tamsin too.”
Maitland said, “I would recommend leaving just before dawn. You’ll be home near high sun to ready your men. Traveling with a woman at night would not be advisable.”
Logan added, “Leave the bairns here. You can retrieve them later. This castle has a thicker curtain wall.”
Alaric looked at his wife and asked, “Are you ready for another battle, Eli?”
“I’ll sit on the curtain wall with my bow aimed right at the ugly troll’s chest.”
Logan said, “Gwynie and I will stay here. I’ll bring her at first light. I’ll take my leave now. We’ll be early enough for porridge, Granddaughter. Be prepared. Gwynie will be hungry.”
He headed for the door, and just before he was ready to leave, Eli appeared next to him, her hand holding the door open.
“And Grandsire, there’s a new rule in this castle. No banging the doors. I wish to keep our new place in good condition. Have you never seen the dent in the wall in the Ramsay great hall?”
Logan snorted and glanced over at his granddaughter with a smirk. “The wall is made of stone.”
She arched a brow and glared at him.
She couldn’t be serious, could she? Logan leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead.
