“Nay, Gwanda Alex ticklin’ me.” She stopped and pushed both hands against something.
Sandor howled with glee and shouted, “’Top, Unca Shakie.”
Connor stood and strode slowly over to Tora, then Alasdair and Emmalin did the same to Sandor.
Connor said, “Tell me what Grandda Alex wants, Tora. Tell me. Why is he here?”
Tora stopped and tipped her head back, looking up in the opposite direction at nothing. “Gwandda says be caweful. Twouble coming.”
Alasdair stood still, Emmalin behind him with her chin on his shoulder. She whispered, “Jake, I wish to meet you sometime. I adore your son.”
A sudden breeze of mint leaves blew her hair away from her face and she smiled.
“What, Da? Why are you here?” Alasdair asked.
Sandor stopped and made a fist with one hand, shoving it in one direction, then the other. Alasdair whispered, “What does Uncle Jakie say, Sandor?”
“Unca Shakie says keep da bwue sord cwose. Shon need his sord.”
Broc moved closer to the group, then looked from one face to the next, not understanding what the entire situation was, but he’d heard that Alasdair believed his deceased father could speak through Sandor. Was it happening in front of him?
Then Sandor stopped and waved at the door. “Bye, Unca Shakie.”
Tora said, “Bye, Gwandda.”
No one spoke, but the door opened and another five people entered. Connor rattled off a list of names and said, “In the solar now.”
Broc was shocked to be called among the others, but he followed the group inside, still wondering what he’d just observed. He couldn’t wait to hear everyone’s interpretation.
Broc sat in the back of the solar, glancing from one person to the next. Uncle Connor, the two chieftains—Dyna and Maitland—Logan, his parents, and cousins Alasdair, Alaric, and Eli. The gathering alone told him that something big was about to happen.
Once everyone had an ale in hand, Maitland motioned to Dyna, and she shut the door. Then the two stood in front of the group. Maitland started, “Based on what we just saw and heard, we have trouble coming. Broc, I want a full retelling of all that you saw and heard at the MacLean holding. It has to be related.”
Broc straightened in his seat. “Kelvan came in a galley ship with six men. Wanted his daughter returned. According to Tristan MacClane, his sister Nara was married to this man Kelvan, who came through and massacred an entire village in the Borderlands, including Nara and the MacClane parents. This was almost a year ago. Kelvan stole anything of value and left. Tristan was at Clan MacLean when it took place. Nara gave her infant daughter to their younger sister Merryn to hide when shesaw Kelvan and his men coming. Merryn and Shealee were the only survivors. When we told the story of K and his attack on Mull, Tristan and Merryn both believe Kelvan to be the man we know as K.”
Logan asked, “Seven arrived. How many left?”
Broc replied, “Three. Kelvan and two guards. Buried four. Said he would be returning for Shealee, which is why we brought the two here. Kelvan also threatened to take Merryn as a plaything. She’s terrified of him. She actually witnessed Kelvan thrust his sword into her sister’s back, killing her within moments.”
Eli added, “I’ll add that Merryn said she’d never let him touch Shealee. She’s fiery, but she’s not skilled in any combat. She was learning archery from someone known as Simmy, who lives on Iona but comes to Mull for the deer. I’ve asked Grandmama if she knew her, but she’s playing innocent. Says she has no idea who she is. Grandda?”
Logan smirked but shrugged.
“Who is she, Logan?” Connor asked.
He deftly changed the subject. “It’s time for a visit to Kilchoan. I’d like to meet Kelvan, or K, myself. I’ll ask him directly if he’s missing a daughter. Kyla, what do you know of Glenna? Finlay, did you ask Fergus?” Finlay’s brother Fergus was married to Davina, Glenn of Buchan’s only daughter. The couple had no sons, so Glenna could not belong to them.
“Aye, I spoke with him,” Finlay replied. “Apparently, Glenn had a son he kept hidden from all. The youngest son was sent to live with Glenn’s brother when the trouble started. He didn’t want his bloodline totally lost. Davina said her brother took over the castle a decade later, married, and had three daughters. Two have left and married, but Glenna is the odd one. Tried to convince King Robert that she deserved Ramsay land and the castle, but he sent her away. So now she’s angry at our king andall the Ramsays. How she met up with Kelvan, no one knows. Are we sure he’s the same man as the one at the MacClanes?”
“We won’t know until we ask. I’m going to give Glenna what she wants. Time to meet the bitch. Who wishes to go with me?” Logan stood and moved over to the door.
Connor said, “Logan, you shouldn’t go without a force of two score or more.”
“Nay. One-to-one this will be. I wish to meet the two without warning, see the true situation there. How many. Their weaponry. Their ships. You’ll never know unless you go unannounced.”
“You can’t go alone, Grandda,” Eli said.
“I’ll take two. Any volunteers?”
