Alasdair said, “I’ll go.”
“Emmalin will skin me.” Logan stopped to shake his head at Alasdair. “Nay. Who else? And I’m not risking my neck being slashed in the middle of the night by a Norse princess, Connor. You’re out too.” Connor’s wife Sela was Norse.
Dyna giggled, but said, “Nay for me. Not with the three bairns.”
Broc said, “I’ll go.”
Alaric said, “Me too.”
His mother said, “Broc …”
Logan turned on her before she could finish her sentence. “He’s old enough and one of the best swordsmen here, Kyla. I need him. He and Alaric and Eli are the only ones who saw Kelvan, and I wish to know if K and Kelvan are the same man. I have to bring Alaric or Broc to uncover the truth. Are we fighting one person or two? And Broc is not married either, so no wife will cut my throat in the middle of the night. Broc’s coming with me and Alaric, if Eli agrees.”
Eli said, “Me too.”
“Nay,” Logan quickly barked at his granddaughter. “You’re staying back. No couples going together. This is a Buchan we’re dealing with, and no Buchan is trustworthy. Even Davina tried to bring harm to Torrian.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” Maitland called out.
The door opened and a serving lass said, “There’s someone who wishes to see you.”
A small golden-haired figure moved the serving girl out of the way. “Pardon me, but I must speak to someone.”
Maitland took one look and said, “Shite.” He fell into a chair and waved for Dyna to take over.
“Who are you here for, Lia?” Dyna asked, her voice trembling.
“Where’s the new lass? I’d like to meet her.” Lia smiled and folded her hands in front of her just before someone shoved her to the side and bolted into the solar, throwing himself into Logan’s lap.
Dyna whispered, “Shealee. She’s here for Shealee. That’s a good thing in my eyes.”
Magni whimpered, “Protect me, Grandsire?”
Logan wrapped his arms around the lad and whispered, “With my life.”
Broc shuddered, an uncontrollable force overtaking him. He had the oddest feeling that no one knew how close to the truth Logan’s statement would prove to be.
Logan said, “We leave on the morrow.”
Chapter Nine
Merryn
With Shealee freshly awakened from her nap, Merryn came down the stairs carrying her on her hip, uncertain of what exactly was happening. A large group had gathered in the hall, much larger than usual, and before she reached the bottom of the staircase, Merryn could feel the mounting tension.
Sylvi raced over and said, “Shealee, would you like to play with us?”
Of course, Shealee pushed against Merryn with one word. “Down.” She followed Sylvi over to the area where they played not far from the hearth, her fabric bunny still in her grasp.
Dyna and Broc joined her, along with a new young lass who began speaking immediately. “Greetings to you. My name is Lia, and I plan to stay here at Duart Castle. I’d love to play with your niece.”
Dyna said, “Lia, give us a chance to speak with Merryn. You go introduce yourself to Shealee by the hearth.”
More confused than ever that a strange lass would know she was Shealee’s aunt instead of her daughter, Merryn didn’t know what to do. “She talks as though she is much older, does she not?”
“Aye, she does. Would you like to go for a stroll outside? I’ll explain more about Lia. We consider her a blessing, but she is unusual,” Broc said.
