“They’re both gone. I checked them all. Move quickly. I’ll find another gown for you and a tunic for myself while you find things for Shealee, then I’ll meet you at the door. I’ll get your mantle.”
Merryn did as her brother asked, Shealee still sound asleep. How she wished she could stop her hands from shaking, but it was not to be. The shock of losing her parents and her sister all at the same time began to settle in, tears misting her gaze.
But she had a wee lass to save first. She fumbled through the few belongings they kept in their hut and collected enough for now—raggies, gowns, blankets, a tiny bonnet to keep the bairn’s head warm. She stuffed them into a small sack and then returned to Tristan, who’d gathered some belongings along with some foodstuffs. “Here, put on your mantle. The wind will be cool. Keep her next to your warmth, lass.”
Her brother handed her the bairn after she mounted, climbed up behind her, then headed away from their home, checking the surroundings before venturing farther from the protection of the building and onto the main path. “Don’t look, Merryn. Kelvan is mad. Everyone is dead that I saw. I have no idea if anyone survived. All for gold coins. How did you have the sense to grab the bairn and hide?”
“Nara gave her to me. She saw Kelvan coming and told me to hide. She must have seen him attack the others. I peeked out the window before I hid, and I saw him strike her from behind. She was running and then she was dead. Oh, Tristan. She looked at me and I could read her lips.Save her.”
“And you did it. That’s the sign of a strong lass. I’m so proud of you, Merryn. You and I and Shealee, we’ll survive. Uncle Neil will help us.”
Strongwas not the word she would use to describe herself at the moment. She willed her trembling to stop, but it would not.
The three arrived at MacLean Castle an hour later without interruption, their uncle greeting them at the gates. “I’ve heard about the attacks. They are still out there and killing more. He has a group of English guards with him. I have land on Mull. I’m going to have a group of guards escort you there. They canstay and help you finish the work that needs to be done, Tristan. I’ll go with you, but only to show you my land and then I must return. Kelvan will kill both of you if you don’t leave. I don’t know why he’s turned daft, but I always thought he was not to be trusted.”
Merryn couldn’t think of anything else but the wee lass awakening at her breast. “Goat’s milk, Uncle. I need food for Shealee.”
Uncle Neil peered at the sweet bairn he hadn’t noticed under her now untied mantle. “Bastard. Coldhearted bastard. You can feed her in the kitchens while I arrange your transport, Merryn. I’ll send along some goats and chickens, sacks of grain and vegetables. You’ll need them.” He paused to stare at her. “Truly? Nara is dead? He killed his own wife?”
“Aye. I saw him. She gave Shealee to me and told me to hide just before …”
He clasped her shoulder. “Then we have no time to waste. He’ll kill the rest of us without hesitation.” He led Merryn into the keep and called a serving lass over, giving instructions to prepare food for the journey, find the goat’s milk, and package some extra plaids and linens to take with them.
Merryn sat in a chair and sobbed.
They were headed to the Isle of Mull, a place she’d never been before. Would they survive?
Chapter One
Broc
Autumn, 1316, Isle of Mull
Broc MacNicol mounted one of his favorite stallions, Midnight Majesty, then led the beast out of the gates behind Alasdair, Dyna with Sylvi on her lap, and Dyna’s brother, Hagen. The four were headed out to patrol the isle with five other guards.
Ever since Logan had heard that K’s wife was Glenna of Buchan, the granddaughter of an old nemesis of Clans Grant and Ramsay, they’d established more frequent patrols to look for new activity on the island. Any threat of invading the isle had to be taken seriously, though with three sound allies on Mull, Connor believed they couldn’t be conquered, especially with the extra guards he’d brought over.
Alasdair said, “I am pleased to finally have Emmalin and the bairns here. It’s been too long.”
Dyna noted how her horse, Midnight Moon, seemed to be enjoying the fine weather as they trotted up next to Alasdair. “I would feel better knowing that the sapphire sword was here. I hope John brought it with him. With Lia and the talk about Grandda and Grandmama, I am relieved to have him here. How old is he now?”
“John is four and ten. The two girls are a year younger. I don’t ask him about the sword. He handles it just fine on his own.”
Broc added, “It feels more and more like home now with your small family here, Alasdair. I’d love to see my parents, but I know not if they will come.”
Alasdair said, “I felt bad for leaving Alick alone as chieftain of Clan Grant, but as Uncle Connor says, half of our guards willbe here soon. I told Emmalin we’ll stay for another moon or two, then go home.”
Hagen, newly arrived, said, “I’m glad Da said for me to come. The isle is beautiful. I hope we get high enough on this journey to look out over the sea. How far to MacLean land?” Hagen was one of five bairns of Connor and Sela Grant. His sister Claray was the eldest, then Dyna, and they had a sister, Astra, and a younger brother, Morgan.
Dyna pointed to Ben Buie. “We’ll pass that peak in a bit. The view is lovely from up there. The journey should take about half a day. According to Thane, Tristan MacClane has been here fixing an old cottage and attempting to finish a tower for nearly a year. He has about ten guards with him who are helping to work on the castle in the MacLean name. It’s his uncle’s land. I thought it only right to bring a few gifts along with us.”
Sylvi said, “And I brought two play bunnies in case they have any bairns.”
Hagen asked, “Are you expecting any more battles?”
The isle had struggled ever since a man known only as K had started stealing bairns to sell to others off the isle. There had been two kidnappings, but the Mull clans had banded together to retrieve the bairns. Fortunately, both times had been successful, and though K had lost several men, he was still alive and likely to attack again from Mingary Castle on Kilchoan.
Dyna replied, “K will be back in time, but he has to rebuild. Derric and I decided we would never travel with the bairns all together. We didn’t think anything would be more difficult than having a child stolen until two were taken. Thank the Lord we still had Sylvi to hug.”
