“Nay, no one wishes for you to leave. You belong here for now.” Broc took her hand. “Nay. We will protect you. I will protect you, Merryn. We won’t let him hurt either of you. Just know that Lia is here to protect you as well.”
“So, do we just sit and wait? What do we do? Should we go somewhere else? Back to the mainland? I don’t know what to do.”
Broc cupped her cheeks, brushing his thumb across her tears of fright. “Nay. You are inside one of the thickest curtain walls on the isle. I will be going with Logan and Alaric to Mingary Castle to confront K and the woman named Glenna. Alaric and I go because we’ve seen Kelvan, so this is how we will know for sure if Kelvan and K are the same man. What I would like you to do is tell me everything you can about Kelvan. Does he have any weaknesses? Any other bairns? Anything at all?”
Merryn fell against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. She gave in to all her worries and doubts. “I don’t know anything. Do you wish for me to go?”
“Nay, you stay here with Shealee. You are all she has now. I would not split you two apart, and I know what I’ve told you is confusing, but please allow Shealee to get to know Lia. Ask Lia anything you like. She’ll answer all your questions, though evasively at times. But she will answer.”
“Broc, I’m so scared for you now. You have to be careful. You saw how he can be. He could kill all three of you. Please take more men.”
“Logan and Uncle Connor decide on the important tasks. They are the strategists because they have more experience at it than any of us. I trust their judgment. I’ll return to you, I promise.”
Merryn glanced up at him. “I will hold you to that promise.”
“I have to come back. What I want more than anything is to get to know you better, Merryn MacClane. We just don’t get enough time to talk.” He reached up to tuck a lock of hair that had escaped her plait behind her ear. “I see a lovely lass who I’m drawn to, yet so much is happening, I feel I’m ignoring you. Please don’t think it is intentional.”
“I don’t. And everything you said pleases me. I feel the same.”
“Tell me one special thing you’d like me to know about you. Just one.” He grinned and held her hand, brushing his thumb across the inside of her wrist.
She thought for a moment, then said, “I love the sea. I love to swim, and I hope someday that when Kelvan is gone, I can spend more time with Shealee on the beach. It’s so wondrous. I learned to swim in the loch near my uncle’s castle, but my first experience with the sea was when we came to Mull.”
Broc smiled. “I have to agree. I am surprised at how much more scenic Mull is than our land in the middle of the Highlands. And the sea is lovely, but not near as lovely as you.”
Broc surprised her by leaning down and brushing his lips against hers, a brief kiss, but a kiss nonetheless.
A gaggle of hoots and whistles sounded from behind them from the lists, causing Broc to roll his eyes. “Ignore them.”
She grinned. “Then next time, please find a more private spot.”
Chapter Ten
Broc
They left early the next day. The group headed to Clan Rankin and borrowed one of Sloan’s boats. They were about to get in, Ingelram shoving them off, when Sloan came flying down the hill. “Greetings, Granthams.”
Logan said, “I see you have eyes only for your new wife, Rankin. Go be with her. We’ll update you when we return.” He held up his hand for Ingelram to pause so they could speak with Sloan.
“But is it true that K was married to MacClane’s sister? And he killed her? His own wife?”
“Aye. He’s a wily bastard and I’m about to meet him. Keep an eye out for our return and I’ll fill you in.”
Sloan waved them off, shoving the boat with Ingelram. Broc began to row alongside Alaric, something he loved to do. He’d never done it before moving to Mull, but he loved the feel of his rippling muscles as he pulled against the water in the sound. Once he and Alaric established their rhythm, the boat sliced through the water with such grace that it made for a magnificent journey. The sky was blue, the water calm, and it was a warm, sunny day.
Logan said, “You finally found the one, Broc. Good choice.”
“What?” He checked his belt to be sure that his favorite dagger was still there.
Alaric chuckled. “Everyone spread the word about you and Merryn under the apple tree. You know how tongues like to wag about that. All the guards were cursing because a few of them had their eye on her, but you stepped in first. She’s a pretty one.”
Broc couldn’t help but smile, as he’d been even more pleased when she hadn’t pushed him away, even suggesting they find amore private place. That was exactly his plan after they finished this task. “One kiss does not make her the one.”
Alaric said, “It’s time. You’re old enough. You’re eight and twenty. Get married.”
“Make sure she’s the right one. You’ll know when she is,” Logan said.
Broc wished to ask how he’d know for sure, but instead, the warmth of the sun settled on all three of them. His mind wandered back to his time with Merryn, thinking about spending time on the beach with her. Could there be bairns of their own in the future? That picture warmed his heart even more than the heat of the sun. He was loving this new life near the water. If only they could get rid of the ugly troll sitting in Mingary, life would greatly improve for everyone on Mull.
