“She’s listening to you now.”
Tears fell down Merryn’s cheeks. “Please tell her I miss her, and I’m sorry Tristan and I didn’t stay to bury her and Mama and Papa.”
Lia tipped her head for a moment, then said, “She said Uncle Neil buried them. Do not worry. And she doesn’t mind if Shealee calls you Mama because the two of you were so close.”
Merryn didn’t know what to think of this odd conversation. How she wished her sister were standing in front of her so she could ask her about Broc. Was he a good man? Should she pursue a relationship with him?
Was kissing him the right thing to do?
Lia got up to chase Shealee as she ran after a squirrel, but she turned back to say, “Your sister says aye, aye, and aye.”
Merryn let a few tears fall and said, “I miss you so, Nara. And Mama and Da too.”
A loud cry rent the air, and Magni came flying out toward Lia. Merryn picked up Shealee to bring her back because Magni was sobbing.
Merryn asked, “What is it, Magni?”
“Grandsire. My grandsire is terribly hurt. Someone struck him with their sword and he’s sleeping. I heard them say that he wasn’t moving when they stitched him. Lia, is he dead? Is he going to die?”
“That was your grandsire, Magni? There are so many people here I cannot recall them all.” Merryn could see how terribly upset the wee lad was over the sight of his grandfather.
Lia patted her hand and said, “It’s complicated. Magni, please calm down. Logan is not dead, and he’s not ready to die yet. But he will not be riding a horse for a bit. You may have to sit by his side to keep him company for a few days, but you can do that.”
Magni scowled and rubbed the tears from his eyes. “But now I only have two protectors.”
“You will always have me.”
“And Thane, but he’s going to have a new bairn soon. He’ll have to go back to protect Tamsin and Mora.”
“Not soon. But he will go home, and I’m staying. Would you like to remain here to help your grandsire get better? I’m sure Thane would understand.”
Broc came out of the keep and headed straight for Merryn.
Lia said, “Come with me, Magni. We will watch Shealee so Broc can speak with Merryn. He needs her right now.”
Magni spun around to face Broc. “Is he dead? Is he going to die?” He rubbed at his tears again. “I’m not crying either. Warriors don’t cry.”
Broc said, “Aye, warriors cry sometimes, Magni. Logan is not dead, and I think Eli has stitched him up. He woke up to speak with Gwyneth, so that’s a good sign. But he needs rest now. He may not awaken until the morrow. Do not worry overmuch.”
Lia said, “Come with me, Magni.”
Once the wee ones had gone in the opposite direction, Broc wrapped his arms around Merryn.
Merryn asked, “You are not hurt, Broc?”
He pulled back and looked at his tunic, noticing all the dried blood on it. “I’m fine. I just needed a hug. My thanks for allowing it.”
“Of course. I was worried about you because you look exhausted.”
He took Merryn’s hand and led her over to a bench near the small orchards inside the wall. “Alaric and I went with Logan so we could verify if K was indeed Kelvan. He is. I will tell you that first. He didn’t say anything about Shealee, but I don’t think he knows you are here with us. He has a new wife named Glenna who bears a grudge against both Clan Ramsay and Clan Grant for something that happened years ago. It involved my parents.”
“Both of your parents?”
“Aye, they were kept in a dungeon and eventually escaped. Glenna’s grandfather nearly killed my mother, and my grandfather killed him for it. It was more complicated than that, but Glenna wants my mother, Logan, and me. If we go to her, probably so she can kill us, then they won’t come after the bairns.”
Merryn gasped again. “Which bairns?”
“K says he wants the faery.”
