His wounds had mostly healed on his belly and face, leaving visible scars, but the scars inside still held fast. Every time he’d seen a boar outside Grant land, he’d frozen, something that his sire had done his best to help him get past, but he couldn’t rid himself of the vision of the boar just before it had pounced on him. He’d dealt with nightmares for years, though they’d lessened here on Mull.
He was eight and twenty, still unwed, but the sad fact was that he hadn’t had a girlfriend yet. Oh, he’d had a tussle ortwo with women when his brothers and cousins had taken him to Edinburgh, but the questions and the look of disgust he’d noticed on their faces when they’d seen the scars on his belly had convinced him to abandon the idea of someday marrying and having a family.
He’d also gained a fear of hunting. He went along, usually in the back of the group and not far from his father and brothers, people he knew would try to protect him if attacked by another boar. He practiced his sword skills so he could protect himself, and his sire had given him a dagger that he could fit in the smallest fold or boot. That dagger went everywhere with him.
He fingered the dagger attached to the belt at his waist, something he did every day of his life. It was as if it were a specter that would protect him at all times.
He hadn’t been attacked since then.
As they approached the group, Alasdair held up his hand to let them know he did not bear any weapons. He stayed mounted to make sure they’d be welcomed.
One man led the way with two directly behind him, their hands on the hilts of their weapons.
Alasdair said, “We are the new inhabitants of Duart Castle and as your neighbors, would like to acquaint ourselves with your clan. We bear gifts, if you’ll allow us a brief repast. I am Alasdair Grant, and these are my cousins, Dyna, Broc, and Hagen. All from Clan Grant but now at Clan Grantham of Duart Castle.
The man in the front said, “Greetings to you all. Tristan MacClane of Clan MacLean. We are building on my uncle’s land. Please bring your cousins inside for a brief repast, and your guards can share an ale with our men, who are about to break from carrying stones for the curtain wall. There’s a nice area near the beach they prefer.”
“Many thanks to you.” Alasdair nodded to the others and moved their horses closer to a line of trees. They dismounted and handed the reins to their guards, knowing they would feed and water the animals while the five went inside to meet with the clan leader. The bubbling sound of a small burn nearby called to their horses after the half-day journey.
The cottage was long, finished with a fine thatch roof and a few chickens running off to the side in a fenced area.
Dyna grabbed a small crate with holes in the side. “We brought two chickens as gifts. Hagen brought a slab of smoked beef we can share this eve, if you like. And we have bread, wine, and mead, along with a sack of vegetables from our garden. Turnips, beans, and some parsnips.”
“We are grateful. It’s hard to get supplies here, as you know, and the men work hard to finish. We hope to complete the wall before…”
Alasdair tipped his head but said nothing.
“Come inside and we will explain.” Tristan gave them a weak smile and led them into the hut. “We have several men who help us build, and my sister is here with two lasses who help with the cooking and cleaning.” Tristan was tall with dark curly hair and wary brown eyes, broad-shouldered, but a sadness in his countenance that Broc would ask Dyna and Alasdair about later.
Broc grabbed the bag of vegetables and carried them in while the others took care of the livestock and the beverages. Once inside, Tristan introduced them to the two females they saw first. “This is my sister Merryn and our niece Shealee.” The wee one looked to be under two summers old, with red hair and a bright smile, though she hid behind Merryn.
Referring to the lass as “our niece” made Alasdair wonder where Shealee’s mother was.
“And the two lasses by the hearth are Olivia and Euna. If you need anything, they can help you.”
Sylvi smiled and glanced up at her mother. “May I play with Shealee, Mama?”
Dyna looked at Merryn for guidance. “Absolutely, but she doesn’t have much experience with playmates here. We are quite isolated.” The lass toddled about but didn’t say much, hugging a small piece of plaid to her side as she smiled at the newcomers, her green eyes taking in everything.
Sylvi gave Shealee one of the fabric animals and the lass hugged it with a squeal, smiling. The two headed off toward the hearth to play with blocks while Merryn poured wine into goblets to share. “Welcome to our hut. We have not been here long. I can offer you some cheese and apples.”
Broc took one look at Merryn and had to admit he’d never been affected by the appearance of a woman as much as this one. What he couldn’t understand was why. He had such a visceral reaction to Merryn, something that coursed through him so quickly he hadn’t known how to react to it. At first glance, she appeared to be quite plain, but when she smiled, her face lit up. Her hair was a most unusual shade of red and gold, and she had a smattering of light freckles across her nose and cheeks. Not too tall and not too short, she had curves in just the right places.
He tore his gaze away and looked to the other two by the fire. The one named Olivia was also quite pretty, but she did not affect him in the same way. Euna was quite a bit older with wide hips and graying hair.
Dyna said, “Merryn, we brought bread and smoked beef to share. Our guards have food for themselves, but we would appreciate the cheese and apples.”
Merryn made two trays of food and set them down on the table, which had two benches along with several stools scattered around the chamber. There were no tapestries on the wall or dried flowers anywhere. The furniture was sparse, the area clean and sufficient.
Once they were all seated, Tristan said, “Please allow me to explain, then I’ll ask you to tell us what you know of the isle. We have reason to know all, but you’ll understand soon enough.”
The group settled as Merryn, Olivia, and Dyna found beverages for everyone before Tristan took his seat, Merryn sitting on a stool on the other end near the bairns. “Our family lived in a small group of cottages set outside MacLean Castle near the Borderlands. Merryn and I lived with our parents while our sister, Nara, lived in the next cottage with her husband Kelvan and their daughter Shealee.
“Nearly a year ago, I was training in the lists at our uncle’s castle when the surrounding villages were attacked by a band of men led by Kelvan Mortimer. Merryn watched the bastard kill his wife—our sister—then kill our parents while she hid with Shealee. When I returned from the castle with ten guards, we found our village massacred, nearly everyone dead. Kelvan committed the evil acts with his band of misfits, though we have no idea where he found the men other than he did spend much of his time in taverns along the border.
“I immediately escorted Merryn and Shealee to the castle, and my uncle insisted on bringing us here. He’d pledged to his brother, our father, that he would always protect us should anything happen. Since Kelvan is still in search of his daughter, our uncle believed this to be the safest place for us. His guards had been here at one time and started building the tower for a castle and had already built this cottage along with the small barmkin for protection, so he brought us here along with several guards, pledging to send more to help us finish the castle.
“The work has been slow, but we have made progress. I wish we had the curtain wall finished so we weren’t so open to attack, but our aim now is to finish the tower before winter arrives. It’s not as high as my uncle had wanted, but we are ready to put the roof on soon so we can all be protected. We will continueour work.” Tristan paused to sip his mead. “I thank you for your gifts. We appreciate your generosity. Please tell us what you know of Kelvan or about the attacks you have seen.”
