Merryn blushed, thoughts of the handsome man fresh in her mind. “How does one find a man to marry?”
“Och, you liked one of the Grants. Better than any of your uncle’s guardsmen? Have they not tried to steal a kiss or two?”
“Aye, a couple have tried.”
“And?”
“And one did, but I didn’t like it. I don’t like him either. But one of the Grant swordsmen was quite handsome, and he was verra kind.”
“Must be Broc,” Simmy said, grinning from ear to ear. “His mother is a Grant. One of Alex Grant’s daughters. Broc is noble blood. He’d be a fine match for you.”
“How do you know all that?”
“My sire. He used to talk about the wonderful Grants years ago. He was friends with Alex Grant.”
“Oh. I’m not noble, so he’d never be interested in me.”
“Love doesn’t care about blood. If Broc is interested in you, he’ll find a way to make you his. Many handfast these days because it’s hard to find a priest. Especially on the isles. Did you like him?”
“I did,” she admitted, her cheeks flushed. “He’s big and strong and has a kind smile, but I don’t think I’ll ever marry.” Merryn stopped to think back on her sister. “Kelvan was so sweet to Nara, and then, after they married, he used to beat her. She was often crying, carrying bruises. My sire spoke to Kelvan about it once, and he stopped for a bit, but then it started again. He was mean to my sister, especially after she had Shealee. Whenever the bairn cried, he would yell at her to make her stop and then slap Nara and run out. I saw him hit her once, and I wished to slap him myself. Are all men like that?”
“Nay. Tanner has never hit me. He’d regret it if he did.” Simmy hugged her knees to her chest. “You are doing the right thing learning archery. Every lass should know how to protect herself. Men are bigger than most women, so they can hold you down and do horrible things to you. Knowing how to use a dagger is something else you should learn. I’ll bring one along the next time I come. Tristan is busy enough with the tower, so he doesn’t have time to show you, but don’t give up on men completely. There are many good ones out there.”
“How can you tell which ones are good?”
“I look at how they treat their horses and their dogs. It can be telling.”
“I need to forget about Broc. It was just a passing thought. For now, all I wish to do is raise Shealee and protect her. She has no one else. She calls me Mama. Is it wrong to allow her?”
“Nay, you will be the only mother she knows. But when she’s older, I would tell her the truth. You should tell her all aboutNara and what you loved most about your sister. It’s important to know where you came from, I think.”
“I will when she is older. I just pray we will both still be here.” Merryn would make sure that Shealee knew how sweet her mother was. Nara had caught many men’s eyes when she grew up, but she’d only been interested in Kelvan. It was her sweetness that always helped her to get an extra piece of fruit at market or an extra ribbon for her hair. Sweet and beautiful. That was her sister Nara. Merryn was not nearly as attractive as her sister was.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Simmy squeezed her hand. “The Grants will protect you. I will if I’m here. Tristan and his men will protect you.”
“But you live on the isle.” As far as Merryn knew, Simmy lived on Iona, only traveling to Mull to hunt deer once in a while.
“But I can visit more often if Kelvan continues to bother you. Tell me more of what you learned from the Grants.”
“They said that a man known as K was stealing bairns, that he’d done it twice, but they were able to save the bairns before he sold them.”
“Sold them to whom?”
“To someone in Europe. I think he said K lived at Mingary Castle. I am certain that K is Kelvan, so I have to be sure to keep Shealee well hidden.”
Simmy sat up at the mention of bairns being kidnapped. “Evil bastard. Should have someone cut his tongue out so he can’t make any deals.”
Merryn said, “To sell bairns would be evil. Who would do such a thing?”
“Oh, I’ve heard of much worse. I know an archer on the mainland, a woman, who pinned a man to a tree by his bollocks for stealing bairns from their parents and selling them.”
Merryn had never heard of such a thing. “By his what?”
Simmy grinned and pointed to the juncture between her thighs. “My, but you are an innocent, Merryn. Have you never changed a lad’s raggie?”
Merryn shook her head, blushing a deep shade of red.
