Chapter Twenty-Three

Thane

Magni proved to be quite inquisitive. Thane had to smile at the lad's continuous onslaught of questions, only to be stunned by the amazing insight wee Lia offered about her brother and their situation, her golden hair coming free of its plait as the group rode their horses back to the castle. Lia sat in front of Thane while Magni rode with Artan, firing questions about everything he saw.

Lia patted Thane's hand and whispered, "May I speak freely?"

"Please do. Talk as you wish, lassie." Thane couldn't help but grin at her maturity for her age. Mora would love this girl.

"You are probably wondering why he talks so. We were not allowed to speak because we are bairns."

"By Garvie?"

"Mostly his mother. Bairns are ignorant, stupid, and…idjits. I think those were her words. He will be happy if he is free to ask his questions."

"You both may speak whenever you wish, as long as you do not keep us awake at night."

"Magni has a verra quick mind."

"And where are your parents?"

"Our village was attacked on Coll. They killed all the elders and took the children to various isles. We ended up on Ulva."

Thane couldn't believe how well-spoken the child was.

"I'm nearly six."

Could she read his mind too?

They approached the gates, and Magni finally stopped speaking, the awe that crossed his face at the sight of the castle something to watch.

"Is this our new home?" Lia asked.

"If you wish it to be," Thane answered. "You may take your time to think on it." Why he said such a thing, he didn't know. Ever since he'd seen Tamsin tossed on a rock, everything he believed had been challenged. He didn't trust females, other than Mora, but now he'd met Dyna and Eli, two skilled and honest women.

He said he would never have bairns about because they were too much work.

And now he had a lass of nearly six in front of him, and she and her brother had made him smile more times since he'd met them than he'd smiled in the last year.

"Lia, look at our new home!" Magni's arms pointed over his head, his excitement contagious.

They crossed the bridge, were let in the gates, then headed to the stables. As soon as Magni's feet hit the ground, he took off at a sprint, tearing in circles as he examined his surroundings.

In the time it took for Thane to dismount, lower Lia to the ground, and hand the reins to Theo, Magni had already run through the stables, across the courtyard, up the steps to the keep and back again.

Bearnard stopped in front of Thane, looked down, and said, "A lass? Where'd you get her, Chief?"

"Found them on Ulva. No parents and they were mistreated by their previous owner. This is Lia and her brother Magni. They are staying with us for now."

Lia smiled and said, "Greetings to you, dear sir. My, but you are both quite tall. Would you be so kind as to pick me up, my lord Thane?"

Thane didn't know what to say because he hadn't held any young ones since Mora was small. His guard sensed it, apparently, because Bearnard stepped up quickly. He held both hands out to Lia. "What about me? I'm nearly as tall as he is. Come see from up here?"

Lia reached for Bearnard with a smile, and the guard's reaction was swift. He swung the girl up in the air until she landed on his shoulders with a squeal, grabbing his head with both hands to steady herself.

"Now, you cannot cover my eyes, lassie, but I'll give you a ride into the keep, if you like." Then he winked at Thane and said, "My daughter loves it, Chief."

"Lia?" Thane glanced at her to see her reaction, feeling he should ask her, but from her giggles, he surmised she was fine with it.

"Aye, please," she said.

"Be careful," Thane said, immediately thinking he was turning daft.

Once inside the great hall, Bearnard set Lia in a chair near the hearth, then threw more wood onto the embers, stoking it. Magni rushed over and hugged his sister. "We'll like it here, Lia. I'm sure of it."

Agnes came out of the kitchens, stopping in her tracks. "Bairns, my lord?"

"Aye, mistreated ones with no parents. Do we have any porridge and honey left? And if you could ready them a chamber for this eve together, I'd appreciate it."

"I'll have some porridge in a few minutes." Agnes disappeared.

"Magni, I'll take you outside and you can tell me all you know about the isle. Brian will stay with you, Lia."

Brian had come in behind him. "I'd be pleased to sit with the lass."

Thane led Magni outside, headed to the guardhouse, then said to him, "Tell me about Garvie and his wife."

"The one he is trying to kill? Tamsin?"

The lad looked up at him with such innocence, Thane couldn't believe it. "Does everyone know he's trying to kill his own wife?"

"Aye, everyone but Tamsin and their daughter Alana."

Thane cursed. The man was sheer evil. "Has he tried before?"

"Once, but now he is set to try again. I heard him say he would take her out some night soon and leave her."

Thane absorbed what Magni said and strode across to the back gate, leading Magni outside. "Follow me. This is my favorite place. I can see all the sea from here. It is quite a peaceful spot."

He came to a halt at his favorite location. From this vantage point, he could see how many ships were at sea, how high the tide was, and any approaching visitors from the path behind the castle. Not many used it, preferring to travel along the coast, but his clan used it frequently. It was the best path to take into the forest for hunting.

"This is amazing. I can see forever," Magni said, truly enthralled by the view, but Thane didn't tarry.

They continued on for a short distance, following the well-worn path, Thane's mind filled with questions about their future. So much had changed recently.

"Look," Magni cried. "Is that not something odd on the coastline? Is that a body?"

Thane's gaze went to the same place immediately, shocked he hadn't noticed it himself. But he was also grateful to the lad. If he were to wager, the body was Tamsin Garvie.

Thane took off toward the coast, Magni behind him, but he shouted, "Magni, go to the stables and tell Theo to ready five horses. Meet me down there with two of them."

"Aye, Chief. I'll take care of everything." Magni took off, humming as he went. Was the lad happy all the time or was it a reflection of his new home?

Thane had more important things to focus on.

A body.