Chapter Twenty-Five

Eli

Eli rubbed her hands together in front of the hearth. Hellfire, but it had all seemed too real.

Dyna came up behind her, handing her a goblet of wine. "This bottle is from the ones Maitland found in the cellar the first day. It is fine wine, and the wee ones are in bed, so it is time to enjoy it. You are done hunting, right?"

"Aye," she said, taking the goblet a wee bit too anxiously. She took two huge gulps of the fragrant liquid. It tasted better than it smelled, of that she was certain.

Dyna arched a brow and took a seat in front of the hearth. "You must still think it was Logan."

"I do! I cannot get it out of my mind. How I wish you had been there, Dyna. Alaric wasn't looking in the right place. He never saw him, and I'm not sure he would have recognized him if he had seen him." She set her goblet on a nearby table and fell into the chair with a flop.

"It is difficult to be certain of someone's identity if you only see their back."

"But I know Grandsire. I know his walk, the way he sits his horse. It was him."

"It surely is possible. Logan has been known to show up at the oddest places at the strangest times. Grandsire said they called him the wanderer when he was young because he would take off and not tell anyone. They never knew where he was or when he would return. But I think he always has his reasons for his adventures, so that brings up the question—why do you think he would be here?" Dyna asked, taking another sip of her wine before she sat down, crossing her legs.

"I don't know." Eli's grandparents had disappeared in late spring after she had married Alaric. Her grandmother was having a terrible time with her knee, unable to stop the pus from draining and causing intense pain. After visiting and being treated by various healers, she'd given up and said she was leaving, going to die in peace with Grandsire. She wished to die privately.

That was the last time Eli had seen them. Grandsire had said he would be back, so it was possible he could be here on the isle. Her grandmother was probably dead, though it pained her much to think on it. "You know I named my mare Golden Gwyn."

"Aye, it's a fine name. No reason to change it. Mayhap you should name your horse Gwynie. That would bring your grandfather back, would it not?"

Dyna's slanted grin told Eli she knew the tale as much as she did. Her grandsire, Logan Ramsay, had always called his wife Gwynie. But he would not allow anyone else to use that name. "So true, Dyna. Cadyn tried to call her that once, and Grandsire nearly threw him across the hall."

Warm thoughts brought her back to her beloved grandmother. She surely had passed on. Aunt Brenna and Aunt Jennie had both said there was naught more they could do for her. But what about her grandfather? Where had he gone? Would he return to Ramsay land?

"It makes no sense. There is absolutely no reason for him to be here, and if he were, he would visit."

Maitland came along and said, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I agree. Logan would visit. I don't envision him hiding out from any of us. If he were on Mull, he would be here. I think your mind is telling you what you wish the truth was."

Eli sighed, refusing to let a tear loose. They were right, she knew it, but it still hurt. "I know you speak the truth. I'm always hopeful. I've wished and prayed for them both to return, but it is not to be."

The door opened and Alaric shouted, "Eli, Tamsin is back."

"Oh, my goodness. How bad?" Eli asked, bolting out of her chair and nearly spilling her wine.

"It looks bad. Ready the chamber, and I'll help MacQuarie get her in here."

Eli hurried into her chamber after telling Murreal all she would need. Hot water, goat's milk if they had any, along with many linen squares. And she hoped Tamsin could take some broth.

Dyna said, "I'll go with you. My guess is that this won't be pretty because this is his second attack. Thane saved her before, so I'm guessing the bully made certain she wouldn't survive this time."

"Then Thane's saved her again? Or did he set him up?" Eli couldn't imagine having to deal with all poor Tamsin had to deal with. She would surely stick a blade in her husband's heart when he was sleeping, or mayhap somewhere else. Her grin at the thought caught Dyna.

Dyna laughed. "I know what you are thinking, and I would do the same. Right in his private parts."

The two giggled about that thought until they both stopped. Dyna chewed on her lip and crossed her arms. "Do you suppose Garvie might attack Thane's castle while he's gone? Could that be possible?"

Eli let out a low whistle. "Let's hope not. Poor Thane." She couldn't help but think about how he'd become involved in a marital affair between two strangers, yet he'd acted as honorably as any Highlander. "Your grandsire would have been proud of Thane, Dyna."

The door opened and Alaric held it open for Thane to enter.

"Set her here, Thane. Is she awake?"

He shook his head. "She awakened once when Magni spoke to her, but we think she thought Magni was her daughter."

"Magni?" Eli looked behind the men but saw no one.

Then a lad jumped inside the door. "Me! I'm here. May I please bring my sister Lia in to sit? She's tired."

Eli chuckled as the cutest lad she'd seen in a long time—wavy dark hair to his shoulders with one plait at the front—jumped inside, a golden-haired lass half his size following behind him. She beamed with a smile.

"May I sit inside where it is safe, if you please? I pledge not to be a bother." Dressed in a dirty gown with worn boots that were too big for her, Eli glanced at Dyna, who reacted faster than she ever could.

"Come right over here, Lia. Magni, you stay with Thane. Lia, sit over here by the fire, take off those ill-fitting boots, and warm yourself. Here's a fur to warm your feet and I'll find you a clean gown. But not until I find a warm tub for you once the men depart."

Lia smiled and gave a small bow as if she were the queen of the land, her natural sparkle lighting up the chamber. "Many thanks to you for your kindness. And while I bathe, you can all tell me what your wishes are."

Dyna's head turned toward the lass. "Wishes? We don't have any special wishes."

"Well, I only have one. I wish my grandmother was still alive."

"You miss her?" Lia asked.

"Aye. More than you would understand. I adore her and she left too soon. I would love it if my grandparents were both on the isle. But she has passed on, I'm sure."

Dyna added, "That would be a treat."

"We'll see later about your wish, my lady," Lia said.

"I have a few questions for Thane before he and Magni leave, Dyna. Just a moment." Eli brought over a clean gown and linen squares to wash Tamsin's face, but first she wished to hear Thane's thoughts.

As Dyna fussed with Lia, Eli asked Thane, "Where did you find her?"

"On the beach. If you look at her hands, it looks as though she climbed across the rocks. Her skin is torn. The place where we found her is craggy rocks for great lengths. He must have left her far out hoping the tide would drown her quickly, but she crawled her way to land."

Eli picked up the edge of her gown with one hand. "My guess is her knees are just as bloody."

"Can you save her?" Thane asked.

"I'll try my best. Why did she awaken?"

"Because Magni said he knows where her daughter is."

"Magni, where did you come from?"

"Ulva. The evil Garvie wished to sell us, so I stole both of us away. We hid in the bushes until I saw the chieftain and his men arrive the next morn. We were verra fortunate they came then. I knew they were safe, so I waited in his boat."

"And this happened when?"

"Late morn," Thane explained. "We were walking around our curtain wall when Magni saw a body on the beach. I never saw her. She owes her life to Magni and his good eyesight. Once I ran down to check on her, I knew she was in worst shape than the last time. As soon as Agnes got her wet clothes changed, we set out for here right away."

Maitland entered the room, closing the door quietly as he took everything in. "Magni, are you hungry yet? We have meat pies left over if you can eat one."

"A meat pie?" The lad began to cry and then asked, "For Lia too?"

Maitland saw the tub come in next and said, "I think we'll leave Lia some goat's milk while you and I search for the meat pies, unless you are anxious for a bath now." Maitland's smirk told Eli he knew exactly what the lad's response would be.

"No bath." Magni's wide eyes told them everything, and Eli did her best to contain her smile.

"Alaric, would you take Thane along? Lia is going to have a bath and some new clothes, while the lads go for food. Will that be all right with you, Lia?"

"A bath would be lovely," she whispered, that sweet smile never leaving her face. "If you please, Magni. I'll be fine here."

Magni said, "I'll have a bath later."

Thane chuckled, following Alaric and Maitland out the door. Magni ran, telling all of them exactly how he felt about having a bath.

As soon as the door closed behind the men, Tamsin's eyes flickered open and she rolled onto her side. "Please help me save my daughter."

"We will. I promise," Eli said. "First, you must build your strength so you can tell us all you know. We cannot help her without your help."

Tamsin's gaze searched the chamber again. "Thane? He saved me again? I made it?"

Eli sat on a stool and cocooned Tamsin's hand in hers. "Aye, Thane and Magni saved you. You fought hard, but I'll help you heal so we can find your daughter."

Tamsin's eyes moved over to the tub behind Eli where Dyna was helping Lia climb into the warm water. "Alana?"

"Nay, Lia. An orphan Thane saved. But they were on Ulva. I think they can help you locate Alana. But you must heal first."

"Please help me. I don't think Alana will be alive for long. I'm certain my husband plans to sell her."

Eli jolted.

Selling bairns? What crime could be worse?

She pursed her lips and said, "You can count on our help for that. The swine is done selling bairns."