Chapter Twenty-Six

Thane

Thane stared into the flames, turning his head as soon as he heard Magni's whoop of delight when he was handed a meat pie.

"My belly growled at your castle, Chief, but then we found Lady Garvie, and I forgot I was hungry."

Maitland said, "Eat it slowly, lad, or it will come back up on you. I'm guessing you have not eaten much in a while."

Magni said, "I'll try, Chief."

Thane was most interested in hearing about his sister, but he guessed she was probably asleep since it was dark already. "Mora? Is she hale? Has she been any trouble?"

"Nay," Maitland said. "Astra loves having her here. They've become fast friends and the bairns love Mora too. They all sleep in the same chamber. I love her bright outlook, but I must ask, has no one ever taught her not to ask so many questions?"

"Nay."

Maitland arched a brow and grinned.

"I do not wish to change her. I like my sister as she is. She was never allowed to ask questions until we were left alone on the isle."

Maitland rubbed his hands together. "Someday, I'd like to hear that story, but first we will focus on Tamsin." He took a goblet of ale Alaric brought for them.

Alaric sat at a trestle table and asked, "Do you and Garvie have a history, MacQuarie? Is he after you for any reason?"

Thane thought for a moment and said, "Nay. I've never met the man before this happened. Our only encounter was the day I witnessed him leave Tamsin on a rock to die. This is the second time he's left her, but I didn't see him this morn. She was already on the beach when we first saw her."

"But on the beach may not be a place to die. He is punishing her? Scaring her, possibly?" Maitland asked.

"Nay, he meant to kill her. Everyone knows it," Magni mumbled on a mouthful.

"Everyone?" Maitland's gaze narrowed as he waited for Magni to reply.

Magni chewed what was already in his mouth, then answered. "He told his guards he wished to kill his wife. He wanted a new one to give him a son, and the only way to do it was to have the first one die."

Maitland tipped his head, then glanced over at Alaric as if an agreement was forged between the two with just a look.

"The church does not allow a man to have two wives. That's what all the villagers said, but they all believe that Raghnall lives by his own rules. That he is not governed by God." Magni took another bite and sighed. "You have a fine cook."

"We do. Murreal is the wife of one of our guards. She'll be teaching others her ways."

"I'll learn!" Magni shouted.

Thane said, "We'll wait and see where you belong, Magni. Your sister needs you for now."

"Och, but this is true. Are you going to take Tamsin back?"

"That depends on Tamsin," Thane said. "She chose to return before. Her husband has their daughter, and she'll not leave her there alone. As long as their daughter remains on Ulva, I think she'll return."

"I know where Alana is. I can show you."

Maitland glanced from Alaric to Thane. "Are you sure?"

"Aye. They keep her where they kept Lia. They let me run about, gave me chores, but Lia stayed with the woman in the back building, and she's mean. She keeps the wee ones. She lives in a cottage toward the western end of the isle."

Thane thought about this revelation, wondering if he could find Alana and bring her back to Tamsin.

Alaric said, "I know what you are thinking, but I have questions for you before we make a plan."

Thane arched a brow at Alaric, wondering if his questions would be too personal. He wouldn't give away much, but he nodded his agreement. Asking didn't mean he would answer.

"What are your feelings for Tamsin? Would you accept her?" Alaric leaned back and crossed his arms while he waited.

"Accept her?"

"Are you interested in taking her for your wife?" Maitland clarified. "I think Alaric is wondering where Tamsin should live if we kill Garvie. Which is exactly what we plan to do."

"Plan? What?" So confused, he didn't know how to answer anything yet.

"Have you considered the possibility of taking Tamsin as your wife? You seem drawn to her more than as her rescuer. If I'm wrong, just say so." Maitland got up and strode over to the hearth, brushing the crumbs from his hands into the fire. He chuckled and said, "Maeve says it's a better place for the crumbs than in my beard."

"You're wrong, Chief. I'm not interested in taking a wife." Hell, the thought hadn't even crossed his mind, but Thane wasn't about to tell them the truth. He'd never take a wife.

Never. He did not trust women and all they represented. Being the only one who raises bairns, they can do what they wish with the innocent. Treat them harshly, starve them. No one pays the mothers any mind.

The only female he loved or trusted was his sister. Though he had to admit, he must trust Eli and Dyna, or he would never have left Mora with them.

Maitland sat in the large chair again, leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees. "My apologies. Look, MacQuarie, we know there are problems on the isle. We were warned that you have thieves and other concerns. Our job is to take care of the issues and settle the island. King Robert will not allow the MacDougalls to return here, so we must prove that we will be staying. Whoever else is causing problems will be dealt with fairly in Scotland's name. We hope to unite the island, not cause trouble."

Alaric added, "And right now, we see Garvie and his mother as problems. We'll eliminate both if necessary. We'll start with Raghnall, but if we must, we'll go after his mother. Just because she's female does not mean she is incapable of these deeds. In our experience, women can be as evil as any man. We'll investigate the chieftain and mother. And especially take a hard look at their activities."

Thane couldn't argue with them, but it changed one part of his plan. He probably wouldn't be taking over Ulva if they were involved. Are they hoping to run the isle themselves?

Or are they planning to overtake all of the Isle of Mull?

He'd be bold and ask his questions because they were paramount to his situation and his future plans. "You do know that Ulva is run by Garvie and his mother? He's driven the others out. I was told by a merchant that they come once a sennight to sell their wares, and that is it. Garvie has driven all the others off the isle. Only the ones who work directly for him remain."

Magni jumped out of his chair. "True. All true. He wants to invite others to join him."

"Who?" Maitland asked.

Magni shrugged, taking another bite of his meat pie. "I don't know. I saw another bad man there once, but I don't know who he is."

Maitland and Alaric glanced at each other again, as if thoughts passed from one to the other without words. Maitland shook his head. "We'll have to ask Tamsin if she knows Garvie's plans, when she is able."

"Is it your plan to take over the isle?" Thane asked, hoping he wasn't being too bold.

Maitland snorted. "Nay. I have a newborn son on the way. My wife will join us once she has the bairn. She wishes to have a certain healer tend to her, which is why she is staying on the mainland until she has the lad." Maitland closed his eyes. "And I miss her dearly."

Thane didn't understand this comment. He didn't know many couples who truly enjoyed each other. Clan Grantham had given him much to think on because so many of their values went against his own. Was it time to adjust the cardinal truths he held close? He thought back on his nightmare, the one where the blood flowed around his feet. Were his parents happy? Could that woman have been his mother and not his aunt? Could he be happily married?

How he wished he knew exactly what had happened so many years ago. But then the harsh truth always brought him back. His mother, the one who had raised the three of them so harshly, was not the woman in his dream. But he had no idea who she was.

Dyna exited the healing chamber and headed for their group at the hearth. Thane stood up, hoping she was bringing good news and not bad. "Is she hale?"

Dyna nodded, taking a stool next to Maitland. "She will be fine. Eli said much as last time, she has many bruises. Different from last time is the number of cuts she has, evidence of her journey across the rocks. She has one ankle that is verra swollen, but I don't think it is broken. Her walking will be limited for a while. If her husband left her as far out as she has said, then he's definitely guilty of attempted murder."

"She is coherent?" Thane asked.

"Aye. Awake, sipping on broth. She will heal, but not as fast as she hopes, I'm afraid."

"Because she will go after her husband? Or her daughter?"

"Both," Dyna said. "The only way to keep her here is to convince her that someone else will retrieve her daughter."

Magni moved over to a spot in front of the hearth and lay down, curling up and closing his eyes. Dyna covered him with a blanket. "Maitland, what say you?"

"Alaric? Have we enough trained men?"

Alaric rubbed his hands together, thinking as he stared up at the rafters. "We're still light, but what if we do a patrol first? See what we can learn? How many can you give us, MacQuarie?"

"About a score. I would ask if I could train with you on the morrow, before I leave. I could use some new skills of my own."

"Of course. Alaric and Broc love adding newcomers to the lists. Beware," Maitland said with a laugh.

"And how many guards do you have at this point?"

Alaric replied, "We're nearing a score if we count all of us. We have another ten from the village who are training with us. I expect only half to stay, but they are strong. We can only offer a score at this point. How many MacVeys and Rankins. Have you any idea?"

Thane said, "Not exact numbers. MacVey is larger than Rankin. I'd guess Clan MacVey to be triple our size and Clan Rankin to be double. I cannot advise you as to their skill level."

The door opened and Eli entered, closing it softly behind her. She walked to Alaric, and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck, and Eli squirmed. "Soon enough, Alaric." Then she turned and rubbed her bottom against him, giggling.

"Update, Eli, before you ravage your husband?" Dyna asked.

Thane thought he must have heard wrong. Eli ravage Alaric?

Eli stepped away from Alaric and said, "I will do my best to control myself. Lia and Tamsin are both asleep. I banked the fire so they should be fine." Then she leaned over and kissed her husband, tugging him close. When she ended the kiss, she leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Now may we go?"

Dyna said, "Go. I'll show Thane and Magni to their chamber." The two raced up the stairs. Alaric grabbed her and Eli giggled as they moved.

"They are newly wed," Maitland explained. "Just as I am."

His wistful answer was clear to Thane. Both were happily married.

"Watching those two together makes me miss my wife terribly."

Thane had much to think on. He had a strict rule that his guards were to keep their wives outside the keep unless they were attacked. They stayed in cottages, and that suited Thane just fine. Everything was different at Clan Grantham. Which made him recall the question he wished to ask Dyna after Maitland took his leave to his chamber off the great hall.

Thane whispered, "How does Maitland know he's having a son?"

Dyna said, "Because I told him so." She waggled a brow at Thane and added, "I'm a seer."

Thane had much to learn about his new neighbors, but the biggest question he had was a simple one: Could he trust them?