Chapter Five

That night, Alaric sat in front of the hearth after the evening meal, staring into the flames. His father was injured, and his brother would not awaken. He didn't like it at all. At least he knew his sire would heal. The broken leg would take a bit of time to heal, but his arm would heal quickly, or so he hoped.

Els? He had a sick feeling deep in his belly that his brother might never awaken. His mother had said she knew of a bairn of five or so who'd had the same type of fall. The child never awakened. Breathed well, she had said, but never awakened again. It was as if her soul was taken away. She'd never recovered, but her parents had taken her home and lovingly cared for her anyway.

Joya had two bairns to care for, and one was still wearing raggies.

What if his brother never recovered?

His father had already told Alaric that he might be taking over some of his chieftain duties for a short while. Hell, but he wanted no part of being chief of Clan Grant. There were too many people to keep happy, too many problems, and too many worries. Why the hell had he pushed everyone to take the shorter route? Because of the impending storm. But that storm had proven to be the cause of the injuries.

His cousin Broc joined him at the hearth. "Ye know 'tis no' yer fault, aye?" Broc was Alick's younger brother, just as Alaric was brother to Elshander. The three cousins, Alasdair, Alick, and Elshander had been born on the same day and had been inseparable their whole lives. Their younger siblings were close too.

"I suppose no'." He knew it wasn't his fault, but it sure as hell felt as though it was. Would they have taken the shorter route if Alaric hadn't suggested it? Els would have. His father wouldn't have. That was his guess.

Guess.

"Ye made the right decision, Alaric," Broc said. "Ye had to get the seed back. That was our first concern. Alick was yelling about it all the way back."

"I know. But if we'd just gone around…"

Broc refilled both of their ales. "If I had been in yer place, I would have done the same."

"Thank ye, Broc." Broc was one of his favorite cousins.

Els was heir to the chieftainship. What if he couldn't speak or walk?

The main door opened and three people entered the hall, shaking off their coats and knocking the mud from their boots.

Alaric jumped out of his seat, startled. He'd been so lost in thought that he hadn't heard them arrive. "Aunt Jennie, Uncle Aedan. I'm so glad ye are here."

Maitland came in behind them, closing the door behind him. "Alaric, Broc, how do ye fare?"

"We're fine, Maitland. But my father and brother did not fare so well."

"I brought one of the best to see if she can help." Maitland nodded toward their aunt, the youngest of the great Alex Grant's siblings.

Aedan set his hand at her lower back and ushered her to the end of the hall. "Come, Jennie. Sit by the hearth and warm up."

Broc rushed to get her mantle off, hanging it on a peg nearby.

Aunt Jennie glanced over toward the healing chamber. "I should probably check to see if Gracie needs me right away or not."

Alaric shook his head but said nothing, afraid to speak.

"What the hell does that mean?" Maitland asked, not moving from the spot he was in.

Uncle Aedan stopped and stared at him. "Did someone die?"

"Nay, nay." He ran both hands down his face, a sudden understanding of how his gesture could be interpreted. "Nay, Mama is waiting for Aunt Jennie to help her straighten Da's leg. Els hasn't awakened yet. So I doubt ye need to do anything right away. Allow me to get ye some wine from the cellar. Broc will see what food we have in the kitchens."

Aunt Kyla entered from the tower room. "I thought I heard voices. Aunt Jennie, Uncle Aedan, 'tis so nice to see ye, and I thank ye for coming so quickly. Please sit by the fire, Auntie. Warm yerselves and I'll find something for ye to eat."

Maitland said, "Dinnae forget me, Kyla. I'm starving."

Alaric headed toward the kitchen just as Finlay entered, barking orders as he went. "Sit yer arse in that chair, Alaric. Tell yer aunt all ye remember about the accident. Broc and I'll help Kyla get the food. Aedan, are ye still able to handle the stairs? If so, I'll take yer bag above stairs once I return. Sit and rest yer bones after such a quick trip."

Alaric sat back down, grateful that Uncle Finlay had come along. He'd always been his father's second, and everyone adored him because he was so lighthearted. He could make anyone laugh over the oddest comments.

Uncle Aedan said, "We can both manage the stairs, Finlay. My thanks. I'm anxious for a wee sip of that amber liquid ye keep in the cellars. And Jennie would love a glass of wine to warm her insides."

Maitland took a seat after their aunt and uncle settled, while Kyla, Broc, and Finlay headed into the kitchens. Alaric reached into the basket by the hearth for a warm blanket and offered it to his aunt.

"My thanks to ye, Alaric. I will enjoy this. Now tell me exactly what happened in the accident. What did ye see of yer brother and father?"

Alaric explained how the accident took place, but he didn't mention that he'd pushed them to go down the incline instead of the longer, safer route because of the weather.

If that wasn't a clear admission of guilt on its own. He feared he'd be blamed for the accident. He couldn't handle that on his conscience. His brother and his father both seriously hurt due to his careless actions.

"So Els landed on his head? Did he ever speak to ye after that?"

"Nay. He was fast asleep."

"And yer father. Gracie could not straighten the bone? I heard his arm was broken too."

Maitland chuckled. "I'm just going to suggest that Gracie didn't wish to set her husband's leg. I can picture Jamie fussing enough to unsettle her."

"It unsettles anyone to have to take care of a spouse. 'Tis so true," Aunt Jennie said with a grin. "My nephews are much like my brother Alex. Stubborn and bossy at times. I love them all dearly, but 'tis part of their nature."

Alaric, shocked, asked, "Grandsire? Bossy?"

"Och, aye. He was always bossing the four of us around when we were young."

Alaric knew she meant her sister Brenna and her brothers Brodie and Robbie. And his father did tend to boss his mother around at times. He had a sudden understanding of why his mother was so upset.

Kyla returned with a goblet of wine for Aunt Jennie, and Uncle Finlay handed all the men a wee bit of the breath of life while Broc set down a platter with a selection of cheese, berries, and a partial loaf of bread. Alaric stared up at his uncle, shocked to be handed such a treat with the adults.

"What? Yer sire never gave ye one? But ye are five and twenty. Well, I'm giving ye one. Ye look a wee bit too unsettled, Alaric. Ease yer mind. Whatever happened out there happened, and there's naught ye can do to change it. Take it in one swift gulp. Ye'll see."

Alaric had tried the golden liquid several times with his cousins, but his parents had never given him any. They considered it too precious to share with the younger group. In fact, the first time, Alasdair and Alick had drank almost all of it, leaving very little for him to taste. Maitland took his and swallowed a sip, smiling as he did so. "A fine batch, Finlay. I prefer to savor it."

Alaric decided to do what Finlay told him, so he swallowed it in one gulp, hoping it would calm him quickly.

And it did. He coughed a bit, the strange brew burning his throat, but within a few moments, a warmth washed over him. He couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face.

"My thanks to ye, Uncle Finlay. 'Tis just what I needed." He held his cup out for more, but Finlay set it aside.

"No' yet. Let that first one settle on ye. Ye still must be able to answer yer aunt's questions, and this batch will put ye to sleep in no time."

Kyla brought out a tray of apple tarts. "Our fruit is nearly gone, Auntie, but these will serve for now. We're all praying for an early spring and a fine harvest."

"Have ye enough seed to plant?" Aedan asked. "We were thin, but I went to Inverness and traded for some oat seed and vegetables."

"Aye," Aunt Kyla said. "Jamie and the rest were returning from our neighbors after buying some seed from them. In fact, after we had everyone inside and in the healing chamber, it dawned on us that the seed they'd bought was probably ruined from the rain. But someone had the foresight to send the seed in right away."

Finlay reached over and patted Alaric's back. "Ye did some fine thinking. I heard 'twas ye who sent the seed in. Jamie was wild until he found out it was already inside. I checked it and all is fine but a small bag of turnip seed that was ruined. We'll be fine as long as our fields arenae flooded again."

"Or a drought," Aedan declared. "I heard Donnan has a fine setup, with his raised wood planters. Set above the ground, with holes in the bottom for the rain to drain. The man is mighty clever. I'm going to build some of my own, just in case we have another bad year."

"He did a fine job," Maitland said. "Saved enough seed to give us some bean seed. We are grateful."

Aunt Jennie stood up and folded the blanket she'd had on her lap. "The wine and the tart were perfect, but I wish to check on my nephews, if ye dinnae mind."

Aunt Kyla went with her, which gave Alaric the opportunity to talk to Maitland. "When do we leave on patrol?"

"I'll stay for one day, then Dyna and I will ride out. Are ye staying back because of the accident, Alaric?"

"Nay," he said, a wee bit too quickly probably. "I'm concerned, but I agreed to go on patrol with ye, so I will do as I promised. There is little I can do here. I trust Aunt Jennie will get them both healed."

Maitland finished his drink. "And if she cannae help Els?"

Alaric let out a big sigh. "If she cannae do naught, what could I do? I'll go with ye. I honor my commitments."

He had to leave. If either of them took a turn for the worse, he'd never be able to live with the guilt. Keeping busy was the best thing for him.

Now, if he could only convince himself that their downfall was not his fault. He agreed with everyone who insisted it wasn't his fault, but in his gut, he felt differently. Their present state made him feel responsible, no matter what reason said.

Because if they were worse, he'd leave and never return.