Grant cried harder. Then he kicked his legs and mumbled, “Wia, Wia, Wia.”
Dyna stared at Maitland, wide-eyed. “What the hell does this mean? I don’t like this at all.”
Tora came over to her mother and whispered, “He wants Lia.”
“I know, sweeting. But Lia isn’t here.”
“But she’s coming soon. And so is her friend.”
Then Tora ran over to the blocks, sitting with her sister.
Her father whipped his head from Tora to Dyna. “Who is Lia’s friend? Is there someone out there that I missed? Is there another angel?”
“I don’t know, Da. These bairns have never been the same ever since the chaos of Kelvan and friends. It’s as if every so often, they all remember what it was like to be stolen away, sent off on a boat, locked in a dark chamber, fed nothing…” Dyna closed her eyes and said a quick prayer for things to go back to the way they were before the chaos.
Sandor let out a loud squeal and took off running toward the far end of the hall. “Unca Shakie can’t catch me! Nay you can’t.” He giggled and swatted at the air. “Top it, Unca Shakie.”
Connor said, “Jake? Where have you been? The lad missed you.”
Tora ran over and jumped on her grandsire’s lap, cupping his face with one small hand. “He said he was busy hepping someone else.” Then she hopped off his lap.
“Who, Jake?” Dyna shouted, giving her father a side-eye of fear.
Tora raced back over, climbed up, then said to her grandfather. “He hepping Hagen.”
Off she went again.
“Wait, Tora. Helping Hagen with who?” Dyna asked.
Tora looked at her mother, then scowled before moving back over to her grandfather, who shrugged his shoulders, but then the lass climbed up again to her trusted grandfather. “Unca Shakie hepping Hagen and Bria.”
Grant wiggled and squealed, “Bwia, Bwia, Bwia!” He clapped his hands and giggled.
Derric looked at her and asked, “Diamond?”
Her father asked “Dyna?”
Maitland finally announced, “What is happening?”
Dyna had no idea.
Chapter Twelve
Brynja
Brynja rolled down the hill, heading straight toward the water, the stones ripping her skin in places, but she couldn’t stop herself. She closed her eyes in fear of losing her sight to a stick or a stone.
Two strong arms grabbed her, lifting her instantly, keeping her from landing in the sea. She opened her eyes and stared up at blue eyes.
“I’ve got you.” Hagen Grant.
She let out a breath, so glad to see him, but then said, “Hildi, she’s hurt.”
Hagen set her on her feet, then ran over to the shape on the shore, still not moving. He knelt down next to the body and rolled her over.
“Is it Hildi? Is she dead?”
The sound of the two men laughing as they left in their boat irked her more than anything. “I’ll kill you both someday,” she shouted. “You’ll see.” She recognized the one man, then caught a quick glance of the other one.
