He took two steps backwards. His head shook before he could even shout his answer out. “Nay! I’m not leaving here, ever. And you can’t leave me ever again.”
Simone came out behind his mother and said, “Now, Magni. I heard that. You know Thane will protect you. Your mother is having a terrible time with her back, and I think if she spent some time on a good bed at night that she would heal. And she wouldn’t have so many chores at MacQuarie Castle. Here she helps with all the bairns, and it is wearing on her. Why don’t you come along with us?”
“To MacQuarie land? Nay. Never. I’m staying here. Mama, you cannot go. Please.”
His mother came over and set a hand on his shoulder. “Magni, I’d like you to come with us. I’m not abandoning you. You belong with me, so please come along. Your sire will take me, but he’ll return.”
“But you can’t leave me.”
“Child, if I don’t heal my back, I won’t be able to walk much longer. Brenna gave me something to put on every day, but I have to figure out exactly what my problem is. Come with me.”
“Nay.” He stopped to think for a moment. He didn’t want his mother unable to walk. She needed to be fixed. Mayhap in a day or two she could return, and as long as his father was returning, it might be all right. “Will you come back when it’s better?”
“If you’d like me to, I will. But Da is coming with me. He’ll return for you if you insist on staying here.”
He wanted to cry but he was getting too big to cry. “I want you to come back as soon as you’re better.”
“All right. If it will please you, then I’ll do that.”
“And Papa.”
“Fine. I’ll have him return to you once I’m settled.”
“Lia will stay with me.” He looked around because he hadn’t seen her in a while. Where was she? “Lia?”
Lia came out of the house and strode right up to him. “Magni, I’m going with your mama. She needs our help.”
“Nay, you cannot go too, Lia. You’re my sister.”
“I know that, but I have something I must do on the isle. I promise to return.”
Magni felt his world fall apart. He glanced over his shoulder to see if someone was waiting for him. Or mayhap there was someone hiding in the trees waiting for everyone to leave. Or was there a boat approaching? One with ten men who would grab him and Tenney and steal them away?
Lia approached him and took his hands in hers. “Magni, I will not let anyone hurt you. I told you I’d protect you. But if you’re that uncomfortable here, then come with us. Thane and Tamsin would love to see you and so would Mora and Brian.”
The tears flooded his cheeks, and he couldn’t stop them, so he hugged Lia, hoping no one would see his tears. He wasn’t a baby, so he didn’t know why he was crying. “Please don’t go, Lia.”
Simone came out and took Magni by the hand. “Say good-bye to your mama. Your father is going to take her there, and he will return. We all have to get her to Thane’s safely. Then Artan and I will return. Your da will probably return in a day or two, once your mother is settled. Lia has other places she has to go.”
“But you promised, Lia.”
“I promised I would always protect you, Magni, and I will hold to that promise.”
“But you didn’t before. I was stolen away.”
“And you were saved each time.”
“But I don’t want that to happen ever again. I don’t like being stolen away.”
Simone waved his mother and father over to the boat. “Magni, come sit with me for a moment.”
“All right. Are you going to stay with me, Simone?”
“Nay, but I’ll be back soon. I will still live in our hut, but I’ll visit every day while Lia is gone. I promise.”
“But why is everyone leaving me? Don’t you still love me?”
Four voices cried in unison. “Of course we do!”
