Brynja blushed and said, “Good morn to you all.”
Hagen said, “You’ve met my sire and Maitland. This is Grant’s grandsire, Drew Menzie, Avelina’s husband and Maitland’s sire, and this is Alaric, another cousin, husband to Eli.”
“How is Hildi, lass?” Connor asked, waiting for her to sit before taking his seat again.
“She awakened last night and this morn. She’s improving slowly.” Hagen ushered her to a chair in front of his father’s desk. Even though it was technically Maitland’s or Dyna’s chair, Maitland and Dyna both allowed Connor to sit behind the desk when he joined the conversation out of respect for his previous lairdship.
Dyna stuck her head in and said, “Sorry, Sandor is being a wee devil this morn. Have I missed anything?”
“Nay, Brynja has something to tell us. Go ahead, lass.” He waved Dyna inside.
Dyna took a seat and nodded to Brynja, so the lass began. “When we were on Ulva, I heard the two men talking before they saw us. One wanted to know how many guards the Grants have.”
“Did you hear their names?” Maitland asked.
She thought for a moment, tipping her head. “I did. Sholto and… Dugald? Nay, Dugan. That’s it. Dugan.”
Connor looked at Drew. “Is that the name you were given last eve?”
“Aye, his name was Sholto. Brown hair, long, short brown beard. A head shorter than me but broad shoulders. Scar on one cheek.”
“Aye, the same. That’s the man I hit with my dagger.”
Drew smiled and winked at her. “And you’re still causing the man pain from it, lass. He was limping last night and rubbing his inner thigh. Well done.”
“There aren’t many with aim like that,” Connor said. “I hope you are proud of yourself for that.”
She blushed but said naught, moving her chair a wee bit closer to Hagen’s. Connor wondered if his son knew what a telling movement that was. Probably not, but he surely did.
Connor said, “Continuing. Do you know why he wished to know how many guards we have?” Suddenly he felt so tuned into the lass that he had to calm himself. He had the oddest inkling that nothing could prepare him for what she was about to reveal.
“He told Sholto that if he didn’t attack, that if he stayed on Tiree, he still had to know how many you would bring.”
“Did he say anything else that you recall? Anything at all.”
She nodded, swallowing hard. “He asked if any of Alexander Grant’s heirs were here. He said your name and asked aboutKyle and James, I think?” She looked at Hagen, who turned wide-eyed to his father.
Connor held his hand up to Dyna, who jumped out of her chair. “Might he have said Kyla and Jamie?”
“Aye. One said Kyle and James, the other said Kyla and Jamie. He wanted to know if any of you were here and if any grandsons were here.”
“That bastard,” Dyna said, pacing the floor now. “Why? Did he say why he wanted Connor? And what about granddaughters? I’m right here waiting for him.” Her fist came up from her side as if she were about to punch someone.
Brynja paled, so Connor motioned for Dyna to sit again. They needed this information as accurately as possible. Brynja was exhausted and in strange surroundings. Connor said, “Let’s give Brynja the time she needs to recall everything.”
Dyna sat and muttered, “My apologies, Brynja. Take your time.”
Then Connor gave his attention back to the lass in front of him, the trembling in her hands evident. “Did he say anything else that could be important? Why he was interested in the Grants? Or in me?”
Brynja cleared her throat. “Dugan said Alexander Grant killed his father.”
“Oh hellfire,” Maitland said. “That could be a hundred different men, Connor.”
Drew said, “Could be another Buchan.”
“Or a MacNiven,” Dyna said.
“Brynja,” Connor asked. “Did he say who his father was? An earl, a baron, a jarl, anything like that?”
