Connor strode over to his eldest daughter and kissed her cheek. “You need to stay here with Mama. And your bairns need you. I’ll not risk my grandbairns losing their mother. Besides, this is just a patrol. I wish to see how many they have and how skilled they are. We’ll be back late on the morrow. I hope to go over later this eve. We’ll spend the night at MacQuaries and then return. I promise we will not attack.”
Dyna ran into the stables and brought out several apples, moving from one horse to the next. She stopped at Midnight Moon and whispered to her favorite horse, “You are carrying my father. Bring him home to me like Midnight did Grandda.”
They left at high sun, the weather gray but agreeable. The trip to MacQuarie land was uneventful with little conversation. Hagen rode with Brynja tucked in front of him, something he liked. “At least I know I’ll be warm,” she said. “You’re like the warmest hearth on the coldest day in winter, Hagen.”
Merryn overheard her and laughed. “It must run in the family. Broc is the same.”
Alaric led the way. “Connor, if Eli wasn’t thick with a bairn inside, she would be here. It’s killing her to stay back. But with Brenna and Logan both there, she can’t sneak away.”
“How was Hildi this morn, lass?” Hagen asked.
“Better. She seemed more alert, but her head still pains her something fierce. I asked Brenna about it, and she said as long as she had that bump, it would still hurt. The bump was definitely smaller. And Hildi was eating porridge when I left. Tora and Sylvi were busy playing healer with her, something Hildi thought was endearing. She loves the bairns like I do.”
“Dyna said the bairns are improving too. They had nightmares for a long time after they were stolen away. I hope they don’t remember what happened to them. Not like poor Magni. He’ll always remember.”
They were nearly to MacQuarie land when Alaric slowed his horse. They came over the crest, heading down toward the coast to the front of the castle when a small form stood in the road.
“Nay, nay, nay,” Alaric said. “What do we do? Go back?”
Connor asked, “Alaric. What is the problem?”
“She is the problem.” He turned back to everyone and pointed ahead of them in the path. “Lia is here. That’s bad. You know it’s bad.”
Broc said, “Nay, Lia. Go away!”
Connor said, “I don’t consider it bad. Have we lost anyone when Lia is around?”
“Nay, but you know if she’s here, trouble is coming,” Broc said. “We’ve seen it enough times, Uncle Connor. Mayhap we should turn around.”
Connor stopped his horse and said, “I will not allow a Comming to scare me away. If anyone wishes to go back, pleasedo. I’ll take the lead.” He headed straight for the wee lass waiting for them in front of the curtain wall.
“Greetings to you, Granthams. And I see you have many Grants with you. Welcome to all.”
Merryn asked, “What is going to happen, Lia?”
Lia said, “I don’t know what you mean, Merryn. I’m just visiting MacQuaries. I would like to speak with you all about Yule. Magni is verra troubled still, and I’d like to find a way to convince him to move to Thane’s castle. I thought you could help me.”
“We’d be happy to,” Connor said.
Broc whispered behind him, “Good. It’s about Magni, not us.”
A voice carried to them from the top of the wall. “Come on in, Grants. We just finished the evening meal and have stew and bread left.”
“Enough for Broc? You know how much he eats,” Merryn said with a laugh.
“Plenty. Come in through the gates, and I’ll meet you at the stable.”
Thane and Artan greeted them as promised, near the stables. Lia smiled and greeted everyone. “I’ll be pleased to see you all in the great hall. I wish to plan an event for the bairns at Yule.”
Connor said, “If you make a trip to Duart Castle, you’ll learn of our Yuletide Festival. It’s planned for the first two nights of Yule. We hope you and Magni will come. Everyone on Mull is invited.” He paused, then added, “And Iona, of course.”
“Many thanks to you, Chief Grant. We will do our best to convince Magni to come. I think we will plan one here also. Magni does not wish to leave Iona, but I’m hoping we can get him here. His mother is here healing from a back pain.”
Connor stepped away from the group, leaving the young ones to chat with Thane and Artan. “Lia, may I speak with you privately?”
“Of course.”
“What can you tell me of the group on Tiree. Are they operating Kelvan’s previous atrocity? Are they stealing and shipping bairns?”
