Lia said, “That is their plan. It has not happened yet. There have been a couple of groups who have tried to take over Kelvan’s work, but they have all failed. One of the groups took Brynja and Hildi. This is a new group, but one or two are the same. You are headed there?”
“Aye, I’m seeking information on the man who claims to be the grandson of Niles Comming. Know you who that is?”
“Nay, I do not. I can seek out that information, but I think you’ll find out as quickly as I can. I am the protector of bairns, so I focus on that. And I will tell you there are no bairns on Tiree at present. None being held against their will. They are hoping to start the operation up again.”
Connor nodded, crossing his arms. He still had difficulty listening to a lass of six summers as though she were thirty. However, he did note that her gaze was one of an old, wise woman. That much he was certain.
“Will you come with us?” He was fine without her, but he heard the apprehension in both Alaric’s and Broc’s voices.
“Nay, not this time. There are no bairns who need you, so I must stay here.”
“Do you know where the new group is congregating?”
“Hagen and Brynja will show you. They have been there. It’s her home. It is on the far side of the island. If you land on this side of Tiree and cross it, you’ll pass the same cottage where Broc found the bairns before. It stands empty.”
“Would it not behoove us to land on the other side? We’d be closer to them?”
Lia shook her head. “Nay, you will be able to surprise them better from this side. And the sea on the other side is much rougher. You’ll need to navigate quickly from there.”
Connor frowned at the last comment, wondering exactly what she meant, but Lia ran up the stairs to the keep with a wave. He knew he’d get no more information from her.
He was on his own now.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hagen
Hagen led Brynja down the path to the boat they were taking to Tiree.
Brynja said, “I’ve never been on a ship this big.”
“Thane said the Norse left it hidden in the bushes. When Artan found it, they discovered the hole in it, patched it up with new wood and it’s been beautiful for them. It takes six rowers to make it move.”
“And they’re underneath?” Brynja asked, peeking into the bottom of the boat.
“Aye. Thane has his men row it. Bearnard loves it, says they love the sea air. Wait until you see how fast it moves,” Hagen said, ushering her to one of the seats built along the inside of the boat. The boat rocked gently beneath them as Thane’s men settled into position below deck. The salt spray hung in the air, mixing with the scent of fresh-cut wood from the pines they were cutting for winter nearby.
“Where should we land, Brynja?” Artan asked. “I’m going with you.”
“Gott Bay,” she answered. “It’s the closest. Then it’s a short distance to our cottages.”
Once they headed toward Tiree, Connor pulled the group together, giving instructions. “This will be a quick trip, I hope, because our goal is to learn more about Dugan and his plans. There are six of us. I’d like Broc and Merryn to return to the cottage you found the bairns in before. I’d like to be certain there are none that need saving. If you are outnumbered, just return with the information and we’ll retrieve them when we’re together again. Alaric, Hagen, and Brynja will go with me. I need your guidance because I have no idea where this hut is.” Connor’s hand rested on his sword hilt as he spoke, his eyesscanning each face in turn, ensuring they understood. “I would guess they have guards with them at this point. You said there were two huts together?”
“Aye. Two huts and one small outbuilding for cold storage behind them.”
“How far from the water? Or a bay to launch a boat from?”
“A short walk. We lived up on a small hill to protect us from the sea. It was just a short jaunt to the beach.”
“Is there a way to come up to the cottages without being seen?”
“Aye, there is a crest on one side. The beach has plenty of rock formations, but that would be the other side of the huts from here. We’ll be coming down a crest and there is one copse of trees to hide behind.”
As they approached, Tiree announced itself with the thunder of surf against hidden reefs, the white spray leaping skyward where the sea swells met submerged rock. Then the island emerged from the sea mist, so low and flat it seems barely to rise above the waves, as though one good storm might wash it away entirely.
But what it lacked in height, Tiree made up for in light. The shell-sand beaches glowed almost white, stretching in long, sweeping crescents around the island’s edge.
Connor said, “I’ll never cease to be impressed by the beauty of the isles around Mull.”
