“I’ll see you on the morrow,” she said.
“With more stew?”
“Or porridge,” she agreed.
She slipped out into the hall, closing the door softly behind her. The castle hummed with afternoon life around her, and for the first time since Tiree, she felt like she might actually be part of it. Not just a guest. Not just a visitor waiting to leave.
But someone who belonged at Duart Castle.
She went to find Hagen.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Hagen
It had been three days since they returned from Tiree. Hagen had awakened in the middle of the night again, bathed in sweat, the nightmare the same as the two previous nights.
There was an attack on Duart Castle and his father went down, but this time, he never got up.
Hagen came in from the lists, half the day gone already, a brutal practice session with Alaric and Broc, wondering what to do about his persistent dream. The same kind Brynja was experiencing, though hers was much more vivid when it came to the bairns on Iona. His focused on his sire.
Alaric came up behind him and said, “You’re killing yourself. Don’t worry. I have an odd feeling there will be more Grants here soon. Maitland sent word to Jamie and Kyla that Connor had been injured. I bet they’ll be here soon. Alasdair too is my guess.”
“Nay, Kyla mayhap.”
“He used the word Comming.” Alaric arched his brow, a growing smirk spreading across his face.
“Oh, shite. That changes everything. They’ll all be here. Aunt Kyla, Uncle Jamie, Alasdair. Only Alick and Els will stay back.”
He paused when they passed the archery target inside the gates. Brynja, Eli, and Merryn were there with Dyna practicing. Hell, but he was growing more and more fond of the lass, if that were possible.
“You going to marry her?” Alaric asked.
“Aye. Once this all settles down. But she’s having the same nightmares as I am. That worries me more.”
Alaric paused for a moment, watching the lasses shoot. “I’ll never get over that day, seeing you and Brynja with Lia telling you what to do. Telling you about this special power the two of you hold but only if you’re together. And the lightning. Hell, if Iwere you, I would have married her as soon as you got back. You can’t argue with the Heavens.”
“You haven’t told anyone what you saw, have you?”
“Nay. If I said anything, they’d think me daft. I just say it was Lia. It’s up to you to mention the other. How’s your sire this morn?”
“He’s out with Midnight Star, brushing him down. Aunt Brenna won’t allow him in the lists yet, but he has to keep busy. He likes the peacefulness of the stables.”
Alaric looked toward the gates. “Did they take some horses out for a run?”
“Nay, there were two patrols that went out, but that was a while ago. Why?”
“Listen. I hear horses and they’re getting closer.” Alaric tipped his head, both men now listening.
“Who’s on the gate?”
“Jowell and Paden.”
The horses stopped and Hagen heard the voice. “I’m here for Connor Grant.”
Alaric looked at him. “That can’t be Dugan, can it?”
Hagen said, “It sounds like him. He wouldn’t be that daft to come here, would he?”
