Connor swayed in his saddle, his face pale beneath the grime and sweat.
“Da, get back inside. I’ll handle this.” More men came at Hagen just as ten Grantham horses joined from inside the gates. One of their patrols of five men was coming from the left, blocking Dugan’s men in.
The battle was not over yet, but his sire moved his horse back, one hand pressed briefly to his wounded side.
Connor Grant had regained his honor, not by seeking glory, but by protecting his son.
And Hagen Grant had earned his reputation by fighting alongside his father as an equal.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Brynja
Brynja heard the commotion and stopped Merryn and Dyna. “Something is happening.”
The trio ended their practice to listen.
Brynja had a sick feeling deep in her belly. It was happening again, but this time it was just like her nightmare. The Grants and Granthams were under attack.
Dyna screamed, “Grab as many arrows as you can.”
She did the same and raced up the staircase behind her, nocking her arrow and firing into the group once she made it to the top and set her position.
Merryn was right behind her with Eli. Poor Eli, big belly obvious, sent so many arrows that Brynja was stunned. Dyna and Eli’s accuracy was something to see. She knew exactly who she needed to watch to improve her skills, but this wasn’t the time. She fired too, catching an occasional leg or shoulder, but shaking the confidence of their attackers.
Her belly flopped when she saw Hagen jump into the fray doing his best to protect his father. At one point, two men came at Hagen so she fired at them, hoping to catch one of them. And when his father played a move that surprised them all, Hagen taking Dugan down with a death blow and his father knocking him to the ground, a cheer went up from the group, Logan Ramsay shouting, “You can’t beat the Grants’ swords, men. Run while you still have both arms.”
And many did run off after Dugan went down.
Including Sholto. He left and headed in the opposite direction than she expected. They came from MacVey direction, but he headed toward MacLane Castle. And in that instant, Brynja knew what she had to do because the nightmare was happening just as she’d seen.
Sholto was headed to Iona and the bairns.
“Dyna, tell Hagen I had to go after Sholto. He’s going for the bairns and Iona. I’m going to Tristan’s. I have to go after him.”
Dyna said, “Go. We’ll follow.”
Brynja found Freya already saddled and waiting, glad that she’d spent some of the last few days practicing her horse skills with Hagen. She’d ridden enough now to have the confidence to ride alone.
She made her way around the remaining men still fighting and headed toward MacLean land. Hagen shouted after her, “Go! I’ll be behind you.”
How she prayed he would. Darkness was falling fast, and she didn’t wish to be alone against four fools. She would need help to take the bastard down. She noticed three of his men followed him, so there were at least four she’d have to deal with. She could not, would not, allow that bastard to steal any of those innocent bairns away.
She prayed Artan and Simone were on Iona to help her.
It took forever to travel the path down to Tristan MacClane’s place, and when she got there, she noticed a ship already heading toward Iona, with six men, if she was correct. There was another one that just pushed off down the coast a bit. Did Sholto have two boats of men? How she prayed he didn’t, but they headed straight toward Sholto’s boat.
Tristan stood on the coast watching the two boats, then whirled around when he heard her approach. He came toward her. “Are there more coming? I’ll go with you because someone has to stop those fools. I came out when I heard them talking about the bairns, but they headed out so fast, I couldn’t do anything. I don’t know them, do you?”
“I know one,” she said, gasping to catch her breath. “Sholto, the one who I hit with my dagger when he tried to go after Sheona. He’s a slimy bastard. He’s after the bairns on Iona. Haveyou a boat I can take? Any men who can go with me? I can’t row myself.”
“We’ll take this one,” he said, pointing to a boat. “Let’s ready it. I can grab two more men to go with us.”
“No need!” A shout came from the top of the crest.
Brynja spun around, her heart leaping with joy when she saw Hagen come over the ridge and down toward shore, Logan, Maitland, Dyna, and Alaric behind him. How she adored this man and how blessed she was to have found him.
She squealed and clapped, but then she helped Tristan move the boat, loading her quiver into the vessel while Tristan gave orders to his men to care for the horses.
