Hagen kissed her quickly, then handed his horse over.
Tristan said, “Menzie, I wasn’t expecting to see you, but glad of it.”
Maitland gave a loud growl. “I don’t like weak men who pick on innocent bairns. Move this boat. Heartless bastards.”
The six climbed in with Tristan and headed toward Iona.
Hagen pointed a good distance ahead of them. “Is that Sholto’s boat?”
Brynja nodded and pointed to the second boat. “Aye, I think he has five or possibly six with him. And there’s another boat coming along. They have to be his men too.”
Tristan said, “I noticed the ship down the shore earlier. There were two men fishing so I didn’t think anything of it. That was the boat that followed him.”
Brynja asked, “Where the hell is he going?”
Looking back over his shoulder since he was rowing, Hagen said, “They’re landing somewhere else. Why?”
Logan said, “Because the spineless trolls are afraid of Simone and Artan. I think that’s them standing near the shore, is it not? I see someone but can’t make out who it is. It’s getting dark.”
Alaric peeked over his shoulder and said, “That’s Simone. And Artan isn’t far from her. They see the boats coming and are protecting the bairns, like they should. How many bairns are living there now, Brynja?”
“Nine with Tenney and Magni.”
Logan said, “I let her know there was a new group causing trouble, so she’s been on alert. They’re going to approach from the beach shore on the point, thinking to sneak up on them, because Simone’s reputation with her bow precedes her. She’s firing arrows as we speak. I think I hear that sweet sound over the water. I hope Magni is sleeping.”
“But where are they going to land? There’s no good place that far down. It’s too rocky.” Tristan glanced back while he was rowing. “I don’t like this.”
“I know where they’re headed,” Brynja said. “There’s a spot on the opposite side where the beach is flat and not many rocks. There’s a direct path straight to the cottages. Geva’s husband fishes off that shore often.”
“Don’t slow down,” Logan said. “We might be able to beat them there if they’re coming from the other side. The boat just disappeared around the point.”
Maitland glanced over his shoulder. “And the other group of hedge-born toads are waiting to see what we do. I’d wager they’ll land down shore.”
Brynja nearly cried, praying Magni wasn’t awake.
Hagen glanced at her and winked. “We’ll get them. You can count on it, Bry.”
They neared the shore when the one thing Brynja dreaded came to fruition.
Magni screamed so loud it echoed across the water, sending shivers down her back.
Chapter Forty
Magni
“But why are you here now, Simone? It’s dark out. Usually you go home before dark.” He stared up at his favorite lass. Well, besides Brynja and Hildi. And Sylvi. And Tora too. And their mother. And…
“We’re just enjoying the night. The water is calm and there’s no breeze. It’s lovely, Magni. Go play with your brother.”
“He went to bed. Do you think my mama will come back soon?”
“I’m not sure,” Artan said. “Her back is much better sleeping on that bed than sleeping on the floor here. Next summer we’ll build her a better bed, but it’s hard to do now.”
Simone gave her husband an odd nod, tipping her head toward the sea, then Artan said, “Magni, I left my favorite fishing pole behind Beatris’s cottage. Would you get it for me, please?”
“Sure. I know which one it is.” And he took off to fetch Artan’s pole.
Magni hoped his grandsire would come back for another visit on the morrow. He felt bad for turning him down the other day. He’d come to invite him to Yuletide at Duart Castle, but Magni had refused.
