“Lia! Help me!” And he ran back toward the cottage and out toward Artan and Simone.
Still screaming.
Sobbing.
Begging for his dear sister to help him.
“I’m coming with you, Thane! Or Grandda!”
He wished he could run faster.
“Someone help me, please.”
He tore around the cottage still screaming. Expecting to see bad men everywhere.
Instead, he saw more boats. One small boat, and three large ones.
Were there bad men everywhere? He had to find Simone.
But then he saw them—his grandfather and Brynja ran straight toward him.
“Grandda! Brynja! Save me!” He couldn’t stop the scream that exploded from his body, the sobs right behind it.
Brynja grabbed him by the shoulders and said, “We’re here, Magni. Where are they? Tell us.”
He pointed behind him, mumbling, “Henry’s fishing spot.” She took off faster than he’d ever seen her run.
His grandfather shook him and said, “Lord above, stop screaming, Magni. We’re here. We’ll protect you. Now who and where? How many did you see?”
He closed his mouth, gasping for breath. “On the coast behind us. Straight down the path. Six or eight of them. I couldn’t count them. I was bouncing too much.” Then he threw his arms around his grandda.
Logan barked some orders to everyone coming off the boats and then pulled him off to the side, tugging him close. “I told you we’d protect you.”
And they did.
He stood on the side while he held his grandfather’s hand and cried like a wee bairn as he watched them pass him by, some waving, some going right on past him.
Some said, “We’ll protect you, Magni!”
He just couldn’t stop the tears.
Artan, Simone, Dyna, Hagen, Tristan, Alaric, Eli, Jowell, Paden, Maitland, Broc, Merryn, and some he didn’t know.
They came and came and came.
All for him.
Last was Thane who came straight to him.
Magni looked up at him and asked, “Can I still move in with you, Thane?”
“Aye, lad. You’re always welcome. You can come home with me in a little bit, if you like.”
He wrapped his arms around Thane’s waist and said, “I’m coming with you.”
Logan said, “And you’re coming to our Yule Festival. No arguments.”
And he looked up at this man he adored and said, “All right.”
