“Will they return?” asked the man with the missing finger. He rarely spoke, and Ethne couldn’t remember his name.
Aidan glanced toward the shadows where the man sat. “Talorc has gone to follow them. There is little more we can do. If they go to the castle to complain, they may stir up more trouble for us. Let us hope they do not since I do not feel inclined to relocate at this time.”
“It will be a choice of who the Scots at the castle hate less. Us or them?” Malcolm voiced what everyone knew. “They could easily use this unprovoked attack as a reason to run us off for good.”
Aidan smiled. “Ah, but they are only suspicious of us and why we live away from the safety of their clans. They may wonder why we keep to ourselves. Islanders like Olaf, have been openly aggressive toward them, taking what they want as if they have a right to it. The laird at that castle has no love for us, but I believe he thinks he can win us to his side if they are openly attacked, even if his man Brian prefers to see us gone.”
“Mayhap we should set aside our solstice observance? Get word to the others that ’tis not a good time?” Malcolm’s tone seemed surprisingly hopeful. His expression as well.
“We will not!” Aidan’s booming voice nearly shook the very stones surrounding them. “I will not be setting aside our chance for greatness, our chance to ally with the others, our chance to once again be in control of our own destiny. By joining with the others on the most important evening of the year, we will follow the ancient customsexactly. And we will be rewarded!”
Content that Finn’s sleep remained undisturbed with the talking around him, Ethne parted from his warm little body to tuck him safely on his pallet. There was no need to awaken the exhausted child.
She stopped to stretch her stiff back. The child was getting far too heavy for her to easily carry him, especially through the narrow passage. When she caught sight of Aidan watching her, she shivered in repulsion. His persistent gaze left no part of her untouched. She shrugged forward to hide herself from him.
“Ethne,” Aidan called, and she was filled with dread. “Come to me, lass.”
Easing in a breath, she closed her eyes and prayed for a reprieve. The continued silence said there would be none this time. She fought to hide her resentment as she crossed the distance to the man.
“Sit by me.” He raised his brow in expectation, a slow smile on his face while the others made room for her.
As a child, she’d enjoyed the man’s attention. Domelch had always been cruel to her, but sitting next to the chieftain had protected her. It had made her feel like she belonged. No longer.
With great care, she sat as far away as she dared without causing comment, but he placed his hand on her head as always. Her flesh crawled. He caressed her hair with long, slow strokes, signaling to the other men to continue.
“We found nothing wrong with these men. Yer wife’s attack was unprovoked.” Thomas, Malcolm’s closest friend, held up a hand. “We had to defend against them or we’d have been slaughtered.”
“I defended what is mine.” Domelch stood and pointed an accusing finger at Ethne, her face twisted in an ugly scowl. “Hewanted her.”
“Ye insulted them…and us!” Thomas rebuked her in a stern tone.
Domelch’s chin jutted out. “How so?”
Thomas rolled his eyes and turned away, his disgust obvious. Ethne had to agree, though she remained silent. Domelch always pushed the boundaries placed on her, no matter who it hurt.
“We welcomed them into the group. Into our home. We could have discussed it.” Malcom sounded as if he spoke to a child, but the way he glared at his wife said something else. “They served us well, helping us catch and slaughter the boar. Their presence was a good omen. If they were given what they wanted, we could have made powerful allies.”
Ethne sucked in her breath at the betrayal.
Someone running outside put the men on full alert. Aidan stood, his body tense. Malcolm moved closer to the entrance. The sight of Talorc, disheveled and gasping for breath, put them at ease.
“Well?” Malcolm’s patience was at an end.
“They have boats…” Talorc heaved, trying to catch his breath. “On…the shore. Hidden.”
Ethne tensed. She knew of at least one other man as well as their horses. Were they hidden nearby?
Malcolm shrugged at Aidan’s frown. “But we knew they were islanders. They said as much when they joined us. There was no reason to hold that against them.”
Aidan snorted, shooting a flash of disdain toward Malcolm before addressing Talorc. “More than one boat?”
“Leastwise three, though ’twas difficult to see.”
“So, men of wealth pretending to be poor.” Aidan pulled at his bottom lip while he ruminated.
Talorc continued with his report. “They’ve camped there for the night, seeing to Olaf’s burn when I left. They’ll not be leaving anytime soon.”
“They questioned us about the caves.” Malcolm had settled back down, his back to the wall. “I thought it odd until they told me they were seeking a place to settle. They’d heard of the caves.”
