An odd statement, and Domelch seemed to have changed her mind. The quieter she got the more Ethne wanted to scream at her. She hadn’t anticipated this, and disappointment tightened her gut.
“I do not need protection.” Ethne tried not to sound desperate. “I will take care and not call attention to myself.”
Domelch’s disgusted gaze traveled over her. “I think not.”
Ethne had planned to walk hidden among the bushes and trees, off the traveling paths. Olaf was the only one she was afraid of running into, but he’d said he was going away. Her breath quickened. Her chance for escape was at hand. She had to believe in herself. Believe she’d be able to look out for herself once she was away from these people. Believe she could find someone willing to help her, mayhap allow her to do work for them.
“I can take Finn.” She blurted out the words without thinking them through. Truth was, bringing him would make it easier for her. She would not need to come back for him. “I think that will be enough.”
“He is a child, Ethne. Besides, Malcolm wants to keep Finn with him this day.”
Ethne was devastated, her heart squeezed tight. She shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing about this would be easy. “I didna know of that plan.”
“He’s promised to take him to Aidan’s so he can see Niall’s horse.”
The silence dragged on as each of them tried to work out the dilemma. When Ethne was about to suggest again that she would cover herself and avoid attention, Domelch’s eyes lit up in excitement.
“Uradech can take ye.”
Ethne’s stomach dropped.
Chapter 16
Repairing the nets went quickly and Lachlann enjoyed the work. Malcolm left them alone on the rise to go down to secure hiscurrach. A storm was brewing. Lachlann looked out over the ocean and imagined the islands that lay far off the coast. Too far away to see.
“The waves look mean.” Aldred’s gaze searched the horizon as well. “Did someone not tell us the islanders come here often.”
“To what purpose?” Niall’s contemplative tone required no answer but Aldred shrugged.
“There’s a power struggle for the area,” Lachlann said. “Malcolm explained as much to me. The keep we stayed at has been captured by the Danes, the Norse, and the Scots. The area is under no one’s control at present.”
“Verily, the islanders wish to stake their claim as well,” Niall said.
That made sense. The Norse Kingdom might have stretched as far south as the River Spey and beyond, but that was a distant memory, only kept alive by the bards and storytellers.
Niall continued. “Some islanders may come on their own and for their own purposes. Like our wounded man in black. Our would-be horse thief.”
“Olaf. He and his men were verra well trained for simple travelers,” Aldred said. “Do ye not think they were here to stir up trouble?”
“And just disguising themselves. Verra good!” Niall acknowledged his pleasure at the answer with a dip of his chin and a widening grin. “Mayhap their warriors are deserting the islands, looking for a new home. Or mayhap they were sent ahead by their leader to bring back information."
“Aye, like scouts before an attack.”
Lachlann scoffed. “I think not. Leastwise not that man. He’d been speaking about some woman so we have no reason to believe it was any more than what it appeared. The man was drunk.”
“Mayhap he’d been ordered out of the group.” Niall laughed. A wry sound. “I hear that happens for many different reasons.”
He referred to his own father’s unspeakable offense, and his somber tone confirmed it. His entire family had been cast out of the clan, even his little sister. For them, it had been anything but a humorous situation.
“Well, ye enjoy yer trip to Aidan’s.” Uradech’s voice interrupted them. The mere sound of it grated on Lachlann’s nerves. He had come up behind them unheard, which was surprising for such a large man.
“Are ye not joining us?” Niall asked.
“Ah, no, I have my own duties this day.”
Something about the way he saiddutiesset Lachlann on full alert. He turned to study the man. Uradech’s shoulders were back, his expression pure gloating.
“I dinna hear about yer duty.” Niall smiled. An amicable smile. One ye would give a friend or ally. But Lachlann assumed he was only giving Uradech the opportunity to elaborate on this duty, an opportunity he was so obviously looking for.
