“You get along with your grandsire? I never knew mine. I always wondered what it would be like to have one.”
“I adore Grandsire. We all do. He’s the backbone of our clan, the best swordsman and strategist who ever lived. We ask him everything and he guides us even when we don’t ask.”
“Does he ever get angry with you for not listening to him?”
Alick paused for a moment, then shook his head. “My father likes to remind me if he told me something and he was correct. Grandsire would never do that.” He smiled, glancing up at her with a twinkle in his eyes. “I never realized that before, but ’tis true. Papa and Mama will both remind me of my mistakes. Grandsire? He just raises his eyebrows like this.” He mimicked a quizzical expression. “And when he does it, we’ve all learned to think about our actions. When he’s actually angry, his eyebrows go together in the middle and his eyes narrow like this.” He mimicked him again, chuckling. “Unfortunately, he’s at my cousin’s keep, so I’ll not be able to talk to him about any of this.”
“Does he live there all the time?” she asked. “I’ve heard of Alexander Grant and his famous sword skills, but I thought he lived at Grant Castle. My brothers were hoping to see him parry during this visit. They say he’s verra good for an old man, or so my brother thinks.”
“Do you understand much about the war? He’s at my cousin’s castle because the English have tried to use him, to blackmail him.”
Chapter Thirteen
Alick brings his grandfather back to memories of Maddie.
“I think I’ll go to Thane Castle. Papa will not be here until the morrow, and we won’t leave for Glasgow for two days. I have more than enough time to travel to Thane Castle and back. I’d feel better if I brought my wife back here. Her sire is a cruel man.”
Grandsire glanced down at his hands in his lap as if thinking of some long past memory. After a moment, he sighed and whispered, “Go. It will please me to meet the lass you’ve chosen to be your wife, but you must not tarry. Take Dyna and five guards with you and be back on the morrow. Do not delay.”
Alick nearly hugged the old man, but he held back and offered a nod of gratitude instead. “I appreciate your support, Grandsire.”
“You have it. And I will have to tell your sire you are already married to justify your departure.”
Something Alick would have preferred to do himself, but he agreed with his grandfather’s reasoning. “My thanks to you. I promise we’ll be back soon.”
“Who were you thinking of just then, Grandsire?” Dyna asked.
Alex Grant lifted his head, his eyes moistened with unshed tears, and said, “Maddie. When I came upon her the verra first time, she was in a chamber alone and I could tell she had been beaten. Brodie and I left but returned after receiving a note of warning from her stablemaster. We should never have left, and I still feel the guilt of it on occasion.”
Alasdair came forward. “But that had a good ending, Grandpapa. Do not feel guilty. You did what was right in the end and look how it worked out. Had you done it differently, who knows what might have happened.”
He looked up at his grandson and smiled. “You are wise beyond your young years, Alasdair. Alick, go find your lady and bring her here.”
Chapter Eighteen
The group is still looking for the kidnapped Kyla, and Alex is the voice of reason.
Where?” Alick’s father bellowed, striding over to stand in front of Branwen.
Alick saw the fear in his wife’s gaze and pushed his sire to the side. “Don’t yell at her. She’s had enough trials of her own the last few days.”
His father stepped back and sheepishly apologized. “Take your time and think,” he said.
Alick took her hand. “Tell us what you know, sweetling.”
Branwen played with her plait, then said, “I’m sorry, but I forgot until just now. When I was in the dungeon, they carried in a person who had long dark hair. I assumed ’twas a man, but mayhap I was wrong. It was dark when they carried the person into the cell, and I couldn’t see a face. But now that we know she’s in the north, it seems ’tis possible. Do you not agree? I heard them say they gave the person a potion to make them sleep until the morn. I should have put it together sooner, but you have red hair, and Els and Jamie have yellow hair. And Dyna’s hair is nearly white.”
“Did you hear a name?” Da asked, his voice beseeching now.
“Nay, nothing. And I left before she awakened. They put her in a place far away from me.”
“I don’t wish to discourage you,” Will said, looking between Alick and Finlay, “but it could be anyone.”
“Which castle?” Maggie asked.
“Thane Castle. My uncle William is the Earl of Thane.”
Jamie muttered, “And Thane is not a supporter of Bruce. It fits.”
