“Great-Grandmama?”
“Aye. She was the loveliest in all the land, but she had the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.”
“How could you see her that close?”
“I would look every morning to see her pull the fur back on her window and stick her head out to take deep breaths. Sometimes I saw her cry. Once I saw someone grab her arm and yank her back inside the tower.”
“Who?”
“A man known as the Baron.”
“He was evil? He must have been if he treated a lass like that.”
“Aye. Let me tell you about this one particular day. It had rained that night, and I’d gone to the market, hoping to steal a tarp.”
“But stealing is wrong.”
Loki chuckled, pleased to hear that Lucas had taught him well. “I know, but I didn’t know so back then, nor had I any coin to buy what I needed. Now, listen to the tale.”
“I’m listening.” The lad’s eyes locked on his, waiting for the tale to continue.
“So that day at the market, I’d seen a group of warriors go by, and I learned they were Grant warriors. How I wished to be one of them! When the warriors had ridden off, the mean boys of the burgh ambushed me, wrapped me up in a tarp, and tossed me about before throwing me against a tree.”
Ketill leaped off Loki’s lap and began to swing his fists. “I’d punch them for you, Grandda. Like this.” Then he swung his fists and kicked a leg up.
“And I would appreciate that, but they were bigger than you and me. And I was outnumbered. But what they didn’t realize is they did me a favor.”
“What favor?”
“They were so mean and I was so tired of their bullying that I wanted more than ever to be a Grant warrior.”
Ketill settled back on his lap sideways so he could watch him.
“Once I was able to get away, I ran to look for Missy Angel. But that particular day, she didn’t appear. I waited and waited, but I never saw her, so I walked around the entire castle to see if she’d gone to a new chamber. I waited a while, then circled again, looking for her. Sometimes she was late peeking out, but I had nowhere to go, so I waited. All was quiet. Then I heard her. She was at a side window trying to climb out. I yelled at her to stop because she’d fall, but she didn’t hear me.”
“How could she not hear you?”
“Because of all the ruckus the warhorses were making coming down the path. I turned around and saw the biggest black horse I’d ever seen coming straight for me, a score ofhorses behind him. I hid in the bushes as they approached, but one warrior stopped his mount because of the angel. He’d seen her trying to climb out.”
“Which one was Great-Grandda?”
“The one who stopped. Uncle Alex, on the black destrier, yelled at him to keep moving, but he refused. When the angel saw him, she dropped the furs and fell back inside. Your Great Grandda went up to the door and banged on it, but they wouldn’t let him in. I could see how upset he was and how angry he was with the man at the door. But he left and went on his way. That’s when I got my idea.”
“What idea?”
“How I could get some coin from the man who was so interested in Missy Angel. I returned to the burgh and found out that they were also Clan Grant warriors. It turned out this group was the Grant laird and his best warriors—fiercer and stronger than the first force I’d seen. And I found out over the next couple of days that one man kept sneaking into her manor, so I knew I could get coin from him.”
“How? Why would he give you a coin?”
There was that scrunched up face he loved again. Ketill was a joy to watch. But Loki forced himself to continue. “Because I knew he was searching for Missy Angel, and I knew her better than he did.”
“Did he give you a coin?”
“He did, but it took a while. One day, I was listening to him talk with his friend in the burgh and he caught me, threatened to get me in trouble until I told him what I knew about Missy Angel.”
“Then he liked you, because she’s Great-Grandmama. And you helped him find her.”
“Aye.”
