Page 48
“Aye. He told me ye were brave,” Vrogul lied.
Ewan considered this. “I carried Edan for miles.”
Our chief nodded gravely. “Then I see he spoke true.”
“I carried firewood too,” Ewan added.
“Even more impressive.”
“And Maardok says there is honey here.” Ewan was clearly warming up.
My brother looked up at me, then chuckled.
“Aye, lad. There is honey. Yer father used to steal it from our mother to slather on his bread.”
That was apparently enough to make Vrogul acceptable, because Ewan suddenly smiled at my brother then tipped his head up to grin at me.
The kitlings had edged closer meanwhile, and Ewan noticed them watching him. He moved tighter against my leg, although curiosity was already beginning to overcome his shyness.
One small female pointed toward Edan.
“Is he really yer brother?” she asked.
Ewan nodded. “He came out of Mama when we were camping and I was asleep.”
The kitlings began to clamor with more questions, and that was the moment Matthias arrived, thank fook.
But when Issa told him Cataline had given birth three days earlier, his expression changed from welcome to healer.
“Three days?” Matthias repeated incredulously. “If Jean has not beaten you already, I may.”
I rolled my eyes. “What would ye have me do, eh? Keep us camping in a makeshift tent as the snows threatened? I carried her most of the way.”
“‘Tis true.” Cataline lifted her chin. “Even when I told him I could walk. Even when—” She glanced at me, her cheeks pinking, then pressed her lips together.
Rowena was grinning, and I knew my brother’s Mate was agreeing with the decision to object. But she hadn’t begun to breed yet, so didn’t understand how messy and weakening the whole thing was.
Matthias was already gently questioning Cataline about the birth while Jean announced that she needed food, rest, hot water and a proper bed—in that order, although Matthias disagreed with the order—and before I quite realized what was happening, the healer and females had formed a protective ring around Cataline and begun steering her toward my cottage.
My Kteer growled, and I followed.
Jean glanced back. “Where are you going?”
‘Twas obvious. “This is my home and Cataline is mine.”
Issa snorted, reminding me of my inability to claim her in front of my clan. So I glared and pointed over her shoulder.
“The loch is right there.”
She merely grinned at my threat.
By the time we reached my cottage, Cataline looked too tired to argue with anyone. Someone had hurried ahead to light the fire in the hearth. I supposed Vrogul had guessed I’d return soon, because the rooms had been swept and the bed made with clean linens, and for one strange moment I stood in the doorway seeing the place as she must see it. The small table, the hearth, the heavy wooden chest, the familiar walls and the window looking toward the loch.
I had lived here alone for years.
It didn’t look lonely now.
Cataline was settled on the bed with enough pillows behind her to make her disappear among them, while Matthias washed his hands and Jean began issuing orders to everyone within hearing.
