Chapter Twenty-Six
Loki goes after Celestina to tell her about Brodie’s injury.
Celestina, still inconsolable, paced in the great hall. She had just returned from her riding lessons with her father. Learning to ride a horse well had been difficult work, but she was proud of her accomplishments, and she knew it was a skill she needed to live in the Highlands.
Would she ever make it to the Grants? She had discussed her situation many times with her mother. Her parents had been wonderful. They’d told her they would take her whenever she was ready to go, but not until the worst of the fighting was over.
Her mother wished to wait until Celestina’s two brothers had made it home; this she understood.
But Celestina’s gut told her something bad had happened to someone special in her life, but whom?
She changed her mind daily in trying to guess the identity of the injured party.
On some days, she believed it to be Loki, on other days it was Brodie, but mayhap it was another of the Grant brothers?
The door flew open and she twirled toward the entryway. The guard who stood there said, “There’s a wee lad asking for you at the gate, my lady. He is quite scruffy and we do no’ wish to let him in without your approval.”
She dashed toward the door. “Loki? Is it Loki?” Not waiting for an answer, she charged down the front steps and headed toward the gate, shouting Loki’s name all the way. She must have appeared half-crazed, as everyone inside the inner bailey jumped out of her way.
She was hurrying through the gate when her father’s bellow reached her ears. “Be careful, Celestina. Please wait for an escort.”
But she could not. She hastened to the gate, toward the cluster of guards surrounding a small figure, tears running down her cheeks as she moved. “Loki? Is it really you?” She pushed against a guard and fought her way to her dear little lad.
“Missy angel, missy angel!” Loki’s wee arms flung wide as he threw himself at her.
“Here, now. No reason to make the lady as messy as you are, lad. Leave her be so you do no’ cover her with your dirt and grime.” One of the guards attempted to pull him away from her.
Celestina waved him off as she swung the wee lad into her embrace. “’Tis all right. I am not worried about a bit of dirt.”
“Missy angel, listen to me. Stop hugging me and listen. Please!” Loki begged as he tugged on her sleeve.
Celestina’s gut reeled as she set him down in front of her. “What is it?” she whispered, afraid to hear of what he had to say.
“Missy angel, ‘tis Master Brodie.”
Celestina’s vision blurred and she thought she might faint. Nay, not her husband. She could not lose her husband. They were just getting to know each other. She fought to remain conscious so she could hear the rest of Loki’s story.
“He is hurt, missy. Two Norsemen stabbed him in the leg and he bled and bled. Nicol is taking him home to the Highlands so his sister can fix him. The healer at the camp wanted to saw his leg off, but Laird Alex stopped him. He says Brenna will fix him and save his leg.” Loki hesitated and took a deep breath.
The news made Celestina stumble, but she righted herself.
He was alive. Thank you, Lord, for saving my husband.
They could handle his injuries, whatever they were.
He needed her. She should be by his side.
Nay, she had to be by his side. She would leave immediately, she needed to make plans, but how would she get there?
“Come. I will take you there now.”
Loki held his hand out and as soon as she placed her hand in his, he spun around, heading directly for the path. “Aye, Loki, take me to my husband. He needs me. I will be there for him.” She searched the area for her parents so she could let them know of their plans.
A deep voice stopped both them in their tracks. “Whoa, lad. You have time to stay for something to eat and for us to help you prepare for your journey, aye?” Her father strode toward them, holding his hand out to Celestina.
She jerked in response to the large hand moving toward her, reflexively putting her hands in front of her face to defend herself.
Her father pulled his hand back, an alarmed expression on his face. “Och, lass. I will never raise a hand to you. ‘Tis no’ me. I love you and I am here to help you.”
Celestina dropped her hands and nodded. This was her father, her true father, and she believed he would never hurt her deliberately.
He offered his hand again, this time keeping it a fair distance from her. She reached out and grabbed it, sighing in relief. He would be there for her.
Her father whispered. “Come, my dear, and we will find out all you need to know from the wee one, so we can help you find your husband. Remember, you are no longer alone; you have family to help you.” Her father searched the area for strange horses but found none.
He directed his next question to Loki. “Lad, how did you get here?”
Loki’s panting slowed for a few seconds. “I ran.”
Her father’s shocked expression told her just how far they were from the battle. “You ran all the way alone?”
“Och, nay, I had some rides, but I ran from way back there!” His finger pointed toward the forest and the planting fields.
Ranald MacLaren strode over to Loki and patted him on the back. “Well done, lad. Now, come inside for something to eat, and we will make a plan. You can no’ make it all the way into the Highlands without a horse and some provisions. See now, look at Celestina. Does she look ready to travel?”
Glancing from Celestina to The MacLaren, Loki finally answered, “Nay, Laird. I know how important it is for me to take care of Master Brodie’s wife, so I will stay for a bit. And if you could spare me something to eat, I would be much obliged.”
“Good decision. You must be a Grant warrior to think like that.”
“Aye, Laird. I am, and I will be training with the warriors soon.” Loki nodded his head in affirmation.
Celestina was so glad to see him. She smiled as they traipsed to the great hall, the boy’s wee hand in hers, telling her again all he knew about Brodie’s injury.
She had to get to the Grant clan to see her husband, but would her parents allow her to leave?