Chapter Seventeen
Lennox
Once they arrived at Craignure, Lennox found his horse, Meg sleeping comfortably in his arms, then led the beast up the hill while he waited for Connor and his wife with the bairns. No one was there to greet them, but it was nearly dark, so the patrols should all be ending. It wouldn’t take long for any at his castle and Duart Castle to notice the arrival of the recent visitors.
Sela approached him and said, “You know, Eli was trained by the two finest healers on the mainland. I know naught of your healers here, but please consider that it might be best to take her to Duart Castle. I’d be honored to watch over her. She’s an angel sent to save these four.”
“Many thanks to you, but I’ll take her to Eli if she is receptive. I don’t know Meg, but I have spoken with her, so she knows me enough to trust me. It has been a long day. I’ll see what Dyna says about the other patrols and have her send messengers to Clan Rankin.” He nodded toward Rowan. “His uncle is the chieftain.”
Connor helped Lennox situate Meg in front of him in the saddle, then they led the first group up the hill to the main path just as two riders approached.
“Da!” Dyna squealed with excitement. “Is that Tora with Mama? Tora?”
Tora said, “I’m fine, Mama.”
Dyna nearly dismounted but her father stopped her. “Tora’s fine, but I ask that you wait until we are at the castle to greet her. We need to get the lass who saved them to a healer. She and MacVey brought them to safety. Is Eli at the castle?”
“Aye. Of course. Lennox, I’ll need to hear everything.” She led the way, and Connor fell back while Lennox moved abreast of Dyna.
“You have them all?” she asked.
Lennox said, “The two lads are coming with Alasdair.”
“And Lia?”
“We had her, but she disappeared in the crowd. She gave some odd tales to the other three. We will send someone back for her. As for their abduction, I searched the area half a day east of Oban when I thought I saw Magni running about, so I followed him. This lass threatened to throw an axe in my chest if I approached Magni. She had them well hidden in a cave, but she’s feverish from a wound. Tora said she saved them from a kirk, someplace they were locked up. That’s all we know at the moment, but she is very sickly. We’ll ask the bairns once they are inside and settled. They are exhausted, hungry, and skittish. Tora seems unharmed.”
Dyna glanced over at Meg. “Who is she?”
“I thought you might know her.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen her. You didn’t ask?”
“Once I got the axe from her and found the four bairns, she fell off the boulder in a faint and has only come to when she heard the name Tamsin . Said her sister’s name is Tamsin and she’s going to visit with her.”
They arrived at the promontory and Dyna led them to the castle walls, calling ahead to open the gates and let them all in. Once they dismounted, Dyna said to Derric as he approached, “Take them to Eli. I’ll get Tora. She’s with my mother.”
Derric said, “You found them? Is that not Magni with the Rankin lad?”
“Aye, I’ll explain inside.”
Derric led Lennox, Meg in his arms, into the keep just as Alaric and Eli opened the doors to greet the guests, with Broc behind them.
Derric said, “Eli, she needs you.”
“Who is she? I’ve never seen her. Was that Tora’s voice I heard?” Eli asked, peering over their heads. “Please tell me you have them with you, Lennox.”
Lennox said, “Three of the bairns are safely with us. Lia is still missing. This is the lass who saved the bairns. Helped them escape from a locked chamber in a kirk.”
“By all means, bring her in. Alaric, why don’t you go with Broc? There are lots of horses still coming up the hill to be settled in the stables. See Murreal first for a light repast for all. Dyna will be too upset to think clearly.”
Eli led Lennox into the healing chamber and pointed to a large bed. “Set her there. You can tell me what you know, then I’ll ask you to leave so I can wash her and get her out of that filthy set of trews she has on. Start with her name.”
Lennox did as she said, then found a stool and fell onto it. He had to admit that he didn’t like letting the lass go. “Her name is Meg, that’s all I know. Once they escaped the kirk, she kept them safe, I think two or three days before I found them. They slept in a cave a half day east of Oban. She had an axe and was ready to kill me if I stepped any closer.”
Eli said, “An axe? I am impressed. I’ll have to take some lessons. So, she found the four of them, and they are all here?”
“Aye. Well, almost. Lia stayed behind at Oban because she tricked everyone. She rode with me until we arrived at the ferry. She managed to get lost in the crowd of horses. Told the others she had something to do.”
“A lass that young?”
“Ask Tora. She’ll tell you things I question.”
“I’ll trust Dyna to take care of that. The three bairns are all hale to your eyes?”
“Aye. All happily jaunting toward Oban. Afraid, hungry, dirty, but anxious to get away. And they trust the lass completely. They’re verra worried about her.”
“I’m not worried. We’ll go back for Lia. Back to this lass. Why is Meg feverish? A wound?”
“Aye. The bairns said she cut her hand chopping vegetables at the kirk two or three days ago. She held up until Rowan ran into my arms, then she fell off the boulder she was sitting on.”
“Strong woman.”
“Aye. One of the strongest, and I fear that axe could have landed in my chest.”
There was a knock on the door and Eli said, “Enter.”
Lennox’s mother came in.
“Mother, how did you get here so fast?”
“The boats, the horses. We heard all. Rowan is fine. Sloan is on his way. Come home, Lennox. You said you’d be gone for a day, but it’s been a few.”
“Nay, I’m not leaving her.” He nodded toward Meg on the bed. “Look, Mama. This woman is the one who saved the bairns. I will see her to her destination and explain everything to you in the hall. Please allow me to finish with Eli first before I answer your questions.”
He could have sworn his mother smirked, but the look vanished and she said, “I’ll wait for you.”
He turned back to Eli, not willing to argue because he was too exhausted. “Check her finger under the dirt. I could see the swelling on her left hand.”
Eli sat next to Meg and lifted her hand, moving the finger a touch.
Meg bolted up in the bed and said, “Don’t you touch those bairns or I’ll kill you.” Her right hand swung out and punched Eli in the cheek, though the strike was not powerful enough to hurt. “Leave them alone. Leave me alone.”
Lennox moved Eli out of the way and wrapped his arms around Meg so she couldn’t move. “They’re fine, Meg.”
She stared at him and tried to wriggle away. “I wish to see them. I have to get them home.”
“They are home,” he said in his most calming voice. “Remember me? I’m Lennox MacVey. I found you in front of the cave where you threatened me with an axe to my chest if I moved. You’re at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Tora is with her mother, and Rowan’s uncle is on his way. Magni’s sire will be here soon.”
“Lia? She left, did she not? She told me she was going to leave the others in Oban.”
“We’ll get Lia. This is Eli. She’s a healer, and she’s going to fix your finger. Once you’ve changed, the bairns will come in to see you, but we’ll feed them first. You have my word that the three are safe, and we will go back for Lia.”
Meg’s head fell on his shoulder, and she clung to him. “Please don’t let anyone harm them, Lennox. Promise me you’ll find Lia.”
“We will. I promise.” He rubbed her back and glanced over at his mother, who was as wide-eyed as he’d ever seen her.
Meg closed her eyes and said, “Save them. The men will come back for them. They’ve already tried to follow us. Cruel bastards.”
He peered over at Eli, who motioned for him to lay her back down. Once they had her settled, she said, “I’ll wash her up and change her, then I’ll have to lance her finger. I could probably use your help with that, so I don’t take a fist to my other cheek. Give me a quarter hour and I’ll call you in. Rut, mayhap you could ask Murreal for some vegetable broth? Meg needs food.”
“Of course. I’ll bring it back in for you, Eli. I can help feed her.”
“Nay, I’ll feed her, Mother. She doesn’t know you.” Lennox would not argue with her, so he stepped out.
He swore his mother looked at Eli and said, “Finally.”