Chapter Twenty-One
Lennox
Lennox escorted Meg back to the healing chamber while Eli followed. “I’ll take it from here, Lennox. I wish to apply more ointment to her wound.”
“Much thanks to you, Eli.”
Meg moved to follow Eli into the chamber, but then she stopped, tugging on Lennox’s arm. “Wait. I just recalled something that Lia told me when we were in the cave. She said she needed to go to a loch. Loch Aline, I think she said. Do you know where that is? Would that help you find her?”
“Nay,” Lennox lied. “There is nowhere with that name that I am aware of. I think we have a good idea where to go from here. Don’t worry about it.”
Meg nodded and went inside the chamber, the door closing behind her.
Lennox hated lying to Meg, but he knew where Loch Aline was and that was exactly where he’d already planned to go. But this would be his search and his alone. He owed the bastard who had kidnapped him many years ago, and he swore the man lived in the castle overlooking Loch Aline. He’d received word that he had left, but now he wondered again. Perhaps Lennox needed to return to the site of the original crime against him.
Much as he tried to recall all the details, the memory had escaped him for years, preventing him from going after the fool. He’d been plagued with horrid dreams about a rowboat, but bits and pieces had still been missing about the entire event. When a nightmare brought the dreadful incident back to him, he’d gone to that site, only to learn the cruel bastard had moved on. He’d believed he’d done all he could, but he could no longer ignore it. He had to end this man’s twisted ways. He’d tell no one, but he had to go back to his castle at first light. And Meg would go with him. He would not leave her behind. He didn’t know why, but he was drawn to her and wasn’t ready to leave her yet. He could leave her with his mother and Eva, then depart without telling anyone.
He just had to find a way to get there because he refused to use that vessel in his boathouse, the one that gave him the shivers whenever he approached it. Why, he wasn’t sure.
But he had a feeling everything about the event was about to be uncovered.
He turned around and made his way back to the chamber where the group discussed the situation quietly. His mother hadn’t moved, but her ears were taking in everything, Lennox was certain of that.
When he approached, he asked, “Your plan, gentlemen? And Dyna. My pardon.”
Logan spun around and said, “Look, MacVey. I don’t know if you and Rankin are aware of it, but someone is trying to gather enough men to take over the isle. Know you who that might be? Where they’re working?”
That comment took him by surprise, so he peered at Sloan to see if it struck a chord with him. Sloan looked as confused as he was. “Nay, I know nothing of that. The eastern side of the isle is here—Grantham, MacVey, Rankin. MacQuarie on the west, and we’re on fine terms with them. I know MacClane is trying to establish himself here, but he doesn’t have enough men to take over the isle. Where did you learn of this, Ramsay?”
“I have my ways. I told him it was an impossible task now that Duart Castle was occupied by Grants and Ramsays. He isn’t concerned. I made sure to let him know that any involvement with kidnapping bairns would involve an arrow to his bollocks, but he swore that he’s not interested in the bairns.”
Alasdair set his hands on his hips and paced in a small circle before stopping again. “So, we have a few possibilities—the baron who is to marry Meg, this fool who thinks he can take over the isle, and two twisted souls in a kirk back on the mainland about two days from Oban. Did I miss anyone? Preferences for pursuit? Who’s going where?”
Sloan said, “I wish to search the isle. I want the bastard who stole Rowan, and I’m sure he’s here. Hired from the outside.”
Connor said, “Alasdair, we’re going after the kirk. Dyna, I love you dearly, but I’d like you to stay back. There’s no guarantee that the bastards won’t be bold enough to return and attack. You need to be here to protect your bairns—you and Derric. I’m leaving half our forces to protect Duart Castle.”
Derric said, “I agree, Connor. We’ll stay here, and I thank you for your extra guards. But please find the bastards. I couldn’t sleep thinking of all poor Tora could have been going through.”
Logan said, “I’m traveling with you, Grant.”
Then they all turned to Lennox.
“I’m going back to my clan, gathering some guards, and we’re headed to Coll.” Not exactly a lie, but not the truth either. “I’ve heard many times that there is some group in the Western Isles causing trouble. Suppose they are on Coll? We need to search farther out and not so close to home.”
“Why?” Sloan asked, his hands on his hips. “We know the men who stole the kids are local.”
“You all just patrolled Mull. Mayhap the first group are local, but someone is paying them coin to do it. I think the man Ramsay spoke with is from Coll or Tyree, mayhap Skye. We don’t know. You heard Meg say it was different groups. Someone bringing them to the kirk, someone else caring for them until the third group arrives. How many more groups are involved? But it doesn’t matter because the initial order is coming from someone bigger than a clan of Mull, and I want to know who. I’ve heard enough of foul deeds—Garvie, Thane’s mother, Magni’s parents being killed, Logan hearing someone who wishes to take over the isle. Something bigger is out there, and I intend to discover who is running it.”
Logan said, “MacVey is right. Go to a different area and see what you can uncover. We need to explore farther. We’ll be on the mainland learning what we can and will hopefully find Lia. Mull is Rankin’s job. MacVey is going to Coll. Meet back here in a sennight and hope we all have some results to share. Gwynie will stay here with you, Dyna.”
“Wonderful. Eli and I welcome another gifted archer.”
Alasdair said, “I told Alick to hold four score men in the area, in case you changed your mind, Chief. They should still be not far from Oban.”
“Wonderful thinking. I’ll leave more here to protect the castle. MacVey, Rankin, if you need more men, I can send a score with each of you. Just say the word.”
Sloan said, “I accept.”
Lennox said, “Many thanks, but I have enough for now.”
He wasn’t telling them where he was going. Oh, he might end up on Coll, but he was starting right across the Sound of Mull to Loch Aline. Based on all he’d heard, he made the decision to leave Meg at Duart Castle until he returned. She’d be safer here because of all the Grant guards left behind. They would help protect Duart from any attackers.
He would find the bastard named Egan if it killed him.