Chapter Thirty
Sheona
Hildi led the three over to Ionaland, taking vegetables with them so the sisters wouldn’t question their visit. Sheona had two daggers with her but didn’t carry a spear like Hildi and Brynja each had. She’d left her axes back at the nunnery because they were so heavy.
Brynja had said, “I don’t trust that those men won’t be hiding somewhere. Never go anywhere without a dagger close to your hand.”
Sheona nodded, beginning to believe she could use one after practicing with her new friends.
“The wind is coming up,” Hildi said. “And look at those clouds. The storm will be here right after the sun drops, I believe. It’s getting closer.”
Magni saw them first, running over to greet them. “I knew you were coming,” he announced proudly, his chest puffed out.
“How could you possibly know?” Hildi asked.
Magni grinned and pointed to the wee lass trailing a distance behind him. “Lia told me. She always knows. She’s my sister.”
Sheona glanced over at Brynja for confirmation because she’d never heard that they were brother and sister, especially since Lia was supposed to be an angel.
Brynja shook her head, indicating not to ask anything, her wide eyes telling Sheona to keep her questions inside.
Brynja whispered, “Later, I’ll explain.”
Hildi covered quickly by asking Magni, “What else did Lia say? And where has she been?”
“She had to leave for a bit, but I don’t know where she went. She said she’ll never leave me, so I knew she’d be back. And she returned a wee bit ago. Look. Here she is!” He rushed over and hugged the tiny lass with the prettiest golden hair. “You can ask her how she knew.”
“Greetings to you, Lia. We missed you on our last visit. May we deliver our vegetables and then chat with you?” Brynja asked.
“Of course, and I do believe we have some bread for you. Follow me, and we’ll find your bread after you leave the cabbage and other goods.”
Once they completed their task, Hildi led the small group out to a bench near the shore. Lia glanced up and said, “A storm is coming, but it is much needed.” Her gaze fell back and landed directly on Sheona. “Greetings to you, my dear. Ask me all your questions. I hear you have many.”
Puzzled, Sheona glanced over at Hildi, who nodded. “Go ahead.”
“It is lovely to meet you, but my first question is about you. Are you truly an angel? I’ve never met one before.”
A wee lad came toward them giggling, and Lia said, “Magni, why don’t you play with Tenney? He’s missing his dearest brother.”
Magni took off toward the boy and swung him in circles, then began a game of tag.
Lia folded her hands in her lap after straightening her skirts and said, “To your first genuine question, I’m not really Magni’s sister, but it makes for a good explanation of our relationship.
I am what’s called a guiding angel. I can guide people in certain directions, but I can’t force anyone to do anything.
I was sent here to protect the many bairns who were being stolen away, and I think we were successful in ending that evil threat against our sweet isles.
But there is always danger lurking where you least expect it.
” She smiled, and if not for her size, the lass gave off the aura of a woman of many decades.
Lia lifted her head to the breeze and smiled. “The air is sweet this eve, is it not?”
“Are you able to answer my other questions?” Sheona asked.
“I will do my best.” Then she nodded to the three. “Ask me. I’m here for you.”
Brynja cleared her throat. “The two men I saw approaching the isle last night. Did you see them?”
“I did.”
“Who were they? And who are they after?”
Lia shook her head slowly with a tsk of her jaw. “They are men with evil souls. They search for someone to satisfy their pleasures.”
“Someone they know?” Sheona asked.
“Aye.” Lia got up and approached Sheona. She reached for her hands and cocooned them inside her own small hands, which nearly made Sheona giggle until she looked into Lia’s eyes.
What she saw there gripped her and didn’t let go. A fierceness and an essence flowed from her soul, even through her hands, warming Sheona’s in the cold. “Sheona, I was on a mission, but I was called back for you. Someone is here to speak with you. She wishes to send you a message through me.”
Sheona jerked her hands away from Lia. “Who? Who could send me a message? No one I know is here.”
“Her name is Ailis, though you called her something different.” Lia hesitated and tried to take Sheona’s hand again.
“Nay,” Sheona ground out, taking two steps back, fighting the tears threatening to spill over.
Hildi said, “Listen to her, Sheona. Trust us. Do you know someone named Ailis?”
Brynja said, “It won’t hurt you to listen. You’re troubled, and someone wishes to help you. Are you familiar with Ailis?”
Sheona’s eyes misted, the threat of tears overpowering her though she squeezed them tight. She knew Ailis, the only one—her dear mother who had passed on over a year ago.
Brynja whispered, “Sheona? Trust her. Who is Ailis? She could tell us about the men.”
She took four rapid breaths and paused. “My mother was named Ailis.”
“It’s her,” Lia said. “This woman is your mother.”
“Is Rinaldo there too?” Sheona would run back to the nunnery if she said he was with her mother.
Lia strode forward and took both of her elbows.
“Nay. Rinaldo is not here, and your mother said he will never hurt you again. And that she is sorry she was not there to stop him before. That he deserved the sword in his belly from your father because his soul had turned evil. It is not your fault. And she wishes she could make you a batch of apple tarts covered with cinnamon.”
Sheona nearly collapsed, her tears now flowing freely. “Mama, I miss you so.”
“She said her heart misses you every single day, but she is always watching over you. And she said the next time, she’d stop you from eating three tarts at once. You wouldn’t have gotten sick if she’d stopped you at two.”
Sheona openly cried, unable to stop the tears at the memory of baking with her dear mother, of the possibility that she was standing nearby. Her heart ached for her dear mother.
Lia said, “Sit, please. Your mother has an important message for you.”
Sheona sat, swiping her tears away, her gaze locked on this odd lass in front of her.
She had to listen. Who else would know that when she’d first tasted cinnamon, she declared it was her favorite flavor ever, and that her sire had sent to London for a small flask just for her? “I’m listening,” she whispered.
“Ailis says you must trust Taskill. She said he is coming for you and that you need to go with him. There is an evil friend of your brother who is searching for you. And what he wants from you is meant for your husband, so you must stay away from him.”
“I’ll go with Taskill. Who is it? Who is after me, Mama?”
“One man you don’t know. The other one is Clyde. Promise me you will stay away from Clyde.”
“I promise. Tell me, Mama. Should I marry Taskill? Or what do I do? Da is being unreasonable.”
“Da will no longer trouble you, daughter. He is in his own trouble now. Trust your heart and you will find the one for you. Ailis says she loves you, but she must go.”
“Wait, Mama. Is Taskill the one I should marry? Mama? Please tell me. I don’t know what to do. And what trouble is Papa in?”
Lia said, “She’s gone, lass. I’m sorry. They only have short times to pass on their messages.”
“Mama, I miss you so.”
Lia reached up and cupped Sheona’s cheek, “She misses you too. I could feel it in her heart. Do you know who Clyde is?”
“I do. He was a friend of my brother Rinaldo’s.”
Hildi ran toward shore and pointed. “There’s a boat coming. One man is in it, not two.”
Lia said, “It’s not Clyde. Go see for yourself. Godspeed with you, Sheona. Trust in your angels and in God.”
“My angels?”
“Aye. Your mother is one of your guardian angels. She will always protect you, if she can. Go. You have a wonderful life ahead of you once you find your way through this confusing episode your sire started. But sometimes the greatest pleasures come after the worst pain, my dear.” Lia waved goodbye and went after the two lads.
Sheona wiped her tears and asked Brynja and Hildi, “Do you believe her? Should I believe all she said?”
Hildi giggled and asked, “Do you like cinnamon?”
Sheona laughed and nodded at the same time.
“Who else knows you love cinnamon?”
“My mama and papa and my siblings. Sloan, Rinaldo, and Marta.” Then she scowled as she reviewed the conversation in her mind. Could it have been Rinaldo leading her in the wrong direction?
Brynja asked, “Were your siblings there when you were sickened from eating three tarts?”
Sheona stared at Brynja wide-eyed. “Nay. Only Mama. Even Da doesn’t know I ate three. She made me promise not to tell him.” She broke into a wide grin. “My thanks to you, Mama.”
Hildi said, “That boat is almost here. Will you go with him?”
And the oddest thing happened. Sheona knew exactly what to do.
No quandaries, no doubts, no questions. Unlike how the last few days of her life had been, she was certain this time.
She would go with Taskill.
She raced to shore and found a boulder to sit on after hugging her friends. “I promise to visit again. Take care of my axes.”
The two hugged her. Brynja held out her hand with a proffered treat. “Here. Take some bread and Godspeed with you. Do what the angels tell you to. Beware the storm. I hope you’ll come back when your wonderful life has started. Then mayhap you can ask your mother about our lives.”
Hildi whispered, “I would like to know if we’ll find happiness someday.” Her voice was so quiet, it nearly broke Sheona’s heart. They’d helped her in so many ways.
Sheona gave Hildi and Brynja each a hug. “I will. I promise. I appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I must go.”
Sheona sat on the boulder and waited for Taskill.