Chapter Forty-Six
Sheona
Sheona entered the great hall as Taskill came barreling down the staircase with an expression on his face that she couldn’t fathom. “Taskill, are you hale?”
“Nay. Please. I just need some time alone. I’ll be back in an hour, Sheona. I must have private time.” He looked upset, so she let him go without further questioning.
He hurried out the door. As soon as he left, Rut came out of the solar and down the stairs. “Where is Taskill?”
“He left.”
“Where is he going?” Rut’s rich blue skirts swirled around her ankles as she descended.
“He said he needed private time.” Sheona had known Lady MacVey all her life, but she’d often been a wee bit afraid of her. Sheona had always thought her tall, but when she came down and approached her, she realized they were about the same height.
Her father came in the door and said, “Rut, what the hell did you do to your son? He looks a mess.”
“Where did he go?”
“Toward the stables is all I can tell you. Do you want me to get him?”
“Nay, let him be. He needs some time alone. Did you find that bastard, Dermot? These poor lasses are always worrying about one evil soul or another.”
“Nay, he got away. But there were seven of them. Merryn thinks one is the man who took part in killing the MacLean village, and Clyde is one of his men. That’s seven men either looking for lasses to abuse or people to rob or something else unsavory.
We have to put an end to this. I’m going to speak with Neil, see what he knows of it. ”
“Fine. I’m going up for a brief rest. I’ll be down for a wine later.”
Dermot squeezed Rut’s shoulder, then kissed her cheek before she left the hall. Then he gave his full attention to his daughter. “You are hale, Sheona?”
“I’m fine, Da. I’m going out to practice archery with Merryn.”
“You’re learning archery?”
“Aye. Do you mind?”
“Nay, I’m proud of you, lass. Go work with Merryn. I’ll see you at the evening meal. I have things to do.”
Her father left, so she headed out to the archery field in the back.
She didn’t know what was next. She and Taskill had found their parents, so would they go back home?
Go their separate ways? Was her father going to force her to marry?
Last eve, he did tell her to take her time, so she hoped he meant it.
She greeted Merryn out on the field, picking up a bow and practicing stretching before firing her first arrow.
“Did they find him?” Merryn asked.
“Nay. My sire said they couldn’t catch them. Is Broc still out there looking?”
“Nay, he’s at the gates talking with the guards, trying to determine who all the men were.”
They practiced for a while before Sheona stopped and turned to her new friend. “I thank you so much for volunteering to teach me. I love this more than anything I’ve ever done.”
Merryn said, “I feel the same. I wish they’d allow us to compete in the archery tournaments, but they don’t let lasses in these contests.”
“Won’t your uncle see it changed for you?”
“I’ve asked Aunt Alma to talk with him, but it doesn’t matter much because I’ll be on the Isle of Mull with Broc.”
“Is that where you think you’ll stay?” Sheona wasn’t sure if she’d prefer to live on Mull or not.
Iona was beautiful, but she also admired MacLean land too.
Though there wasn’t much of a chance to swim here, and she loved the water.
Sitting on a nearby log, she took a sip from the water skin, watching Merryn for a bit.
Her stance was powerful, and that alone made her proud.
Proud to know a lass who could be strong like a man.
She hated that men’s concerns were always considered more important than a woman’s.
“I think so. I love Mull, I love Broc, I love Shealee and Tristan. My brother says he’ll stay on Mull because he likes fishing and boating. So, we’ll stay too, I think.”
One of her brother’s guards hurried over to them and said, “My lady, your brother is looking for you out the back entrance. He just got here and he’s a mess, so he wished to come in where he wouldn’t be seen by everyone. And your sire is there with him, Sheona.”
Recognizing him as one of Tristan’s loyal guards, Merryn set her bow down and moved over to the rear entrance. Sheona dropped her bow but grabbed a dagger and shoved it into the fold Gwyneth had sewn into the leggings she wore.
Merryn said, “My thanks, Roger. I can’t wait to see my brother again. Uncle Neil will be so happy to see him.”
Merryn reached the door, and Roger held it open for her while the two lasses stepped through the narrow opening. Sheona didn’t see Tristan or her sire but rather three horses without mounts.
Roger shoved her forward, and a man grabbed her from behind, stuffing a dirty cloth in her mouth. “You’ve been naught but trouble, bitch.”
Clyde shoved her toward another man and the two tied her hands behind her back, another man helping Roger to do the same with Merryn. Sheona and Merryn tried to scream, but it was impossible with the rags in their mouths.
Sheona kicked and fought her captors, but they were stronger. They tossed her up on a horse and she tried to jump off the other side, but something hit the back of her head.
Darkness claimed her before she could fight any more.
There was just a whisper on her lips. “Taskill …”