Chapter Three
Edan
Edan stood outside Dunyvaig Castle later that day, his gaze shifting from Catrina’s husband, Arne, to his brother Roger. His sister held his arm in a tight grip, and he knew exactly how she felt—more frightened than ever.
“You’re sure that’s what that means, Catrina?” He held up the ring of woven thistles, ignoring the pricks against his thick calluses.
“Aye. It’s said they’ve been stolen by the faeries, never to return. This is the sign that they are safely hidden away. I want our son back, Edan.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at Catrina’s tear-stained face. He knew his looked the same.
Losing Heilyn was more than he could bear.
“I’d like to disagree with you, but the fact that we both had the same thing left in our cradles is telling.
” He hadn’t noticed the ring in the dark, but when he returned, there it sat in her cradle.
That had been so difficult to accept, but losing his beloved nephew made it even worse.
Arne said, “Especially during a storm. That was the oddest storm ever. Bright lightning, loud thunder but no rain.” He made the sign of the cross on his chest. “God help us all.”
Roger paced in front of the castle, looking up at the stone building as if it would have the answers they needed.
“I’m telling you. I heard someone speak of the same happening at Dunyvaig less than a fortnight ago.
And more than one bairn. I’m certain of it.
I just didn’t think it could ever happen to our family. ”
Dunyvaig Castle sat close to the busiest port on Lagavulin Bay on Islay, the place where ships came from both Mull and the mainland, bringing goods and travelers many times a sennight. Their own galley ships sat not far from the jetty.
Edan glanced over at the sea in the distance, two ships headed their way. He leaned over and bussed his sister’s cheek. “I’ll go ask to speak with MacKay’s second.”
Tavish MacKay, chieftain of Clan MacKay of Dunyvaig, was helpful but a busy man. All Edan needed to know is if others had seen the same.
He closed his eyes and said a small prayer that this would be caused by something tangible, anything other than his father’s admission of guilt.
His father had warned him not to return to Islay, that they would pay for it, but Edan had chosen to ignore him.
He didn’t like Jura mostly because of all his father’s rantings, so shortly after he’d passed on, they’d moved to Islay.
The land was far more fertile on Islay, and his clachan needed food. It was best for everyone.
Except for poor Heilyn and Milo. Both nearly the same age, the two together were a delight, and their love for one another was contagious; the giggles erupting from them at the sight of each other guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.
“At least they’re together.” Edan spoke before he could stop himself.
Catrina gave his arm a light slap. “You don’t know that.
You don’t know anything. Why would this happen to us?
I don’t understand.” The rows of worry lines on her forehead told Edan just how many hours she’d been awake last eve.
Dark circles under her eyes, tears glazing over but not falling.
He knew exactly how her night had gone. Exactly like his.
Oh, but he did know things she didn’t know about their father.
Things Roger didn’t know either. As the eldest, Edan had kept it to himself because he’d considered it rantings of a sick man.
He had carried the secret for many summers after their sire had passed on, but it had finally come time to face all the consequences, just as his father had warned him.
He nodded to his family, “Stay with the horses. I’ll go ask his second. Then we’ll get something to eat at the tavern.” They sat in a clearing on a hill with a full view of the bay, ships and fishing boats everywhere.
He didn’t have any time to waste.
He passed two cottages on the way to the castle walls, one with a floral basket on a tree stump.
As soon as he passed it, the flowers withered, causing him to scowl.
He stopped, scratching his head. Was he seeing things?
Had the flowers truly been standing tall a moment ago?
Nay. He hadn’t been paying attention. That was all there was to it. A simple mistake in his mind.
Flowers didn’t die instantly.
There were no flowers at the next cottage, but just the same, he glanced back over his shoulder at the wilted ones, wondering if they’d come back to life, but they hadn’t.
He trudged ahead. There was no time to worry about such wee details.
The small clachan outside Dunyvaig Castle housed a fair number of clan members.
The villagers worked the fertile fields nearby and enjoyed the company of their neighbors.
Perhaps Edan needed to move his clachan here.
He’d thought it safest to be in their own location, away from the busiest area on Islay.
They’d settled in Kilmeny, a small village not far from Port Askaig where travelers moved back and forth across the Sound of Islay to Jura.
Finlaggan was close, had a busy market with many skilled tradesmen, and the land was fertile.
They’d been happy there for some time, their crops improving every year.
Apparently, he’d chosen poorly.
He moved up to the portcullis, the sea air catching him by surprise. It had been a long time since they’d traveled to the sea. Too much had happened in his life.
He approached one of the guards. “I’d like to speak to the laird or his second in command.
We have missing bairns in our clachan and I need information.
” He guard waved to another soldier who approached.
Edan repeated himself. Once he explained the problem, the second said, “Enter. MacKay will speak with you. You and one other.”
Roger nodded to Edan. “You go in. I’ll see what I can learn by the bay.”
Edan, Catrina and her husband Arne entered the great hall, escorted by a guard. The second chased them, “I said one other.”
Arne whirled around and said, “My wife doesn’t go anywhere without me. It’s our son. Both of ours, not just hers.”
The second sighed and said, “Go on in then.”
They entered a large chamber off the great hall, the door closing behind them.
Catrina collapsed into a nearby chair, Arne standing behind her, lightly massaging her shoulders.
Edan stood next to Arne, both unable to sit.
MacKay stood tall on the other side of the desk, brown hair to his shoulders, keen dark eyes taking in everything about the visitors.
The young chieftain took the seat behind the desk and motioned for them to sit, but Edan said, “I’m unable. My daughter and nephew are missing, and we were advised you had knowledge of some bairns missing here also. We are heartsick and don’t know what to do.”
Tavish folded his hands in his lap as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m sorry to hear of your troubles. You were advised correctly. We’ve had a few go missing. I’m uncertain of the exact number, but it has happened.”
“Yours?” Catrina asked, leaning forward.
“Nay, I am not married and have no bairns. I have an unmarried brother also. These were taken from local villagers.”
“When?” Edan asked, pacing from one side to the other in the back of the chamber.
“A sennight ago. There’s talk of changelings, but no changeling bairns were left in their place as the faeries oft do.
We’ve discussed the possibility of mercenaries stealing bairns to sell across the water, but as you can see, we have a clear view of any ships leaving here.
There’s been no unidentified ships seen here.
I’ve had my men watching and documenting all that pass through. ”
“How old were the bairns?” Arne asked.
“Under the age of five. No infants.”
Catrina let out a strangled grasp, her hand going up to grip her husband’s hand. “Where are they? Have you any idea where they are?”
Edan stepped over to MacKay’s desk and handed him the small wreath of woven thistles. “We were both left these. Know you anything of them?”
MacKay studied the item then handed it back. “We have not seen anything, but I wish they had as that could give me a clue as to where they are.”
“What does this item tell you?”
MacKay wasn’t much older than Edan, but his presence was strong and powerful. “What know you of the faeries? Anything at all? This speaks of fae involvement to me, and as you know, Islay is often home to faeries.”
Edan said, “Nay. Naught. Forgive me, but I don’t believe in faeries.
There must be something else going on. I want my daughter back.
Have you any men suspected of stealing bairns for labor or to sell?
Any mercenaries living nearby? Have they cottages somewhere?
” he dragged his hand through his long locks.
Edan wished to run up to the top of the curtain wall and scream at the entire village and ask for help.
MacKay stood and approached him, forcing him to stop pacing.
The chieftain set his hand on Edan’s shoulder and said, “We’ve combed all of this area for the bairns.
We’re searching the rest of Islay for any faery hills, any new cottages hidden in the forests.
It’s possible they were taken to be sold.
That’s an evil event that happens often enough near ports.
We’re acting on that belief. If we find any bairns we don’t know, we’ll surely contact you. ”
“What do we do until then? I don’t have the forces to search the entire isle.” Edan had no idea what to do. It was his duty to take care of his clachan, and clearly he’d failed. He’d failed not only his daughter but his nephew and sister.
“Where do you live?”
“Near Kilmeny. Not far. What can we do?”
Tavish leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms. “If you come to the conclusion that your wee ones were kidnapped by faeries, then I would recommend you head to Mull.”
“Mull? Why?” Edan had no idea what he was talking about.