Chapter Nineteen
Ailith
The group decided to get a bite to eat at the local inn, then head to Kilchoman with their companions to search for the faery hill before returning to the cottage.
Dyna dismounted outside the inn. “Lia will be there and I’m sure she’ll tell us exactly what we must do.”
“Don’t you want your daughters here?” Alasdair asked.
“Nay, I do not. I don’t want Tora or Sylvi near the hill. And we’re here to see what we can find first. If we need Sylvi and Tora, I’ll bring them back later.”
“How old are they now?” Alasdair asked.
“Sylvi is nine and ten, Tora seven and ten, Sandor five and ten. Halli is the same age as Daran, and I don’t see him here with you, Alasdair. Don’t push me.” Dyna had her hands on her hips, and Ailith’s father smirked.
She knew her father rarely argued with Dyna.
Her mother once told her it was due to his upbringing.
He and Els and Alick were often in trouble, and Dyna always knew what they were up to.
Others had said it was because of her seer abilities, but Alasdair believed it was because she was smarter than the rest of them.
Ailith loved that about her sire, that he saw intelligence in women. So many men did not.
They were about to walk in behind Roger and Catrina when Edan pulled her father aside and said, “A moment of yours before we go inside, if you please, my lord.”
Ailith looked to her mother, who shook her head, telling her not to intervene.
Ailith stepped inside the door ahead of her mother, but once they were inside, her mother led her to the nearest window, its shutters still closed, apparently so they could hear from there.
Dyna spun around with a grin, but Emmalin waved her on.
The others found a table while Ailith listened to the conversation with her mother.
“What the hell do you want?” her father asked.
“I’m bothered by the fact that you don’t allow me near your daughter. How old is she?”
“Doesn’t matter to you.”
“It does matter. I like Ailith’s company, and I believe she can help me find my daughter.”
“If you think I’ll stand by while you take advantage of her, you are daft.”
“Asking her for help is taking advantage of her?”
“You had your hand on her back.”
“She was about to fall and I steadied her. That was all. You’re reading into my movements and you’re wrong.”
Ailith covered her mouth with her hand and stared at her mother wide-eyed. A bit embarrassed to be eavesdropping, neither of them made a move to walk away.
“I will protect my daughter from any man looking for someone to satisfy his needs quickly.”
Edan’s voice dropped, “How dare you insult me like that. Your daughter is an intelligent, compassionate woman, and I have the utmost respect for her. What you suggest implies I see her as no more than a poxxed woman. If not for the fact that she loves you, I’d call you out for that.
I plan to ask for her assistance at the faery hill, and you need to know that I’m not going to allow you to stop me. ”
“You think to do whatever you wish with my daughter?”
“Nay, I’ll ask for her assistance, and she can make the decision whether to help me or not.
It is her choice, not yours. Your daughter is a woman grown, and she’s wise enough to make her own decisions.
You would think that you could see that I am devoted to my daughter, and I need help finding her.
It doesn’t matter to me who helps me, but if there is a path to finding Heilyn, I will take it. It’s Ailith’s choice, not yours.”
They heard nothing for a moment and Ailith was ready to run in case they came in, but there were no other sounds. Her mother held her hand up to tell her to wait. Perhaps her mother had a slightly better view of the two men than Ailith did.
Ailith’s belly was doing the oddest flips as she listened to the two men argue about her life.
Her father spoke next. “You are correct on two points. She is a wise woman, and she is old enough to make her own decisions. I am a bit overprotective, so I’ll let up and allow her the chance to decide if and when she can help you. But I will be watching.”
“I accept that. I hope you’ll accept that once this is over and I have Heilyn back, then I’ll ask your permission to court your daughter.”
Her mother pushed her from her spot, and she nearly tripped, but she made her way to their table before the two men came inside looking for them. Ailith blushed, and fortunately, Dyna covered for her. “Alasdair and Edan, your choice. A lamb meat pie or a beef?”
The two answered and she snuck a look at her mother, who was grinning from ear to ear. The two men took the two open seats, fortunately not together. Maitland and Roger got them both talking while Dyna kneed her under the table.
She mouthed a quick, “My thanks,” to Dyna.
When she dared, she gazed at Edan, who was in a conversation with Maitland. His gaze shifted to hers, then back quickly to Maitland, but the look of appreciation he cast her way nearly undid her. Fortunately, the serving lasses brought a platter full of meat pies and bread, so the moment passed.
Ailith was smitten.
***
Once they finished their midday meal, the group headed toward Kilchoman. Ailith couldn’t help but wonder what they would be seeing ahead. They had a good group, and she had to admit that she was glad to have her father and Maitland along. She always felt safer when her sire was beside her.
She thought of her conversation with Dyna and was pleased that what she had suggested had not proven true yet. Edan’s touch had not caused any problems at all. Perhaps it had been something else. She made a mental note to mention it to Dyna when she had the chance.
Edan pulled his horse abreast of Ailith. Good timing in her mind since her father and Maitland were busy conversing about who the best swordsman was at Duart Castle.
Edan tipped his head toward her father. “Sword skills are important to the men in your clan. True for many clans.”
“Aye, the lists are the busiest place during the daytime hours. Then they argue about all that happened after the evening meal.” She had to smile, memories of the days her father boasted to be the best coming back to her.
“I vow to improve my skills with Maitland’s and Morgan’s assistance. But tell me, what do you value most? Sword skills? Horse skills? Archery?”
“I’m not like many lasses in my clan. The Ramsay lasses are always competing in archery. Some Grant women do too, but for me, I’m more interested in what my aunts do. I love learning about healing.”
“Truly? Which aunts are those?”
“My great-Aunt Brenna married Quade Ramsay long ago. That’s what started the alliance.
My great-Aunt Jennie married Aedan Cameron, chieftain of Clan Cameron.
Both were taught by their mother and grandfather to be healers.
I’m so impressed by their calm natures, how they study what they see and reason their way through everything. ”
“Ah, so Ailith is more impressed by the quiet skills of her aunts. You wish to challenge your mind. That does not surprise me at all.”
“Nay?”
“You are a wise lass for one so young. Healing takes patience and wisdom. You have both already. I think you’ll become a fine healer.”
“My thanks to you,” she said, blushing.
“Please do not blush. You are an impressive person and getting to know you has been a pleasure.”
Not knowing what to say to that, she stared straight ahead, the sky filling with ravens.
How she wished she would have the chance to get to know Edan MacRuari after this was over.
She’d heard him speak to her father about his interest in her, but how could it possibly work when they lived so far apart?
Would he take his daughter and return to his clachan and never see her again?
Her heart would feel hollow if he did. She’d never met a man who made her feel so special. “Are you afraid of the faery hill?”
He let out a deep sigh. “Not afraid of the hill. I have more of a fear that we won’t find it.”
“I think we will. Mayhap not this day but the morrow. We’re getting clues as we go.”
“I pray you are right. May I ask you a personal question?”
“Aye, I’ll answer if I can.”
“Your sire seems particularly protective of you. Do you have a sense of why that might be, or am I mistaken?”
He glanced toward her. Ailith kept her gaze forward, though she was acutely aware of his attention, making sure her father was far enough away to hear nothing.
“There was an incident years ago,” she said quietly. “I was taken from my family for a time. Since then, he has feared it might happen again.” She risked a glance at Edan, unsure how he would regard it, half expecting disbelief or dismissal.
Instead, concern settled into his expression, steady and unmistakable. The warmth of it eased something tight in her chest. “I would rather not speak of it here,” she added softly. “Another time, I can explain more.”
“I am sorry you endured that,” he said after a moment. “It does explain his vigilance.” His voice gentled, and a distant look crossed his face. “I find I understand the instinct all too well. I doubt I will ever let Heilyn out of my sight again.”
“We will find her, Edan. I am confident.” She pictured the wee lass hugging her father when they finally freed her from the faery hill.
Edan’s voice broke into her thoughts. “What exactly do you think we’ll find here?”
“I honestly have no idea. This is all verra new to me. I hope it is as simple as finding your daughter and nephew not far away, but I don’t know.”
The sky grew darker as they approached the coastline. Ailith shivered.
They came upon the moorlands near Kilchoman, and their path toward the sea halted as a hill rose to the south of them, growing larger before their eyes.