Her father waited until they were alone. He turned to her and said, “You are my only true daughter, lass. My apologies if I’ve protected you too much, but you know it’s out of love.”
“I know, Da. But I can’t sleep at night. I couldn’t sleep on Grant land, and I cannot sleep here. I have to go.” Tears teased her eyes, but she did her best to control them.
“Does MacRuari mean something to you? Did I miss something?”
“Nay,” she said, perhaps too quickly. “I barely know him. I only… feel for him.” How does one deal with losing a bairn out of her cradle?
Her father stared at the floor for a few moments, then said, “Your mother is right, and I’ve been looking at this all wrong. Sela and Emmalin both tried to tell me something a long time ago, but I ignored them.”
“What?” She crossed her arms, preparing to argue with him more.
He took two steps closer, his finger lifting her chin. “Those blue eyes of yours look at everything through the eyes of your great-grandmother.”
“Grandmama Maddie?”
She hadn’t seen her father cry in a long, long time, but it nearly undid her when the tears slid down his cheeks. “I loved Grandmama Maddie, her storybooks and her voices were part of my greatest memories of my childhood. Sela suggested it first because your mother never met Grandmama. But you have the same heart as your great grandmother, and nothing could make me more proud of you than that. She was soft-hearted, especially when it came to bairns, but she also had a strong will. The story of Grandmama facing Hord, the spider man, to save a wee lass is one of the best in all the land. She had a contingent of soldiers there to do whatever she commanded.”
“Da, I’ve heard that story before. I’m sure they were there to do what Grandda Alex commanded.”
“Nay. Ask Aunt Sela. She will tell you it was Maddie; all the warriors were there to do asshebid them to do. Oh, Grandda might give orders too, but there was something about the strength of Madeline Grant’s conviction that had every guard vowing to do what she asked. They respected her that much.” He dropped his head and wiped at his tears. “She had a heart of sheer gold, Ailith. If you need to go to help the people of Islay find their bairns, then I support you completely.”
“Will you come along?”
“Do you want your stubborn father along?”
Ailith adored her father, so she could only say what was in her heart. “Of course I need your help, Da. I don’t have much experience with these situations, especially in a new land.”
“It would be my pleasure to go along with you. Grandmama Maddie was the protector of bairns. I think she’s passed the torch to you.” He wrapped his arms around her and whispered,“You’ll be wonderful because you have the intelligence and the compassion of your grandmother.”
Ailith had never considered herself in that way, but she liked the idea. The protector of bairns. Lia had been called that too, and she’d thought it a wonderful title at the time. Someone had to stand up for those who could not protect themselves.
It was her new purpose.
Chapter Eleven
Avelina
Avelina sat in front of the hearth that eve after most people had gone to bed. She usually went to bed early, but she’d been summoned, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. Erena had advised her she’d be outside waiting to speak with her shortly before midnight.
“Mama, why are you still up? Are you worried about something?” Maitland asked as he grabbed a goblet of wine from a bottle and handed it to her. “This will help you sleep.”
“Oh, Maitland. I don’t need help sleeping.” She smiled faintly. “I’m here because Erena is meeting me this eve.”
“Erena? Truly? Does she want John too? Do you want Grant?” He settled in the chair next to her.
“Nay, she said I can relay everything. I’ve summoned one other person, and I’m waiting to see if she has been able to interpret her dreams well yet. I sent her a request. We’ll see…”
A door opened and closed above stairs, and the padding of feet could be heard coming toward the staircase.
Avelina smiled and said, “And there she is. Greetings, Ailith. Grab your boots first. We’re going outside.”
Maitland looked at his mother in shock. “Alone? At this hour? Nay, you will not.”
Avelina laughed at her youngest son. “You’re so protective, Maitland. Do you really think the Queen of the Faeries would allow anyone to harm me?” She patted his cheek and got up, waiting for Ailith to return. “We won’t be long, I’m certain.”
A few minutes later, Dyna came out of her chamber. “I’m coming, Lina. I’ll not miss this one.”
Years ago, when Avelina was young, Erena had given her the sapphire sword to keep safe. Drew had helped her hide it until John was grown, and after that, Alasdair’s son hadcarried it with his wife, Coira. The faery had come to Avelina at other times since, when she was needed most. Golden light and butterflies had settled on Gregor’s barely moving chest the night he’d nearly died. Brenna’s wee lad had opened his eyes a moment later. Avelina had never forgotten the feeling of that force passing through her hands. That moment alone gave her faith in whatever Erena did or said.
