There was something about her. While she was a beautiful lass, it wasn’t her beauty that captivated him. She possessed an inherent trustworthiness, an essence he completely relied on, and at present, he desperately needed stability in his life. Roger had already fallen asleep, having returned from the stables after helping the lads pack food for the several horses they were taking on the journey, along with the largest and finest warhorses Edan had ever seen.
Ailith stopped and turned, waiting for his approach. “What is it?” she asked.
“Could we talk for a moment? There’s a bench that overlooks the sea around the corner. Would you mind?”
“Nay, I’ll come along.” Ailith led the way to the bench. “Is something wrong, Edan? You are returning with us on the morrow, aye?”
“Aye, and I am grateful some of you are returning with me, but there are so many lasses going along. Why?”
“Because the situation on Islay is not a usual situation, so we think it’s best to bring seers along with us.”
He got up and paced a bit, looking out over the water before taking a seat next to her again. “But I think we need more warriors. More men. I believe that mayhap some mercenaries have taken my daughter, intending to sell her. I’ve heard otherstalking about selling bairns over the sea. If that’s what is happening, then we need warriors. Who will be in charge of the group leaving on the morrow?”
“Dyna.”
“A woman? Truly?”
Ailith jerked as if he’d slapped her. As someone who had grown up in Clan Grant, this unfavorable opinion of women was new to her experience. She’d spent time with other clans too: Clan Ramsay, known for its all-female archers; Clan Drummond, led by Chieftain Diana; and Clans Cameron and Matheson, all of whom valued women.
She’d been protected more than she’d known, but this was her turn to teach someone to think differently, a lesson her mother had taught her. As a MacLintock, she’d had to fight to prove her value as a woman before she and her father had become co-chieftains of MacLintock Castle. And her mother had fought hard against an evil English baron.
“A woman. Aye. The strongest one I know. You’d do well not to underestimate her, or any of the lasses on this ship. Did you not listen to the other conversations about what we learned last eve, Edan?”
He held her gaze, his jaw working. “Forgive me. I meant no offense to your chieftain.” He looked away, out over the water. “My daughter is missing, Ailith. I want every sword in Scotland between her and whoever took her. Tell me what you learned last eve.”
“That the Unseelie are probably involved. That your daughter is probably being held inside a faery hill.”
He raised his hands, cutting her off. “Nay, I disagree. Faeries have naught to do with this. You can’t possibly believe that to be true. Faery hill. What the hell is a faery hill?”
A man resembling Ailith came around the corner and quickly introduced himself. “Edan, my name is John, and I’mAilith’s brother. We spoke with someone last night who is convinced your daughter is in a faery hill on Islay.”
Edan squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Aye, I witnessed a lass riding a dolphin, and Sylvi convinced me that she has special talents, but a faery hill? I don’t know that I can believe in that, John.” His father’s last words echoed in his mind, the grip he’d had on Edan’s hand so tight for a man in his weakened state that Edan would never forget the moment.
John stood next to Ailith while Edan began to pace, kicking stones about as he moved.
Her brother glanced at his sister, then pressed on. “I think you need to consider that possibility. We can’t tell you more about our source, but once we arrive on Islay, I believe you’ll be convinced. Ailith, a seer, has a special talent for seeing into the past. Once she’s on Islay, we believe she’ll be able to see exactly what happened to your daughter.”
Edan spun around to face her, his eyes wide. “You’re a seer, Ailith? Why have you kept this a secret? If you truly are, then tell me now. Where is Heilyn?”
Ailith replied, “I haven’t kept anything secret. I just learned of this talent with the help of Lady Menzie and Dyna. If I knew where she was, I would tell you, but I can’t see her now. I think she’s too far away.”
John pulled out a dagger, tested its edge on a broken twig, then threw it at a distant tree. His first throw missed. He pulled out two more and threw the three knives in quick succession, each blade embedding deeply in the trunk.
Edan watched, impressed.
John stopped and wiped his hands on his trews. “Your daughter has to be on Islay. We have a group of seers: one for the present, one who hears the unspoken, and Ailith for the past. Dyna’s even stronger powers will help them find answers, but she also needs to be near Islay. Your island is known for faeryactivity. Did you not know that?” He retrieved all his daggers, re-sheathing them, and tipped his head toward Edan, waiting for an answer.
Edan rubbed his knuckles across his beard, keeping the truth to himself. He wouldn’t tell anyone. His father had spoken of the thin barrier for years, but Edan had chosen not to believe him. It was the sole reason his father had moved their family to Jura, or so Edan had been told. After their father died, he, Roger, and Catrina decided to return to Islay, pleased to find out it had more fertile soil.
Edan never believed all the ramblings from his sire about faeries, banshees, and other otherworldly beings, so he’d shoved them from his mind.
He crossed his arms, determined not to discuss such fanciful notions with John.
As stubborn as his father, he would not be deterred. “Nay,” Edan scoffed, “I’ve heard naught about Islay being more receptive to faeries. And what exactlyisa ‘thin barrier’ supposed to do?”
John narrowed his gaze but said little. “A thin barrier allows the Seelie and the Unseelie to move between worlds with ease. Easier than on Mull, for instance.” Ailith’s brother was tall and broad-shouldered, a head taller than his sister but a bit shorter than his sire. His presence was powerful, even without his sword, and he spoke with the confidence of a Highland chieftain.
Edan was pleased to learn that John would be joining them. They needed fierce warriors like him to fight off the mercenaries who were stealing bairns.
