“And am I too delicate to make that trip?”
“Of course not. I was just thinking of your tender…”
“My what?” She caught him deftly before he could finish his words.
Ailith nearly giggled, but said nothing, her chair facing the hearth instead of her parents. Her mother did not believe she had any tender sensibilities. Her mother surely did, but her father was not going to ever say it. Of that much, Ailith was certain.
He took a step back and said, “I was thinking of you.”
“Try again, Alasdair Grant.”
He let out a low groan and said, “Aye, I was thinking of our daughter.”
“Ailith will be fine.”
“Are you sure about that? What if it all comes back on her? You know how she is when she’s in a closed situation. It brings back her time in that cell. It’s totally understandable.”
Ailith sat as still as the cliff overlooking the Sound of Mull. She wished she was standing on it that moment. Somewhere where she wouldn’t be noticed. Where she would be invisible.
Where her parents would stop protecting her.
“Our daughter is stronger than you think she is.”
Her hands kneaded in her lap. True, the mention did bring her back to the cell she’d been held captive in for five days, but this time, it changed. The image was quickly replaced by a group of bairns being hidden away. What if she were the only one to help them?
She jumped out of her chair so quickly that she nearly knocked it over. Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m going, Da.”
He turned around to face her. “What did you say?”
“Da, I’m six and twenty. I’m sure Uncle Connor won’t mind if I go along with them. If you don’t wish to go, I’ll understand, but I have to go.” There. She’d said it, and she would not back down.
Her father moved closer, his expression sharpening. “What changed, Ailith? You’ve had these dreams before. Something must have changed.”
He always saw too much.
Uncle Connor moved over to the staircase and then paused, his hand on the railing.
She lowered her voice to a whisper. “There was a creature this time, Da. A troll, mayhap. And he pointed at a man… saying, ‘Your fault.’ Again and again.”
From the balcony above, Daran’s voice rang out. “A monster? I’ll protect you, Ailith. I swear it!”
Uncle Connor peered up at her brother. “And who is eavesdropping where he should not? I’m coming for you, lad.”
“I did not drop any sheep, Uncle Connor!” Daran protested.
“Eavesdrop,” Connor corrected dryly, climbing the stairs.
Ailith waited until the noise faded.
“What do you make of it, Da?”
“I make little of it,” he admitted. “Tell me this: did you know the man the creature accused?”
“Nay.” She hesitated. “He came out of a cave where bairns were being held captive.” Ailith had never seen such a sad facebefore. “Da, I have to go. I hope you’ll come along, but if not, I’ll understand.”
Her mother marched across the hall. “I’m going, Alasdair. Make your decision now. I’m going to pack. Daran will go with me. Probably John too.” She headed up the staircase.
Her father went still in the way he did when something struck him hard. His shoulders eased, just barely. She had seen that look once before, the night he carried her out of the cellar and would not put her down until they reached Grant land. It was several moments before he spoke again. “I will come along. As long as you tell me everything that happens when we’re there.”
