“Sandor.” His voice came out rough. “Is Grandmama here? And my Mother?”
Sandor turned his head slowly toward the tree line, the way he always did when he was listening to something no one else could hear. “Right over there. Grandmama is crying, but Aunt Aline is cursing.”
Alasdair’s throat closed. “Why is Grandmama crying?”
“Because you and Dyna are yelling at each other and you should support each other, she says.”
“Sorry, Grandmama. I love Dyna. You know it. Where are Grandda and Da?”
“They were here but they went with John and Ailith, and they brought one other person.”
“Who?” Alasdair asked, the tears already covering his cheeks
Sandor’s mouth curved. “Aunt Gwyneth. I saw her shove Uncle Jake out of the way and then she said, ‘Let me at the bastards.’”
Dyna clapped and jumped in the air. “Go, Aunt Gwyneth.”
Sandor turned his head again, listening, his expression going soft in the way it only did when the voices were speaking clearly. “What, Grandmama?”
Alasdair looked toward the tree line and saw nothing, only shadows and shifting leaves, and it cost him something to stand still instead of crossing to her. His mother too, if she stood in that same unseen space. But it wasn’t the time. He could feel that much.
“Grandmama said not to worry. She said Ailith and John were chosen carefully.” Sandor paused, still listening. “You have to trust them to fulfill their destiny.”
“Many thanks to you, Grandmama Maddie,” Emmalin said softly, leaning her head against Alasdair’s shoulder. “I worry so for Ailith after what happened to her.”
“Aunt Aline says she won’t be given anything she can’t handle.” Sandor waved once toward the trees in a small, easy gesture, the way you wave to someone you see every day. “And Grandmama says the bairns need her. They’re leaving now.”
Alasdair watched the tree line for another moment after Sandor’s arm dropped, just in case. Then he exhaled and pulled Dyna into his side, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Forgive me for my foolishness. You’ve always been the best for me, cousin.”
Dyna turned to stare at the door. “I’m hurting too. Ailith is family too, and I love them both.”
Sandor bellowed, “Oh!”
“What?” Dyna and Alasdair barked together.
“Grandda just yelled at Gruin. And Aunt Gwyneth has her bow pointed at his neck. He doesn’t realize they’re ghosts.”
“He doesn’t?”
“Nay. They’re keeping him back. Even though they can’t really hurt him.”
“Why?” Emmalin asked. “What happened?”
“He tried to touch Ailith.”
No one spoke for a moment.
“What’s he doing now?” Alasdair managed.
“Grandda is staying there. He said he’s not leaving until John and Ailith take their leave so they better not hurt his grandbairns.”
Edan stepped forward, his voice tight. “Can you see any bairns near them?”
Sandor shook his head. “Not near them. The bairns are still in cages.”
Alasdair looked at the door that had swallowed his children and said nothing more. There was nothing left to say. He stood beside his wife with his arm around her and watched and waited, because that was all that was left to him now.
Chapter Thirty
