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‘That is good I…’
‘Sister,’ bellowed Cormac, dragging her to him and kissing both her cheeks. ‘It is good to see you, Morna,’ he said, grabbing her arms in a vice-like grip. I am glad you are back with us, for I have missed you, more than I can say. You look good, you filled out a bit,’ he smiled.
‘And you smell like a rotten, old boar, Cormac.’
‘I do indeed. No matter, Ravenna can bathe me and rub my aching muscles and feed me, until I burst.’ He winked at his wife whose face reddened.
Ravenna suddenly handed her daughter to Morna, grabbed Cormac’s hand and led him inside, away from everybody. Morna had the distinct feeling that she did not care how dirty Cormac was and that they may not see the two of them for some time.
Morna took hold of her nephew’s hand. ‘I must get your uncle his supper, and you must go and find Owen.’
‘He went for a walk with Beigis along the river,’ said Ross.
‘Of course, he did. Go now, quickly and find him.’
‘Did you make peace with Owen?’ asked Lyall with a frown.
‘Aye, and he is happy now. Much has changed since you went to war, Lyall. How long are you staying?’
‘A night or two, and then I am off back to Corryvreckan. I have a wife and son I am yearning to see.’
‘I should like to come with you. It is an age since I saw Giselle. I can help her with the bairn.’
‘Should you not stay here, in case Will comes to fetch you?’
‘No.’ Morna bit her lip. ‘Now am I welcome at Corryvreckan, or not?’
‘Aye, so long as you don’t make trouble.’
‘Since when did I do that?’
‘Always, little sister, always.’
They went inside, arm in arm, and Morna felt the pounding of her heart subside a little. They were all safe, her brothers and Will, but that did not wipe away these last weeks. It had been torture - the sleepless nights fearing the worst, the nightmares where these men she loved got cut down, the dread that gripped her at every rider coming to Beharra with news of the siege. She still felt sick at the thought of it all. Love just wasn’t worth it, was it?’
***
The next morning Ravenna rose late and declared that Drostan had returned in the night and was ‘lurking about the place.’ Morna found him, sitting on the roof of the barn, chewing on a blade of grass and staring down into the yard where Owen was play-fighting with wooden swords with Beigis’ children. Morna had often climbed up there herself, by hoisting herself up on the water barrel and skimming up the footholds afforded by the rough timber. She was gratified she could still do it, once she managed to scramble up and pick her way across the roof to Drostan.
He gave her a glance when he spotted her, swallowed hard, and looked away as she hunkered down beside him. He did not seem inclined to speak to her so, for a while, they sat tensely to the sound of the children shrieking and Owen and Beigis laughing below.’
‘Look at her. How graceful and bonnie she is,’ Drostan said, in a rush.
‘Yes, she is.’
‘See how that Owen fellow fawns all over her. He seems well-smitten, and her head is turned, of course.’ He finally looked at her. ‘Wasn’t Owen betrothed to you once?’
It was meant as a barb, and it felt like it. ‘Don’t be spiteful, Drostan, it does not suit you.’
‘Why not? I came here to get help for you. Do I get any thanks for it? Do you seek me out to give me thanks for it, no!’
‘Because I could not find you! Where have you been?’
‘Enjoying myself, visiting the clans hereabouts. Cormac has declared I did him a great service, bringing word of your captivity, so his allies treat me as an honoured guest.’
‘Your coming to Beharra almost started a war between your clan and mine, and you did it more out of hate for Will than concern for me, and you know it.’
‘Aye, you are right, I suppose, as always.’
