AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The girls’ eyes instantly grew wide. “Is it friendly?” Dorothea asked, her eyes going back and forth between the waters below and Sarah.
Sarah nodded. “As far as I can tell, it is, and rather protective of the people who live on the islands.”
Augusta exhaled a deep breath. “That is good because Keir and Duncan live on the islands, do they not? Does that mean the ship will be safe from the serpent?”
“Yes, if I did not believe it to be so, we would not be on it,” Sarah assured the girls, suddenly fearful that she might have frightened them with her story.
“How do you know about the serpent?” Dorothea inquired, both hands now clammed upon the railing, her green eyes fixed upon the churning waters. “Have you ever seen it?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, I’ve never seen it. It was Keir who told me the story. It is one that has been handed down through generations of his clan. If you want to know more, you need to ask him.”
“Aye, ’tis an old story,” Duncan suddenly spoke out from behind her, and Sarah all but flinched.
Sarah raised her chin and looked up at Duncan, but when their eyes met, she quickly glanced away, her arms tightening around Loki. Despite Duncan’s friendly nature, Sarah could not shake that last bit of unease she felt in his presence. Perhaps it was the way he looked at her, trying to get to the root of who she was; or, perhaps even, who she was to his brother.
Of course, it was only natural for Keir’s family to wish to know her; yet Sarah could not shake the feeling that they would find her wanting. People always had. Why should this be any different?
“Did you ever see it?” Augusta inquired tentatively; her blue eyes wide as she peeked up at Keir’s brother. “The sea serpent, have you ever seen it?”
Duncan grinned at her, then braced his large hands upon the railing, leaning forward to look down into the endless sea. “Well, of that I canna be certain.” His gaze turned left and then right, moving from Augusta to Dorothea. Both girls were hanging on every word. “Yet I’ve seen the shimmer of scales in the water, green and blue like the waves themselves. I’ve seen enemy ships tipped over by massive waves and our own make it through terrible storms without a scratch.” He lifted his gaze to the horizon, a contemplative expression upon his face. “Aye,” he finally said, a deep breath rushing from his lungs, “I’ve seen it.” He straightened, then looked at the girls, who were still staring up at him wide-eyed. “If ye watch the sea carefully, ye might as well.”
Absolutely mesmerized, the girls stood motionless. Then, they abruptly spun around and darted away toward the front of the ship. Their little fingers curled around the railing, and they peered into the depths below, in search of glimmering scales.
Duncan laughed, something almost wistful upon his face. “Aye, there’s nothing like the hearts of children.” He sighed again; his gaze fixed upon Sarah.
For a moment, Sarah almost cringed, her arms tightening upon Loki.
Duncan studied her intently, and Sarah felt like he could read her thoughts in the way his eyes assessed her—it was something Keir always had the uncanny ability to do. “Ye needna fear me, lass,” Duncan murmured gently. “I might look like a giant.” The hint of a smile teased his lips. “But I promise ye I have never gobbled up a child for breakfast. Not one.” He winked at her.
A deep breath rushed from Sarah’s lungs, and she smiled. “That is good to know,” she said around the lump still lodged in her throat. For a moment, she felt herself reminded of those first few days with Keir when she had barely spoken a word or two.
“How do ye come to know my brother?” Duncan asked with a directness that stole the air from Sarah’s lungs. Again, his gaze touched upon the small braids upon her temple. Sarah had noticed it before, and she had wondered what conclusions he might draw. “Clearly, ye know him well.”
Once again, Sarah’s muscles tensed, and her arms wrapped around Loki a little tighter. The feline instantly shifted his gaze toward Duncan, his amber eyes studying the giant. He spat a warning hiss and growled menacingly.
Of course, far from intimidated by Loki’s threat, Duncan grinned at him. “Oh, what an adorable wee kitty!” He reached out one of his large hands and patted Loki on the head.
Loki, in turn, clearly did not care for such treatment. His eyes narrowed further, and a low growl escaped from his throat as he lifted his paw and struck Duncan’s hand.
Unimpressed, Duncan still grinned. “Aye, ye protect her.” Then his gaze shifted to Sarah. “Ye’re fortunate to have such a loyal friend.”
Sarah nodded, well-aware of the expectant expression upon Duncan’s face. He had asked a question, and he was still waiting for its answer. “Well, I… that is to say, Keir…” Every clear thought eluded Sarah as she worried how to put into words what had happened these past few months. Almost desperately, she longed to be accepted by Keir’s family, and yet she was certain that they could not help but disapprove of her. After all, who was she? Sarah doubted that Keir’s family cared in any way that she was the daughter of a baron. And even if they did, her father was a disgraced baron, after all; one who had gambled away his fortune and plunged his family into ruin. There was no honor there, nothing that would recommend her family. Indeed, they stood as paupers before Clan MacKinnear, begging them for help. Was that not precisely why they were here?
The sound of footsteps made Sarah and Duncan turn, and Sarah sighed in relief when she found Keir approaching. His watchful gaze moved back and forth between her and his brother, and she could tell that he understood what had happened here.
As always, as he had done countless times before, Keir did not hesitate to stand by her side, quite literally this time. He met his brother’s gaze, then clasped a good-natured hand upon Duncan’s shoulder. “I can see that ye have questions, Brother; however, I believe ’tis fair to say that everyone will ask the same questions, and I must admit I dunna relish the thought of repeating myself countless times.” Duncan chuckled. “Therefore, I would like to postpone any questions ye might have until we’re all gathered together. I promise ye that I shall explain everything. Agreed?”
Duncan nodded. “Agreed, Brother.” He then mimicked Keir, reaching out his right hand and clasping his shoulder in a gesture of affection. “’Tis good to have ye back. ’Tis been a long time, and we missed ye.” Sarah saw Duncan’s hand momentarily tighten upon Keir’s shoulder. “There must’ve been a truly persuasive reason for ye to stay away as long as ye have.” He winked, then laughed his usual booming laugh and strode away, his attention shifting to the ship and the remaining journey ahead.
Seeing Keir smile as he looked at his brother made Sarah think of the very moment she had seen Kate again after years of distance. For Keir and Duncan, it had not been years; and yet they, too, had been apart for longer than ever before. “Only when we see them again,” Sarah murmured, “do we realize how much we missed them.”
Turning toward her, Keir sighed, then nodded. “Aye, ye might be right, lass.” His eyes found hers, and he placed his hands upon her shoulders. “How are ye? Tell me honestly.”
For a moment, Sarah closed her eyes. “I’m excited, but I’m also nervous.”
Keir nodded knowingly.
“If you know,” Sarah asked with a nervous chuckle, “then why do you ask?”
