“You’ve been ill?” Elysia asked, stepping toward the woman.
Dugan went to his mum’s side. “More like starving. That’s why I left her, to try and find food.”
“Your clan lets your mum starve?” Odran questioned with a scowl.
Dugan squared his shoulders, his skinny chest puffing out again. “We have no clan.”
“You are welcome here,” Elysia offered without hesitation.
“Did you have a clan?” Odran asked.
Elysia saw suspicion in her husband’s eyes and how Dugan took a protective step in front of his mum. There was no way she would see Dugan and his mum turned away.
Rory assisted the woman to step around her son. “Lord Odran, you should know that I have not been welcome at any clan before you decide to allow me and my son to remain here.”
“Berdina is a good woman,” Rory said in her defense.
“How long have you known her?” Odran asked with a direct glance at Rory.
“Long enough to know she’s a good woman,” Rory said, a defiant spark in his eyes.
“Why have you been turned away from other clans, Berdina?” Odran asked.
“I was the healer for the Clan MacClaren and when I failed to save the life of Lord Rannick’s third wife, I was cast out of the clan. No one dared offer me a home, fearful I would bring the vengeance of the curse down on them.”
“I thought you looked familiar,” Odran said.
“Aye, we met once when you visited with Lord Rannick,” Berdina said. “Though, I was not as thin as I am now.”
“My wife is right. You are welcome here. We could use a healer to help my wife and give her time to do her stitching she so enjoys,” Odran said with a quick smile to his wife.
Berdina’s smile was filled with relief. “I would be honored to help your wife with the healing of your clan.”
“First, you need to rest, eat, and grow strong,” Elysia said. “I will see that a cottage is made ready for you and your son.”
“See, Dugan and I both told you she was a kind woman,” Rory said to Berdina.
“Come to the keep and eat while a cottage is prepared for you,” Elysia said. Odran walked with her a few feet ahead, Berdina’s steps slow and neither her son nor Rory leaving her side.
“I know your thoughts, wife,” Odran said, keeping his voice between them.
“She is familiar with the Clan MacClaren and Rannick. How can I not ask her about him? It will at least let me know what my sister faces. Unless you want to tell me about him since you’ve visited with him, something you failed to tell me.”
“And burden you with more worries?”
Her brow shot up. “So you admit the news would burden me?”
Odran groaned low. “We will discuss this when we’re alone.”
“First, you will answer one question,” she said and didn’t wait for his reply. “Would Rannick harm my sister?” That he hesitated to answer frightened her and when his reply came, his sharp order only added to her worry.
“We will discuss this later.”
Elysia kept silent, for her husband was now not the only one she could ask about the cursed lord.
Talk went on easily around the table once seated in the Great Hall, though any talk of Lord Rannick was avoided. Rory let Elysia know that all was going well at Clan Loudon and miracles of all miracles Clyde was married to a woman he well-deserved. She ruled him with an iron fist. Kevin and Brit were doing well, their daughter Lenis growing bigger by the day. And all were happy with Chieftain Neil as their new leader, though many talked of Chieftain Emory’s bravery.
Finch entered the Great Hall with Crissa on his arm.
“I could not stay abed any longer,” Crissa said.
“Growing tired of being abed is a good sign that you are healing,” Elysia said and pointed to the table to her left, no room at the table where she sat. “Join us.”
The couple took a seat. Food and drink were placed on their table and they were all soon engaged in conversation.
Willa wandered in with her blackthorn stick. “I heard new people had arrived. I want to make certain no evil is attached to them.” She waved the stick.
“Put the stick down, Seanmhair,” Stiles ordered, following in shortly after her. “My apologies, my lord.”
“Apologizes for what?” Willa snapped and waved the stick again. “I protect the clan.”
Stiles shook his head.
“Join us, Willa, and meet friends of mine,” Elysia said and pointed to those at her table.
“If they are friends of yours, they must be good people,” Willa said and sat with Finch and Crissa, keeping her stick close by.
Stiles left with a nod to Odran, his duties calling him.
Cadell entered the room shortly after Stiles’ departure. “Well, well, a gathering.” He didn’t wait to be invited as he joined Finch, Crissa, and Willa, who eyed him suspiciously.