Page 17 of The Best of Brenna Grant

“We need to move on, lad,” Logan yelled.

“Aye,” he answered. He then turned his gaze back to the urchin. “I hope you meet Lucky Loki someday.”

His eyes lit up. “Or mayhap Laird Alexander Grant will adopt me, too.”

“What’s your name?” Loki asked.

“Kenzie. Sometimes I call myself Lucky Kenzie, but no one else will. Will ye?”

“Aye, Lucky Kenzie it is. Where are your parents?”

“They both died of the fever, so I came to the burgh.”

Loki turned away and headed back to the street, but halfway there, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “You’re wrong, lad.”

“About what?” Kenzie gave him a puzzled look, clearly believing he knew all.

“Alex Grant did not adopt him. His brother Brodie did.” He tossed the lad a silver coin, enough to buy him food for a couple of days.

The lad caught it and yelled, “My thanks,” his eyes lighting up.

Chapter Six

Loki finally gets a name on his search for his real sire.

Later, once the music got underway, they moved toward the outside of the hall. Just as Loki had predicted, they had only taken two steps into the passageway when high-pitched giggles sounded behind them. Sure enough, Tessa came toward him, her arm intertwined with her friend’s.

Loki whirled around and flashed a grin at the ladies, stopping them both in their tracks. “Evening, Lady Tessa. Have you met my friend, Torrian?”

Tessa gave Torrian a lingering look and then sidled up to him and rubbed her body against his. In a husky voice, just loud enough for Loki to hear, she whispered, “Nay, we have not met, but I’d sure like to get to know him better. This is my friend, Dona.”

Loki bowed to Dona. “Good eve to you, lass.” Giggling and lowering her dark lashes, she slipped her hand around Loki’s elbow.

Tessa grabbed Torrian’s arm and said, “Follow me.” She led them through the torch-lit maze to a small chamber.

Just as Loki was about to step into the chamber, he recognized the man he’d seen earlier. He was headed directly toward them, so Loki motioned to Torrian. “Go on in, I’ll be right there.” Loki and Torrian had discussed how to go about ferreting information from the lasses, but he did not trust the man with the eye patch. Addressing Dona, he said, “I’ll return in a moment.” He hurried down the corridor, but suddenly the man with the patch increased his pace. Loki caught up with him, but the two collided, and the man fell to the floor. He cursed fluently, and when Loki offered him a helping hand, he shrugged it off and headed back toward the great hall.

Loki shouted, “My apologies.” Patch man ignored him. Loki’s gaze searched his clothing for any indication of who he was or what he was about. Giving up, he hurried back to Dona’s side and held the door for her to enter the chamber. Inside, there were two small pallets and a small table surrounded by four chairs in front of the hearth. Goblets of wine sat atop the table. Torrian and Tessa had already started to drink wine.

Tessa said, “This is much better than the ale. You should try it.” She glanced at Loki and fluttered her eyelashes, implying that her flirtation with his friend had changed nothing between them.

Loki sat on the corner of the table. “Nay, mayhap in a few minutes. Tell me about Ayr. We have not been here in a while. We’re from the Highlands.”

“What do you wish to know?” Tessa asked.

“Who’s the most powerful man in the area, besides the king?”

“I do not know. Why do you ask?” Tessa answered, a subtle movement in her lower jaw.

Loki was quite sure Tessa did not like the direction of the conversation, but he didn’t allow her body language to stop him. If anything, it made him more intrigued. “Is there a certain earl or viscount that is the primary vassal to the king?”

“Alexander of Dundonald is still his favorite, but there are others.” Tessa took a sip of her wine, a suspicious look in her eyes.

Loki tired of her game, for he knew it was a game. He decided to move things along. “Just wondering who would be powerful enough to steal the king’s jewels.”

“What do you know about the jewels?” Dona asked, her back straightening.

“I know naught. I heard the missing jewels mentioned in the great hall. As I explained, we just got here from the Highlands. Do you know what happened to them?” Loki caught the glance exchanged by Dona and Tessa, and a sour feeling crept into his gut.