Page 20 of The Best of Brenna Grant

Chapter Twenty

Loki goes back for Kenzie and invites him to join Clan Grant.

Moving back through Doongait and on to Woodgait, Loki slowed his horse. Brodie gave him a look of curiosity, which was not a surprise—Loki had not told him aught about Kenzie. As soon as he neared the inn, he shouted, “Kenzie!”

The young lad shot out from behind the building, his eyes alight with excitement. “You came back for me?”

A surprised look filled Brodie’s face, followed by a small grin as he took in the young lad in front of him. Loki wondered if his sire remembered this spot.

Loki replied, “I did come back for you. Kenzie, this is my sire, Brodie Grant.”

Brodie gave each of them a weighing look. “Seems I’ve seen someone like this before,” he finally said.

Kenzie jumped up and down. “Aye, I live where Lucky Loki lived, so someday I’ll be lucky, too.”

Brodie returned his gaze to his son, curious to see what would happen next.

“Kenzie, have you seen the wee lass you found before?”

“Bella? Aye, Blackett’s men have her at the castle,” he said with a scowl. “I tried to tell the sheriff, but he would not listen to me. She could be hurt. I don’t like the earl. He and his men are mean. And I can help you find her. I sneaked behind them one day, so I saw where the secret tunnel to the castle is hidden.”

Loki’s mouth curved, for this was just the discovery he’d been hoping to make. “How do you know she’s there?”

“Because Blackett’s second came through to hire a bunch of men to guard his castle. He also hired the best archer in England to kill someone. Never said who, but they say he’s the best.” His nose scrunched up. “I heard Ramsay’s wife is the best of the Scots.”

“You heard right, now continue. What else did you hear about Blackett?”

“The second said Blackett would be attacked soon and he needed help. He promised a lot of coin, so some Lowlanders went with him. But some that left came back. I overheard them talking. They said Blackett was holding someone’s wife at his keep, and he would bring all the Highlands down on them. ‘Tis why they left. They did not wish to fight the savage Highlanders from way up north. Are you a savage? You do not look like a savage.” He peered at them with such a serious expression it almost made Loki choke.

Holding a hand down to the laddie, Loki said, “Do you wish to travel with me? I’m not riding in to an easy situation, but I could use your help. We are always looking for someone who can uncover information for us without raising suspicion.” He wouldn’t discuss it with his sire now, but Kenzie was going home with him to Grant land. He could live with him and Bella, or wherever he wished to live. They’d make it work somehow. He couldn’t desert the lad again, not when the cold winter was about to bear down on him.

Brodie cocked his brow at Loki. “Like you did with me,” Loki glanced at his sire, speaking only loud enough for him to hear.

Brodie nodded. “Suits me if it suits you. He seems like a resourceful lad.”

“I’m coming,” Kenzie yelled out, “but let me hide some things first so no one steals from me.” He tore back behind the building, and Loki saw him dash into the trees.

Loki waited until the laddie was out of hearing distance, then explained to his sire. “He found Bella when she was about to fall from her horse from cold and exhaustion. He wrapped her in plaids, then moved her in the back before he came to find me.”

Brodie nodded. “That explains everything.”

Loki hung his head as he whispered, “He also found a pan with the initials ‘LL’ inscribed with a knife in the middle of the bottom.”

Kenzie raced toward them, only a plaid in his hand.

“Do you have anything else of importance, lad?” Brodie asked, an unreadable expression on his face.

The laddie gazed up at Brodie Grant, hesitant to answer for some reason. “Aye, my lord.”

“What is it?” Brodie asked, in a quiet yet stern voice with which Loki was quite familiar.

“Uhhh…”

“Speak up, lad.”

Kenzie swallowed and said, “My mama sewed me a fabric puppy before she died.”

“Then you better get something that important. We won’t be coming back.”