“Aye, they did—and most headed straight back for that island. Safe waters. That’s what the man said. Sea pirates are afraid to sail within sight of that island. Those that do usually don’t sail away again.”

Safe waters. They needed safe waters. Could they find food and fresh water on the island? Could they find any help against the Black Coats?

He looked up at the sky sliding toward twilight. There were still birds riding the air currents. Were they real birds, or were the Fae already watching them? If there were Fae on Selkie Island, did they know the Fae on Ronat Isle?

Safe waters. They needed safe waters.

“We’ll adjust our course,” Mihail said. “We’ll head for that island. If the Fae do live there, maybe they’ll help us.” Maybe.

Right now, it gave him a grain of hope—and a grain was more than he’d had an hour ago.

Chapter 27

waxing moon

Despair. Fear. Anger. Determination.

As Liam stood in front of his family’s home and watched Varden gallop away, those emotions churned inside him, a messy stew of feelings. He turned and hurried back to where Donovan waited near the stables with the horses and guards. If Varden had shown up a few minutes later, they would have already left to check the tenant farms. Of course, one of the huntsmen would have found them, but the delay would have cost them all.

Maybe it wouldn’t make any difference in the end, considering what Varden had just told him.

As he closed the distance to where Donovan waited, anger rose to the surface, coating the fear.

“Mother’s tits, Donovan,” Liam said, his voice sharp. “Why are you still here?”

Donovan gave him a mild look. “I was waiting for you. Didn’t seem right to visit your tenants without you.”

“That’s right,” Liam panted. Muscle and bone clamped around his lungs and wouldn’t let him draw a full breath. “They’re my tenants. This is my land. You should have gone home days ago. Why didn’t you go home?” Despair churned up through the anger.

“Gwenn insists there’s something she needs to do here and won’t leave. And I won’t go without Gwenn.” Donovan stiffened. “What’s wrong, Liam? What did Varden tell you?”

Liam rubbed his hands over his face. “Armed men, marching this way. Three hundred men. Maybe more. Not a whole army…” But enough. More than enough. “Varden has sent one of his men back to Tir Alainn to warn the Fae…and to get any other Fae at the Clan house who have any skill with weapons. He sent another man to Squire Thurston’s. Thurston’s closer to the village. He’ll have time to get the villagers assembled in case…”

“In case?” Donovan narrowed his eyes. “Where are those men heading, Liam?”