pronouncing the words very carefully — it was clear he took a special interest in this subject. “He’s in charge if Donal dies in a fight!”
“Gracious,” Helen said thoughtfully, trying to assure Eamon she was listening even as she tried to keep abreast of what Niall was doing. He’d stepped up to the table, and she shuffled a little closer, wanting to hear the contents of the report.
“Not that Donal would ever lose a fight,” Eamon was telling her seriously. “He’s the best sword fighter in the whole world, and so’s his wife. For now,” he added. “One day I’ll beat both of them.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle at the mental image of the imperious Eamon challenging the huge blond man at the table to a sword fight. “I bet you will.”
“Niall, it’s good to see you,” Donal said, rising to his feet. He was almost as tall as Niall, she realized with surprise — these Scottish men certainly were huge. Picturing the pint-sized Anna at Donal’s side made a grin spread across her face. They were certainly quite the couple.
“Laird Donal. I’ve unfortunate news.”
“Is that so?” He gestured for Niall to take a seat at the table — but then his eyes fell on Helen and Eamon. “Ah! This must be the famous Helen I’ve been hearing so much about.”
“And me! I’m Eamon!”
“Hush, lad,” Niall said quickly, his eyes flicking to Donal — but the Laird was laughing, his gray eyes sparkling.
“Forgive me, Eamon. It’s a pleasure to see you.”
Clearly a little taken aback, the usually confident Eamon hid his face in Helen’s shoulder. She grinned, moving forward at Donal’s invitation. “Laird Donal,” she said, attempting a curtsy like the ones she’d seen the servants make. “I’m glad to meet you, finally, to thank you for your hospitality in person.”
“Of course,” Donal said, inclining his head. “Please, join us. Castle Urquhart is full of women from the future, it seems — and every single one of them a valued addition to our numbers. You’re more than welcome. Are you adjusting well? Anna tells me you’re fitting in well.”
“I think so,” she said, smiling.
“Made a few friends, I see,” the man Eamon had called Malcolm broke in, a mischievous smile on his face. This was Nancy’s husband, she remembered.
“She’s been a great help keeping this little rapscallion in check,” Niall said, an amused smile dancing across his face. “One of her many talents. But I’ve somber news, I’m afraid. This afternoon, we were out sailing when we chanced upon a raft. It was abandoned, empty” he paused and lowered his voice, so Eamon couldn’t hear, and Helen put her hand over his ear to help muffle Niall’s words, “— and stained with blood. And it wasn’t the first. A week ago, Helen here spotted a couple of rafts washed ashore. One of those, too, had blood on it. I’m concerned something’s broken through the Burgh and is preying on fishermen.”
“The Monster ought to have caught it, surely,” Donal said with a frown. “We’d best check in with Maggie. Malcolm, do you mind making a trip later?”
“Aye, I’ll go now,” the man said immediately, rising to his feet. “If this thing’s been hunting for a week, we’d best act quickly.”
“And we’ll double the watch on the Loch for the next few nights. See to it, Brendan?”
“Aye, I’ll go now,” Brendan said, giving Helen a nod as he rose and headed out.
Donal looked troubled.
“Niall, you spend more time with the fishermen than I do. Anyone missing lately?”
“Not that I’ve heard of,” Niall said solemnly, “but there are plenty of men I don’t see for weeks on end at the best of times. It’s possible some are missing as we speak.”
“Are you able to make some enquiries? If we’ve lost villagers…”
“Aye, I’ll ask around.”
“Try to keep it casual,” Donal said. “Best to avoid panicking the villagers. You know how rumors spread around here.”
“Aye, I’ll figure something out. Some way of asking …”
“I can help,” Helen said quickly, shifting Eamon a little on her lap as he wriggled. “I’ve got a knack for asking casual questions that get a lot of information back.”
“Helen was an investigator in her time,” Niall explained to Donal.
She smiled a little at the tone of pride in his voice. It was almost as though he was bragging about her. An odd feeling… but a very pleasant one.
“Oh, aye? A little like Elena?”
“A little,” she said cautiously, not sure whether it was appropriate to get into the distinctions between a