Bella looked at Loki with tears in her eyes and said, “I cannot lift her, Loki. Please put her in my arms.”
Loki did as she asked, settling the wee lass on the covers in front of her. The lass’s green eyes looked up at her hopefully. Bella couldn’t believe how perfect she was.
“Mama?” She pointed to Bella’s chest. “Mama?”
“Aye, I’m your new mama, Ami. And this is your new papa and your brother Kenzie.”
Ami glanced at each of them in turn, as if taking her new family’s measure. “Kencie.”
“Aye, Kenzie.”
“You are accepting her, Bella? You’re sure she will not break your heart?” Loki asked. “Please don’t feel compelled to do this if you don’t want to.”
She shook her head, tears coming to her eyes again. “I’m sure she will break my heart someday when she marries, but not until then. She is perfect. Do you know what I wished to name our daughter? Abi. Abi and Ami. Now I understand.”
Loki gave her a strange look but said, “Good, because I wish I did. If you could understand what Kenzie and I have just been through, you’d be amazed. We have much to tell you, but it can wait.”
Bella cuddled the wee lassie against her. The bairn pointed to her one more time and said, “Mama,” then put her thumb back in her mouth. Bella kissed the top of Ami’s head as she snuggled against her.
“Did you meet the man with furs?” She’d hoped they would succeed, but it had seemed like such a stretch. It hurt her to see the people she loved tortured by the past. She’d do anything she could to protect Ami from having such troubles.
“We did,” Kenzie blurted out. “He’s the keeper of lost souls and he wants us to take over for him when he dies.”
Loki rolled his eyes in that way she loved—his normal reaction to Kenzie’s tendency to give away more information that he should. “We’ll explain it all later,” Loki said, “but he has the right of it. Bor is the man’s name. He wants us to take over for him when he passes.”
“We’re the misfits,” Kenzie said with a smile. “We’re almost all orphans now. And Fergus brought Davina back with him. They’re getting married. Lots of orphans live here.”
She smiled at the two of them, something she hadn’t done since they left. “I do love you two so. Thank you for believing in me enough to bring Ami home. Why don’t we take her down to meet everyone in the hall? We’ll never forget Abi, but I have room in my heart for another lassie, and I think you do, too, Loki.”
Loki helped her out of bed and found a night rail for her to wear, then carried Ami out of the chamber and across the balcony. Bella stopped halfway to the stairs and leaned over the railing. The cluster of people gathered by the hearth waited expectantly to hear what she had to say.
“Everyone, meet our new daughter, Ami.”
Ami pulled her thumb out of her mouth, pointed to Bella and said, “Mama.”
The entire hall erupted in a cheer.
Nay, Bella would never forget wee Abi, but the wee lass in her husband’s arms needed her. She leaned over and kissed the girl’s forehead before she said, “Please, let’s celebrate our new daughter, the many blessings we have, and the winter solstice.”
Then she looked at Kenzie and said, “We saved it just for you, lad.”
***
A flurry of activity took place around them, but Loki remained focused on his wife and children. He settled Bella near the hearth with Ami on her lap, piled a warm plaid atop them, and then rushed upstairs to wake Lucas from his nap. Pride filled his heart as he introduced the lad to his new sister. Lucas touched her red hair and smiled.
Fergus brought Davina over to the fireplace and introduced her to Bella. “This is my wife-to-be, Davina. Her daughter’s name is Raina. I asked Loki if we could live in a hut in your bailey, but he has invited me to be his second. He said there is an open chamber upstairs we could have after we marry. I hope this is acceptable to you, my lady.”
“More than acceptable. I look forward to having both of you stay in the keep. I do get lonely sometimes when Loki is traveling with the Grants.”
“I’ll be traveling with him, so when we go, neither of you will be alone,” Fergus squeezed Davina’s shoulders. “Davina may have the upstairs chamber until we wed. I’ll sleep with the warriors. And the wee ones will be playmates.”
A tear caught in his eye as he thought about the daughter he and Bella had lost. Abi was a most beautiful name. What would she have been like? Would she have looked like him or Bella? He strode across his land, still unable to understand the workings of the world—why one child had been given to him and another taken away. Would aught have happened differently if he had not left for Ayr? Bella seemed truly happy to accept wee Ami into their family, but had he agreed to do something that would prove to be too much for him and his clan? For his wife?
Uncle Alex came up behind him, clasping his shoulder. “My sympathies on the loss of your bairn, Loki.”
He peered up at his uncle and nodded. “The loss is painful, Uncle, and I know we will always grieve her.” His uncle was known for his wisdom, so he decided to ask for his opinion. “My laird, I was asked to assist someone…” He struggled for the right words, but he knew his uncle would allow him the time to form his thoughts. All he could think of was a small hut near Edinburgh full of wee ones without parents. “I met a man who provides care for orphans. He’s dying and asked me if I would take over his life’s mission, to seek out and care for the orphans in our land. Bring them home to Castle Curanta.”
Uncle Alex thought for a moment and said, “I can’t think of a better person to take over that task. What say you?”
“I agreed, but I said I would need your support and Bella’s.”
“Is this the man from your dreams? The one with the furs?”
“Aye. I’m having trouble believing all that transpired. If I hadn’t been there, seen how closely the man matched my vision…”
“May I give a word of advice?”
“I would value it.” More than anything, he needed someone to convince him he was not losing his mind.
“I don’t ever say ‘why me’ anymore. Fate can be a wondrous facet of life if you look at it as an opportunity instead of always questioning everything. You were chosen for this calling for a reason.” He clasped Loki’s shoulder again. “We will support you completely when the time comes. Just tell me whatever you need.”
They were interrupted by shouts from the gates. Finlay and Kyla had arrived to join the group. Once they greeted them, Alex said, “Shall we return, Loki? Are you ready? Kyla has a surprise coming to her.”
Once inside, Kyla immediately rushed over to hug Davina. Loki returned to Bella’s side, squeezing her hand as he took a seat on a stool nearby. The reunion put tears in both of their eyes, and it was Davina who brought Kyla over to offer her condolences to Bella and greet Ami.
“Did you think your brother would marry so soon?” Loki asked Finlay.
“Nay, indeed!” Finlay said. “But I’m happy for him. I hope it works for them.”
About two hours later, Maddie and Celestina had set up a large banquet table in the middle of the hall, decorated with greens and ribbons, covered with trays of venison and goose, meat pies, a large pot of lamb stew, brown breads made from rye, barley stew, and mounds of peas and beans. There were also several sweet tarts stuffed with blackberries and cherries.
Loki sat next to Bella and Ami at one of the trestle tables while Kenzie moved back and forth to the door, thrilled with each new arrival. Word had traveled back at Clan Grant, so many had come along to meet wee Ami and celebrate the winter solstice.
Kenzie dashed around the hall, telling anyone who would listen about Father Bor and the orphans. Every once in a while, he would run back toward his parents. “This is just how I wanted it. ‘Tis better than having the solstice celebration at the Grants. Do you not agree, Papa?”
After they ate their fill, Loki said, “Kenzie, why don’t you find your sack and hand out your packages.”
More than pleased to do as his sire asked, Kenzie ran upstairs to grab the enormous sack. When he emerged with it, he announced, “Father Bor explained how he liked to choose a special gift for each orphan and give it out on one eve, the winter solstice. So Papa and I traveled to Edinburgh to choose a gift for everyone.”
He made his way around the hall, handing each person a package chosen especially for them. Once he finished, he stood in the middle and said, “Now open them.”
He moved back to stand next to his mother to watch her open her gift, declaring, “Look how thick they are, Mama. They’ll keep your feet warm this winter.”
Bella squealed and said, “I love them. They’re perfect.” Then she gave him a big hug.
Loki watched the delight on Kenzie’s face as he did his best to watch everyone open their gifts: Uncle Alex and Aunt Maddie’s tapestry, Aunt Caralyn’s special satchel for her healing tools, Uncle Robbie’s new dagger, ribbons for Kyla and Gracie, and so on.
When everyone was finished, he stood in the hall and enjoyed his hugs of thanks from everyone. While the others pitched in to help clean up, Kenzie quietly made his way over to his Grandmama. He said, “Now I understand what you meant about giving and receiving love. Giving the gifts was more fun than getting gifts ever is. I hope we can do it again next winter solstice, Grandmama.”
“Of course, we will. But are you not upset that you did not receive a gift from anyone?”
He thought about that for a moment and replied, “Nay, ‘twas more fun choosing the gifts with Papa.” He glanced up at Loki, who smiled down at him. But the lad’s smile quickly turned to a frown. “Papa, I did not get you a gift.”
Loki knelt down in front of him. “Think on it, lad. Did we not both receive a few gifts this solstice?”
Kenzie glanced around the great hall and nodded, “Aye, wee Ami and Bor and Fergus and Davina. We are growing, just like you hoped.”
Once the hall was clean, the group gathered together near the hearth, moving stools and chairs close by so all of the guests could sit together.
Loki asked for everyone’s attention and said, “I finally found out the answer to a question that’s bothered me for some time, and I wished to share this with all of you. I’ve often wondered why I am called Loki instead of Lucas, the name my mother gave me. Father Bor was the one who found me in the woods after I’d been beaten and left to die. He took me to his cottage to help me heal. I would take my anger out on a certain tree, swinging an axe at it as many times as I could. Eventually, I knocked myself out in some way, which made me forget my history. I am the one who named myself Loki after the Norse god. When I came around, I claimed that I, Loki, would make Blackett and Hamish pay for what they’d done to me and to my mother. ‘Twas then I traveled to Ayr.”
“May I tell them the sad part of our journey, Papa?”
Loki gave him a long look, but then nodded. “Go ahead.”
“We stopped in Ayr, where Papa and I both lived in crates. There was a lad who had been living in our crates, but Father Bor found him and took him home because he was sick. The boy died. I understand now that my first mama and papa would never have wished for me to die out there. I know they are glad I was adopted.”
No one said a word until Celestina spoke. “Is anyone else aware of Norse mythology?”
“What is that?” Kenzie asked.
“I had to learn about the Norse, and they believe in an entire group of gods that lived many years ago. They say those gods brought the world to what it is today. Is anyone else familiar with their mythology?”
“What does mythology mean?” Kenzie asked.
“Mythology means the study of a group of gods who lived in their own world. In Norse mythology, there is a god named Loki, and we all know that he was considered the wee trickster.”
Brodie stood up and announced, “And Nicol and I can attest to the fact that he was a wee trickster when we met him in Ayr.” Laughter echoed through the group at this declaration. Loki couldn’t help but grin at his adoptive sire. “In fact, he played a few tricks on a couple of evil Norsemen, which is quite fitting, in my mind.”
Celestina continued, “Since no one else knows, allow me to explain what I recall. There is a god name Bor or Bors who was the father of Odin and others. Odin is considered to be the father of all knowledge, and he’s father to several other gods, Thor being one of them. He also brought the yule, or the celebration of the winter solstice, to the Norse.
“In the myths, Bor was married to a woman named Bestla.”
Kenzie jumped out of his chair. “That was her name. The old woman who took care of the orphans! She was Bestla.”
Loki almost jumped from his own chair. “Bor used to tell me tales of the gods, mostly about Thor and Loki. ‘Tis why I chose that name. Are you saying that you think Bor and Bestla are gods who came here for some purpose, Mama?”
“Did they ask you to do anything for them?”
“Aye, Bor wants us to take over his life purpose when he goes. He asked if we’d travel to Ayr and Edinburgh at least once a year and bring homeless urchins back to Castle Curanta. To make a home for all the wee ones who don’t have families.”
Aunt Maddie clutched Uncle Alex’s hand. “Oh my, Loki. Many would not believe all you’ve said, but I do. For my part, I will declare winter solstice to be a time of merriment and gift giving for our clan. Of course, I will assist you with the wee ones at any time.
“My mother was from an area near London, and she believed in the Christian winter holiday of Christmas. ‘Tis why we have the decorations and feasting. Now ‘tis time to make it an even more special celebration.”
Kenzie jumped up and down. “Guess what, Papa? I had another dream last night. I almost forgot it, but Grandmama just reminded me. ‘Twas my true papa. He said he was proud of me, and I could love you all forever.”
Alex raised his glass and said, “Here’s to the yule, for the Norse, the English, and the Scots. To Bor and Bestla and Loki and Kenzie. And to two wee lassies. Abi, whom we’ll all meet again someday, and wee Ami, who has found her new home. We’ll celebrate together.”
Celestina climbed out of her chair and embraced Loki. “That just solidifies something I knew all along. You are a verra special man, Loki Grant. All in the land know it.”
The End