Page 24 of Wolf Alliance
“All right. Then things are going to change.”
Etta smiled. “You have to mate the lord, Accalia.”
Wanting to do what was right for everyone, Accalia patted her shoulder. “We would have to love each other first.” Then she stalked toward the boys, and their eyes widened. They shared looks and Hendrie glanced at the side as if planning to make his escape.
When she joined them, she said, “What chores do you do around here?” She knew busy hands kept them out of mischief. Even when she was a girl, if she didn’t have anything to do, she got herself in trouble.
Thorfinn tilted his head as he looked up at her in an arrogant way. “We are the chief’s sons.”
“Aye, which means you should show all you can do to prove you are worthy of being the chief’s sons.”
They looked at each other and frowned at her.
“The strongest, brightest of the wolves will take over once your da no longer leads the pack. Who will the wolves want to lead them then?” she asked.
Hendrie sincerely asked, “You?”
She smiled. “I’m thinking of the distant future—a young person grown.”
“Me,” Thorfinn said with conviction.
“Nay. The person who wins his clan’s heart, protects them when they need his leadership, and proves to them how competent he is. Not someone who shies away from work. Who plays pranks and misbehaves. But someone who proves he has what it takes to lead a pack. Not because he’s the pack leader’s son, but because he is worthy of the position and can do good by his people,” she said. “When we arrived, I saw that the fences were being mended, the south wall was being repaired, and the horses need to be exercised, groomed, and fed. These are worthy chores of a chief-to-be to do.”
“I dinna think they will let us work on the wall or the fences,” Hendrie said.
“And we have stable hands who care for the horses,” Johnne said.
“But you see, you need to learn how to do all these things so that as a leader you can expect the same of your people. If they have never done it, you can teach them,” Accalia said. “You can learn skills from the blacksmith, the mason, the carpenter. It will make you more valuable. Or you can even fetch firewood or water. You can herd the sheep or goats, gather nuts and berries, and fish.”
“Fishing! We can do that. Will you fish with us? By boat on the loch?” Johnne asked.
“Aye, come with us. A guard escort will have to come with us, but we love to fish,” Hendrie said.
“Can you even fish?” Thorfinn asked, cocking his head, his hands on his hips, appearing to doubt that she could.
“Aye, but I need to speak to your da about it.”
“Because he is in charge of you?” Thorfinn asked.
“Because I am under his protection while I am here.”
“You are no’ leaving any time soon, are you?” Hendrie sounded disconcerted at the prospect, and it touched Accalia’s heart.
With reassurance, she patted his back. She meant to answer him, but Thorfinn did first.
“Nay.” Thorfinn waved his hand at Accalia. “Didna you see the way Da kissed her. He isna letting her leave here.” He made a sour face.
She assumed that he felt she was replacing their mother. Which she wasn’t, especially not if their mother hadn’t been loving toward them. “I’m no’ leaving any time soon. I will be right back after I ask Erik for permission to go fishing.”
Then she saw Logan and went to speak to him since she had no idea where Erik was. “Do you know where Erik is?”
“Seeing to the mending of the south wall. Do you need something?”
“Permission to take the boys fishing.”
Logan smiled. “They want you to fish with them?”
“Aye. Well, at least Hendrie and Johnne do.”