The Scot's Quest (Highland Swords Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  Els said, “Dyna had a dream that Grandsire is with Busby and DeFry and they’re going to see King Edward.”

  “Then get up,” he said, rising to his feet. “Alick, get your arse up,” he said, giving him a little shove. “We’re going after Grandsire. Dyna, wait for us.”

  “Nay, I’m not waiting. Follow me.”

  “You’re not going alone if I have to tie you down,” Alasdair growled. “We’ll awaken the others and go together.”

  “I’ll not be alone. Derric said he’d go with me. We’ll wait for you at the overlook.”

  Els waved them on and leaned down to awaken Joya. Two minutes later, they were all awake and mumbling. But she was already mounted, ready to leave. She shot Derric an impatient look as he mounted his horse.

  “Can you tell me exactly what happened in your dream?” he asked, a little breathless.

  Dyna nodded, secretly glad he was coming. She didn’t know how to explain the things she knew—or how she knew them. Sometimes it happened when awakened, and the knowledge was imparted in a dream. Sometimes it came to her from out of nowhere. Either way, she had learned not to ignore the waves of intuition. Even though she prayed she was wrong this time.

  They headed out, following the path that would take them down out of the mountains toward Grant land. After they’d traveled far enough that they could ride abreast, she allowed him next to her. “I know what he’s doing and why he’s on his own.”

  “Why?” Derric asked out of the corner of his mouth. He’d already dipped into his saddlebag for an oatcake and shoved half of it in his mouth.

  “He’s giving himself to King Edward in return for the king’s promise not to bother our clan anymore. It’s the same as what I saw in my other vision. After hearing Edward still wants his head on a pike, he’s decided to give him what he wants.”

  “Why the hell would he do something so foolish?” Derric bellowed out to the clouds above them.

  “Because he doesn’t want anyone else kidnapped because of him. Think on it. We nearly lost John and then Aunt Kyla. He planned this whole trip to get away from us.”

  They’d have to make their way down the mountain, but Dyna felt certain this was the same path Grandsire would take. He always stopped at his favorite place to look over the mountaintops.

  It was the view he loved best other than the view from his own parapets.

  ***

  Alex Grant caught up with the sheriffs. “Busby, I’ll speak with you privately.”

  Busby stepped away from the others. DeFry was busy skinning rabbits with the few guards they had with them, and Alex’s men stood back per his instructions.

  “Grant,” he murmured quietly, his beady eyes focused on him. “I’m surprised to see you traveling with so few guards. Not your usual way.”

  “You made a point to stop at my grandson’s castle and warn him that English garrisons were out looking for me. Is this not true?”

  “Aye, King Edward still wants your head on a pike, but he’s not about to search for you himself in the cold. He’s sending others for you.”

  “Know you any of the garrisons?” Alex asked, staring off into the distance.

  “I do. Why?”

  “I’m willing to deal with the Englishman in return for a promise.”

  Busby glanced over his shoulder, telling Alex that his guess was correct. Busby was not loyal to the Scottish. He was a traitor, unlike DeFry.

  “What promise?” The words were spoken in an undertone, Busby clearly hoping not to reveal himself to DeFry.

  “A promise to leave my clan be. I’ll turn myself over if King Edward pledges to leave the rest of my clan alone.”

  The traitor couldn’t hide his excitement over this revelation, and Alex wanted to reach over and choke him. But he kept quiet.

  “I’ll take you to the garrison, but without DeFry and without your warriors. Then you have my word your clan will be left alone.” The purse of his lips told Alex exactly what he needed to know.

  Busby was a lying traitor.

  But his character didn’t matter.

  “When?” Alex asked.

  “I’ll take you now.”

  “If you hurt my clan, you know you’ll pay dearly. Clan Grant has many allies. Do with me as you see fit, but my clan is to remain unharmed.”

  “Aye, I’ll see to it if you go with me now.” He glanced over his shoulder, still watching to see if DeFry was paying attention. “I have one man who will travel with us.”

  “Who?”

  “Hamish. He stands in the rear of the group, brushing my horse.”

  Alex glanced over his shoulder, and a quick spark of recognition struck him. He knew Hamish from somewhere in his past, but he’d met too many warriors over the years to recall where he’d met this one. If the man knew him, it could actually work out for the best. He might agree to help Alex when he arrived on English soil.

  “Agreed. Now or I’ll change my mind.”

  Busby smiled, an evil grin that told Alex even more about the bastard, but he’d already made up his mind. “Agreed.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Since they had reached an area where they could ride abreast, Derric rode beside Dyna, intent on talking to her. This situation was too personal for her, and it was interfering with her judgment. “Mayhap we should wait for your cousins,” he said. “If you are correct, and I trust that you are, then we could use the assistance of the spectral swords. I’m not fool enough to deny what I’ve seen with my own eyes, and we both know the power helped us retrieve Emmalin and your aunt Kyla. We’re all here.”

  “Nay, I’ll not wait. They’ll meet us at the overlook if they’re ready. If not… We could lose him if we stay back for too long, and I refuse to fail Grandsire.”

  He thought he heard her voice crack. “Diamond, no matter what you say or do, no one would ever think you’d failed your grandsire. Why would you say such a thing? He never would. You’re the most loyal person I’ve ever met.”

  “I’m not doing well, of late. Did you forget that Grandsire disappeared after he got to Cameron land? ’Tis my fault.”

  “You take too much upon your shoulders, and you talk as if he’s a wee bairn. Think you he would not have gotten away if you’d escorted him to the keep?”

  “Mayhap I should have stayed with him. Promised to escort him to Grant land. Something. I’m sick with worry.”

  Derric couldn’t believe she was taking this situation onto her shoulders. “Alex Grant is just as capable of getting away from his sister as he is escaping from his granddaughter. You’re being too hard on yourself.”

  “Nay, I’m not hard enough on myself. Claray is terrified someone is watching her, yet I left her alone. I doubt anyone’s there, but she believes it. She always believes it. She’s a mess, and I don’t know how to help her.” She swiped at her eyes. And a feeling of helplessness unfurled in Derric. He wanted to help her shoulder her problems—the responsibilities that clearly weighed on her—but he had no idea how to tell her to help her sister.

  “Don’t you think that helping Claray is more your mother’s job?”

  “’Tis mine, too. And Papa’s. But Claray isn’t getting better. She’s worse now than she’s been in a verra long time. How do I convince her that no one is watching her?”

  “I don’t know, Diamond, but you take too much fault on your shoulders. You give everything to your clan and to the spectral swords. How much more could you give?”

  Dyna slowed her horse.

  He could see the mountain top through the fluttering tree leaves, the wind picking up as they rode. Was that what drew her?

  They climbed the peak, winding higher and higher, and she stopped at an overlook point, a spot where you could peer across the landscape at a mountaintop, quite a view he had to admit. “This is the place. Grandsire’s favorite view.”

  Dismounting, she slowly walked over to the edge, the groves of pines waving in the breeze, and looked down. He moved over to stand beside her
, his arm coming up to settle on the small of her back, and to his surprise, she didn’t push him away.

  Her horse began to act skittish, though he didn’t know why, so Derric moved over to attempt to calm the big stallion.

  “Derric, he always acts like that when we stop here.” She glanced over her shoulder at the animal, stepped back to quickly pat his withers, then moved back to the overlook point.

  Derric reached in his pocket for one of the apples he’d taken from the stables, then stood next to the beast who was now pawing at the ground. “’Tis alright, big man. You worry about your mistress, but she’ll not go over the side.” He continued to speak calmly to the animal while Dyna searched the area beneath them.

  Then she spun around to stare at him, crossing her arms in front of her. “You have a talent with horses?”

  “Nay, I’m just extra kind to them. Your grandsire said if you treat them right, they’ll be loyal. I’m just trying to calm an animal extremely loyal to his rider, though you are ignoring him.” Then he rubbed the horse’s neck and spoke directly to the animal. “I know how you feel. She ignores me, too.”

  She narrowed her gaze to glare at him, then whirled around, letting him know she was done with the conversation. Her horse nickered, nuzzling his hand for another treat.

  Then her entire countenance changed. One hand flew up to cover her mouth as she pointed to a spot on a path far beneath them. Derric rushed to her side to see what had caught her attention. There, a good distance beneath them, stood a group of men on horseback in a circle. The men looked like miniatures, too far away to be clearly identified.

  “’Tis him. Grandsire. Oh, Derric. I think he’s tied to a horse. And I don’t see but one Grant plaid. His.” Then she whipped her head around to stare at her horse. “’Tis why he acted up. He’s verra in tune with Grandsire. He could smell him.”

  “Dyna, ’tis a long distance for your horse to pick up the scent of your grandsire. I don’t think ’tis possible.”

  “’Struth! We’re going down there.” She pointed to her stallion. “Do you not see? He’s telling me ’tis Grandsire. He’s been taken captive and we cannot wait.”

  “Are you sure? ’Tis a long way down. ’Tis too far for us to see ropes.”

  “There’s no way to know until we’re directly behind him.” She raced to her horse and mounted with a leap that made his mouth part. “You do as you please, Derric. But I cannot wait for my cousins. I’m following them now.”

  Derric sighed, moving and mounting in one fluid movement.

  “Then I’m coming with you.”

  ***

  Alex had been tied to his horse, but it was no matter—he’d always had a talent for directing his mount with just his knees. Midnight was distressed because of his containment, but he knew the beast would follow his lead.

  Busby had told DeFry that he was leading Alex to a specific pathway he wished to take, after which he’d return. Alex was annoyed to be portrayed as a daft old man who’d gotten lost, even more so because DeFry hadn’t thought to question it. Before they left, Hamish following, Alex gave instructions to his guards, loyal men who already knew precisely what to do when he was taken captive.

  He knew his grandbairns would be upset, but they would follow him. He hoped they would come together, as a group, because he suspected he’d need the spectral swords to get out of this. But he also knew his headstrong granddaughter would be beside herself with worry.

  He wished he could tell her there was no need.

  Alex wasn’t ready to say goodbye to wee John and Ailith yet. He suspected there could be another couple of grandbairns coming along soon, but he didn’t prod.

  The three men didn’t go far before they came upon a small English garrison. Busby left Alex with Hamish and rode ahead to speak with the man in charge of the group.

  “You don’t remember me, do you, my laird?” Hamish whispered when he brought his horse abreast of Midnight.

  “You look familiar,” Alex said. “Were you one of my guards many years ago?”

  “Aye. I lived on Grant land for years, trained every day in the lists. Do not worry, my laird. I’ll help you get through this safely.”

  His words were those of a faithful man, but Alex noted that Hamish would not make eye contact with him. Not a good sign. Memories trickled back to him. “Why did you leave Grant land? If my old memory serves me properly, you left without saying a word to anyone. Just disappeared.”

  “I received word that my mother was severely ill, so I left in a state of panic. My pardon for not having acted more appropriately. I was young and foolish.”

  But Hamish still wouldn’t make eye contact. He hadn’t even turned his head toward Alex.

  Alex knew better than to trust a man who wouldn’t look him in the eye. He tried to recall more about Hamish’s time as a Grant warrior, but at the moment his mind came up empty.

  Busby returned and said, “The garrison will escort you to Berwick Castle, where the king is presently in residence. Hamish and I will follow, see that you’re treated well.”

  “Treated well, my arse,” Alex scoffed. “You’re a traitor, so don’t try to pretend otherwise.”

  Busby grabbed the bindings around his wrists, his expression a dark glower. “You’ll regret saying that. I’ll have my chance with you.”

  It was then Hamish finally looked at Alex.

  His wide grin showed the two missing front teeth, the kind a fist to the face usually caused. Experience had taught him that a man who lacked those teeth had typically lost them because he was untrustworthy, confirming the inkling he had about the bastard. But that inkling also told him there was more to Hamish’s story.

  What the hell was it?

  ***

  Dyna had hoped the brief interlude at the overlook would give her cousins a chance to catch up with them, but they were nowhere in sight. Well, she couldn’t wait.

  Derric might be right—they were too far to see ropes—but she still knew her grandsire was tied to that horse. His posture was different, and after all the years he’d been on horseback, it was unlikely he would change the way he rode now.

  “Do you know where you’re going, Diamond?” Derric asked quietly, just loud enough to be heard.

  “They aren’t moving that quickly. If we keep moving, we’ll catch up with them.”

  They moved on, silence settling between them. Before they’d traveled an hour, Dyna called back to him over her shoulder. “I’m sorry for the way I acted.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She knew she’d treated him poorly. Both the other evening, after he’d taken her maidenhead—at her bidding—and on the ride the previous day. It had felt strange to be around him after what they’d shared, knowing none of her cousins understood how their relationship had changed. And she’d felt strangely vulnerable. Growing up, her response to feeling vulnerable had always been to hide her tears. To act tougher. Being the lass, she’d always felt the need to seem more aloof than her other cousins, as if nothing bothered her.

  And so she’d pulled away from him even though she’d asked him not to pull away from her.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong the other evening. I was as willing as you were. And it was wrong of me to treat you poorly on this journey. I didn’t know how to act around the others. I do care about you.”

  She glanced back again and saw he was arching a brow at her. Mayhap she shouldn’t have told him that now, as they descended the mountain on a narrow part of the path that prevented them from riding side by side, but then again, it was easier to speak more openly when she didn’t have to look him in the eye.

  “Apology accepted. And I wish I hadn’t hurt you. If I could take it back, I would.”

  “My thanks,” she said. She felt that way too, didn’t she? So why couldn’t she stop thinking about Derric touching her, his hand between his legs, his…

  “Why do you always insist on being so tough? You never express emotion except for anger.
When you have every right to cry, you swipe your tears away and lift your chin. What are you afraid of?”

  Hellfire, but he’d cut right to the core of her. “I’m not afraid. I just…I was always with three lads. I’ve spent my entire life trying to fit in, trying to be like my father and my grandsire.”

  They’d passed the narrowest section of the path so he drew abreast of her again. “There’s naught wrong with showing emotion. It does not make you weak. Mayhap you wouldn’t be so tough on yourself if you’d let your emotions show once in a while.”

  She glanced over at him, surprised he’d paid so much attention to her. Surprised that he understood her at such a deep level. Had anyone ever bothered to look so closely? She glanced at the forest next to them, checking the area for reivers, but nothing stood out to her. Her gaze returned to the path in front of them. Perhaps she could catch a view of her grandsire and the bastards who held him captive.

  It had to be that distraction that led her astray. Always alert to her surroundings, she was totally taken off guard when a horse came out of the woods. Before she could grab her bow, an arm snaked around her waist and lifted her onto another man’s lap.

  She fought and managed to land one punch to the jaw of her attacker, but what happened next was something she’d never forget.

  “Dyna, stop, would you? You’re going to ruin everything, so I had to get you off the main path quietly.”

  “He’s wearing a Grant plaid, Diamond,” Derric said loudly. “Stop fighting.”

  Shock overtook her, but she stopped swinging and did her best to sit up as the horse slowed. Whipping her head around, she looked straight into her captor’s eyes.

  “Loki?”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Loki Grant grinned, leading her back off the main path and shouting over his shoulder, “Kenzie, get her horse.” He rode to a hidden clearing that had been concealed behind a thick line of trees. A quick glance told her Derric was following directly behind them. “I’m sorry for surprising you, but you would have ruined our plan.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, jumping down from his horse as he soon as they slowed down. “We have to go after Grandsire.” When he finally dismounted and stood in front of her, she shoved at him.