The Seer - Hildie McQueen Page 0,16

said, her voice almost a whisper. “Our father did what we could not.”

Guiles wasn’t sure how to feel. “He gave up his place.”

Dallis took his hand, waiting for him to meet her gaze. “For his people, yes.”

“...betrothal of Guiles and the lovely Fiona Gordon...” his father was motioning for him to come forward.

Guiles glared in Alasdair’s direction as he commanded his heavy feet to move to the center of the room where a glowing Fiona waited. What had exactly happened he wasn’t sure.

When he turned to face the room beside Fiona, she nudged his arm. “Did ye speak to my father?”

“Nay.”

“Someone did.”

“I had no reason to.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” She smiled to the cheering crowd.

“Nothing.” Guiles gave a slight bow to the people and attempted a smile.

“Someone must have caught us earlier.”

Both his mother and her mother approached with wide smiles. His mother leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I saw ye two entwined in the garden, Guiles. I demanded yer father betroth ye. She could come to be with my grandchild.” His mother went to Fiona and hugged her.

Fiona’s mother gave him a quick peck on the cheek and lifted a brow. “Try to behave until the wedding night.”

His face burned red and he stole a look to Fiona who’d blanched at whatever his mother said.

“I told ye someone could see us,” Fiona snapped and turned to accept a hug from a well-wisher.

“If I remember correctly, it was yer idea to begin with,” Guiles replied between clenched teeth.

“Ah the happy couple.” Dallis hugged him. “I am delighted that ye’re marrying my dear friend. How perfectly delightful. She will live here with us.” Dallis all but clapped with glee. “I am beyond happy.”

Guiles couldn’t help but be annoyed. “Until ye marry Cuthbert and move to the Robertson keep.”

“Don’t ye dare say that ever again.” Dallis looked around with wide eyes ensuring no one heard.

Chapter 6

It was the perfect set up. The Tavish brothers had been merciless in taunting her since childhood. Now she could return the favor. Dallis made her way down to the dungeon, ensuring not to get her dress soiled in the process.

The distasteful smell of the dungeon tickled her nose and she grimaced. A part of her almost felt sorry for the brothers.

“Gentlemen. Are yer accommodations comfortable?” She walked down the center of the cells.

“Let us out Dallis. We are just doing what is best for our clan. We do not wish for anyone to be harmed,” Kiernan said, his face pinched. “It smells down here.”

Beathan’s nostrils flared in anger. “Dallis, please release us.”

Dallis neared. “Nay. Ye are not asking nicely.”

“I swear Dallis...” Beathan started but stopped when Dallis slipped her hand through the rails and slapped him. Not hard since she couldn’t swing her arm, but enough to make him angrier. She hopped back in glee as he rushed the door. “Ye can’t reach me.”

“Stop it Dallis,” Kiernan snapped. “Let us out. Ye know we are right. Our clan is headed for certain annihilation.”

“Annihilation is what I’m going to do to ye both for being so stupid.” Dallis went to the table and looked from one brother to the other. “How could ye do it? Betray us? We grew up together.” She hated the hitch in her voice and so did the brothers by the way both hung their heads. “Ye could’ve tried to talk Guiles and I out of it. Or explained how ye felt. Instead ye went to the Macpherson’s. How can I ever trust ye again?”

Kiernan, the more sensitive of the two, met her gaze. “I beg for yer forgiveness.”

“Whether I forgive ye or not does not matter at this point. I am not sure what my brother will be doing about this.”

Beathan let out a frustrated breath. “What about yer father? He will not be pleased to find two of his best guardsmen missing.”

Closing the distance, she grinned at the glowering man. “Best? I wouldn’t call ye that.” She almost skipped to the door ignoring their demands for release. No doubt Guiles would let them out in the morning, but for now, they’d be left there to ponder their actions and hopefully learn a valuable lesson.

The brothers had been right. The Macpherson was too strong to be defeated by one clan. Nonetheless, that did not mean their actions were excusable.

Hours later, when the revelry finally ended, Dallis went down a long corridor on the second story of the keep and saw that Guiles was just ahead of her. “Are ye