a hand across the air to make a point about something.
Two men with swords at their hips stood before her, and the three engaged in what seemed to be a rather intense argument.
Alasdair couldn’t keep from watching as the woman closed the distance with one of the men, her mouth forming a snarl. She said something, and the man shook his head.
Moments later another man came to her side and touched her arm. The woman shrugged him away and said one more thing to the duo before turning on her heel and storming out of the tavern.
Interesting that a woman so beautiful seemed to attract more discord than attraction from the men present. Most of the people at the surrounding tables had ignored the interaction and those who’d been part of it, returned to sit and drink as if nothing happened.
When the woman turned the corner of the building outside, just below where he sat, Alasdair leaned out to watch her. She lifted a hood to cover her hair. She waited for the man who’d followed her out. It was the same man who’d touched her arm earlier.
“God’s foot, Dallis. Ye cannot go about confronting men,” the man said, his voice clipped with anger. “It’s a good way to get killed.”
“They didn’t follow orders. I could not let them get away with it.” Her voice was husky, which could have been because she was furious.
“They are not part of our clan. I doubt they know anything that could cause harm,” the man retorted. “By losing yer temper in public, that will bring more attention than we need at this moment.”
“I agree, and now they know where we stand.” She walked to a horse, the man right on her heels.
“Da will be furious when he hears.”
“Yer going to tell him?”
“Nay, but news will travel fast. Ye are well aware people from our clan are in there. I’m surprised Niven didn’t attack to protect ye.”
The woman mounted the horse and looked down at the man. “Let us go then, brother. I prefer it be I who tells Da.”
Brother and sister. Interesting that the woman was the one to fight even after the brother arrived at the scene. Whatever dynamic existed made for interesting observation.
By the manner of their dress and the quality of their horses, whoever they were, they came from wealth. That a woman of class would lower herself to argue with men at a tavern made no sense.
Whatever the siblings did, they were involved in something that made Alasdair wonder if it was the same reason he’d been summoned.
Chapter 2
Dallis Sinclair shivered, the cold air permeating through her thick cloak. From atop her horse, she looked about. Someone watched her. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but something made the hair on the nape of her neck stand on end.
As often as she’d had these sensations, Dallis had grown to trust them as valid. Whoever it was, was well hidden. She scanned the surroundings, concentrating on each dark corner around the exterior of tavern. There was no one about. It was much too cold a night for anyone to be outside. Perhaps it was her imagination and the ire of having argued.
“What are ye doing?” Guiles, her brother, asked. “Let us go. I have a warm bed waiting.”
As always, her brother had come after her, ever protective. And although endearing, she hated to cause him to worry so much. Although he was only older by a year, she respected her brother and trusted he always wanted only the best for her.
Unlike other women of her status, Dallis was restless, not one to sit about the keep sewing or such. The outdoors constantly beckoned, the promise of adventure much too hard to resist.
“I feel as if someone is watching us,” Dallis whispered. “Whoever it is may just be curious.”
Guiles looked around. “If whoever it is meant to kill us, he would’ve by now.”
“True.” Dallis urged her horse onward. “Let us make our way home. Get ye to yer warm bed and whoever is keeping it warm for ye.”
She smiled when Guiles grunted.
Unfortunately, by the time they arrived at the keep, their parents had sought their beds and Dallis was unable to speak to her father. No matter, she’d do so first thing in the morning. Surely the gossiper who would bring the news had to wait until after first meal before telling an embellished story of her argument at the tavern.
She flinched when recalling the occurrence now. In hindsight, she should