The Seer - Hildie McQueen Page 0,37
near. Niven along with another ten men gave chase.”
Someone must have alerted Lady Sinclair because she raced down the stairs, her eyes searching for her son.
“I must tell ye something.” Alasdair neared the laird’s right ear. “Do not allow anyone to know Guiles’ condition. No one.”
Laird Sinclair shot him a quizzical look before there was movement at the door and men carried the injured Guiles in.
“Guiles!” It was Dallis who cried out and ran to her brother.
“Who did this?” She looked to each man who carried her unconscious brother to a table.
The men looked to the one who’d spoken earlier. Obviously, he was the second in command. The man spoke without inflection. “Whoever he is, we will have him in hand very soon.”
“Summon the healer,” the laird instructed while motioning to a hallway. “Take him to the large room on the left. Hurry, go!”
Guiles would not die. Of that Alasdair was certain, for he’d seen the man married and with children. Unfortunately, he had now sealed his fate. For what he was about to divulge to the laird meant the man would never allow Dallis to marry him.
Keeping to Alasdair’s instructions, once the healer pronounced Guiles to be resting and all that was left to do would be wait, everyone was sent away.
Only a trusted woman from the village, who’d delivered Guiles at birth, was allowed to remain and see about him.
Besides the laird, Lady Sinclair and Dallis, no one else was allowed into the room. The murmurings began. Why was Guiles’ condition kept a secret? It was not normal for Laird Sinclair not to allow visitors who could bring herbs and such to help.
Soon rumors that Guiles could have died and the laird didn’t want anyone to know began to circulate. It was perfect, exactly the way to trap the person responsible.
“We cannot keep the secret much longer,” the laird whispered in his study days later. Niven remained at the door guarding to ensure no one overheard. “Ye have yet to explain yer reason for this. A man has been captured and admitted to it.”
Alasdair lowered to a chair so not to speak down to the laird. It would be disrespectful. Not only that, but he’d put off telling the truth long enough. Dallis had begged him not to say anything, to let it go. However, if he kept the secret, it was possible another attempt would be made against Guiles. The second time, the killer would ensure the man died.
“I must admit why I came to be here.”
The laird’s narrowed gaze moved to the doorway. “Continue.”
“The reason for my presence was a summon.”
“From who? For what?”
If there were any chance to save his betrothal, Alasdair had to measure his words carefully. “I was summoned by the resistance against Laird Macpherson.”
The laird sat back, his gaze once again moving to the doorway. “I assume Niven is who summoned ye then?”
“Yes.”
There was a long pause. Laird Sinclair did not move, his expression neutral. “Why were ye called to come?”
“To advise. Help develop the plan of action. I can see things.” Alasdair shrugged. “I am a seer.”
At that the laird’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that how ye knew what happened to Guiles?”
“Yes. It is also how I know someone ordered the man in yer dungeon to do it.”
The laird turned to the door. “Niven, come.”
The warrior entered, shoulder’s squared, and yet there was an air of vulnerability about him. No doubt this could cost Niven his position. Alasdair had hoped to spare him and spent many hours speaking to Niven about a different story. However, the man had insisted it was time for the truth.
“Yes laird. Everything Alasdair says is true. I was part of the resistance against Laird Macpherson.”
Keeping his voice low, the laird leaned forward. “And so were Guiles and Dallis.”
The man was intelligent, had figured out why his son and daughter had accepted Alasdair’s presence so readily.
Niven did not reply.
The laird slammed a flat hand on the wood in front of him. “Weren’t they?”
Letting out a long breath, Niven nodded. “Yes laird.”
The laird was pleased with the honest statement. “Do they know ye came to speak to me about this?” The laird looked between Alasdair and Niven.
Alasdair nodded. “Dallis asked that I not. However...” Laird Sinclair interrupted him with a slash of his right hand.
“And ye Niven, did ye really think that yerself and a group of idiots could overthrow the strongest laird in the region?”
Niven maintained a proud stance. “We had a good plan.”
“Thank God ye didn’t