said anything, he said, “I’ve also heard quite a bit of arguing between Thane and your sire, Branwen. Aye, your marriage might have caused some of it, but I’ve heard King Edward’s name many times. Perhaps ’tis about the new king. I don’t know what’s going on here, but things are changing. Most of the men think they’re merely going to battle, but there’s another plan afoot.”
“I can guess,” Kyla said dryly. “They intend to force my father and my brothers to use the Grant army to fight Robert the Bruce.”
They were interrupted by the voice of a guard outside their cell. “Get up. All of you are coming with us.”
Branwen stood up, but Jep stepped in front of her. Kyla stood behind her and squeezed her elbow. “You’ll see,” she whispered. “We belong to the strongest clan in the Highlands.”
How she prayed Kyla Grant was right.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alick wished they’d taken another route, but Dyna had insisted this was the best way.
“Curse it, this is all wrong,” he swore, his gaze scanning the area. He had a bad feeling about the path his cousin had chosen. They hadn’t seen many stragglers, and when men headed out for battle, they tended to be accompanied by camp followers—others wishing to join the fight or watch it.
“Is it?” Dyna asked, arching one brow at him.
The sound of horses’ hooves, many of them, carried across the meadow, coming closer and closer.
“Where the hell did they come from so quickly?” he asked, turning his horse around to go into the forest to hide.
The others followed him back into the thick of the woods, where they peered out over the group of guards trampling across the meadow.
Derric dismounted and led his horse over to a small burn, nearly hidden except for the sound of the bubbling stream, a sweet sound that often calmed the animals. Dyna did the same, guiding her horse up next to his.
Derric cast her a sideways glance and said, “You love being right all the time, don’t you?”
She chuckled and lifted her chin. “You’ll be wise to remember that.”
Alick brought Shadow to the burn for a drink. He ignored their bickering, but they kept at it.
Derric narrowed his gaze at her. “You are right more often than most. Why is that?”
“Because I’m the smartest?”
“Nay, ’tis not the reason. There’s something different about you.”
The comment surprised Alick. Derric acted brash and utterly sure of himself, and yet he’d seen Dyna more clearly than most. He knew she was special, although not how special.
He splashed water on his face, then joined Cailean and Sorcha, who sat watching the onslaught of guards pass by.
“How long should we wait?” Sorcha asked.
Dyna answered her as she walked back toward them. “The captives will be along in about twenty minutes,” she said.
Derric approached her. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders.
“How do you know what’s going to happen before it does?”
“You mean, how do I know you’re about to be knocked to the ground?”
“Aye,” Derric said just as Dyna slid her leg behind his and shoved at his chest, knocking him backward.
“Because I planned to do it. ’Tis all there is to it. Learn to plan ahead.”
The rest of the group laughed at their antics, but Derric jumped right back up. “Verra funny, Diamond, but I mean other things and you know it. How did you know those horses were coming?”
“Diamond? Why do you call me that?” Some of the brashness had faded from her, and her cheeks looked slightly pink.
“Because your hair is the lightest color I’ve ever seen. It stands out like a diamond. And…”
“Does it bother you, Dyna?” Alick asked, knowing she was finally getting uncomfortable.
“Nay, it doesn’t bother me. He can call me whatever he wants because his opinion does not matter to me, but please finish your reasoning. And what else…”
“Because you’re hard as a diamond.” Derric persisted, “But someone else’s opinion does matter to you… Whose?” He followed her and tickled her neck with his fingers, something Alick suspected she wouldn’t tolerate. “Who is it? Are you betrothed to someone? Is that who you worry about, Diamond?”
She spun around, her hands on her hips. “There are only two men whose opinions matter to me.”
“Two? Well, are you not a saucy wench? Which two?”
“My father and my grandsire. Those two.”
“Och, Dyna, mine matters, does it not?” Alick said. He knew the answer, but she’d never admit to it, and he didn’t intend to push her—he knew better, even if