The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,14

have you decided where you’re going next, brother dear?”

In between chews and a quick sip of mead, Derric mumbled, “North.”

She didn’t ask any more, instead turning to Dyna. “And what about you?”

“I’ll travel with Grandsire, make sure he arrives at Cameron land without any mishaps. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about another fool coming out of the woods and capturing him. I won’t rest until he arrives there safely. After that, I’ll head to Grant land, see my parents and my sisters and brothers.”

“How has Claray been through all of the trouble with Grandsire?” Els wrapped his arm around his wife, squeezing her shoulders while he waited for Dyna’s reply.

“Not the best. I need to see her. She’s always calmer when I’m around. Sometimes I feel guilty about leaving.”

Joya chewed on a meat pie, staring up at the beams in the ceiling thoughtfully. “Do I know Claray? I’ve not heard of her.”

“Aye, I think I told you about her when we were in Glasgow or Ayr, though I probably did not give you her name. She’s my half-sister. She was three when my parents married. My father found my mother in an awful situation where some bad men were forcing her to do their bidding by holding wee Claray captive. It had a long-lasting effect on both of them. They still suffer nightmares.” She glanced at Derric before looking back at Joya. “In fact, Claray is still so troubled that I feel guilty every time I leave home. The nightmares are relentless, and she depends on me to rescue her from the evil she senses around her.”

“Evil?” Joya asked.

“Spiders, mostly,” Els blurted that out and then gave Dyna an apologetic look.

“Spiders?” Derric had heard of odd nightmares, but this was unusual.

Why would they dream of spiders?

Dyna gave him a look that told him not to ask, so he closed his mouth. “You can explain it to me some other time.”

“Thank you,” Dyna said. “Claray is four years older than I am, but she’s still child-like in many ways.”

“’Tis quite sad, Dyna,” Joya said. “Forgive me for prying.”

“You’ll meet her someday, Joya. ’Tis good to know ahead of time.” Dyna stood up from the table, finished with her meal. “I think I’ll go for a stroll. I love the night sky and ’tis especially clear this eve.”

“May I join you?” Derric asked quickly, clearly surprising everyone. Els cast a hard look his way. Were he not in the MacLintock great hall, he would have shouted at him that he wasn’t about to attack his cousin. Instead, he kept his silence, waiting for her response.

Dyna nodded, so he left his place and headed out the door with her.

His only question was, how did one go about asking a woman if she was interested in a relationship?

If only he was as good with women as he was with horses.

Chapter Five

Dyna did her best to calm the fluttering in her belly. She hadn’t expected Derric to volunteer to come along, especially after watching him down so much food. “I’m surprised you can move at all after the amount you ate.”

He chuckled. “’Twas hard to walk away, but ’tis for the best. I haven’t eaten a meal like that in a long time. The cinnamon flavoring in the apples is quite unique. I’ve never tried it before.” He paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. “I’m sorry about your sister, but I’d like to meet her sometime.”

“She’d be hesitant to meet you. It takes her a long time to trust people. Especially men.”

“How do you remember all your aunts, uncles, and cousins? You have so many.”

“They’re each special in their own way.” Whenever she thought about them all, she couldn’t help but smile. She knew she’d been blessed many times over by being born a Grant. “There are so many older relatives who’ve watched over and guided me that I can’t imagine how it was for you and Joya after you lost your parents.”

Derric chewed on his lip and nodded. “Aye. When I look back on it, I can’t believe I was so hasty to leave Joya with our aunt. I think I was in shock.” They meandered through the courtyard, taking their time, something unlike both of them. The sky was surprisingly bright, no clouds in sight.

She glanced over at him, surprised to see such a vulnerable side of him. “With both of your parents dead, where else could you have left her? You did the best thing you