The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,31
opened her eyes, her sire stood next to her bed. He set a small table next to her and arranged the porridge and the potion on it. “Aunt Gracie sent this for you.”
“My thanks, Papa,” she mumbled. How she’d missed him. Even though he had a well-deserved reputation as a fierce warrior, he had a soft heart, a propensity to see the good in everyone.
He helped her sit up, propping pillows behind her before handing her the potion and the bowl of porridge. “You need to eat something after you take the potion. Derric said you were in bad condition.”
She swallowed two bites, the heat easing some of the pain in her throat.
Her father waited for her to swallow before he continued his inquisition.
“Grandsire. Derric told me what he knows, but I’d prefer to hear it from you.” He sat back, giving her a chance to gather her thoughts. He was never one to be pushy or overly insistent. He was almost as patient as his father, though not quite. Grandsire had the patience of a saintly priest, and how he did it, no one knew.
“Two sheriffs arrived at MacLintock Castle to warn Grandsire that Edward’s son was sending out garrisons after him. He decided to go to Cameron land. Although he didn’t explain his reasoning, I suspect he thought it less likely they’d think to look for him there. I know he didn’t wish to bring any more battles to MacLintock Castle. You know Grandsire. He worries, especially over the wee ones.”
“Did you know the sheriffs? Scottish or English?”
“Busby and DeFry. Both are Scottish, and they claim allegiance to King Robert. I trust DeFry and so does Alasdair. Busby we don’t know as well. We met him in Berwick.”
Her sire rubbed his jaw in thought. “Derric said King Robert is headed north and he plans to join up with him as soon as you’re hale. What are your plans once you’ve healed?”
“Papa, I’d like to go with Derric, see what is happening in the north.” She watched her father, the man she so adored for all he’d done for her family—rescuing her mother and Claray, finding a home for the orphans Thorn and Nari, who now lived with her uncle Loki.
“Why?” Leave it to her father to keep his words short. And really, it was just as well with her pounding head.
“I can’t explain it, but I have a feeling something important is about to happen in the Highlands. And I know it will not happen here. I dreamed that I was chasing someone on horseback. Derric is heading north. Perhaps I need to travel with him to see what is happening with King Robert. According to Uncle Aedan, there were two garrisons of Englishmen and two groups of Lowlanders traveling north.”
“Did you know who you were chasing?” Her parents trusted her seer abilities. They’d learned from experience that her hunches were always right.
“I know what you’re asking. Was it Grandsire? Perhaps. And yet, I felt two conflicting premonitions on Cameron land. One was that Cameron land was the safest place he could go, especially with Lochluin Abbey so close. I believed it was a good decision.” She stopped to massage her head, hoping more premonitions would come, though she knew it was unlikely with such an ache in her head.
“And the other?”
“When I waved to Grandsire, I had the odd feeling that it would be the last I saw of him for a long time. That made me ill. I tried to open myself to more premonitions, but then the fever took over. I couldn’t stop it. I was so cold in the rain.”
She waited for his counsel because he always gave such good advice. He and Uncle Jamie had a rare ability to see down to the core of an issue. She’d said as much to her sire, but he’d told her it was a talent born of experience.
“No reason to think on it anymore. I’ve told you that you need to allow them to come to you in their own good time. Molly always told us that you cannot rush such things. They come to you or they do not.” He peered at her, then asked, “Do you have an interest in this Derric? I’ve not minded you traveling with your cousins, but this man is not related to you.”
“Papa, there were Grant guards with us, just as there will be if we go north together. And nay, I have no interest in him.” The lie