be overheard. “Derric, if I tell you something, can you promise not to tell my parents?” She’d decided not to tell them. For if she did, she would never be allowed to ride toward danger.
“Aye, I’ll keep your secret. What is it?”
She cleared her throat and glanced back at the people meandering in the courtyard. “Tell no one.”
“I promise. You’re scaring me, Diamond. What is it?” He stepped closer to her, something that would have made her step back from him a short time ago, but she held her position simply because she liked having him close.
“I fell asleep for a short nap and had a dream.”
“Everyone has dreams. Doesn’t mean it’ll come true.”
“These kind usually do come true. ’Twas one of my seer dreams.”
Something flickered in his eyes. A memory perhaps. He’d seen enough to know her intuition bore weight. “And?”
“And I dreamed Grandsire was missing and I was traveling all over the Highlands looking for him.”
“But you found him.” It was a statement more than a question.
“I did. But I couldn’t get to him. He was in an old cottage and I couldn’t get inside.”
“Diamond, if that comes true, and I have my doubts, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out.” He clasped both of her shoulders. “You’ll save him.”
“I couldn’t. Someone else did.”
“Who?”
“You.”
Chapter Thirteen
They were on their second day of travel and expected to come upon the king’s camp soon. They hadn’t come across many other travelers, but what few they’d seen had informed them well. Word was the English had already arrived and gone straight to Ross land, so they weren’t expecting to see them. The Lowlanders hadn’t been spotted at all, which meant they could be anywhere, but Derric wasn’t worried about battling them.
They reached a small clearing, and Derric signaled that they could stop to see to their needs. Everyone dismounted, Dyna too. Derric returned to the clearing first and he watched as she made her way back to him. Her coloring was much better than it had been a few days ago. “Diamond, you are hale?”
She scowled as she stepped up to him. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He crossed his arms. “Because you were sick with a fever less than a sennight ago? Or were you so sickly that you forgot?”
She reached for his forearm and patted it. “I’m jesting with you. I feel fine and my thanks for asking. How much farther to the Bruce’s camp?”
“We’ll be there before dusk. It—” He stopped, silenced by the sight of a woman riding toward them on horseback. A woman all alone. She was too far away for him to see her well, but she had long, thick red hair. He walked away from Dyna, heading toward the lass because he had a funny suspicion it could be Senga.
“Is that her, Derric?” Dyna called out behind him, her voice thin.
He didn’t answer her because he wasn’t sure. Because his chest was suddenly filled with dread.
Dread that she was coming for him.
Dread he’d be forced to marry someone he didn’t love.
Dread he was about to be dragged in five different directions.
He let his breath out in a loud whoosh as soon as he realized it wasn’t Senga. His reaction had made something clear to him. Even if he had fathered Senga’s bairn, he could not marry her. They were not suited at all.
The lass approached and said, “I’m looking for the Grants.”
“These are the Grant warriors. What do you want?”
She stopped her horse in front of him. “I was sent from King Robert’s camp. He heard there were Grants in the area and wishes for them to stop at his camp. I have guards to make sure I’m safe.” She pointed off to a group of guards behind her, ones he’d never seen because his attention had been fixed on her.
“We are headed there. How much farther?”
“Less than an hour north and west of the main path. Head west after you pass the small village.”
She left as quickly as she’d arrived. He couldn’t move, thinking on all the emotion and the memories that the lass had brought out of him. A small voice carried to him from behind.
“Was that her? She has beautiful red hair.”
“Nay, ’twas not. But she’s from Robert’s camp. He wants the Grant contingency to stop at his camp to update him on what’s transpired.”
“How did he know there was a Grant contingency?”
“Because King Robert knows all. He has patrols everywhere, as any good king would.” He paused, then said,