The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,45

She needed sleep desperately, but she had to go after her grandfather. Her premonitions were usually stronger when she was physically closer to the person—or place—involved. Perhaps she should try to find him on her own.

Alick said, “I know what you’re thinking and you’re not going after him alone. I sent a messenger to MacLintock land. I’m sure Alasdair and Els will join us as fast as they can. You know as well as anyone that the four of us are more powerful together.”

“When you go after Grandsire, I’m going with you,” Chrissa declared with an emphatic toss of her plait over her shoulder.

Aunt Kyla stood up so quickly her chair nearly toppled over. “No one is going anywhere until Connor returns or we receive a message telling us what’s going on. Chrissa, do not plan any more of your trickery around me.”

Chrissa had snuck away from Grant land on more than one occasion. She’d become skilled at archery, so she was definitely an asset, but at two and ten, she was also capricious and unreliable. Chrissa cast Dyna a side glance as if to tell her she’d go with her. Dyna glanced at Aunt Kyla to see if she’d picked up on her daughter’s intent, but she saw no sign of it.

“Now may I tell her my troubles, Mama?” Claray asked their mother, her eyes wide.

Sela nodded. “Aye, go ahead and tell your sister.”

Claray was more fearful than most owing to her past, and Dyna had promised herself that she would always listen to her, even when her own mind was uneasy. “Tell me.”

“Someone has been watching me,” she whispered.

“Claray, we’ve kept the gates locked at all times ever since Mama was taken. ’Tis most impossible for you to have been watched by a stranger.”

Her sister shook her head. “When we went out for a ride, someone was in the woods watching me. But the guards couldn’t find him. He’d disappeared.” Her voice cracked, indicating tears would be imminent.

“I’m going to take a short nap because I’m exhausted, but then I promise to look for this alleged stalker. If he’s out there, I’ll find him. Do you trust me, Claray?”

She nodded emphatically, a smile bursting across her face. Claray was so beautiful and sweet, yet her past held her back. It held her mind captive. “Promise, Dyna?” she asked softly.

“I promise. But first I must rest my eyes.” She got off her stool, but before she left, she wrapped her arms around her sister. “Why don’t you play with the younger ones?”

They had a younger brother and sister, Hagen and Astra. Hagen was the elder at four and ten winters. He was often with their father, but in Connor’s absence, both of them would be with the group of bairns that played behind the castle while the clan worked at their chores. With all the attacks on the Grant family, Sela didn’t allow their children outside the gates, even to the lists. Only Dyna.

“All right. Please don’t rest for long, Dyna. I need you.”

Sela patted Claray on the back and ushered her outside.

As soon as they were gone, Aunt Kyla gave Dyna a grim smile. “There’s been no evidence of anyone watching her. We all suspect she’s upset with both you and your father gone. She’ll feel better now that she’s seen you. Go rest. You look exhausted. When you awaken, you can tell us about King Robert.”

Alick said, “Mayhap Alasdair and Els will be here by then. My guess is Emmalin and Joya will be here, too. And when your father returns, you know we’ll be leaving soon after. You need sleep first.”

She felt a pang at the mention of Joya, for it reminded her of Derric…and the fact that she’d left him without a word. Would she ever see him again?

But she didn’t want to burden Aunt Kyla with her tribulations.

“There’s not much to tell about King Robert,” she said. “We met up with him in the north, but he came to a truce with Macdougall, so he didn’t expect to go to battle imminently. He was going to see if Ross and Thane will support him, or if he needs to go to battle. You know how he feels about Ross.”

“Ross betrayed him. He’ll never forgive him for causing his wife to be turned over to King Edward. He’ll make him pay. King Robert may overlook many things, but not that. You go rest for now.”

Dyna nodded and climbed the stairs to her chamber, wishing that