The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,46
when she awakened, her grandsire would be sitting in front of the hearth.
Just like he used to do.
***
Derric made his way back to King Robert’s camp, searching the area for Dyna, but there was no sign of her. Could she have left without him?
King Robert greeted him. “Did you find Guinne?”
“Aye, he was exactly where you told me he would be, and now I understand why you wished for me to see the lassie with my own eyes. She’s Guinne’s daughter, no doubt about it. He will take good care of her.”
The king nodded. “You needed to see it for yourself. I suppose you are looking for the Grant contingency. They sent a messenger ordering Dyna back to Grant land at once.”
“Why?” he asked, feeling the press of worry and a strange hollowness from the knowledge that she was no longer there.
“They wouldn’t share that information, but she left right away. A rumor came in less than an hour ago that Alex Grant is missing. They suspect he’s been taken by King Edward’s men. He’s probably being taken to Berwick by that English garrison. Might be why we’ve seen no sign of them in the north.”
“Bloody hell, I’m going to Grant land. They’ll need help.”
“I’ll send you along with only one message. Godspeed and don’t let the English win. I’m counting on the Grants to get him back. If Alex Grant makes it to Berwick, his head will be on a pike in no time. And that’s if they don’t attempt to use him first to move the Grant warriors against us.”
Derric mounted his horse and bolted toward Grant land.
***
When Dyna awakened, she sat on the edge of her bed and made her plan. She needed to find out what had transpired while she was asleep, and if nothing had significantly changed, she would leave to find Grandsire on her own.
Dyna Grant was not the type of person who stood around and waited for things to happen.
She made them happen.
She stepped into the hall and quickly found a serving lass. “Fiona, would you send Claray up with a bowl of porridge, please? I’m hungry, but I need to wash up first. She can find me in Grandmama’s bathing chamber.”
Fiona hurried away, and Dyna made her way to the chamber down the passageway, deep in thought. Her grandsire had been so in love with his wife that he’d built a special chamber for her because she liked to bathe so much. Of course, the guards liked to say it was because every time Maddie went to the outdoor building that used to be used for bathing, forty guards fought to try to get a peek at the beautiful woman, but Dyna believed he’d done it out of love.
That was her vision of happiness in marriage. The kind of love her grandfather and grandmother had shared, and the kind of love her parents still had for each other.
Would Derric build her a bathing chamber in their castle?
She snorted, quite unladylike, at the thought.
Claray entered the chamber a few moments later. “Dyna, will you go find the stalker? He was watching me when we were in the back last eve. He must have climbed a tree behind the curtain wall—I could feel him watching me. Mama sent the guards to check, but he was gone. I know he was there! No one else believes me, but I knew you would, Dyna. You must help. He frightens me.”
“I promise to go looking for him.”
Claray’s eyes brightened. “Here’s your porridge. I’ll get you more if you need it.”
“Nay, this is plenty. I’m going to bathe, and then I’ll go look for your stalker.”
Dyna didn’t expect to find anything, but she’d promised. And she couldn’t leave to look for Grandsire until she talked to someone. Learned what was known.
Could she?
Chapter Sixteen
Alexander Grant stood in the middle of the forest, talking to the person whose assistance he’d sought.
“Are you sure about this?” the other asked.
“Aye. I aim to put an end to this. They stole my grandson, my daughter, and they’ve put my family through hell trying to get to me. DeFry and Busby came to MacLintock land and said Edward’s son will not stop until he has my head.”
“You think giving him what he wants is the answer?”
“I’ve lived a full life. I’ll not have a young life lost over my old one. This must end now. I had to choose carefully, but I’ve known you for many years. I believe you will assist me in