The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,56
in it?” he asked, his gaze locked on hers as he awaited her answer.
“Aye, I do. There is something special about the cousins. Wee John too. His presence has an effect on the unnatural storms the power brings. I’ve witnessed it more than once so I have to be a believer. Aren’t you?”
He couldn’t deny what he’d seen. “I am. I hope it proves its value again in this search for Alex, but we don’t have John.”
“Indeed, we do not. We can only hope we’ll be enough. Now, I wonder why Dyna is keeping her distance from you?” She clucked her tongue. “I hope ’tis just because she’s upset about her grandsire and naught else.”
He gave her a look, and she laughed. “I’m going to join Els. Godspeed and be careful with her, Derric.”
He nodded as she moved ahead of him to join her husband, finding a space on one side of him.
Little did Joya know she’d struck a sore point. Derric had hoped Dyna would ride beside him. That she would speak to him. But although he’d gotten half of his wish—she was riding near him—she hadn’t said a word. She was distraught and tired, if he were to guess. And yet a part of him was disappointed that she’d turned away from him in her distress rather than toward him.
Alasdair pulled his horse abreast of Dyna’s. “Anything at all? You must use your seer abilities to find him. Think, Dyna.”
“I am,” she snapped. “Do you not think I was doing that yestereve when I searched for him?”
“How much farther to Robert’s camp, Derric?” Els shouted. “Can we get there within the hour? If not, we should find our own place to camp this eve.”
“Half the hour.”
“Lead on, then. I wish to know this eve if Grandsire is there,” Dyna said.
“And I’ll thank you for granting me the pleasure of speaking to me, Diamond. I was starting to think you’d prefer to curse me.” He glanced over his shoulder, catching enough of a glimpse of her to see her glare. It put a smirk on his face. At least she wasn’t down. He’d rather see her mad than downtrodden.
“Corbett, I can lead the way if you’re lost.” Bloody hell, but the woman was as sexually frustrated as he was, for certes. You couldn’t participate in that kind of passionate foreplay and just forget it had happened. She’d be tough to win over, but he would, and he’d have her screaming with pleasure if it was the last thing he did.
First, they had to find Alexander Grant.
They were close enough to the camp to be heard by the guards so he let out a bird call, letting Robert’s warriors know he was a friend. When he received an answer, he led the group into the king’s camp.
They dismounted and tied their horses, moving toward the large tent in the middle. He expected King Robert to greet them. His usual approach was to greet all new entrants to the camp, but this time he didn’t.
The king sat on a large boulder and held his hand up to the group. “You only, Corbett.” Many of his men had to be on patrol because the area looked almost deserted. The king only had four guards nearby, and from the look of them, their specific duty was to protect him.
The situation took him by surprise, but he turned to the others and said in an undertone, “I’ll find out what has transpired. ’Tis most unlike him not to greet us personally.” He hoped it wasn’t because of what he feared. The only other time he’d seen their king turn people away was when he was ill. A leader never wanted his enemy to know he was sickly.
“Make sure you ask about Grandsire,” Dyna prodded.
“Of course, I will, Diamond. I’m as anxious to find the man as you are.”
She gave one of her unladylike snorts and tossed her opinion at him. “I doubt that.”
He knew it wouldn’t do any good to argue with her, not in the mood she was in, and truthfully he was concerned about the change he saw in King Robert, so he left the cousins and turned toward the king’s rock.
“King Robert, you are hale?” he said as he approached, bowing a bit. The king, usually so quick to greet others, stayed seated. His color was pale and his eyes tired. Something was not right.
“In secret, I’ll admit I feel a bit unwell, but I won’t allow it to stop me.