“But your grandsire said you’d be taking guards.”
“Aye, a group of them will be accompanying us, but they do not have the sword skills you have. I need someone who can hold any attackers off while I get into the trees to get a better angle for my arrows.”
“Understood. I’ll be ready and by the gates.” Derric nodded and left, taking a hunk of bread with him.
Dyna breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t ready to lose him. Not yet.
An odd thought echoed in her mind, the way they sometimes did.
Not ever.
Chapter Eight
Derric was pleased they gave him a fine stallion to ride, not up to the same standards as Midnight, but a fine steed nonetheless. Before they left, he’d spent time stroking the beast and giving him the chance to get to know his rider.
He’d said goodbye to his sister, pleased he no longer had to worry about her. She hadn’t let him get away without a little taunt. “I hope you come back firmly attached to a tall, willowy blonde.”
He’d taunted back. “I hope I come back to find you with a big round belly. I’d love a niece or a nephew.” He’d kissed her cheek, then said, “Mayhap both.”
She’d slapped his arm playfully and said, “Go and Godspeed. Take care of my cousin.”
He’d listened to the guards conversing with Alasdair and Alex, taking in all the strategizing that probably took place before every journey the Grants ever took. Planned stops, expected complications, alternate routes—they’d discussed every possible complication. English garrisons, reivers, wild boars, who knew what was in the Highlands these days? They expected to arrive on Cameron land around nightfall, so they would only need to stop once to freshen the horses and take care of their own needs.
Dyna rode her beautiful horse, Misty, but Derric had to admit, he only had eyes for the rider. But they were traveling with Alex, which was a painful reminder that he had yet to complete the quest he’d been assigned, because he hadn’t uncovered one soft thing about the lass besides her skin, and he very much doubted that was what Alex Grant had in mind.
The trip was uneventful until they were about an hour from the safety of Cameron land and the horses began to fuss. Alex ordered the group to stop so they could listen for any evidence of what was upsetting the animals.
The sound of hoofbeats carried to them, the number large enough for Alex to announce, “’Tis a full garrison of soldiers, probably English. Dismount and get down.”
He no sooner finished his sentence than the sound of thunder of the approaching horses grew louder, as if the garrison was headed directly for them. They reined in their horses and raced into a copse of trees for cover.
Derric stayed behind Dyna, who tried to climb into a tree but was stopped by her bellowing grandfather. “Dyna, we cannot take on a cavalry that large. On the ground!”
She raced to a hiding spot, and Derric was about to do the same when Alex stopped him mid-step. “Corbett, you’ll protect my granddaughter.”
Derric switched his direction and followed Dyna into a well-hidden spot behind a clump of bushes. She went flat on her belly and he lowered himself next to her.
“What the hell? You need not protect me.”
“I don’t argue with your grandsire. Do you?” he growled through clenched teeth. “Especially when we’re about to be set upon by a mass of Englishmen.”
She snarled and mumbled incomprehensible words until he reached over and placed his hand over her mouth. “Quiet. You can curse me later.”
Her glance was one of fury, that fiery look of hers that he loved, but neither of them said anything because the horses’ hooves were now booming all around them. Their copse had to be in the middle of the cavalry’s path.
Her fury changed to a brief look of fear that unmanned him. So he did the only thing he could think to do. He cupped her face and moved closer, his lips meeting hers with an urgency and a need that he couldn’t hide.
Bloody hell, but the lass did things to him he couldn’t comprehend. He thought she’d push him away, but instead she nipped his lower lip, something that drove him mad. He grabbed her shoulders and maneuvered her underneath him, ravaging her lips until she arched against him, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him closer.
It was a duel of tongues he didn’t care if he ever won, her assault on his lips as powerful as his own on hers. Hellfire, what would the lass be like in bed?
Explosive. If their kissing was any indication of what their lovemaking would be, it would be beyond anything he’d ever experienced. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath. “Are you trying to kill me, lass?”
“’Tis a far sight better than listening to the English cavalry come closer. I’d rather die wrapped in your arms than alone.”
He set his finger to her lips, doing his best to listen between the panting breaths coming from both of them.
The sounds had decreased, indicating the English had passed their location and were no longer a threat. Derric sat up from the ground cover that had concealed them, keeping his hand on her shoulder to keep her down until he checked the area.
As if that would work.
She bolted up next to him, her hair in disarray around her face, pulled out of her plait from their tumble. The others stood up, so Derric grabbed Dyna’s hand and helped her to her feet.
“Grandsire, you are hale?” she asked in a low tone.
“Aye, I’m fine.” She rushed over to help him, but he waved her off. “I can get myself up.”
She stepped back, and the other guards went to retrieve their horses.
“Did you see them, Grandsire?”
“Nay, and I’m sure you two didn’t see a thing.” He cast them a knowing look and went after Midnight.
Dyna blushed and froze. Derric waited until Alex had retrieved his mount before he went after their horses, bringing Dyna’s beast along with his own. When he reached her side, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Hellfire, does the man miss naught?”
Dyna just arched a brow at him with a snort.
“I have to learn to be more careful,” he said, saying it for others to hear, hoping he’d convince himself of the importance of that creed. He was too lax from spending most of his life around camp men and warriors.
One of the guards said, “They were definitely English. Where do you think they’re headed?”
“No idea.” Alex mounted his horse and made his way out to the trampled meadow. “At least a hundred.” He glanced over at Derric and said, “Mayhap they’re headed toward wherever they think King Robert is.”
Derric lifted Dyna up onto her horse, surprised she didn’t balk, but she did pinch his finger. He wished to laugh because he knew the only reason she’d accepted his assistance was because of her grandfather.
He’d turned toward his own horse when one of the guards behind him said, “Corbett, your lip is bleeding. You run into a bush or something?”
He yanked his tunic up and wiped his lip, surprised to see the amount of blood there. He glanced back at Dyna, who smirked at him, but her amusement quickly fled. He followed her gaze and saw she had focused on his abdomen. He intentionally lifted his tunic a bit higher, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Her face flushed with heat, which was gratifying but not exactly the response he’d hoped for.
She wriggled in her seat.
He wanted to roar and pound his chest in victory.
Instead, he dropped his shirt and strode back to her. The others were moving about, so he’d not be heard. He rested his hand on her calf and squeezed. “Be careful, lass.”
“What?” That glare had returned, but he couldn’t stop himself.
“You’re squirming in your saddle, Diamond.”
He sauntered back to his horse.
But not before a stone hit the back of his head, followed by a chuckle of her laughter.
***
The rest of the journey passed quickly, and before they knew it, the rocky landscape
told them they were nearly on Cameron land. Dyna breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Grandsire would be safely ensconced with his youngest sister. Aunt Jennie would help him with his ailments, something he needed once or twice a year of late. She always sent home plenty of ointments and poultices with him, both for him and for others who might suffer injuries or illnesses in the clan.
To their surprise, a group of horses came forward to meet them, Uncle Aedan in the lead, his brother Ruari next to him.
He made his way to Grandsire’s horse and stopped. “Greetings to you, Alex. Your sister is anxious to see you.”
“And I’m anxious to see her. I’m glad you received our message. We made a quick decision, but I hope you have room for us for a night or two. Most of the Grant warriors will continue on to Grant land with my granddaughter, but I’ll stay on with a few men if you’ll have us.”
“Of course. My wife’s favorite brother is always welcome. Had you any problems with your journey?”
“One large English garrison moved past us, but we saw no others. Why? You don’t often ride out to greet us, Cameron.” She could see the suspicious look on his wizened face, and Uncle Aedan must have seen it, too, because he chuckled.
“Quite true. We’ve received word there are two English garrisons heading north, though they have orders to stay far away from Lochluin Abbey. I suspect they’re the ones you saw, but there’s to be another behind them. There are also two groups of Scottish Lowlanders heading that direction to support Bruce’s enemies—Macdougall and Ross. Wanted to advise the rest of your group in case you had other plans.”
Dyna said, “We can stay for one night and be on our way at first light.”
Aedan’s brow furrowed. “’Twill put you right in the middle. The other English group will be traveling past Cameron land on the morrow, to pass here by midday.”
“You have to leave now,” Grandsire said, to her complete surprise.
“But Grandsire, can we not sleep first?”
“Nay. ’Tis out of the question. Corbett, I’m asking you to see my granddaughter straight to Grant land. Turning back to Dyna, he said, “The moon is full, you can get through the treacherous ravine now. You’ll want to be on the other side of it before those men come through. You know how to pass it safely, but they’ll be tied up there all day. Besides, I can feel a storm coming, and if you get on the far side of the ravine, there are several deep caves, one that can hold horses. Get there before you sleep.”
Alex spoke to their guards, splitting them up. A few would stay with him on Cameron land, and the rest would continue on to Grant Castle.
Dyna couldn’t believe Grandsire was sending them along so quickly. She was already exhausted from the journey and wished to sleep, but she saw the wisdom in it too, and didn’t wish to get caught by the English. She was ready to be home, to see her parents and siblings.
Aedan said, “Dyna, we suspected you might decide to carry on with your journey, so Jennie sent a skin of ale and a sack of dried meat and cheese for you. She also included a few things for the Grant healers.
One of Aedan’s guards dismounted and took care of the transfer of goods from one horse to others. Dyna tucked the healer’s goods into her saddlebag.
“Oh, and two new fox furs for your trip,” Aedan added. “’Twill get cold and we’ve had many made.”
She glanced at her grandsire, her heart breaking because they would be parted—for who knew how long—but she had to share him with his many siblings and grandbairns. “Grandsire, be truthful with Aunt Jennie about your needs. Stay for as long as you like. I’ll return for you whenever you send a message.”
“I will, Dyna. Godspeed and listen to Corbett. He’s wiser than you give him credit for.”
Her grandfather turned his horse and rode toward Cameron land alongside Aedan.
Dyna’s group set out, too, and she couldn’t help but turn around and wave several times until they were out of sight.
She had an uncanny feeling that this could be the last time she saw her grandfather.
Chapter Nine
They followed Alex’s advice and got to the ravine quickly, which was for the best, because he’d been right about the weather. A cold wind had come out of nowhere, scattering leaves across the landscape, and judging from the fast clouds and the ominous gray sky, the storm would be upon them within the hour. Once they were safely on the other side, they could spend the night in a cave and leave in the morning after the storm passed. If all went well, they could arrive on Grant land well before dusk—ahead of the English, who would probably get caught before the ravine, which would become treacherous to cross in the storm.
The rain began pelting them halfway across. Derric sent Dyna across ahead of him, knowing she knew the terrain better than any of them, and the guards trailed behind them.
“Don’t slow,” he said. “’Twill only get worse. Don’t worry about us, get yourself across.”
By the time they got to the other side, they were drenched to the bone. Dyna continued on ahead, for she knew exactly where to locate the cave Alex had mentioned.
The trek took forever, but Dyna finally motioned them down a small path that emptied into a clearing near a burn. The cave was to the right of the burn, tucked under a ledge of rock, and she dismounted in front of it and took in her saddlebag.
Derric found a dry area beneath an outcropping for the beasts. He saw to both his horse and Misty, giving them both sacks of oats, and then turned to address the guards. “Take care of your animals.”
He hurried into the cave, grabbing some of their belongings from the pack horse in the hopes they would dry by the fire. His clothes were drenched clear through, and a whoosh of air escaped his lips once he stepped inside the shelter, away from nature’s fury.
But he forgot his own discomfort the moment his gaze found Dyna, huddled against the cave wall. “Derric, help me.” She was shivering so hard her teeth chattered.
He dropped his belongings in a dry spot and hurried over to her. “Lass, you have the look of a fever.” Her eyes had a dull, glazed look, one he’d seen in others taken by the fever. Her skin had a sheen of what he guessed to be sweat, not rain, and her lips were unnaturally pale.
“I’m cold.” Her shoulders shook uncontrollably, but when he reached out to touch her, she felt hot. He jerked his hands back. “And my head is paining me terribly. Can you not start a fire?”
“Bloody hell, you’re sick.”
“Help me. Please. I can’t move. I need to get something warm.”
“Lass, I’ll help you undress before the others come inside. You have to get out of those wet clothes.” She stood there, helpless, her eyes glassy with the fever. “Take your mantle off.”
Three of the guards entered. One of them, Ham, said, “’Tis nasty out there,” shaking his head, his wet hair throwing off drops of water.
His eyes widened when he saw Dyna. “She doesn’t look good.” He rubbed his chin. “I’ll fill the skins and look for dry wood.”
Derric said, “Aye, we need to start a fire. A big one. We have to dry off.” He pointed to a spot near the entrance, where the fire would be close enough to the opening for them to keep most of the smoke out of the cave but far enough not to fall prey to the elements. “Build the fire there. I’m taking her around this bend to get her out of these wet clothes. Stay the hell away.”
Ham smirked. “I’ll help.” His gaze carried the innocent look of a babe in a swaddling cloth.
“The hell you will.” Derric gave him a menacing look, but it was Dyna’s threat that sent him scurrying away—
“Come near me, any of you, and I’ll fire an arrow into your bollocks the moment I’m better.”
Ham spun on his heel, shoving at the backs of the guards in front of him, the other men having already turned to see about the fire. The others must have teased him because their laughter carried across the storm.
“Get as much dry kindling as you can find. There was a thick group of pines just beh
ind the outcropping. There could be some dry wood there.”
The guards left, speaking to the men who were still outside, and Derric ushered Dyna around the bend. “Here, give me your mantle. Do you have a dry set of leggings?”
“Aye, in my sack. And a tunic.”
Derric searched the sacks Dyna had brought in. To his surprise, everything was dry inside the bags given to them by the Camerons. It was far better than any sack he’d ever used. He pulled the two furs out, tossing one to Dyna. “Cover yourself with this while you undress.”
A long ledge sat at the side, so Derric unpacked the sacks, setting everything out. The food from the Camerons came first, then some containers of poultices and salves, another fur, and finally the tunic and leggings from Dyna’s bag.
When he finished and closed the bags, he turned around to Dyna and froze. She stood there with nothing on, shivering in the cold, trying to warm herself with the fur she’d wrapped around her female parts, her long willowy legs shaking. Her bound breasts drew his eye.
“Derric, you have to help me unbind this. It’s so wet it’s rubbing my skin raw.”
Bloody hell, he was about to put himself into a torture chamber.
“I’ll help you. Put the dry leggings on first.”
“I don’t know if I can.” Her weak, thready voice terrified. “I think I’ll fall over.” He’d rather she curse at him in three different ways.
“I’ll stand in front of you, give you my back, and you can lean against me.”
“I’ll try.”
He did as he promised, doing his best not to think of her long legs, or the curly junction of her thighs, or the soft globes of her backside.
She set her shoulder against him and nearly fell. He stuck his arm out straight. “Hold onto my arm.”
“I have one leg in.” Her hand wrapped around him, and he had to close his eyes to control his reaction.
She started to fall again, so he cursed and turned around, grabbing her armpits from behind to steady her. He got a glimpse of the sweet curves of her backside just before he closed his eyes again. It took every speck of will he possessed not to groan, but somehow he managed it. He’d be up for sainthood for sure after this.
The Scot's Quest (Highland Swords Book 4) Page 7
