They moved off toward the pony sheds as if they had not a care in the world. Bradana stood and considered several options.
She should go to her stepfather. He, at least, must be concerned, if only because he would have to send word back to Erin if Adair MacMurtray was lost.
Lost.And a terrible shame that would be. All that warmth and brightness disappeared into the wild.
Surely Kendrick would send out a search party. Or—an entirely mad idea—she could go herself.
She knew the hunting grounds well enough. No one was so mad as to venture far into the interior, which was just trees and more trees. Here in Alba, most travel was done along the coast by watercraft.
But Toren and Kerr had deliberately led their cousin off.
She might never find him. Kendrick might not. Adair could well wander and die out there.
Alone.
And why should that bother her so? Aye, he was bonny. He was also trouble, and no one to cause this tug at her heart.
He meant nothing to her save an object of unexpected—and unwanted—attraction. Admittedly, a strong attraction.
She turned her back to the sea and eyed the land.
Would Alba be willing to surrender him?
*
The scramble upthe tree, a dark and bristling specimen, proved hot, sweaty, and painful. Worse, it did Adair little good. Though he climbed as high as he could, risking life and limb on the possibility of a fall, all he could see in any direction was more trees.
Not a hint of the sea. Not a breath of it. Not the rise of a mountain that would mark the farther interior.
He slithered back down, garnering several more scrapes and abrasions.
He could still feel someone watching him.
All right, if they were out there silently sniggering at his plight, he could wait them out. He sat down with his back against the tree and tried to think.
Would the pony lead him back home? It stood placidly, not trying to graze, as clouds fluttered overhead blocking out the sunlight. The fine day fast flew.
After a time, he realized he would have to do something. He got to his feet and called out.
“All right—ye’ve had your fun. If ye’re still there, let’s have done with this.”
A rustle, very faint from the far side of the clearing. Had they been there all the while? But it was neither of his cousins that stepped out into the glade.
*
“Toren and Kerrha’ gone and lost the cousin from Erin.”
Kendrick looked up sharply. He and Bradana’s mother were in the family quarters of the great dun—for once not arguing. Kendrick got slowly to his feet.
“Eh?”
“But they’ve gone hunting,” Mam protested mildly.
“They took him out under the guise o’ hunting and abandoned him, ye mean,” Bradana declared roundly. “They’ve just come back wi’out him.”
Kendrick swore.
“Is he gone, then?” Mam asked almost innocently. “Good riddance. Though he seemed a nice enough young man.”
