Neacal nodded. "I'll take Dunn and he'll find her in a trice. Don't tell anyone I've gone."
Badger frowned. "What about your bodyguards?"
"I'll let you in on a secret—I need no bodyguards. 'Tis likely, if we ran into conflict, I would have to protect them."
The two laughed. 'Haps he was insulting his bodyguards, but 'twas the price he had to pay for alleviating these two guards' concern for his safety. Besides, Neacal was a more highly skilled soldier than any of his men, bodyguards or otherwise.
"Though I doubt I'll need them, could you bring me a bow and two dozen arrows from the armory?" Neacal already wore his sword, dirk and threesgian dubhknives. While Miller retrieved the weapons, Neacal had the stable lad to saddle his black horse, Swain. Once that was completed, he mounted.
"Come, Dunn."
"Will you be back before dark?" Miller asked, handing him the bow and quiver full of arrows.
"Aye, if I find her in the village." Neacal hoped he could as he rode through the gates. But more, he hoped he found Anna before she ran into highwaymen or outlaws. Why on earth would she leave the castle walls close to dark, or anytime for that matter? He couldn't understand her. Obviously, she had far more secrets than he'd imagined.
Leaving the portcullis behind, he urged the horse into a gallop. He doubted Anna was running. He would catch up with her in no time. If she was in Bearach Village, finding her should be easy.
He slowed as he approached the community, then asked four different villagers if they'd seen a blond woman in a tattered cloak. Within minutes, he learned she was headed south toward Acharacle. Why the devil would she go there? He doubted she knew anyone in the area. Was she running from something or someone?
Once they left Bearach Village, Swain galloped along the narrow trail. Although Neacal was eager to find Anna posthaste, the wind in his hair gave him a sense of heightened exhilaration for a moment. He'd been cooped up too long behind the castle's walls. Was Anna the same way? Did she have wanderlust in her veins?
The brilliant colors of sunset reflected in the rushing waters of the River Shiel as he galloped along the trail beside it and through the narrow wood by the cliffs. He must hurry, for night would be upon them soon. Once he'd left the trees behind,Clachan nan Sìtheachcame into view upon the heathery hillside. His clan had many legends about this standing stone circle.
Dunn barked and veered off the trail.
Neacal slowed the horse, then stopped, watching the dog snuffling at the ground. Fortunately, Dunn had an amazing nose and could sniff out anything long before he encountered it.
"What is it, lad?" Had he found Anna? Or was it an outlaw?
