“Hart and MacLeod.” Errol said, recognizing the emblems of both clans. “Why the hell would someone hide away our coats of arms together?”
Chapter Six
Moira couldn’t believeher luck. The hunt was real. Not some fool’s chase that would lead to naught.
She looked at Errol and could see the disbelief on his face. She kenned he thought she had been telling tall tales when she first approached him with the map and the treasure. He was skeptical. The more she thought on that, she couldn’t really fault him. He had no reason to believe aught that she said.
But with these two tiny pieces, she felt like she’d proven a point. They were made of silver, she was sure of it. The symbols from each of their clan’s coat of arms were pressed into the metal.
It made no sense that they would be hidden away together.
“We should go. We can make it to the nearby inn to sup.” Errol said, pushing up from the ground beside her.
“I will make sure our things are still in order.” Seema rushed out the door and Moira found herself alone in the chapel.
Now that she’d found what she had been searching for, she took in the beauty of the old chapel. Afore it was a ruin, it must have been beautiful.
She should go so she can meet up with Seema and Errol and they can make their way to the inn afore continuing on to the next place on the map. She could picture colorful tapestries decorating the walls. Velvet runners covering the table and altar. It would have lookedgrand for certs.
As she stood, the small cubicle she’d opened earlier caught her attention. She looked around, but she was alone.
Reaching inside, she pulled another item. It was a small scroll of parchment. Fighting the temptation to read it here, she shoved it into her pocket, unsure if she wanted to share it with the others. She would read it first and then decide whether she would or not.
Errol popped his head inside. “Are ye coming?”
“Aye.”
Her eyes swept the space one more time for aught she may have missed and then she slipped outside.
“Where’s Seema?”
Errol shifted from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable, before finally saying, “In the trees.” He cleared his throat and quickly turned his attention back to his horse.
Moira rolled her eyes. Was it really that difficult to say she was attending to her personal matters? She did not understand how when men had no issue talking so bawdy amongst themselves. She’d heard plenty of conversations betwixt her brothers and other men in Hartsmoor. They were crude in their speech and vulgar in some of the movements used to express what they spoke of.
They waited a few minutes more but when Seema didn’t emerge from the tree line, Moira looked at Errol uncertainly. “Do ye think she is well?” She asked.
Errol’s brows drew together as he unsheathed his sword. “Would it matter if I told ye to stay here while I check?”
She crossed her arms. “Ye ken verra well that I am going to follow ye. She’s my friend. I need to ensure her safety.”
“She’s yer maid.”
True. She was. But Moira also considered Seema a friend. They had practically grown up together. And when Seema became an age where she needed to find a position, Moira had insisted that she beassigned to her. Not because she wanted to be waited on hand and foot. She didn’t. But having Seema by her side for everything meant that their friendship could continue.
And it had. Though they did have to follow the societal norms and positions warranted by their statuses. Never once did it dampen their friendship and Moira was forever grateful for that.
“Friendships can be borne from spending so much time together. But, alas, Seema and I were friends long afore she became my maid.”
He grunted. As if the idea was preposterous.
“Stay by my side and doonae run ahead.”
Moira rolled her eyes but did as she was told.
Walking to the trees, Moira tried to peer through the thick brush and beyond, into the darkness of the forest.
It didn’t take them long to find Seema. She was doubled over, clutching her stomach and Moira rushed to her side.
