Page 5 of The Seer

Past them were another pair of guards who attended to their duties with more seriousness. Dallis moved away from the door at a soft knock.

Guiles walked in, jaw set and slashes for brows lowered. “I got word earlier that the man we sent for has arrived. I will go with Niven to meet him at dawn. Ensure ye stay here. We can’t afford for father to get suspicious. Behave Dallis, I beg of ye.”

“Don’t treat me like a child. I know what is at stake. I just hope this man is as powerful as the tales we were told. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to carry forth in hopes whoever the spy is will not send a warning in time.”

She moved back to the window, looking back out. “Who else will go with ye?”

“No one, just Niven and me. It’s much too risky. Not knowing who to trust.”

Dallis nodded and met her brother’s gaze. “God go with ye brother.”

Her brother left and she sunk to the bed. Weariness weighed heavy on her shoulders while at the same time she felt too alert to sleep. Guiles was about to meet with the one person who could help them to find an infiltrator.

Falling back onto the bed, she considered how to deal with her father and plans for her marriage. Somehow, she’d put him off for a bit. With luck, the plan to unseat the Macpherson would be successful and the problem would go away. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure what to do. Of course, the right thing to do would be what was best for the people.

Her father was fair and just in not choosing her over the needs of many.

In this case, she was only one person who stood to lose the most from such a marriage. If her marriage to the loathsome Cronus Macpherson saved the lives of her people and there was no other choice, she’d do it without hesitation.

But in this instance, it would not matter. Liard Macpherson would not be friendly for long.

Of that she was sure.

Chapter 3

Rays of sunlight trickled through the dense forest, giving just enough light to see. Alasdair wasn’t sure why the men wanted to meet at dawn rather than at night when it would be easier to remain unnoticed. But, what did he care? If they were stupid enough to be out in broad daylight, he’d ensure his own safety before meeting with them.

A short distance from the opening of the caves, he dismounted and left his horse to feed on the new grasses. The animal would not leave, and Alasdair refused to tether his horse in case of danger. Like anyone else, his steed deserved a chance to survive.

On foot, he walked a bit before hiding behind bushes waiting to see who showed up. A few minutes later, deep voices sounded.

The man he’d met the night before was with a light-haired younger man. Alasdair narrowed his eyes and studied the pair.

“Are ye sure this is a good idea?” the younger man asked, looking in several directions.

The other man shrugged. “We’ll know soon enough.”

They dismounted and the man he’d met the night before blew out a breath. “If ye’re here, please join us.”

Alasdair set his jaw. He didn’t sense any aggression from the pair. Other than ill-concealed impatience, both were not a threat. He scanned the surroundings once more before walking out to meet them. Both turned, not expecting that he’d been so close by the lifting of their eyebrows.

The younger man slid a look to the other, obviously allowing the warrior to start the conversation.

“I am Niven, my companion is Guiles. That is all ye need to know about us.”

“Seems ye ask a lot of trust from me without returning it.” Alasdair walked in a circle, his arms behind his back. “May I remind ye gentlemen that my life is as much at stake as yers? If we are to enter into an agreement, which I have not decided upon, then I will need more than just yer names.”

The younger man nodded. “Men are rising against Laird Macpherson. To not only rid this area of him, but also his sons,” Guiles said, not revealing anything that Alasdair hadn’t already gathered from spending the night at the tavern up in the rafters. He’d overheard several whispers, sensed fears which meant he was pretty sure which men were part of a resistance.

Alasdair met each man’s gaze for a moment. “Ye are the leaders. The tavern owner, Fergus McVey, as well as Conner, a trusted clansman, and the Tavish brothers are all part of it. There are several women involved as well, they are mostly assisting in the capacity of planning and providing information.”

There was a long beat of silence. Niven took a step backward, taking a defensive stance. “How do ye know all of this?”

“Ye hired me to find out what I could about it, I assume.”

Guiles frowned. “Ye expect me to believe all this information came from eavesdropping?”

Taking a step forward, Alasdair brushed his hand over Guiles’ lower arm. “Not all from listening in, no. I have other...talents. Oh, and by the way, yer plan to marry a Macpherson is not going to work. The Gordon’s daughter is who ye will marry.”