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The air grew colder as they continued, and Trey had no doubt flurries would fall before long. Winter was making itself known.
Several hours later, with thick gray skies blocking any sign of the sun, they stopped for rest and sustenance. Trey and Roan took turns scouting the surrounding area, while Bliss and Dolca enjoyed the brief repose. With no signs of soldiers in the area, they felt it safe to continue and cover as much ground as possible before dusk.
By the time they made camp for the night, Trey could not help but wonder if perhaps this was one time Bliss could be wrong. Perhaps they would continue on with Roan and Dolca. He supposed he was hoping they would though in his heart he knew that when Bliss had a vision or sensed something, it would surely come to pass.
And it did, early the next morning, shortly after they had doused their campfire and begun the journey that would see him home soon. A young lad of about ten, skinny, with long brown hair, suddenly stumbled out of the surrounding woods and collapsed not far from them.
Trey was quick to go to him, cradling his limp body in his arms. Bliss was quick to work on healing him though it became apparent all too soon that it was food, drink, and rest he needed.
When they finally roused him, and he was able to speak, his first words were concern for his mother. “My mum needs help.”
“Easy, lad,” Trey urged, as the young boy struggled to stand.
“My mum is alone,” he said, forcing himself to his feet. “The soldiers came and took my da and me, claiming we were to fight for King Kenneth. My mum is close to birthing a babe, and my da helped me to escape so I could get home to help her.”
Bliss rested her hand on the lad’s shoulder. “We will help you.”
The lad collapsed to his knees in tears. “I fear for my mum and da.”
“First, let us see to helping your mum; and then we’ll see what we can do for your da,” Trey said. He was growing angrier at the abuse the common people suffered. And he knew time was growing nearer for the true king to take a stand and claim the throne. He would be glad to see it done so that the people could return to their land and, hopefully, live a peaceful life.
He wished the same for himself. He would fight and do what he must to help the true king, but it was a life with Bliss he wanted the most.
“Your name, lad?” Trey asked.
“Ian.”
With a few more questions asked, Trey had all the information he needed. “Ian,” he said, with a firm hand on the lad’s shoulder, “you’re going to be traveling on with Roan and Dolca to MacAlpin keep while Bliss and I go help your mum and bring her to you.”
Ian got to his feet with a bit of help from Trey. “I’ll be going with you and the lady,” he said adamantly. “My da trusted me to help my mum, and I won’t fail either of them. I go with you.”
Trey couldn’t imagine the exhausted lad’s taking another step, but before he could say anything, Bliss spoke.
“Of course you’ll come with us,” she said. “Your mum will be glad to see that you escaped and returned for her.”
Tears filled his brown eyes. “I need to get home to her and get her someplace safe.”
“We’ll see to that, Ian,” Trey said, “but as for now, you must be hungry. You’ll eat something before we leave.”
Trey’s firm tone left no room for argument, and so, when Dolca placed a comforting arm around Ian’s thin shoulders, he went without protest.
“I’ll check the area to make certain no one has followed him,” Roan said, and was gone.
Trey turned to Bliss. “You’ve seen something regarding the lad?”
“Only that it is necessary for him to go with us.”
Trey reached out and took her hand. “This could prove dangerous. We’re bound to run into soldiers. It would be better if you and the lad continued on with Roan and Dolca and let me see to bringing his mum home.”
“You have birthed a babe?” she asked with a smile.
“She will give birth?”
Bliss nodded and continued smiling. “A beautiful little girl, and her brother will be as protective of her as he is of his mum.”
“As I am of you,” he said, running his finger down along her cheek and lightly over her lips. “I will be glad when we finally have time for us.”
“We need to leave,” Roan said suddenly appearing. “I found fresh tracks to the south, a single one followed by many. They send a scout ahead.”
