Ye are not losing it, silly child.A gentle breeze swirled around Lilia, riffling through her hair as though attempting to console her.Did I not tell ye I would check in on ye from time to time?
Eliza’s voice disappeared, making Lilia think that maybe she hadn’t really heard the feisty old woman after all.
I’ll be moving on soon but I wanted to have a wee word wi’ ye before I left. Course, I’ll pop in every now and then. Ne’er ye fret around that.
Lilia slowly backed away from the pool’s edge, swallowing hard and breathing deeply as she looked around the clearing. Keeping her voice low, partly to keep from being found and partly because she felt more than a little odd talking to thin air, she had to argue. “But I can’t see you. How do I know I’m not cracking up?”
Did ye not always tell me I would be in yer heart?
Lilia pulled her jacket tighter around her. August or not, she was suddenly quite chilled. Maybe it really was Eliza. “Yes. I did say that—many times,” she whispered.
Ye hear me in yer thoughts because ye have me in yer heart—and because ye have the sight. There is that as well. After all, ye are a Sinclair, child.
Emotions churning, the threat of tears burned her eyes. Lilia swallowed hard, then cleared her throat. She didn’t need this now. Eliza’s loss was still a raw open wound that would have to be tended to later. She had to focus on saving Graham.“Unless you can tell me how to rescue Graham and Angus, I’m really not up to having a chat right now. I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
Ye ken as well as I what ye need do.
“I need a fire so I can talk to Granny.” Lilia paced alongside the pool; hands fisted at her sides. She stopped walking and glared up into the treetops, forcing herself to continue speaking in a soft whisper when she really wanted to shout. “You told me I shouldn’t build one because the Buchanans had left some watchmen behind. So, what am I supposed to do now?”
The familiar sound of Eliza’s old habit of clearing her throat when she was attempting to steer conversations where she wished them to go echoed through Lilia’s mind.
I appreciate ye looking up when ye speak to me—much nicer than looking downward.
Lilia was in no mood for Eliza’s sense of humor although it did affirm that maybe it really was her recently passed guardian chattering inside her head. “So what is my plan, Eliza? Sneak up on their camp? Steal their horses? What?”
See? I kent ye’d already thought up a fine ploy. Now . . . get on with it. I’ve much to do but I wanted to see ye on yer way before I left ye for a bit. I kent ye’d be finer than the King’s crown, but I had to be certain. Ye make me proud, lass, and I ken yer fine stubbornness will always see ye through.
Steal their horses and then haul ass to MacKenna Keep for reinforcements. One rider could cover a lot of ground fast. Faster than a group of men dragging two prisoners behind their horses. Prisoners that they dare not kill for fear of their chieftain’s wrath.
Buchanan lands were situated quite a bit farther south of the MacKenna stronghold. Graham had told her so when they were planning the jump back. If she could make it to MacKenna Keep in a day’s ride, there’d be plenty of time to round up the men she needed to rescue Graham and kick some Buchanan ass.
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to point the way to the Buchanans’ spy camp?” Lilia waited, listening hard. The only sound she heard was the gurgling water from the spring and the wind rushing through the trees. “Now?You pick now to move on?” Still no response from Eliza.
“Great,” Lilia muttered as she yanked her backpack out of the tangled curtain of ivy then carefully draped the vines back in place over Graham’s pack and the supplies she couldn’t carry. Time to travel light and fast.
She paused before taking up her walking stick. She didn’t really need it but she just couldn’t leave it behind. Graham had carved two intertwined hearts just above the smoothed handgrip. He had carefully stripped away all the rough bark for the sake of her palms, carved the hearts, then placed it in her hands with a loving kiss. The gnarled walking stick had become a precious gift. Tears threatened again, setting off a prickling burn in her eyes. With a hard shake of her head, she hurried into the woods, stepping carefully with as little commotion as possible. No time for tears. Not now.
Rather than take the easier path back to the cliff’s summit, she stayed to the brush-filled ravines and fissures. She hated the delay of the rougher route but she had to stay hidden—at least until dark. She moved as quietly as she could, constantly straining to hear any sound that might signal she wasn’t alone. The only emotional energy her senses detected was her own tormented misery.
Eliza had said the Buchanan men were camped on the far side of the cliffs. She wished her mentor had said how many.As the shadows lengthened, she moved faster, changing her path to the easier footing that was now sheltered by the late afternoon shadows.
By dusk, she’d reached the point where the time portal had spit them out. She paused, crouching between the rough sides of a pair of fallen rocks, and surveyed the area. There didn’t appear to be anyone around but the dirt of the clearing was covered with more bootprints than would’ve been made by Graham and Angus. Deep boot prints. Heavy steps. After a deep drink from her water bottle, she closed her eyes and leaned against one of the cold gray stones. She needed to concentrate. If she was close enough, she would be able tofeelthe Buchanan guards.
Nothing stirred—even the wind had died with the setting sun.
Beyond the cliffs.That was where Eliza had said the watchman were camped. Which cliffs and how far? And how many men were there? Dammit, Eliza.
Frustration. Impatience. Jealousy. Envy.For the first time since Graham’s capture, the hint of a smile tickled the corners of her mouth. There they were.“Lead me to you,” she whispered. “Keep feeling.”Ever so quietly she scanned the area as she moved forward with painstakingly slow careful movements.
Then she heard them. A low humming of deep voices. Farther west. The men couldn’t be very far past the ridge where the time portal had opened.
“Never again, says I. Never again.” One man who sounded younger with the husky up-and-down pitch of raging hormones.
“Never again what?” A sharp intake of breath and a loud yawn. Another man. Definitely older. And bored.
Lilia crept closer, tightening her hold on her staff just in case. It wasn’t the best weapon in the world but it was better than nothing.
“I ain’t never again staying back to keep watch. Gonna make’m cast lots to choose the one that has to do it. Ain’t fair to me just cause I’m the youngest.”
