His eyes were always trained on the woods. Watching.
His ears were always tuned into the land and trees surrounding them. Listening.
The two women talked nonstop as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Which was good for him. Their incessant babble acted as a buffer to any missteps he took.
But, more than once, he’d attracted Errol’s attention.
Even with how careful he’d been, he’d made mistakes.
Like getting too close to the women right now. He could hear them as they relieved themselves. The soft trickle falling onto the pine needle covered ground.
He’d made the mistake of not paying attention and stepped on a twig. It cracked loud enough for them to give pause. He’d froze, afraid to even breathe for fear that they would see him.
They didn’t though. Instead, believing they were perfectly safe, they likened the noise to a roaming animal and moved on.
Something his father would have done.
“I will keep our secrets. No one will ken about what our family has done,” he whispered.
It had been a secret that they’d kept safe for generations. Passed down through the years.
But none of them were aware of the treasure hunt that had been hidden away. A hunt that alluded to sins of the past, he was sure. He needed to stop Errol and Moira from reaching the last clue. It would ruin everything.
He’s lucky that he’d caught wind of their conversation when they spoke of what she’d found and their plans to uncover it.
He couldn’t let that happen.
Refused to let it happen.
Last in their family or not.
Their secret would die with him.
Chapter Five
Their journey wasoff to a rough start. Their party had been cut in half and they weren’t even through the first day.
Moira had been talking incessantly. It was as if she didn’t need to breathe air. He just wanted a few moments of silence.
He was beginning to think that Robbie got the better end of this deal with being able to return to the keep.
Finally, their destination came into view.
As the map illustrated, a copse of trees lay ahead, an old worn path leading right down the middle of them and disappearing into the darkness beyond.
He looked over at Moira as they approached, her mouth forming a small ‘o’.
“’Tis just like the map stated,” she whispered.
“Aye.”
She spurred her horse forward, and he cursed.
“Moira, slow yer approach!” He commanded. Who kenned what waited for them beyond the trees. He still wasn’t fully convinced that this wasn’t some sort of trap, but seeing how his sister was supposed to accompany them, that was more unlikely.
Moira would never put the life of her friend in danger.
Pulling on the reins, she slowed the horse and spun around to him.
