Page 88 of Moon Craving

She thought so anyway; maybe the warrior did know and didn't want to share. "And

he's hunting right now?"

"Aye."

She looked over the clearing where four horses fed, her husband's dark stallion,

the horse she had seen Niall ride, one she assumed the other soldier rode and the mare

she had ridden for part of the journey--when she was not sharing a steed with her new

husband. "He is hunting without his horse?"

"Aye."

"Is that common?"

Niall shrugged, but then surprised her by adding, "Sometimes Talorc prefers to

hunt completely alone."

"What of the other clansmen? They are with him, aren't they?"

"They are hunting, but not with their laird."

"Oh." She didn't understand it but merely added the instance to the growing list of

things these strange Highlanders did and said that made little sense to her. "I see. Why

aren't you hunting?"

"I am guarding you."

"Oh." She said again, when nothing more fitting came to her. Then she shrugged.

She could not expect Talorc to dance attendance on her. And honestly, the less time she

spent in his company, the less chance he would have to learn her secret. "Can you guard

me on a walk? We have spent so much time riding, I crave the exercise of stretching my

legs."

"If that is your wish."

"It is."

So, they walked and she asked Niall questions about what she should expect once

they reached the clan.

He shrugged. "The Sinclairs have little love for the English. I fear your sister did not

enjoy her short stay among us."

"She called Talorc a goat."

"Aye. It did not endear her to our people." Though Niall seemed more amused than