Page 36 of Sins of a Scot
“Ye can read me thoughts?”
The woman nodded.
“Me braither can dae the same, but he has tae put his hand upon the person.”
“And yer gift?” the woman asked.
Iseabail hesitated, and then realized her hesitation was ridiculous. If the woman could read her mind, there was not much she could keep from her anyway.
“I can compel people to dae as I ask.”
“Och, that is a good one.” The old woman nodded, sounding impressed. “Ye are on a mission, but ye must be careful. Dinnae lay yer hand upon the crystal ye are looking fer when ye find it. It will kill ye, child. It’s very important that ye remember that.”
Iseabail nodded, acknowledging her earlier suspicions. But now, excited that after all her searching, she had met someone who knew something about the crystal, she continued on.
“How dae ye ken about the crystal? Where can I find it?”
The woman shook her head. “That, I cannae tell ye, fer I dinnae ken. There have been many ‘afore ye who have looked fer it, but tae nay avail. It holds a magic o’ its own, and some say, it never remains in one place.” The old woman shrugged. “Old wives’ tales, maybe, I dinnae ken.”
“So ye cannae give me any clue as tae the direction I need tae go?” Iseabail asked, now feeling a sense of disappointment wash over her.
The old woman shook her head again. “I’m afraid nae. But it will kill ye if ye touch it. If ye dae find it, get that strapping man o’ yers tae carry it.” A wide beam lined her papery skinned face once more, but Iseabail did not smile with her.
If I dinnae kill him first.
“Dinnae be too angry with him. He wasnae thinking o’ himself when he challenged that man. He was angered by the way he was treating ye, and only fought him tae try and protect ye.”
Iseabail gazed at the woman in wonder. That was exactly what Owen had said, but she hadn’t believed him. Could this old woman be telling the truth?
“I am telling the truth. What reason have I got tae lie tae ye?”
Again, Iseabail gasped. “Surely, it is rude tae be inside someone else’s head like that.”
The old woman nodded. “Ye are right. I apologize. Sometimes I forget meself.”
Iseabail was working through what she had said only a moment ago, when suddenly, she remembered the crystal around Owen’s neck.
“How can ye ken his motivations fer the fight? He wears that crystal, and thus, yer powers dinnae work on him.”
“Nae, but I dae have eyes in me head, me dear. I dinnae always have tae use me gift tae see things. I watched the whole thing play out, and he was angry. The man was only trying tae protect ye.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw movement, and turning, Iseabail watched Owen approach. His shirt was now clean, a fresh one, she imagined, and he had a look that told her that he was still as angry with her as she with him.
Perhaps she had jumped to conclusions, but he still should have stayed out of it. Whatever his reasons, he had made an unnecessary scene, and perhaps, made them unnecessary targets.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After splashing water on his hands and face, Owen changed his shirt, discarding the other one after discovering it was torn. He hadn’t noticed the tear earlier, which meant, it must have happened during the fight.
The fight ye should never have had, according tae Lady Mackay.
He was fuming after their quarrel downstairs. Not only had she completely humiliated him in front of all those men, but she had made accusations that were founded on complete falsehoods.
“As if I would start a fight just for the fun o’ it,” he growled, pacing back and forth across the creaking floorboards. “Aye, because I clearly have naething better tae dae with me time, fer God’s sake.”
While he was angry with what she had said about his motivations, he could not deny her other points, though he hadnot conceded such to her face. His pride simply would not allow it.
But she has a point.
