Page 4 of Sins of a Scot
Och, nae. Ye dinnae get away from me that easily.
Iseabail took a step forward and grabbed the man by his collar. Looking directly into his eyes, she said, “Now, ye will forget everything I have just told ye.”
The man’s pupils dilated for a second, and then he blinked several times, looking at her like she was mad.
“What are ye doing?” he grunted, looking at her hand still holding on to his clothes. “What just happened?”
Iseabail smiled and released him, knowing her powers had worked.
“Och, naething really,” she said, dropping her hand and stepping back.
It had felt good to get that all out, but no one could know why she was there or what she was doing. Her powers had served her well over the years. Having the ability to compel people, to have them do whatever she wanted, had saved her from more difficult situations than she could remember. Both she and her brother had inherited powers from their mother’s side, though their gifts were not the same. While she could get people to do her bidding, Keane could read someone’s mind if he laid his hand upon them.
Their gifts were a privilege neither of them took lightly, nor did they abuse them. She was certain, however, that the quest Laird Sutherland had sent her on had something to do with powershe himself possessed, and she also had her suspicions about the reason he was so keen to get his hands on that damned crystal.
When her father and brother were first taken, Iseabail had felt completely helpless. She didn’t know what to do or where to even begin to start looking for the crystal. But she had had to start somewhere. Gathering the council, she had discussed what she planned to do, although none of the men were in agreement.
Every one of them had been against her travelling alone, telling her she was putting herself in unnecessary danger, and yet, she had little choice. She could not bring unnecessary attention to herself. A lady wandering about with a group of guards at her side was hardly going to get anyone to open up to her. She had to remain as anonymous as possible. She had to be able to get in and out of situations quickly.
As terrifying as the prospect was, she had to do this alone.
Behind the burly man, a group of people seem to be hurrying toward a back room.
“What’s going on back there?” she asked, standing on her tiptoes and attempting to see behind him.
The man frowned and shook his head. “Och, that’s nay place fer a lass as delicate as yersel’. Ye’re better off staying in here.”
Iseabail looked him directly in the eye. “Tell me what is going on back there.”
The man blinked several times and then said, “There’s a fight tonight. There’s much excitement because the strongest man in all these lands is here, and many are eager tae see him.”
“Take me,” Iseabail demanded.
Without hesitation, the burly man led the way, pushing through the people who surrounded them. He passed through a doorway, and then turned into a room. Three wooden steps led down into the huge space that seemed packed from wall to wall with men. There was not one other woman present. But even her presence did not distract them, for they all seemed to be focused on something else. All eyes were gazing expectantly at the middle of the room, where a large space remained vacant. Clearly, the place where the men were going to fight.
While the burly man continued pushing his way forward, Iseabail held back and was about to slip into the crowd, when a bellow came from behind her on the steps. Spinning around, her mouth fell open at the sight of a huge man falling head first towards her. Iseabail froze, stunned by the sight of it, and could only wait for the man to land on her. Suddenly, she felt an arm grab her waist and spin her away. The man landed on the ground with a heavy thud and an even louder groan, only a second later.
The crowd roared with laughter, but Iseabail was far more concerned with turning to see who had saved her, for the man still held her at the waist.
“That was a little too close fer comfort,” he exclaimed, beaming a dashing grin at her.
Well, she imagined, by the shape of his striking blue eyes, that he was grinning, for the man wore a mask that covered the entirety of his face. It was black, like his hair, and made of leather, and quite took Iseabail by surprise. No more so than the size of him, for as he towered above her, she could feel his strong body against her own as he still held her.
“Thank ye,” she breathed as she righted herself.
“It is I who should be thanking ye,” he growled. “I’m the envy o’ every man in here.”
Iseabail blushed and dropped her gaze at his forthrightness. “That’s nay surprise, given I’m the only woman present.”
He tilted his head to the side and gazed down at her. “I dinnae think that has much tae dae with it, dae ye?”
For the first time in her life, Iseabail felt butterflies in her stomach. She was no stranger to attention, but there was something about this man that unnerved her.
“Well, I must away,” he declared. And spinning on his heels, he disappeared into the crowd as quickly as he had arrived.
As she was still recovering from their intense interaction, the burly man from earlier was suddenly at her side again.
“I cannae believe it,” he gasped, gawking down at her. “That is the very man I spoke o’ earlier. He’s the strongest warrior. It is he who will fight tonight.”
