Page 110 of Laird of Smoke
Most of the tournament participants had already arrived at Darrah and wouldn’t be leaving for another two days.So she had the path through the woods to herself.
She wasn’t sure if it was the favorable weather or the heavenly afterglow of lovemaking, but she felt curiously alive as she ambled along the road.
Bees hummed through the summer-heavy air.Butterflies sipped from nodding blossoms.The sun dribbled down through patches of new green leaves like butter melting onto the path.
Despite the distracting delights of the forest, she knew danger might lurk around every corner.A wee part of her was always wary.And that part of her started feeling…watched.
Watched and followed.
Whoever was trailing her was careful.They didn’t draw too near.They didn’t make much noise.
If she were asked how she knew someone was there, she wasn’t even sure she could say.She justfeltthem.
As long as they didn’t approach, there was no need for concern.She’d be back at the convent before long.
Still, it diminished a bit of her pleasure as she strode along the path.She could no longer casually muse about her future with Adam.She couldn’t enjoy the songs of birds calling through the branches.Or the lazy afternoon treks of squirrels in the oak canopy.And she was compelled to find a very thick stand of concealing brush when she could no longer go without relieving herself.
She was almost all the way to the convent when she stopped by a stream to take a drink.She used the opportunity to steal a surreptitious glance in their direction from beneath her feathered cap.The last thing she needed was to bring trouble home to her sisters.
She caught only a quick glimpse before they hastily retreated the way they had come.But it was enough.
There were two of them.And they wore the colors of the king.
Chapter 18
Sometimes Adam had to marvel at just how invisible he was.
Fergus’s men didn’t seem to notice he’d been gone for the better part of two days, competing in the tournament at Darragh.
At least once a sennight, he wandered afield to report to the king, yet no one missed him.
And now the two commanders muttering together in Fergus’s armory paid no heed to the fact that Adam sat nearby, absently polishing his sword while hanging on their every word.
They debated in hushed tones of fear and anger and frustration.
“We’re outnumbered, I tell ye.The king will slaughter the whole clan.”
“For a wee bit o’ raidin’?Ballocks.”
“’Tis more than raidin’, and ye know it.Fergus has…ambitions.”
“He only wants to take back what’s rightfully ours.”
“Reivin’ cattle is one thing.But why is he besiegin’ holdin’s that ne’er belonged to us?And why is he collectin’ oaths o’ fealty from other clans?”
“To keep the peace.”
“He doesn’t want peace.He wants power.”
“Is that so bad?It seems the king would rather dally in France than rule at home.”
“He’s not in France now.He came home to Scotland, and now he’s at our threshold.He’s already laid two villages to waste.”
Adam blinked.Was that true?Spying on Fergus’s movements for the king, he hadn’t paid much heed to the king’s movements.
“All the more reason to defend ourselves and fight back.”
“Against the entire royal army?”
