Page 80 of The Scottish Bride
“Very deliberate. We were forced to move with the English thinning the forest toward the Shaws, where we had roots for a few years. This place, near Eldin Linn, is closer to Selkirk. The Sheriff of Selkirkshire is Aymer de Valence, one of Edward’s trusted generals, so we are wary. But we are fortunate in the new sheriff deputy.”
“The deputy?” Liam asked.
“A young knight sent here by Edward, but I suspect he is amenable to the cause.”
“Can we be certain of his loyalty?” Liam asked. “The delivery we must make depends on that.”
“Delivery?” Tamsin asked, looking from one to the other.
“The goods your brother brought here, with the young lady? I believe so. Bruce trusts this deputy. He is young, but smart.Looks the other way when he rides through the forest—and tells Valence he can find no sign of rebels.”
“Interesting.” Liam pushed another leafy branch out of the way for Tamsin.
“He reported to Valence that the rebels are too elusive and cannot be found easily,” James went on quietly, walking beside him. “The deputy showed me the letter when we met at Wildshaw. Edward’s general believes him, and Bruce trusts him.”
“It is a tricky matter to balance both sides. Many of us have a foot in both camps.”
“An art, I vow. You will meet him,” James said. “Decide for yourself.”
Liam nodded. Sensing Tamsin’s curiosity, he knew he had not yet explained his larger mission for Bruce, the matter of rents and the growing list of those loyal to the cause. He owed her that, though it was crucial to the task to remain guarded, and part of his very nature to be reserved. Crucial, too, he thought, to be skeptical about this newcomer in the mix.
As they walked, he kept a guiding hand ready, knowing Tamsin was inexperienced on these paths and had to manage skirts as she went. At least he was not wearing cumbersome armor. At Holyoak, he had changed his chain mail in favor of his ring-studded leather hauberk over tunic and trews, with a hooded capelet of chain mail over the leather. Though not as protective, it would do. He carried a sheathed sword at his back and a dagger on his wide leather belt, and he had a shield—the Seton gold sheaves on a blue field—should threat arise. He had borrowed from Gideon’s own gear kept at Holyoak. His brother had not given up the trappings of his old life entirely, still undecided.
The deeper they penetrated the woodland, the less chance there was of threat, he knew. The trees were so thick anddensely leafed in places that little could be seen ahead, and steep hillsides formed dangerous angles into crevasses where a man could slide down, hitting branches, bracken, and rock, all the way to rushing streams.
Aware of that, he reached out to help Tamsin. But she did not need his bracing hand as she forged her way through the path with the others.
The tree cover was thick along the way, with ferns and bracken dense underfoot. The way was surrounded with late blooming buckthorn, cranberry, and rowan, with their red and orange berries. Patches of late straggling heather and gorse grew in clumps, crowding, lush, alive. Here and there, creatures skittered and flitted, and noisy streams sluiced and burbled on their own pathways, while small waterfalls poured from rock to rock. Ahead, light filtered through the treetops in sunset beams. Soon evening would shed cool light over all.
At last he heard the sounds of laughter and a few shouts, and smelled the rich smoke of charring meat. Seeing the glow of a fire, he glimpsed the encampment, seeing the side of a wattled hut.
Walking quickly now, they crossed a narrow burn, stepping stone to stone over the swirling water that formed a natural moat. Here Liam took Tamsin’s arm as she kept her balance. Then James Lindsay pushed aside a network of branches to reveal a tiny rustic village in a clearing at the heart of the forest.
The opening James made snapped closed behind them as they entered the space.
Beside him, Tamsin gasped softly as she took it all in, crying out in delight as two young women approached. Liam recognized both—Kirsty, her long dark curls flying out behind her as she rushed forward, and her companion, a black-haired beauty with eyes bright as his own and a sweetly enlarged belly.
“Isobel!” He stepped forward to embrace her.
“I was startledat first to see the harper,” Kirsty said. “We thought him dead!” She took Tamsin’s arm as they circled the clearing, finding time at last to talk.
“I remember. And then he turned up a knight.”
“With orders to remove me from Thornhill. Orders from Bruce!”
“Aye,” Tamsin murmured. A little thrill of pride went through her at the knowledge that her handfasted husband was wholly dedicated to the Scottish cause. She had needed to hear it, needed to be in his confidence. He had more secrets, she was sure, ones he needed to keep close. And she also knew that King Edward could still find a way to keep Liam under his thumb. That royal threat was a common burden to many Scottish knights. She sighed, then smiled at Kirsty as her cousin talked on.
“—And Sir Gilchrist and Sir Finley were so courteous. Finley, especially, made sure to help me. He is still here, you know. He stayed here so I would not feel I was in a group of strangers. I thought it very kind.”
“I have not seen them. Are they here?”
“They go out on patrol day and night. James Lindsay is a strong leader. I like him quite a bit. That bird of his, though, is a rascal. It throws more fits than a child, I vow. Have you met Lady Isobel?”
“Just briefly. She is Liam’s cousin. They were keen to talk.” She glanced across the clearing to see Liam seated with the lady, a true beauty with ice-blue eyes. They had their heads together, deep in conversation.
“You will like her very much. There is something unique about her, as if she knows all you are thinking with those eyes of hers. But she is gentle and kind.”
“Seton eyes. Liam has them too. His eyes absolutely pierce through you.”
