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Again, Sky could not hide her surprise. “You have?”

Ruth nodded. “Aye, when I was young my da and I traveled to his sister’s clan after my mum died. He left me with her and took off. I never saw him again. It was on our travels there that I saw the young woman with the strange eye color. My da and I traveled a well-worn path to get here and met fellow travelers along the way. He would nod pleasantly to some and ignore others. Those, he would tell me, are not our kind and it was best to avoid them. One day we encountered a group of three men and two women. The younger woman had eyes like yours. They approached from the opposite direction we traveled. My da cautioned me not to look at them.”

“But being a child and curious, you could not help but sneak a peek,” Sky said, understanding.

Ruth chuckled. “Aye, I could not help but look. I had never seen anyone as beautiful as she was and to me her different colored eyes only made her more beautiful. And with my child’s imagination running wild, I believed her to be a magical creature. Especially once it was confirmed for me by a strange occurrence. I glanced back for one last look and saw a small bird land on her shoulder, and it looked as though he whispered in her ear. The next thing I knew they all disappeared into the forest.”

“Your da never said anything more about them?”

“Only that they were foreigners and not to be trusted. The incident faded with time, and I never saw them or anyone like them again until you arrived here, and the memory of that day returned more vividly. I wondered if perhaps you are related to the woman I saw, but then I learned you were one of the Murdock sisters and realized it was not possible. Although I cannot get over how much you resemble her and that you have the same different colored eyes as she did.”

“It is good to know that I am not the only one with such eyes,” Sky said, wondering if it was possible she somehow was related to the woman.

“And then there is the way animals so easily trust you as the bird did with the woman,” Ruth said. “I do hope you make Clan Ravinsher your home. It would be nice to have someone with your beauty and kindness reside among us.” She lowered her voice. “But be careful. I see the way Lord Slayer looks at you. It is obvious he favors you and he will need to find a wife soon enough and produce an heir.”

Sky recalled that Slayer introduced her as a guest at Clan Ravinsher. Was Warrand’s forthcoming marriage to her never made known?

It was a question she hoped Ruth might know the answer to, although she did not ask it directly. “I thought I recalled hearing something about a marriage being arranged for Warrand.”

“Aye, it was time for Warrand to wed but Lord Bannaty had yet to decide on a union that would benefit the clan.”

So, the clan was never told of Warrand’s forthcoming nuptials, but why? Why would Lord Bannaty hide it?

“Lord Bannaty always did what was best for the clan and Lord Slayer is doing the same. The clan will always come first to him and that is the way it should be,” Ruth said. “I should be going. I promised Wade oat cakes today. You must visit me soon. We can share a hot brew.”

Never had Sky been invited for a hot brew with anyone and her face lit with a smile at the invitation. “I would love to.”

Ruth stood and Sky stood with her.

“Midmorning is a good time for a visit on any given day,” Ruth said.

“I will see you soon,” Sky said, looking forward to it.

Ruth stopped after taking only a few steps and turned around. “I just remembered something about that encounter with the woman who shares your eye color. She carried a pup with her in a pouch, much like you carry the kitten at times.” She shook her head. “It was probably a young lass’ imagination, but I could have sworn it was a wolf cub she carried.”

Sky remained where she was, lost in thought. Was there any significance to the wolf cub and her repetitive dream about the wolf she had when she was young? Could it possibly have something to do with where she came from and who she truly was?

“Oona, you should not be bothering the lady,” Glynis scolded her daughter.

“She is my friend. Angel is too,” Oona said, hugging the kitten.

The young lass’ words touched Sky’s heart, and she smiled. “Oona is no bother, and she is right. Angel and I are her friends.”

Glynis glanced around, seeing that the garden workers had ceased working and were staring at her.

“I understand,” Sky said, drawing Glynis’s attention. “It is difficult to be dismissed by your clan because you do not think as they do.”

“Mummy, look.” Oona pointed to Sky’s braid. “The flower. I picked it for her. She put it in her hair.” The lass giggled. “It looks pretty.”

Glynis smiled. “It does look pretty, Oona, and that was very kind of you to do.”

Oona abandoned the kitten to scurry over to Sky and attach herself to her leg with a hug. “I like her. She is nice. Be her friend too, Mummy.”

“Aye, Oona, Sky is nice,” Glynis said and looked at Sky. “And I would like to be her friend.”

“I would like that as well,” Sky said.

“We will chat the next time Oona plays with the kitten,” Glynis offered.