Page 11 of Highlander Redeemed (Guardians of the Targe #3)

S COTIA DID NOT slow down as she made her way to the caves. In spite of the aches and fatigue settling into her body, ’twas all she could do not to sprint back.

Her mind raced with the implications if her ability really could be used as a weapon.

If she and Duncan could convince Nicholas that her knowing , something that she had not understood was unique to her, was of use in the coming battle, it would not matter if she had time to complete her training as a warrior.

It would not matter that she was not a Guardian.

The chief and the Guardians would need her to be part of the battle to rid them of the English.

’Twould still be up to the Guardians to figure out how to keep the rest of the English out of the Highlands, but this latest force would be done for.

She tripped over a tree root, letting loose an epithet worthy of a warrior as she fought to keep her feet. Duncan caught her arm, righting her just before she fell.

“Slow down. ’Twill help nothing if you kill yourself tumbling down the ben.”

Scotia pulled her arm out of his grip and slowed her pace just enough to mind where she put her feet.

It irritated her that he was right, and that his touch, his nearness, pulled her attention back to their kiss.

She had meant to ask him why he kissed her, but she didn’t really want to know.

Just as she didn’t want to know why she had reacted as she had, kissing him back when she had intended to bite him and free herself.

She did not need answers to either question because it would never happen again.

She would not be distracted from her goal by anyone.

No more kissing , she admonished herself. No lads to distract her, especially not Duncan, who had always been like an annoying older brother to her. Though she had to admit there had been nothing remotely brotherly about that kiss. Heat started to gather low in her stomach again.

Nay, she must focus. She could not think of Duncan that way. ’Twould be of no purpose, for he was clearly as caught by surprise at the intensity of their kiss as she was. Neither of them wanted to see where that path might lead.

He was her teacher, nothing more. He would train her. He would help her convince Nicholas that she was of use in the coming battle.

“Do you truly believe Nicholas and the council will let me go into battle because of this knowing ?” She threw the question at him over her shoulder, but before he could respond a flash of knowing stopped her cold, and he almost ran into her.

Her first thought was that her imagination was busy today, but then she realized this was another knowing , and if it was true, their allies needed help.

As soon as she’d accepted what she knew another flash sped her feet again.

“Scotia?” Duncan called from behind her. “What is it?” But she did not have breath enough to spare to answer him.

“Nicholas?” she yelled as she skidded to a stop in the clearing near the largest of the cookfires. “Rowan, Jeanette! Where are you?”

Rowan stepped out of the dark maw of the main cave, wiping her hands on her skirts.

“You bellowed, cousin? Jeanette is tending to the bairn. I’ve sent lads and lasses out to let the other searchers know the bairn was found.

They should be back soon ...” She was smiling until she really looked at Scotia, then at Duncan.

Rowan turned back to the cave and summoned Jeanette immediately .

Jeanette came out, blinking in the soft light of the late afternoon. “Maisie will be fine, if that is what you are wanting to know,” she said. “You made quick work of finding her, Duncan.”

“’Twas Scotia who found her,” Duncan said, looking around the clearing.

“Scotia?”

Scotia waved a hand to silence everyone. “Where is Nicholas? I have news that he will need.”

“News? What news?” Jeanette asked. Several women, including Ceit with Maisie still sniffling in her arms, stepped up behind Jeanette, their faces unwelcoming but curious.

“’Tis news for the chief and Guardians,” Scotia said, scowling at the other women.

Jeanette looked behind her and must have said something, for the women melted back into the darkness of the cave. She led the way to the council circle, Rowan behind her with Scotia and Duncan bringing up the rear. ’Twas as far away as one could get from the main cave and still be in the clearing.

“Nicholas is still out searching for Maisie. What news have you, sister?” Jeanette asked.

Scotia stood mute, once more doubting the knowledge she had. She was sure Jeanette and Rowan would scoff at her knowings .

“Whatever it is, Scotia, tell us,” Duncan said quietly. “Tell us what you know .” The subtle emphasis on the last word was lost on Rowan and Jeanette, but she heard it and took courage from his belief.

“Lord Sherwood, the English soldier with the white lock of hair Jeanette saw, the one Nicholas said he knows, is setting up a trap for our allies who have been harrying his detachment as they travel here from the shore. They must be warned before they attack again tonight.”

Rowan and Jeanette simultaneously asked, “What?” and “How do you ken this?” .

“Where?” Duncan asked. “Do you know where?”

She closed her eyes and concentrated on the flash of knowing she had received. “Nay, not exactly, but they are not yet in the mountains.”

“And ’tis tonight the trap will be sprung?” he asked.

She nodded, carefully examining the knowing again. “Aye, tonight. ’Tis as if I know Sherwood’s thoughts ... at least this thought. Do you think I really do?”

Duncan shook his head. “I dinna ken, but I think anything is possible. They are not in the mountains? Can you tell if they are coming by river or over land?”

She closed her eyes and groped for more information but found none.

“I cannot say, but if the English were traveling on the river, they would not encamp on the shore each night, would they? Our allies would have little chance to attack them in the night if they stayed aboard boats. Besides, it would take too many boats to bring so many to Glen Lairig by water, if they could even navigate upstream and over rapids and falls.”

Duncan looked surprised at her analysis, but he was nodding slowly as his fingers drummed on his thighs.

“You are right. They come overland. If they have not entered the bens yet, then they are too far away for any of us to travel, even on a fast horse, before nightfall. Then there is naught we can do to help our allies.”

“Nay, we ken this will happen. We must do something, else what is the use of this gift?” she demanded, her gut twisting painfully at the idea that even with her knowledge they were powerless to do anything.

“What do you mean, you ken this will happen?” Rowan asked. Scotia looked at her cousin and realized the woman was staring at her as if she’d grown another head.

“I ken it ... I know it.”

“Are you getting visions like Jeanette? ”

“Nay. I ...” Scotia looked over at Duncan, unsure how to present this to them.

“She knows , Scotia does,” he said. “She kens things none of us do.”

Rowan started to speak but Jeanette cut her off before she got a single word out.

“’Tis an odd way to phrase this: She kens things none of us do.

” She stepped in front of Scotia and took her hands.

“What sorts of things do you ken that we do not, my sister?” Her voice was quiet, but as intense as her iron grip, and Scotia was grateful that Jeanette, with her incredible thirst for knowledge, was not scoffing at her but seemed genuinely curious.

“She kent where Maisie was. I did not track her. Scotia just knew where to find her.”

“I do not understand,” Rowan said, rubbing her forehead with the heel of her hand as she often did when wrestling with a problem.

Scotia did not even have to look at Duncan to know he was still drumming his fingers on his thighs.

“Perhaps we should summon Nicholas and the others of the council to join us so we only have to explain this once,” he said.

Jeanette squeezed Scotia’s hands and nodded slowly.

“Aye, ’tis a good idea. Rowan, I need to finish tending the cuts on Maisie so her mum will stop fretting over them.

Perhaps the three of you can collect cups and make sure there is ale”—she stopped and shook her head, for they all knew the ale had burned up in the great hall fire—“water for the men when they arrive.”

“We shall need to prepare drink and food for ten ... nay, thirteen allies who are arriving, too,” Scotia said.

Jeanette, Rowan, and Duncan all stared at her. “What?” Jeanette asked.

Just then they heard the sound of the lookout’s horn—one blast. Friend .

Scotia looked at Duncan. “Perhaps that is them now,” he said, his eyebrows raised.

“Allies?” Rowan asked. “’Tis probably just last night’s watch making their way home. What makes you think ’tis allies?”

“Aye, what makes you think ’tis allies?” Jeanette echoed.

“Another knowing that came to me right after the information about Lord Sherwood. Thirteen men. I dinna ken what clan they are from, though.”

They all looked at each other.

“We shall know soon enough if ’tis allies or the night’s watch,” Duncan said.

“Aye, we will. Jamie,” Rowan called to a lad who was bringing a load of wood into the clearing, “leave that. I need you to go down the ben toward the training area. That is where Nicholas and Malcolm were going to search. If they are not already on their way back here, fetch them immediately.”

“And any other warriors you see,” Scotia called after the retreating lad. “They will all want to be here when our allies arrive,” she said to her companions, trying to sound confident, though she was anything but.

As Jeanette finished tending Maisie, the rest gathered waterskins and cups, then waited restlessly in the council circle.