Page 15 of Highlander Redeemed
“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 herknowings.
“Whatever it is, Scotia, tell us,” Duncan said quietly. “Tell us what youknow.” 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 youknowwhere?”
She closed her eyes and concentrated on the flash ofknowingshe 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 theknowingagain. “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 ... Iknowit.”
“Are you getting visions like Jeanette?”
“Nay. I ...” Scotia looked over at Duncan, unsure how to present this to them.
“Sheknows, 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 justknewwhere 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.”
