Page 17 of Highlander Redeemed
“There are records of some Guardians,” Jeanette said, her voice dreamy, almost as if she were reading directly from the scrolls that held the Chronicles of the Guardians as she spoke, “who had this sort of gift.”
Scotia held her breath. A Guardian gift? She had hoped, but only now realized she had not thought it possible.
“But Scotia is not a Guardian,” Kenneth said, “is she?”
Jeanette and Rowan looked at each other, Rowan’s auburn brows raised as if she, too, questioned Jeanette without words.
“Perhaps,” Jeanette said. “We did not ken there could be two Guardians at the same time. Who are we to say there could not be three?”
“Truly?” Scotia said. “You think this is a Guardian gift?” She hated the way her voice almost squeaked with the hope that engulfed her.
“I think we need to speak to Scotia alone, if you will all excuse us,” Rowan said, and she and Jeanette rose.
“But the allies,” Scotia said, also rising to her feet, unsure of whether she wanted more to know if she was right or if she was a Guardian. “Should we not wait to find out if I am right, if myknowingin this is true? There is no point in testing me if it is not.”
“We do not intend to test you, cousin,” Rowan said. “There is no test to pass to become a Guardian. The Targe stone either strengthens your gift, or it does not. There is nothing we can do to influence it one way or the other. And I do not doubt that it is a gift. You found Maisie, aye?”
“Aye.”
“And she has had otherknowingsas well,” Duncan said. “Scotia, you should go with them now. When our allies arrive, which should be any moment judging by when the horn sounded, it will take time to settle them, feed them after their journey, and to ascertain what strengths they each bring to bear. And if it is only the watch returning, then it will not matter that you have gone off with Rowan and Jeanette—but I do not believe ’tis the watch.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her back down by it, giving it a squeeze before he released her. “If thisknowingis a Guardian gift, then the Targe stone will make it more powerful, perhaps even letting you direct it to the things we most need to ken in order to overcome the English force. That alone would be more useful to us than all the information the watchers and scouts we’ve sent out can gather.” He dropped his voice and caught her gaze with his. “That alone would make you a part of the battle as you so wish. Patience, careful planning, and knowledge of our enemy’s weakness comes first. Remember? This gift might make all of those things easier, which means we would be able to protect our home and our people much better than we can now.”
Scotia started to object, though she did not know why. If she was a Guardian then the clan would have to stop shunning her,and she would be part of the battle, as he said. So why were her hands icy at the thought of facing the Targe stone?
He touched her once more, this time letting his hand rest lightly on her forearm while he finished.
“For now, ’tis the best use of our time if you, Rowan, and Jeanette can determine if this is a Guardian gift while we assess these allies you ken will join us soon. Remember, though, even if it is not, ’twill be of use in protecting the clan.”
In her head she still argued to wait, to put off what was surely a test even though Rowan and Jeanette said ’twas not, but the gentle pressure on her arm, and the reminder of her lessons had her modulating her voice, bringing it down from a demand to a statement. “Very well, but I want to be part of the battle, whether or no I have a Guardian gift.”
Duncan looked around, and it was only then that Scotia realized the two of them had been talking solely to each other while the others watched the exchange, some with surprise, others with a smile. Only her father glowered.
“I promise, when the time comes, if you are ready, you will fight,” Duncan whispered, and she realized he was doing his best to keep her secret, so she nodded.
“I shall put myself in Jeanette’s and Rowan’s hands—for now,” she said, more loudly so everyone was once more included in the conversation.
“Let us see what we can learn.” Jeanette motioned for Scotia and Rowan to follow her out of the circle.
“I will hold you to your promise,” Scotia said to Duncan quietly, as she stood.
“I did not make it lightly. Will you promise to remain calm and cooperate with your sister and your cousin?”
Scotia glanced at Jeanette and Rowan, who had stopped by the trail that led down the ben, waiting for her to catch up. She knew they were anxious to learn if Scotia would join them asGuardians, and Scotia had to admit, in spite of her doubts, she was as well.
“I promise,” she said.
“I shall hold you to that, ye ken?”
Scotia nodded her head. “I will patiently let Jeanette and Rowan do what they will to me.” She started to follow Jeanette, then returned to Duncan once more. “I expect to hear everything about our allies when I return,” she said only to him.
“I expected nothing less,” he said, smiling at her.
She glanced once more at everyone else in the circle and still saw reactions that ranged from smiles to confusion to the even deeper frown on her father’s face, but she did not care what they thought. Duncan believed her. Duncan was her ally. And if this gift she had not realized was a gift proved her to be a Guardian, they would all have to believe in her, too.
CHAPTER EIGHT
SCOTIA FOLLOWEDJEANETTEand Rowan a short way down the ben from the caves, then along what had originally been a faint deer trail but which had over the last weeks quickly become a path, now that her sister and cousin came here daily to practice their Guardian skills. As they neared the burn—Jeanette needed water for her gift of visions—a strange tingling sensation washed over Scotia’s skin, there and gone again in a single step. Rowan and Jeanette glanced at each other.
“What was that?” Scotia asked, their behavior telling her it was not her imagination.
