Page 38 of Highlander Redeemed
Duncan’s heart stopped, then started again with a hard staccato thumping. Malcolm knew of Scotia’s training. Duncan quickly glanced around the group but could not tell if the Guardians also knew or if their husbands and Protectors were also keeping Scotia’s secret.
“My sister would never make a good warrior,” Jeanette said. “She is too headstrong, too impetuous.”
A movement in the deep shadows of a small cave near the council circle drew Duncan’s eye, and he realized Scotia crouched there. He knew not how long she had been listening to their conversation.
He turned his attention away from the cave. “Aye, but she is also smart, agile, strong of heart and mind, and has a gift that, while it may not aid you Guardians in your task, can aid the clan’s warriors in ours.”
“Only if her gift can be used at will, though,” said Malcolm. “Can it?”
“Not reliably, nay, but ’tis something we are working on together.”
“Together?” Rowan asked. “So you are not just tracking her, are you?”
“I told you so,” Jeanette said. “You are spending much time together, aye? ’Tis why she has been so different of late. What else are you doing together, Duncan? Tracking? Her gift? Are you training her to be a warrior?”
Duncan froze. He did not want to lie to a Guardian, or anyone, for that matter, but he also knew he dared not break his word to Scotia or all the work they had done together would be for naught, for she would not trust him enough to go into battle with him.
“He is,” Scotia said, striding into the circle.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NOWSCOTIA UNDERSTOODwhy it was not a good idea to keep secrets. Once they were revealed there was nothing but trouble, no matter how good the intention. Chaos had taken over the council, with Jeanette jumping to her feet demanding details, and Rowan fussing at Nicholas for hiding the truth from her. Which made Jeanette turn on Malcolm, who at least could honestly say he’d only guessed but had not known for sure.
Duncan tilted his head to beckon Scotia over to him, then made room for her next to him on the log that served as a bench.
“You did not have to do that,” he said quietly while keeping his attention focused on the two Protectors and the two Guardians who were, for the moment at least, consumed by finding out who knew what when.
“I did not know I was going to until I heard Jeanette’s question. ’Twas time to reveal the secret. Nicholas knows already. The English are upon us. Either I am prepared to go into battle with the warriors or I am not.” In truth, she had not known what she was about until the words came out of her mouth, proving her sister’s assertion that she was too impetuous, though in this case it was the right thing to do. She was sure of it. Whatever argument she and Duncan had had earlier in the day, for the full length of the afternoon they had worked perfectly as a team, and her gift had helped them track the two soldiers, proving she was ready to fight the English as a warrior.
Kenneth and Uilliam wandered into the campsite from the near end of the clearing and immediately joined the six in the council circle, but the Guardians were still demanding answers from the Protectors and did not notice. Kenneth and Uilliam exchanged a look of surprise, then joined Duncan and Scotia.
“What did Nicholas and Malcolm do?” Kenneth asked with a chuckle.
“Malcolm withheld a suspicion. Nicholas withheld knowledge. Neither Guardian is happy they were not included in the secret,” Duncan said.
“Secret? What secret?” Uilliam said, pulling hard on his thick black beard.
“My secret,” Scotia said. “Duncan has been training me with sword, shield, and dagger, as well as in tracking, strategy, and in learning how my gift works.” Funny, now that the news was out, she did not ken why she had kept silent about it for so long, but then she realized her father was no longer laughing at the four people who were still “discussing” the secret. She looked over at him, happy that he sat on the far side of both Duncan and Uilliam.
“Why?” For some reason his question caught the attention of the others, and they went silent, turning to face the four on the log.
“Aye,” Rowan said, putting her hands on her hips, “why?”
The accusatory tone lit Scotia’s temper. “So I can go into battle with the warriors and avenge the deaths of Mum and Myles, and so many others, of course.”
Duncan pressed his lips together. “’Tis more complicated than that, though that was the leverage I used. The day I was put in charge of her I found her training herself.” He looked over at Malcolm. “She’d been watching you train the lads and could repeat the exercises herself near perfectly.” He glanced at her, then gripped his knees and sighed. “I offered to train her in exchange for her staying in my company at all times when she was awayfrom the caves. The bargain was struck that when the time came to fight,if I deemed her ready, I would make sure she was part of the battle.”
“And do you deem her ready?” Kenneth asked, his voice unnervingly even.
Duncan hesitated, and all the tiny hairs on Scotia’s neck rose.
“Tell them, Duncan,” she said. “Tell them how I have trained hard. I am quick with my blades. I think well in the midst of a fight—”
“A fight?!” Kenneth was on his feet.
“Sparring, Da,” Scotia said, holding her hand out as if that would stop his ire. “Today was the closest I have been to an actual confrontation with our enemies since my training began, but Duncan pulled us back to bury Brodie, even though I thought we should attack and keep the scouts from reporting back to Sherwood.”
And still Duncan was silent, except now so was everyone else. If only she could know his thoughts. Now that would be a truly useful gift. But she did not. She could only ken where he was, naught else, and she did not need her gift to ascertain that right now.
