Page 2 of The Seer

“The fight has taken everyone’s attention. Tis too cold outside,” Alasdair replied with a bored tone and looked about the room. “Other than the serving wench, who has to, no one else has paid much heed.”

The man across from Alasdair did not introduce himself, and that suited him fine. It was obvious by the stranger’s physical build he too was a warrior. The thickness of his chest and midsection gave the impression of great strength.

Alasdair leaned forward. “Where should I be at dawn?”

The man let out a long breath. “To the north of the village at the edge of the craggy hills, there are several caves that will give ye a good place to sleep. If ye can make it without being found out. I will come for ye in the morning. Remain hidden until I arrive.”

By the way his gaze raked over him, his companion remained unsure of him. “I hope what they say of ye is true.”

Alasdair studied the man and then looked away. “Ye are loyal and beyond reproach as a leader. Yet one thing strikes fear in ye worse than facing death in battle. For once yer heart was broken, ye fear the next time it will be yer undoing.”

The man grunted, as if not understanding him. “Perhaps ye can leave without notice. Someone I know approaches.”

Just then a man weaved his way past the table with unsteady steps. Alasdair stuck his booted foot out just enough. Within seconds, the man went sprawling across the table to the left of his companion’s shoulder. The people at the table growled in protest as their drinks and food were spilled.

Having to bite back a chuckle, there was a soft curve at the edges of his lips as Alasdair slipped away. When the warrior turned back to where he’d been seated, all the man would see would be perhaps a glimpse of his cape as he disappeared through a side door.

Once outside, Alasdair went to the side of the building and hoisted himself up to the top of a wall. From there, he climbed under the slope of the roof where he could sit on the crossbeams and watch the interactions inside the tavern. The woman who’d served him earlier returned to the table and placed a bowl of food in front of the confused warrior. She seemed to inform him he’d paid for it and the man looked around to search for Alasdair before eating.

From where Alasdair sat, he could take in the cramped chaos and remain cooler thanks to the night breeze that wafted up through the openings.

He was about to lie back to get some sleep when movement in the far corner of the room caught his attention.

A slender woman stood with feet apart and hands on her hips. Dark waves cascaded past her shoulders framing her face and accentuating her beauty. Her eyes were narrowed with anger as she slashed a hand across the air to make a point about something.

Two men with swords at their hips stood before her, and the three engaged in what seemed to be a rather intense argument.

Alasdair couldn’t keep from watching as the woman closed the distance with one of the men, her mouth forming a snarl. She said something, and the man shook his head.

Moments later another man came to her side and touched her arm. The woman shrugged him away and said one more thing to the duo before turning on her heel and storming out of the tavern.

Interesting that a woman so beautiful seemed to attract more discord than attraction from the men present. Most of the people at the surrounding tables had ignored the interaction and those who’d been part of it, returned to sit and drink as if nothing happened.

When the woman turned the corner of the building outside, just below where he sat, Alasdair leaned out to watch her. She lifted a hood to cover her hair. She waited for the man who’d followed her out. It was the same man who’d touched her arm earlier.

“God’s foot, Dallis. Ye cannot go about confronting men,” the man said, his voice clipped with anger. “It’s a good way to get killed.”

“They didn’t follow orders. I could not let them get away with it.” Her voice was husky, which could have been because she was furious.

“They are not part of our clan. I doubt they know anything that could cause harm,” the man retorted. “By losing yer temper in public, that will bring more attention than we need at this moment.”

“I agree, and now they know where we stand.” She walked to a horse, the man right on her heels.

“Da will be furious when he hears.”

“Yer going to tell him?”

“Nay, but news will travel fast. Ye are well aware people from our clan are in there. I’m surprised Niven didn’t attack to protect ye.”

The woman mounted the horse and looked down at the man. “Let us go then, brother. I prefer it be I who tells Da.”

Brother and sister. Interesting that the woman was the one to fight even after the brother arrived at the scene. Whatever dynamic existed made for interesting observation.

By the manner of their dress and the quality of their horses, whoever they were, they came from wealth. That a woman of class would lower herself to argue with men at a tavern made no sense.

Whatever the siblings did, they were involved in something that made Alasdair wonder if it was the same reason he’d been summoned.

Chapter 2