Page 3 of The Seer

Dallis Sinclair shivered, the cold air permeating through her thick cloak. From atop her horse, she looked about. Someone watched her. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but something made the hair on the nape of her neck stand on end.

As often as she’d had these sensations, Dallis had grown to trust them as valid. Whoever it was, was well hidden. She scanned the surroundings, concentrating on each dark corner around the exterior of tavern. There was no one about. It was much too cold a night for anyone to be outside. Perhaps it was her imagination and the ire of having argued.

“What are ye doing?” Guiles, her brother, asked. “Let us go. I have a warm bed waiting.”

As always, her brother had come after her, ever protective. And although endearing, she hated to cause him to worry so much. Although he was only older by a year, she respected her brother and trusted he always wanted only the best for her.

Unlike other women of her status, Dallis was restless, not one to sit about the keep sewing or such. The outdoors constantly beckoned, the promise of adventure much too hard to resist.

“I feel as if someone is watching us,” Dallis whispered. “Whoever it is may just be curious.”

Guiles looked around. “If whoever it is meant to kill us, he would’ve by now.”

“True.” Dallis urged her horse onward. “Let us make our way home. Get ye to yer warm bed and whoever is keeping it warm for ye.”

She smiled when Guiles grunted.

Unfortunately, by the time they arrived at the keep, their parents had sought their beds and Dallis was unable to speak to her father. No matter, she’d do so first thing in the morning. Surely the gossiper who would bring the news had to wait until after first meal before telling an embellished story of her argument at the tavern.

She flinched when recalling the occurrence now. In hindsight, she should have called the men outside to chastise them and not used profanity when addressing them.

To onlookers, it had probably looked as if she claimed some sort of recompense for whatever one of them had done to her. When in reality, the duo had lost the trail of a man they’d been paid to follow. Not only lost the man’s trail but had also failed to return to report it.

There was too much at stake to allow for sloppy work.

* * *

Much to Dallis’ dismay, she was summoned to her father’s study upon waking the next morning.

“My decision is final,” Dallis’ father said, his jaw clenched. “I’ve had enough of ye traipsing about like some sort of street urchin.” She started to protest, but her father held a hand up to silence her.

“Ye will be married within months. I shall find the right groom. An unlucky man who will hopefully find a way to keep ye in line.”

It was the first time Dallis had heard her father talk of marriage for either herself or Guiles. Her mother had always advocated they would be allowed to choose whom they married.

“Mother says...”

“What I say now is to be. I have already spoken to yer mother about this. She agrees with me. We have lost control of ye, Dallis. Besides, given yer lack of attention to womanly things, it would never come to pass if we left it up to ye.”

Dallis snuck a look at Guiles, who remained still as a statue. Their parents were in their right to arrange marriages for both of them. As the only son, Guiles was expected to marry someone who would unite the Sinclair clan with a more powerful one. And as the laird’s daughter, Dallis was also expected to marry and bring benefit to the people.

Guiles’ Adam’s apple bobbed, and she looked away to meet her mother’s gaze. “Mother, ye’ve always said ye hoped Guiles and I would marry for love. Ye’ve said it over and again, that we would not be forced into a loveless marriage?”

Her mother’s face softened. “I did and still believe it. However, ye’re at marrying age and have yet to show any kind of interest in anyone. Ye have left us little choice Dallis, especially with yer late night escapades.”

“Guiles was with me. He ensured I was safe.”

This time her father stopped her from saying more by slashing his hand through the air. “What of reports of ye being in the tavern arguing with men over money? Is that something Guiles stopped? No, ye probably went without telling him.”

Once again she slid a look to her brother whose face had turned red with embarrassment.

“He tried to stop me,” Dallis offered weakly and hung her head. This was a horrible mess. The thought of being married to someone she barely knew or worse, hated, made her stomach churn. “Who do ye plan to marry me to?”

When her parents exchanged looks, her stomach pitched. Dread filled her and she held her breath. “Tell me.”

“If current plans don’t go into effect as I am hoping, then ye shall marry Cronus Macpherson, the second son of the Macpherson.”

“No! I will never marry into that family. His father is cruel and unjust. I cannot stand by watching them mistreat their people. I am horrified ye wish to unite with them.”