Chapter Six
Moira couldn’t believe her luck. The hunt was real. Not some fool’s chase that would lead to naught.
She looked at Errol and could see the disbelief on his face.
She kenned he thought she had been telling tall tales when she first approached him with the map and the treasure.
He was skeptical. The more she thought on that, she couldn’t really fault him.
He had no reason to believe aught that she said.
But with these two tiny pieces, she felt like she’d proven a point. They were made of silver, she was sure of it. The symbols from each of their clan’s coat of arms were pressed into the metal.
It made no sense that they would be hidden away together.
“We should go. We can make it to the nearby inn to sup.” Errol said, pushing up from the ground beside her.
“I will make sure our things are still in order.” Seema rushed out the door and Moira found herself alone in the chapel.
Now that she’d found what she had been searching for, she took in the beauty of the old chapel. Afore it was a ruin, it must have been beautiful.
She should go so she can meet up with Seema and Errol and they can make their way to the inn afore continuing on to the next place on the map. She could picture colorful tapestries decorating the walls. Velvet runners covering the table and altar. It would have looked grand for certs.
As she stood, the small cubicle she’d opened earlier caught her attention. She looked around, but she was alone.
Reaching inside, she pulled another item. It was a small scroll of parchment. Fighting the temptation to read it here, she shoved it into her pocket, unsure if she wanted to share it with the others. She would read it first and then decide whether she would or not.
Errol popped his head inside. “Are ye coming?”
“Aye.”
Her eyes swept the space one more time for aught she may have missed and then she slipped outside.
“Where’s Seema?”
Errol shifted from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable, before finally saying, “In the trees.” He cleared his throat and quickly turned his attention back to his horse.
Moira rolled her eyes. Was it really that difficult to say she was attending to her personal matters?
She did not understand how when men had no issue talking so bawdy amongst themselves.
She’d heard plenty of conversations betwixt her brothers and other men in Hartsmoor.
They were crude in their speech and vulgar in some of the movements used to express what they spoke of.
They waited a few minutes more but when Seema didn’t emerge from the tree line, Moira looked at Errol uncertainly. “Do ye think she is well?” She asked.
Errol’s brows drew together as he unsheathed his sword. “Would it matter if I told ye to stay here while I check?”
She crossed her arms. “Ye ken verra well that I am going to follow ye. She’s my friend. I need to ensure her safety.”
“She’s yer maid.”
True. She was. But Moira also considered Seema a friend.
They had practically grown up together. And when Seema became an age where she needed to find a position, Moira had insisted that she be assigned to her.
Not because she wanted to be waited on hand and foot.
She didn’t. But having Seema by her side for everything meant that their friendship could continue.
And it had. Though they did have to follow the societal norms and positions warranted by their statuses. Never once did it dampen their friendship and Moira was forever grateful for that.
“Friendships can be borne from spending so much time together. But, alas, Seema and I were friends long afore she became my maid.”
He grunted. As if the idea was preposterous.
“Stay by my side and doonae run ahead.”
Moira rolled her eyes but did as she was told.
Walking to the trees, Moira tried to peer through the thick brush and beyond, into the darkness of the forest.
It didn’t take them long to find Seema. She was doubled over, clutching her stomach and Moira rushed to her side.
“Seema!” She cried, dropping to her knees beside her. “What has happened?”
Seema answered by turning away and retching onto the leafy ground.
“Och, have ye the same affliction as Anna and Fina?”
Seema didn’t speak, but weakly nodded.
“Can ye ride?” Moira asked. They needed to get her to the inn and mayhap call for a healer.
Errol approached and gently lifted Seema off the ground and carried her to her horse, helping her settle atop and ensuring she was secured and wouldn’t topple over.
“I dinnae think she should ride alone. She doesnae look steady. I fear she’ll hurt herself further.” He lifted her again and moved her to his horse.
Moira’s eyes widened. “For certs, ye doonae expect her to ride with ye?”
He gave her a droll look. “Do ye have a better idea? She cannae ride with ye. If she falls o’er, ye both go down. She’ll be safe riding with me.”
Moving to Moira, he helped her mount her own horse. When everything was secured and he tied a lead from Seema’s horse to his own, he urged his horse forward, and Moira followed.
Worry had her chewing the inside of her cheek.
Their luck had been both good and bad. Aye, they found the first, and maybe, second clue.
But more than half of their original party had fallen ill with some sort of affliction.
She hoped Anna and Fina were recovering well. And wished the same for Seema.
As they rode, no one else crossed paths with them, until they arrived in the village. Suddenly, the landscape was bustling with people moving to and fro. Selling food and wares from carts lined up along the buildings.
Moira noticed the looks they were receiving, and a sliver of wariness slid down her back.
She supposed it must strike them as odd to see a MacLeod and a Hart traveling together.
They both wore the colors of their clans.
But no one approached them as they made their way to the small inn and that put her at ease.
They stopped their horses at the small stable off to the side of the main building. Two young lads rushed forth to take their horses. “Feed and bathe them well.” Errol ordered and tossed them each a coin. Their eyes lit up as they bobbed their heads.
“They will have the best, my laird.”
Moira found it interesting that Errol didn’t correct them at the mistitle. Instead, he was concentrating on getting Seema inside along with their bags.
“Can ye walk, lass?” He asked gently.
Moira rushed forward to help Seema steady herself.
“I can,” she answered, but grasped Moira’s arm in a death grip so she didn’t fall.
Arms laden with all their travel bags, Errol led the way inside where they were greeted by a cheery, old man.
He smiled warmly and welcomed them inside. His demeanor changed when he looked at Seema, worry creasing his brow afore focusing on Errol.
“We need a room and to sup.” His eyes slid to Seema. “And a healer if ye ken of one?” Errol asked.
The man nodded and snapped his fingers. Another young lad stepped forward and then ran out the door to fetch the healer.
Grabbing two of the bags the man headed up the stairs, motioning for them to follow. “I’ve only the one room available and there is only one bed.” He looked over his shoulder.
“That is fine,” Errol answered as if it were natural.
Moira’s heart skipped a beat as they entered the room where they would be spending the night. There truly was only one bed and it wasn’t large enough for three. She looked nervously at Errol, but he was engrossed in conversation with the innkeeper at the room’s door.
She led Seema over to the bed and helped her lay down.
“Mayhap the healer can give ye a tisane to ease the roiling of yer belly,” Moira said hopefully, pulling off Seema’s boots.
Seema groaned. “A healer is no’ needed. I doonae think I can eat or drink aught right now. The mere thought makes me want to retch.”
“Och, dear. That cannae be good.”
Her maid patted her hand. “Just let me rest for some time. Ye and Errol should go sup. ’Tis been too long since ye’ve last eaten. Ye need all yer strength for yer adventures.” Her mouth lifted in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her skin, usually rosy-cheeked and bright, was a sickly gray.
“I dinnae believe we will continue. We cannae. I need to make sure ye are feeling better.”
“Ye must continue on, Moira,” Seema said, her voice surprisingly strong. “Ye dinnae have a lot of time to solve the mystery that ye’ve only just begun to uncover. I will be fine. I am for certs ’twas just something that I ate.”
Moira admired her friend’s determination, but she couldn’t leave her here alone at the inn to fend for herself. What kind of friend would that make her? Not a caring one, when the opposite was true.
Seema gave her a gentle shove. “Go now. Eat yer fill and stay strong.”
“I dinnae think I should leave ye.” Moira repeated, but Seema was insistent.
“I will still be here once yer stomach is filled.”
Errol entered the room and his eyes slid to Seema. “Are ye feeling any better, lass?”
“My belly has settled. No’ enough for me to eat, but ’tis feeling better.”
“I am glad to hear that.” His deep timbre sounded genuine, and Moira eyed him.
She was conflicted when it came to Errol.
He was gruff and moody. Sometimes short and curt with his words.
Then other times, he surprised her. He removed the bite from his voice, and it became warm and caring.
Like sweet honey. She found she much preferred his attention when he looked at her with heat in his gaze.
He hid it well. But once in a while she caught a glimpse and it made her belly do a tumble. A most peculiar feeling indeed.
A soft knock sounded, and Errol let the healer walk into the room. She was an elderly woman with a slight hunch to her back. Her gray hair was pulled back into a bun and tucked under her white head covering. She walked with a slight limp and looked as if every bone in her body ached.
Moira rushed forward. “Thank ye for coming on such short notice.”