Chapter Three
Dyna
Dyna rushed her mount up the hill, though the beast wasn’t as excited as she was. She had to see the view from the top, looking for the ship Maitland had just boarded. It was the last month of summer, and Maitland’s wife Maeve would be having their bairn any day now. She smiled, happy for Maitland after losing his first wife when the two had been imprisoned by the English in a dungeon years ago.
It was time for Maitland to have some happiness in his life. She’d learned a few months ago that Maitland’s son was to be under her wing. Dyna had been a protector of her grandfather from the very beginning.
Then she’d learned a while ago that she had three others to protect: Alaric, Eli, and Maitland’s unborn son. She hadn’t told anyone but Derric and Maitland, but she was pleased that she would meet the new laddie in another moon, probably. He wouldn’t travel with the bairn until Maeve and the child were ready.
“Derric, I cannot wait to see Maitland with his son, can you?”
He nodded, then pointed. “Over there, Sandor. See the boat?”
Sandor giggled and pointed while Dyna turned to her sister behind her. “Astra, over there. Can you see it, Tora?”
Tora rode with Astra while Sylvi rode in front of Dyna. They had four guards along with them.
The ship moved on, and they reached the section of the path that traveled alongside the forest. “I hate this part, Derric. We need more men. I sent a message to my father to send more.”
“I know. I was disappointed we only gained ten from the villages. Said many of the men had taken on working for someone else. We do what we can.”
“After that issue in the beginning of summer when we were attacked, and I heard one man say they wanted the lass, I don’t trust anyone or anything. I wish to be inside those thick curtain walls.”
“We’re nearly there.” He pointed at the juncture ahead where the path split, one route going on toward the far coastline, and the other section going toward the point and Duart Castle.
Derric grabbed the reins and unsheathed his sword in one swift movement, yelling, “Diamond! Get to the castle!”
The four guards went after the five men who had come out of the forest on horseback, galloping straight for them. One voice carried over the others, something Dyna hated to hear. “The lasses! Get them!”
“Astra, go to the castle! Hurry!”
Astra did her best to lead the mare in that direction, but one man grabbed the reins of her horse and led the beast into the forest.
“Astra! Jump off!” Dyna had never felt such panic. She pulled out her bow and aimed, knocking one man off his mount, but not the one taking Astra’s horse. She couldn’t get a clear shot. Chaos surrounded them—swords clashing, grunts of pain, and men swinging weapons with a fury. They had taken two of the men off their horses quickly, but when the one led Astra into the woods, two others replaced him, swinging their weapons.
Derric handed Sandor to Dyna and said, “Take Sylvi and Sandor to the castle. We have to protect them. The guards will come with me to go after Astra and Tora.”
She nodded and grabbed Sandor, her eyes checking him over for any blood but seeing none. “Bad men, Mama.”
“Aye,” she said, rushing toward the gates, yelling at Alaric when she neared the wall. “Astra and Tora were taken, Alaric. In the woods!”
The gates opened immediately, and she rode straight to the keep while Alaric and Broc mounted up and headed out. Alaric called to her in passing, “We’ll get them, Dyna.”
The door to the keep opened, and Eli ran down the steps. “What happened?”
“Take Sandor and Sylvi inside and lock the doors. Attack by half a dozen men. They took Astra’s horse into the woods. Tora is with her.”
“Go, Dyna!” Eli said, lifting the two bairns down and following them into the keep. “I’ve got them. Go!”
Dyna turned her horse back around, pausing for a moment to close her eyes, hoping her skills as a seer would help her find her sister and daughter. All she saw was Astra on the ground. “Open the gate!” she shouted as soon as she got close enough for them to hear her.
She charged out again, yelling, “Close it now!” to the men behind her. Galloping toward the forest, she headed into the woods. The thick pines and bushes could hide anyone. Crashing through the brush, Midnight Moon flew across the path until she caught up with the others.
They were coming toward her, and without a child.
“Nay…” Her belly dropped with such a dread that she nearly gagged with fear.
“Diamond, we’ve looked everywhere.” Derric shook his head. “They disappeared. We’ve got to make a plan and search the entire area. Did you get the others inside? Are the gates locked?”
“Aye, Eli has them, but Astra and Tora—we have to find them.” Sick with worry, she scanned the area.
Alaric said, “Close your eyes, see what you see, Dyna. We’ll wait.”
Dyna had the reputation as a seer among the people she knew, but it was difficult when her emotions overpowered her. The connection didn’t work then, but she stopped her horse, her gaze again searching the area, looking for any sign of the lasses. Then she closed her eyes, overcome by a shadow. She opened her eyes and shouted, “Over there!”
Derric headed in that direction and Dyna followed. A flash of green caught her eye in the bushes. She jumped off her horse and moved over to the spot, squealing, “It’s Astra. Astra, are you all right?” She knelt next to her sister, feeling the inside of her wrist for the blood in her body.
But she was not awake.
“Derric, she’s alive, but I don’t see Tora. Find her, please, Derric.”
Alaric said, “Her horse. I see him.” He pointed and headed that way, Derric behind him.
Broc dismounted and said, “Allow me, Dyna. I’ll get her.”
He lifted Astra, and they managed to get back on their horses, Astra leaning against Dyna. “Astra, wake up. Please.”
Derric returned with Astra’s mount, shaking his head.
“Nay, nay…”
Astra opened her eyes and lifted her head.
“Astra?” Dyna asked. “Are you all right?”
“They took her! They knocked me off the horse and took Tora. Oh, my Lord in heaven, please help us. Tora! Tora!”
Tora had disappeared.