Chapter 6 #2
“Will we be stopping soon?” she asked, finally breaking the silence.
“Aye,” he said. “We’ll find a spot tae set up camp.”
The sun was starting to sink into the horizon, and from his estimation, they had a few more hours of daylight.
He led Adrina to the edge of the forest where they followed a stream.
It was best to ride into the forest, and stay in its protective cover rather than remain out in the open.
In this regard, they could avoid the detection of any enemy that might be in their vicinity.
And if a large party drew near, he had the advantage of seeing them long before they became aware of his presence.
In single file, they rode through the wooded area. There really was no road to follow, but enough travelers had passed through this way that he could see a faded path that led through the dying vegetation.
Fortunately the forest, glens and moors were his element.
Roaming over the varied terrain provided him with a serenity that he couldn’t find in the confines of civilization.
His father had taught him and his brothers to track the land.
But it was Duncan who discovered a keen interest in it.
He became proud of his abilities, and honed his skills to the point where his observations were quick and automatic.
He was so well attuned to his surroundings that he often hunted with bare feet.
It was strange how he felt such oneness with the earth.
There were clues everywhere, and the turf always had something to show him.
On horseback, however, he didn’t have the luxury of using all his senses. Still the damp, musky scent of leaf mold permeated his consciousness, and he noted the low, hollow kraah of a lone raven perched somewhere in the nearby oak tree.
Listening for a few minutes longer, he finally allowed the tension to release from his shoulders. There were no fresh human or horse prints that he could discern. In all respects, the forest seemed calm and undisturbed.
Duncan looked up and saw the bright yellow and orange leaves that hung from the tree branches. A few weeks more, and all the ornaments from the trees would drop to the ground, the vivid colors fading and becoming as brown and tattered as worn pieces of clothing.
At the moment, he was convinced that no danger threatened them, so he turned his awareness to his stomach.
There were only a few more hours of daylight, and he needed something to eat.
While making oatcakes was adequate for staving off his hunger, he yearned for the succulent taste of fire-roasted meat.
But if he wanted to satisfy his craving, he needed to hunt something before the sun went down.
A soft rustling in the bushes drew his attention, and he brought his steed to a standstill.
“Stay with the horses,” he said to Adrina.
Then without waiting for her reply, he dismounted. With practiced ease, he grabbed hold of the reins, and quickly secured the beasts to a nearby tree. From the side of his mount, he detached his bow and arrow, and walked cautiously over to inspect the soft ground near the shrubs. Hare tracks.
***
The horses grazed on the clump of grass that they found at the base of the old oak tree.
Meanwhile a light westerly wind blew at the tree canopy, the noise of rustling like the clinking of coins in a sporran.
Under different circumstances, the sound might have soothed Adrina, but the noise made her more aware of her isolation.
And while she tried her best to stay still, she had an uncomfortable sensation that she was being watched.
Perhaps it was an enemy or even a hostile forest spirit — she really didn’t know who or what was spying on her.
All she could feel were eyes boring into her, although she couldn’t place the direction of the stare.
And even as she tried to reason with herself, she was unsuccessful in shaking off the uneasy feeling that had settled over her.
It seemed that her inner guidance had abandoned her as well, and she felt even more alone and scared.
If someone was to come upon her, she had little to defend herself except for the small dagger that hung at her belt.
But what good was that against a full-grown man wielding a sword?
And if it wasn’t a man that she was up against but an evil forest imp, what protection did she have against its dark magic?
Suddenly a bird screeched overhead, and she jumped.
Her hands felt cold and she placed them on her cheeks. “I’m being silly,” she said out loud.
The palfrey beside her twitched its ears at hearing her voice.
Stretching her hand, she smoothed her palm over her mount’s neck. “Tell me that I’m imagining things, horse,” she said.
But the animal continued to munch on the soft grass.
“I’m asking a horse if I’m delusional,” she said, letting out a self-depreciating laugh.
The idea that someone watched her was pure fancy.
It had to be. Over the past few minutes, she had looked over her shoulders numerous times, and had found nothing amiss.
If she revealed to Duncan about this odd feeling, she was certain that he would laugh at her, and maybe even call her a coward.
“If ye are so frightened, how did ye ever make it tae Tancraig Castle?” he would ask, a likely smirk on his face.
How indeed. She had traveled to Tancraig Castle for several days, and without an escort.
Why would journeying home be any different?
But even as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she already knew how different it really was.
Her mouth felt dry, and she felt a strong urge to be near Duncan.
What was taking him so long? At the moment, she would trade the eerie feeling she was experiencing, and would gladly suffer through the Highlander’s ridicule and sarcasm.
At least then, she would have something to distract her from her unreasonable fears.
Giving her horse a pat on the neck, she left it, and walked in the direction in which Duncan had disappeared. When she saw him a moment later, she hurried over to him.