An Unexpected Destiny (Completed)

A Question of Trust

I manage to keep the revelation to myself until we hit a road, and riding south begin to pass small, shambly farms. The farmers, often older men with bent backs and women with hair covered by hankerchiefs, watch us as we pass. I feel like the President giving his inaugural speech. It is these several pairs of eyes that make the words burst out of my mouth when reach a stretch of flat land (I never thought I'd ever see flat land again) with no company other than a breeze that smells of coming snow. (I do not want to think of how miserable it would be to ride for days in snow).

"The men and women who attacked us-- at least those we encountered when Jude fell off-- were of the Dingwall clan," I burst out with my shoulder hunched over Dove's withers, as if to keep the words close to me. Robin reins in his horse.

"Are you certain?" He asks. I can hear the concern in his voice.

"I am. The colors of the boy's tartan was a pale green and light brown, which our Dingwall's colors."

He murmurs a curse that Queen Elinor would have told me to scold him for. "It is only natural, I suppose, for them to take advantage of Dunbroch's misfortune," he says with a shake of his head.

"Isn't there a code of loyalty to the lead clan?" I ask. The Middle Ages were known for honor and chivalry. My whole test had been proof of that. But what if the the history books gotten it wrong? Maybe they had, because as far as most textbooks were concerned, no lady like me would be riding around in search of a friend with a bunch of misfit men.

"There is. But no clan ever wants to be ruled by another, no matter how much they fawn over the head clan."

I decide to not read into this as a jibe."That is understandable, but what would they do if they did find Merida before we did? Was it not a large risk to try and kill me?"

"They would most likely keep the princess for ransom, and may even demand a marriage between the princess and a son. I am aware that all three clans have eligble sons."

I make a face. "Less than two years ago, all four clans came to the agreement that Merida and the three sons of the other clans would have the chance to find love. The sons were as pleased as Merida-- at least, that is what she claimed when she told me." I remember Wee Dingwall's furious face.

"Mayhap the mothers and fathers are growing impatient. Was the boy from Dingwall of any importance to the clan?"

"It was Wee Dingwall, Chief Dingwall's son."

"And you struck him in the face with your bracer. How fortunate," Robin sighs.

"He tried to kill me."

"I am aware of that, but anger will be fueled even more so when the chief sees his son's face." He runs his fingers through his hair in one, short stroke. "The search for the princess may increase to exact revenge."

"The chief will be so upset by his son's temporary appearance he will want to avenge it?" I hadn't killed the boy.

Robin shakes his head. "As I said, each clan, no matter how loyal they make themselves out to be, will be looking for ways to show Dubroch it is not the only one with power. Each clan will always be looking for something, no matter how trivial, to rally the other two clans to remind Dunbroch they can be just as dangerous and powerful."

I nearly burst out with the stories Merida and King Fergus had told me of the many adventures the King had with the chiefs; they had saved one another's lives. Yet, Robin is completey serious. I can hear it in the solemn and warning tone of his voice. It is the voice of a teacher warning her class to be prepared for a huge exam. A voice I will never hear again in a classroom.