Abby wanted with all her heart to say yes, to soothe the apprehension she heard in the question. But she could not lie to him.
“I don’t know that for sure. I only know the wristband is somewhere in that direction.” She lifted her hand and pointed out the direction she saw in her mind.
By way of answer, Colin pulled on his reins, urging his mount in the direction she had shown him.
If these Faeries really existed, she could only pray they didn’t pick now to let her down.
Thirty-three
Do you hear that? What is that noise?”
Abby had drawn her horse up alongside Colin’s, her brow wrinkled in concern.
Even if he hadn’t spotted the brightly colored wagons in the distance, the familiar noise of pans rattling against one another assured him there was only one thing it could be.
“Tinklers.”
It was clear as the wagons closed the distance between them that their drivers were pushing the rigs as hard as they could.
“Turn back and save yerselves,” the first man called, pulling hard on his reins to slow his wagon to a stop. “You and yer lady will no want to be caught in what’s to come at the end of this road, lad.”
“What lies ahead of us, Tinkler?” Colin asked, eventhough he’d read the stories of the battle that would rage in this area.
“An army passed our camp in the night. Desperate men on the run. They warned that the English followed.”
His king knew he was pursued, but he knew not of the men who waited in ambush. An ambush Colin would be too late to prevent if he didn’t hurry.
“Turn back with yer lady. Yer more than welcome to ride along with us. Unless you’d rather no been seen in our company, that is.”
“I’ve no hesitation to ride at yer side, good sir.” Tinklers, long thought to have mysterious ties to the Fae, had always been welcome at his family’s home. “But I canna turn back, though I do appreciate yer warning.”
“Consider my words well, young sir. Men from all sides of the conflict roam the countryside ahead. It’s too dangerous for you and yer lady to—”
The Tinkler’s insistence was cut short by a woman’s hand to his shoulder as she leaned out from the flap of material covering the opening in the wagon.
“That’s enough from you, William Faas. These people chase their destiny. Can you no feel it?”
She turned to face them, her sweet smile seeming to spread a feeling of joy when it lit on him.
“My home is but a few days’ journey in the direction you travel now. There is safety at Dun Ard and you’ll be welcomed there.” Why he felt compelled to offer these people the protection of his clan eluded him at the moment. He only knew that it was something he should do.
“We are well familiar with Dun Ard. The lady Rosalyn is one of my best customers.” She smiled again and patted her husband’s shoulder. “We must hurry,William. This is no place for us to be right now. Go forth with our blessings, Master MacAlister.”
William snapped the reins he held, urging his team of horses onward as his wife disappeared back behind the flap of cloth. “Go with caution, lad,” he called over his shoulder as their wagon pulled away. “Go with faith.”
Colin waited, Abby at his side, until both the Tinklers’ wagons had passed them by.
“What did she mean about us chasing our destiny?” Abby’s voice seemed to blend with the musical sound of the Tinklers’ pots.
He shrugged, at a loss for any logical answer. “They are Tinklers.”
When he started off this time, he held his mount to a slower pace. They had need to be watchful from here out to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Abby followed along at his side, silent after the encounter with the Tinklers. He should say something to reassure her after the dire warnings, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell her such a falsehood. William Faas had spoken the truth. Danger did lie in wait, both ahead and behind them.
The afternoon sun rode midway down the western sky by the time they reached the crossroads.
They were close now. He might have lost his Faerie abilities, but his warrior senses were as keen as ever. The very air seemed to shimmer with the potential for violence only a great battle could bring.