Chapter FifteenI chose noon to meet Alistair, for I wanted the sun to be at its zenith so there was no darkness to shield his caterans on the hillside. I had stipulated that he come alone, without his Bodyguard, and I hoped that his desire to regain the Book of Black Earth would overcome his natural caution.
Seonaid pointedly kept her back turned when I left her spotless cave, but I could feel her concern as I mounted Bernard, lifted the Book of Black Earth and began the ten mile ride to Carn Nan Dun, which was exactly on the border between the Dava Moor and the Monadhliath Mountains. I hoped that Seonaid was not watching when I dismounted two miles into my journey and hid the Book. I was confident that I could kill Alistair in fair fight, but not foolish enough to hand him such a valuabl
