Highland Vengeance

by Melanie Karsak

  Satisfied she’d made her own greeting, Thora went back to her comfortable spot by the fire.

  “I saw a rider leave as I approached. He was moving quickly,” Tavis said.

  I nodded. “I’ve just sent riders to Thurso and Inverness.”

  “I, too, come with news. Duncan is putting it out that he will tour the north this spring, as you no doubt already know. But money is flowing everywhere, and there is a rumor of an army amassing in Northumbria. The southern lords, those loyal to Duncan, have been called to Edinburgh for a meeting…including Fife.”

  “They cannot think Fife and Madelaine are truly loyal to Duncan.”

  “Indeed not. Queen Suthen expressly invited Madelaine to Edinburgh for the spring season. But Uald arrived at the castle the very next day—if you can imagine such a thing—telling Madelaine to return to the coven at once, that she was in danger.”

  I swallowed hard. They would take Madelaine as a hostage, a valuable bargaining piece to use against Fife or me.

  “Has she gone? Is she safe?”

  He nodded. “She left at once. I saw her and Uald safely there then I rode here as Madelaine asked me to.”

  “Here you are, sir,” Lulach said, returning with a tankard. Fleance carried a plate with bread, meat, and cheese.

  Tavis reached out and ruffled Lulach’s hair.

  “Boys, this is Tavis. He is a close friend of our family.”

  “I remember you when you were no larger than a loaf of bread,” he told Lulach. “And you, young man, I hear your father is a fine Thane and a good commander,” he told Fleance.

  “Thank you, sir,” Fleance said, setting down the plate.

  Lulach smiled at Tavis but this his brow furrowed, and he gave Tavis a questioning look. “Is my Aunt Madelaine well?”

  Tavis looked at me then back at Lulach. “She is safe.”

  Lulach nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. I studied my son. For years, I had seen that glimmer of the otherworld in him. I ached for Banquo to be with me, to advise me on what to do. Lulach was a lord, but the mark on his brow said he was much more. How was I to raise such a child? And now that Duncan and Suthen had two sons of their own, Malcolm and Donalbane, Lulach’s claim to the throne was not as strong as it once had been.

  Tavis took a long drink of his ale then said, “I will stay here with you if that’s all right. And if not, you must take it up with Madelaine, who insisted.”

  “She does know I have an army at my disposal, doesn’t she?”

  Tavis chuckled. “Indeed she does. I half suspect she told me to stay here for my own protection.”

  “You are always welcome.”

  Tavis wrapped his arm around me and gave me a squeeze. “Little Corbie,” he said with a smile.

  This, of course, made Lulach and Fleance laugh.

  “Laugh again, and I’ll call your tutor back. Or, you can go upstairs to your chamber where you can see all the commotion from your window. It’s going to get very busy around here soon.”

  Lulach and Fleance looked at one another then turned and raced away. This time, Thora could not resist, and she trotted along behind them.

  “The king will ride north,” Tavis said stoically.

  The third time, he will come to my bloody fields like the soldier he should be. There he will meet my champion.

  “Yes,” I said, picking up my mug of honeyed herbs.

  Tavis clicked his mug against mine. “When the king is dead, long live the queen,” he said then winked at me.

  I took a sip of my drink then smirked.

  It was time to get ready. The final three had come, and when it was done, my world would turn to right again.

  Or so I hoped.

  Chapter 42

  As the next month passed, word began to slowly flow northward. Rumors abounded about the force amassing in Northumberland. And Duncan began to announce loudly and everywhere he went that he would tour the north in the spring, that he longed to visit his cousins. Macbeth wrote, sharing that Duncan had written requesting an audience with Lord and Lady Macbeth. And in Macbeth’s letter, he asked for my help preparing Moray for war.

  The raven smirked when she read his words. Fool. So, now he had a use for me? Part of me wanted to resist just for the pleasure of doing so. But I would not. I would protect Moray because it was my home, Lulach’s birthright, and out of love for Gillacoemgain’s memory. How had that man become so fixed in my heart and soul? A single year. Not even that. That was all we’d had together, but it had changed me forever.

  While the disturbing news came in from the south, at long last, word—in the form of flesh and blood—came from the north.

  “My lady! My lady,” Tira called, rushing into the great hall one busy morning.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He hand on her chest, pausing to catch her breath, she smiled. “A rider coming toward the castle. Lord Banquo!”

  “Please fetch Fleance. He and Lulach are with Tavis in the training hall.”

  Tira nodded happily and raced out of the room. I inhaled deeply then smoothed down my gown and pushed my hair behind my ears, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the few streaks of silver in my hair at my temples. I slipped the day’s messages back into my pocket and headed to the yard.

  A few moments after I arrived, I spotted the banner of Lochaber and a party wearing Lochaber’s colors ride into Cawdor, Banquo at the front.

  My heart beat hard. I restrained myself from running across the lawn to meet him, aware that there were eyes on me everywhere. In Cawdor, we vetted each new arrival and kept our friends close and our enemies out. But coin always speaks, and I did not know for certain if it had bought someone’s tongue. I would not have any more rumors surrounding me than already did.

  Smiling, Banquo dismounted then came to me.

  I took his hands in mine. “Well met,” I said, my eyes pricking with tears of joy.

  “My lady,” he said, lifting and kissing my hands, one after the other. “My lady. You are a sight for my weary eyes.”

  “Come. Take some rest. You and your men.”

  Banquo leaned into my ear. “We’ve ridden in from the Firth. Thorfinn has ridden on to Inverness. I must join them there, but I wanted to see you all first.”

  I nodded.

  I linked Banquo’s arm in mine then motioned for the others to join us. I led the small party to the great hall where my servants were in a bustle of activity, preparing food and drink for the party.

  A flurry of footsteps raced down the stairs outside the hall. I heard a clatter as something was knocked over. A moment later, Fleance—Lulach just behind him—stood in the doorway.

  I saw a million emotions wash over Fleance’s face. He was nine now, and often it seemed as if he was not sure if he should play the part of a man or still be a boy. He straightened his posture and crossed the room to meet his father as a gentleman might, but the moment he drew close, he threw himself toward Banquo, wrapping his arms around him.

  “Father,” he whispered.

  Lulach crossed the hall and took my hand. I kissed him on his head. It was a happy moment, my family—save one—all together. Soon, I would see Crearwy again.

  Banquo led him to a bench.

  “What a fine young man you have become, Fleance. Look how you have grown. You must tell me how you have been. Cerr—Corbie writes that you and Lulach have been studying hard.”

  Fleance cast a grateful smiled at me, glad to hear I had stretched the truth a bit to please his father. In truth, both Fleance and Lulach were bright boys and one day, Fleance would make a good Thane. But for now, at least, he was far more interested in swordplay and riding. Of the two, Lulach was more keen to learn, if he was not too busy daydreaming.

  “Mum, Lord Banquo should take some rest and refreshment. Shall we go check on Thora and her pups? I haven’t been by to see her yet today.”

  I eyed Banquo and Fleance. They needed a moment alone. I smiled at Lulach, proud that he had also seen
the need.

  “You’re right. She’ll be wondering if we’ve abandoned her,” I said then grabbed a bit of bread from the basket on the table. “We’ll be back in just a bit,” I said, setting my free hand on Banquo’s shoulder. He took my hand, kissed it lightly, then let me go.

  Lulach and I walked to the stables. The spring sun was shining. It cast its rays on Lulach’s dark hair, pulling up tints of blue and gold.

  “I’m happy for Fleance,” he said, but there was a catch in his voice that I understood well. It was the sound of a child who had lost a parent, a child who had never known the love of someone who they wished, beyond everything, they could have known.

  I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, burying the secret thoughts about Lulach’s true paternity. My mind, instead, turned to Gillacoemgain.

  “Your father would be proud of you, my love.”

  Lulach smiled. “I hope so. When I… When I see him, he does seem proud.”

  I stopped and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing. It was nothing.”

  I touched the mark on his forehead. “My little love, don’t tell me it was nothing. I have told you the story of how you got this mark and what the shape means. Did you see the tattoo on Lord Banquo’s brow?”

  Lulach nodded.

  “Please, tell me what you meant.”

  “In the garden… Sometimes I see a man there. He watches me, and he seems pleased. And other times, there is a lady there. She often seems very sad, but she smiles at me when I look at her.”

  “Our blood is special. People from our family are often sensitive to the otherworld. One day, when the madness is done, I will see to it you learn more. But you must not speak of what you see to anyone else save me and Lord Banquo. It is not strange to see spirits. Only special people can.”

  “Can you?”

  “Yes. I see them too.”

  “Is that my father? The very tall man with the brown hair? He wears the blue and green of Moray. Sometimes he has a falcon on his arm.”

  “Yes.” My stomach clenched hard.

  Lulach smiled then took my hand once more. He led me into the stables. From the back of the barn, I heard the sounds of little growls and barks. Grinning, Lulach led me to the stall. Why Thora had decided to have her pups in the barn was beyond me, but the stablemaster ensured she was not disturbed, and we all brought her food and drink. Thora’s wild batch of puppies, five in all, rolled around, fighting and playing with one another.

  “The stablemaster has been letting them out. They’re big enough now to survive on their own, but sometimes they get under the horses’ feet, so he pens them up when it’s busy to keep them safe.”

  I opened the gate so Lulach and I could slip inside.

  Thora lifted her head and wagged her tail.

  “Well, bonnie lass. What a brood you have here,” I said, tossing her the bread.

  Still true to her mark, she snapped the bread from the air and chewed happily, her tail wagging.

  “Mum,” Lulach said, looking down.

  I followed his gaze to one of the puppies. There, sleeping in the corner, was a puppy I did not recognize. The sweet little bundle had white fur and one roan-colored ear.

  “Who is this?” I asked.

  I bent down and reached out to pet the little thing. He woke up groggily then went directly to Lulach, his tail wagging.

  I glanced back at Thora. “Now what trouble have you gotten us into?”

  Thora let out a muffled bark then wagged her tail again.

  “Maybe the stablemaster found a runt. Mum, how cute he is! Have you ever seen a dog like this before?”

  “Seen? No. But I’ve heard tell of dogs like these,” I said then petted the pup who wagged his tail when he looked at me. I glanced around the stall, and then I spotted it. Where the puppy had been lying sat a single red rose.

  I picked it up, inhaling the fragrance. I smiled. “The puppy is a gift for you, Lulach.”

  “For me? From who?”

  I handed the rose to him. The boy’s brow furrowed. He inhaled the rose then gave it back to me. “But it’s not the season for roses.”

  “No. Not here, at least.”

  “Not here, then—”

  “The pup is cú sídhe, like Thora.”

  Lulach laughed as the dog licked his chin. “Thora the faerie dog. Now, that I believe.”

  I shook my head at Thora. “Did Eochaid buy your silence with treats?”

  Thora looked at me out of the side of her eye then wagged her tail.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “You will need to name him. And one of Thora’s puppies will need to go to Fleance or I will never hear the end of it.”

  “Angus,” Lulach said at once.

  “Angus?”

  Lulach nodded. “It is my favorite name.”

  “All right. Angus it is. Well, Thora, you suppose Fleance can take one of your bairn off your hands? We’ll need to get the pup trained to live in the castle.”

  Thora thumped her tail, yawned, then closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Couldn’t blame her. Her pups were a rambunctious lot.

  Lulach and I stayed a bit and played with the puppies. They were cute but wild, and all of them were black like Thora with the exception of Angus.

  “Well, Angus, are you ready to see inside the castle?” I asked the little fey puppy who cocked his head at me.

  I grinned at him. There was no doubt in my mind that Eochaid had brought the puppy. I only wished Eochaid had stayed. I missed Sid’s sweet boy. How old would he be now? Twelve or so? I wasn’t sure. With those who walk between the worlds, their age never runs the same, as it does for Thora and me. I gave all the puppies a good pat then turned to Lulach, motioning that we should go back.

  Admittedly, I was anxious to return to Banquo.

  When we returned to the castle, we found Banquo and his men had finished their meal. Fleance sat beside his father, hanging on Banquo’s every word. Upon seeing us with the puppy, Fleance slipped off his bench, but then he thought better of it.

  “Father, may I see what Lulach has?”

  Banquo looked up, glancing at Lulach and the fey bundle he held, then at me. He smiled softly.

  A lump rose in my throat. Here was my love. Our children, not born of a union between us but every bit ours, with us. It was everything I ever wanted.

  “Lulach, what have you found?” Banquo called.

  “Thora had a litter of puppies,” Lulach said.

  “And has taken in a foundling,” I added.

  Banquo reached out for the puppy who greeted him with a lick on the hand. “How unusually colored,” he said, eyeing over the dog.

  “I’ve heard stories about dogs like that,” one of Banquo’s men said, pointing to the pup. “You’ve found a fey thing, little Lord of Moray. The good neighbors have blessed you with a fine hunting dog.”

  I glanced at Fleance, whose eyes glimmered with jealousy.

  “Let’s hope he grows to be as good a tracker as his mother. You know, I believe Thora’s other puppies are ready to wean from their mother as well. If we’re going to have both puppies in the castle, we’d best start training them now.”

  Fleance looked up at me. “Both puppies?”

  “Have you chosen yours yet?” I asked him.

  A wave of gratitude washed over his face. Fleance turned to Banquo, “Father, may I—”

  “Of course, of course,” he said, and no sooner had Banquo answered than the two boys rushed out of the hall, Angus the fey dog along with them.

  Banquo poured glasses of wine for him and me. He handed me a goblet then we went and stood before the fire where we could talk in private.

  Banquo smiled. “Fleance has grown into a fine boy. All that wildness is still just behind his eyes, but it seems he has polished off the edges with you there to guide him. Cerridwen, you don’t know how grateful I am. Between the battles and the cold and the sea, I had much on my mind. But when I laid my head down e
ach night, I did not worry for my son. You have been a good mother to him.”

  I smiled softly. I understood how Banquo felt better than he could ever know. It was the same thought that comforted me when I missed and worried about Crearwy. But remembering she was under Epona’s care always brought me comfort. “I have done my best.”

  Banquo exhaled deeply. “There are no words to describe what it means to me.”

  I reached out and squeezed his hand. “When have we ever needed words?”

  While Banquo’s’ men took their rest, Banquo and I returned to the meeting hall where I had taken up residence as my workspace. It was the same hall in which Gillacoemgain and his men had once met and where I had foreseen their end. Now, I used the space as my own to train with sword and dagger and to plot my way forward.

  “With Thorfinn’s arrival, Macbeth will call the northern lords to Inverness. Will you come?” Banquo asked.

  I shook my head. “I will not step into that castle ever again.”

  Banquo frowned. “Those who were once loyal to Gillacoemgain may not listen to Macbeth if you are not in attendance. They look to you, not him, to see which way to lean.”

  “I’ll send messages to Buchan, Mar, and the others. In truth, if it were not for you and Thorfinn, I’m half inclined to let Duncan pass and have at Macbeth.”

  “Cerridwen.”

  I shrugged. “What difference does it make if I make peace with one rotten cousin or the other?”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m not. But the thought has occurred to me. I do not trust Duncan to lord over my bannermen or me. I have already chosen my burden. I must live with the consequences of my choice to ride north rather than south.”

  Banquo frowned. “But you… Are you very unhappy?”

  I shook my head. “No. Macbeth has left me in peace. The separation was clean and complete. I have been content to raise our sons and think only of my true husband.”

  Banquo eyed the door then pulled me close.

  “I missed you,” he whispered.

  “I missed you too.”

  Leaning in, he kissed me hard, his longing and passion matching my own. I loved the feel of him against me, the strength of his arms and chest, the taste of rich red wine on his lips, and the smell of him, his body, his hair. I’d missed him desperately. Our hands roved over one another, and soon, before we did something rash in this very public space, we pulled back. I rested my head on his chest.