Highland Vengeance (The Celtic Blood Series Book 3)

by Melanie Karsak

  “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.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  “I love you too.”

  “How soon must you leave?”

  “Today. I…cannot stay the night here with so many lords roaming about. There will be too much gossip. We will prepare for war, and I will be asked to lead an advance on one of the fronts you have foreseen.”

  “Then Macbeth believed me?”

  “He has put out your prophecy as word from his spies. He believes you. I do not know what he has seen to change his mind, but he has no doubt in your words.”

  “He has seen the raven.”

  Banquo snorted. “Good,” he said then turned and lifted his goblet of wine. “Cerridwen, in your vision, how far south was Duncan’s army?”

  “Not far from Cawdor.”

  Banquo frowned. “I’m concerned for Lulach and Fleance.”

  “As am I, but Cawdor will be well fortified.”

  “I think I should send for Balor.”

  “Send for Balor?”

  “My love, Lulach is touched by the Otherworld. And if the fey have seen fit to lavish gifts on him… It would do him good to spend some time amongst holy men. Not only would he learn to navigate the spirit realm, but Balor will also teach him caution. Not all the fey have mankind’s best interest at heart. And with Balor, he would be safe. Balor can teach him the ancient roads, him and Fleance. And amongst Balor’s men, Fleance and Lulach are not the sons of lords targeted for kidnapping or worse. Lulach will be Mormaer of Moray. And if—when—Duncan is defeated, you and Macbeth will take the throne, Lulach will be the heir to this realm.”

  “I…” I began, but he was right. Lulach was a valuable prize. It would be wise to send him into hiding much as Madelaine had already done. “Yes, you’re right.”

  “I’ll send for Balor at once. Even now Duncan may be plotting to send a man to kidnap your boy.”

  “The queen wrote to Madelaine, inviting—insisting, really—that she go to Edinburgh. They would use her to their advantage. She escaped to Epona.”

  “I would never seek to take him from you. It would just be until everything was settled.”

  “He’s still so young,” I said softly.

  “Yes, but he’ll be safe.”

  I stared into the fire.

  He’s right.

  My eyes flicked to the side where, for just a moment, I spotted the shadowy apparition of Gillacoemgain.

  All my husbands are ganging up on me.

  Exhaling deeply, I looked into the flames. Visions took shape before my eyes, and in the fields and villages south of Cawdor, I saw war, and fire, and blood.

  I closed my eyes. “Send for Balor.”

  Banquo wrapped his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “We don’t have time to send a messenger. I must cast to him. May I make use of this chamber…alone?”

  “Of course,” I said. I set a sweet, soft kiss on his lips then turned and exited the room.

  I headed out into the yard where Lulach and Fleance raced in circles, Thora’s entire brood, and little Angus, running after them.

  “I’ll pick the fastest one,” Fleance called to me.

  Thora sat watching on the other side of the yard, gazing on in a manner that mirrored my own expression. The sight of it was so ridiculous that it made me laugh aloud. Thora trotted over and sat down beside me.

  “Thora, choose your most loyal and loving pup. We shall ask Eochaid to take that wee one to Crearwy.”

  Thora wagged her tail, and we both watched on, a ridiculous pair, fawning over the children who would soon leave us.

  But as I watched them, my thoughts went to the sons of Duncan and Suthen. They’d had two boys, Malcolm and Donalbane. What would be done with those boys when Duncan was defeated? Where would they go? If the king was toppled, his children would grow up plotting their own revenge. I stared at Lulach. Even now we moved to protect him. What was Duncan doing to protect his own boys? I considered Suthen. Would Macbeth have already made plans to kidnap her sons? I chewed my lip as I considered the problem. If those boys fell under the care of the Earl of Northumbria, they’d be turned into adders. What could be done to prevent it? My heart went out to Suthen. Suthen had suffered, I had no doubt about it, and surely she loved her boys as I loved mine. It did not do for one mother to strike at another. I would make no move to harm those boys, and if a time came when I could prevent it, I would do what I could. After all, they were still my blood.

  I shook my head, unable to see the way. For now, I had my own sons to worry about. Soon, Balor would come, and Fleance and Lulach would be gone.

  Chapter 43

  As dusk neared, Banquo and his men prepared to depart. Lulach, Fleance, and I gathered around to say goodbye.

  “I will return as soon as I can. My son is here. Let tongues wag about you and me as they will, but I will return see to my boy,” Banquo told me.

  “Balor?”

  “He will ride for Cawdor. He and his band are not far.”

  “You trust him. Completely?”

  “With my life. With Fleance’s. And with Lulach’s.”

  I sighed heavily.

  Banquo squeezed my hand then mounted his steed. Waving to the boys, he and his men then turned and rode to Inverness.

  Wordlessly, Fleance came to me. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close. “He’ll be back soon,” I whispered in his ear.

  Fleance nodded and pulled himself up straight, trying to look far more grown than he was. Despite his manly posture, he quickly dashed a tear from his cheek.

  “Fleance, you haven’t told me what you decided to name Thora’s son,” I said, petting the puppy Fleance held tightly.

  “I don’t know what to name him.”

  “I never liked to name anything either. It seemed to me their names should come by them naturally.”

  “Like the name Angus,” Lulach said. “I just knew his name was Angus.”

  I chuckled. “Angus. It is a good name.” I lifted the puppy from Fleance’s hands and stared into his little face. He looked every bit like Thora had when I found her that windy morning on the hilltop. My fey black dog, her feet nearly as big as her head. This puppy, however, had a mischievous face. “Well, little wild thing, what is your name?” I asked.

  “I…I did have an idea,” Fleance said.

  “Really?”

  “Thor, like the thunder god, and also after his mother. I think it would be good to name him after his mother.”

  I swallowed hard, hearing the hurt in his voice. Of course he ached. His real mother was gone, and his father had just ridden away again. “I think Thora would like that. And look at him. What a brute he will be! Thor is a perfect name. Perhaps the thunder god will bless him.”

  “I like it,” Lulach said.

  “Thor it is,” Fleance said, taking the puppy from my hands once more.

  “Better get them something to eat,” I said, motioning for the boys to go inside.

  Nodding, they set the pups down then turned and ran back into the castle, their tired puppies loping along behind them.

  “My lady,” Morag called, coming up to me with a small bundle wrapped in cloth. “Here you are. I did my best, but there was not much to be had save dried fruits.”

  “Thank you, Morag,” I said, taking the warm bundle from her hand. I kissed her on the cheek.

  She patted my arm then headed back inside.

  I returned once more to the stables. Thora lay sleeping in her stall with her little brood all around her. She was down to four puppies now. I passed her stall and went to the back. There, Gillacoemgain’s
mews still sat unused. I had asked Standish to leave them as they were. One day, I hoped, Lulach would learn to love birds as Gillacoemgain once had.

  Opening the pen, I lay down some clean straw on a ledge. I opened the wrapped bundle in my hand. Morag had made the tart just as I had asked her to with as many berries and nuts as we had in supply. I could smell the honey and berries. I wrapped the confection back up and set the tart inside the pen. I then stepped outside and looked out toward the pasture.

  “Sweets for the sweet,” I called lightly. “Eitri, will you share my words, my gift, with Eochaid?” I called to call the little fey man who had surrounded Eochaid as Nadia did with Sid. “Eitri, please give Eochaid my thanks. And may I ask a favor of my good neighbors? Will you ask Eochaid to do something for me, to take one of Thora’s pups to my daughter?”

  In the distance, crickets started to chirp.

  I smiled.

  “Blessed be,” I called.

  I turned and headed back inside. On my way back to the castle, I stopped at the gate where Standish was organizing the night guard.

  “My lady,” he said.

  “Tomorrow, we will close Cawdor. Call in the first of my bannermen, the most loyal, to guard the castle. No riders or messengers in or out without my say so. Save Lord Tavis, expel anyone from the castle who does not have a place here and prepare the north and south wings to garrison soldiers. How have we done with the stores?”

  “We are stocked, my lady. We did it little by little, as you planned, but we are nearly at capacity.”

  I nodded. “A war in the spring will cost us in the winter. Begin the rationing now.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  I stared out the gate at the open road. “Close the gate tonight.”

  “Yes, my lady. Lady Gruoch, what have you—”

  “Thorfinn is at Inverness. The king prepares his ride north.”

  “I understand,” he said then turned and headed to the gate. A few moments later, I heard the sound of steel and wood as the gate closed and Cawdor made ready.

  Chapter 44

  The next morning, I found Lulach and Fleance in their chamber watching the flurry of activity below with curiosity.

  “Mum,” Lulach said when I entered. “The castle is closed, and there are soldiers in the yard.”

  Fleance stared out the window. “Will my father be able to come back in?”

  “Of course. We have closed Cawdor to outsiders.”

  Both boys turned and looked at me.

  “Why?” Fleance asked.

  “The king will ride north,” Lulach said, his eyes taking on a faraway look.

  “Yes.”

  Lulach blinked hard. “We should go to Tavis for sword practice.”

  Both boys nodded then turned and headed out of the room, their puppies scampering quickly behind them. But Lulach paused at the door. “Mum, did you need something?”

  I smiled softly at him. “No. Not yet.”

  He nodded then turned and rushed off.

  I gazed out the window, and in the distance, I saw a rider approach the castle. I was startled to see the familiar gold and red colors of King Duncan. I hurried back downstairs and outside.

  A footman raced to me. “Lady Gruoch, a messenger from the king.”

  I crossed the lawn where I met Standish. “Take the scroll. Send the rider away. Get someone ready, and send a rider to track the messenger.”

  Standish nodded then went to the gate. He paused, speaking to a Moray soldier standing there. The man rushed to the stables. Not long after, he returned on horseback, waiting just inside the gate. Standish went outside, returning a few moments later with the scroll. I heard the sound of hoof beats as the king’s messenger departed. The gate opened, and my own rider slipped out. Standish returned, the parchment in his hand.

  “The messenger rode north,” he told me.

  “Thank you. Let me know when our rider returns,” I said then went back inside.

  Returning to my council chamber, I unrolled the letter, which was written in Duncan’s own hand.

  It began nicely enough with fine courtly pleasantries. Then Duncan made two moves I did not expect. He wrote that he was sorry to learn that Macbeth and I were estranged and that if it was ever in his power to see his cousin more happily wed to anyone of her own choosing, no matter the lord’s station, he would do everything he could to ensure my happiness.

  There was his first offer. If I let Duncan pass, if I let him destroy Macbeth, he would bless my union to Banquo without interference. Clearly, the rumor of my attachment to Lochaber had reached the king.

  I frowned then read on wherein Duncan sent his regards to Madelaine, hoping she did not find the winter climate in Moray too cold. He said he looked forward to seeing us both, and the little Lord of Moray, in good cheer when he made his visit to the north.

  He thought Madelaine was here. Or, at the least, he was trying to determine if she was. No doubt someone had seen Tavis at Cawdor and recognized him as Madelaine’s personal guard. Perhaps Fife had put it about she’d gone north as a way to decline the invitation from the queen. That made sense. Either way, I was glad Duncan thought she was at Cawdor. If he did, he would have no reason to look for her anywhere else.

  I tapped the scroll in my palm then went to the fire.

  So, Duncan wanted to make a deal. What deal did he offer Macbeth? A new bride? An acknowledgment of his bastards? Little Findelach, Elspeth’s son, would be nearly six by now.

  Should I consider the offer?

  What would it cost me, really?

  I closed my eyes and thought about Creawry.

  Because of Duncan, I had to give up my daughter.

  If not for Duncan, Crearwy and Lulach might actually be Gillacoemgain’s children, not Duncan’s.

  If not for Macbeth, Gillacoemgain might still be alive.

  Damn them.

  Damn them both.

  There was the sound of movement behind me. My heart stilled, and a strange sensation crept across my skin.

  I turned to find the red-robed Morrigu there, her arm outstretched as she handed my sword to me.

  I gripped Uald’s Gift by the handle then threw the scroll into the fire.

  The Morrigu smiled then disappeared.

  I wouldn’t bargain with either of them.

  One at a time, I would deal with them both.

  One at a time, they would both pay.

  At this, the raven smiled.

  Chapter 45

  Several days later, Banquo returned with news. Thorfinn would return to Thurso, Macbeth going along with him. Thorfinn and Magnus would guard Caithness. Macbeth would take half of Thorfinn’s navy and his own ships and sail to Aberdeen. Banquo would ride south, leading the northern lords to meet Duncan’s English-backed army.

  “When I was at Inverness, there was a rider, a message from Duncan,” Banquo told me.

  I already knew. My man had followed Duncan’s messenger to Inverness and had seen him return south thereafter.

  “Duncan… He offered to annul your marriage to Macbeth, cancel Lulach’s claim, and give Macbeth a new wife, solidifying Moray under Macbeth with the condition that Macbeth turned on Thorfinn.”

  “I’m sure that led to an awkward conversation.”

  “Indeed. And I was glad Thorfinn was there to keep Macbeth’s response…balanced.”

  “And what did Macbeth say?”

  “That he would not betray Thorfinn.”

  I snorted but said nothing more. What was there to say, to feel? Macbeth had never loved me. There was no use in pretending he had.

  “Macbeth is much changed since I saw him last.”

  “Changed? How?”

  “Not for the better, I’m afraid. There was always an unsteady spark in him, which I am sorry you have seen. That spark… It glimmers more brightly now. Inverness has become an odd mix of priests and—”

  “And?”

  “And debauchery. Macbeth is uneven. Thorfinn and I spoke of it.
Macbeth’s words often don’t reflect reality, and he sees malice everywhere.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Banquo frowned. “It is one thing to be wary, but another to be paranoid. My Cerridwen, strange shadows surround Macbeth.”

  “Cursed…or madness?”

  “Or both? Whatever his priests are doing for him, they are not keeping those shadows away. Thorfinn spoke to him at length, and he seemed better after. Better, but not right.”

  My thoughts went to Findelach, Macbeth’s father. There was an echo of the past here. Was this what had happened to Findelach? Had he slowly gone mad until he had done the unforgivable? I had seen that streak in Macbeth, but now… Did I have a responsibility to do anything about it?

  “They will sail within the week. I will stay here in Cawdor and rally the northern army. If, of course, you will have me.”

  “How well Macbeth plays. He cannot ride here himself, so he uses the relationship between us—the one that he so hates—to get what he wants. Hypocrite. And will he be sending supplies for his army from Inverness?”

  “Yes.”

  I nodded.

  Banquo scanned around the room. “Have the boys been sparring in here?” he asked when he saw the targets and weapons.

  “No, I have been training.”

  Banquo smiled. “Uald would be proud. But you must not worry. You will be safe here in Cawdor.”

  “I will not stay in the castle. I will ride out.”

  Banquo stared at me. “What?”

  “I will join you when the time comes.”

  “But… You cannot.”

  I laughed. “I can, and I will.”

  “Cerridwen, you don’t know what it’s like. The blood. The men. It’s not safe. You are a gifted swordswoman, I know, and a Valkyrie at heart, but I can’t let you do that.”

  “My dear, I love you well, but you cannot stop me.”

  “What if something happens to you? Think about Lulach and Fleance. The boys need you.”

  “I promise you, I will be safe.”

  “But Cerridwen—”

  “I will ride out,” I said, more venom in my voice than I had intended. But it was not me who had spoken the words but the raven. And once more, that dark force hooded my features. “I will ride out, Thane. As has been foretold.”