“But the cost.”
“There is no cost; there is only destiny.”
“No. I would have made different choices.”
“But you were not given a chance, as fate decreed.”
“Don’t riddle with me, Andraste. You turned my life into a lie. You took everything from me.”
“And yet,” she said, motioning to my stomach, “something has come back to you. Don’t hate me, Cerridwen. I only do as the Goddess bids. One day you will too.”
“Never,” I spat.
Andraste crossed the room and stood before me. The lines on her ancient face were deep and grooved. I remembered what Epona said, that Andraste herself had become a Goddess. Once, she had been a mortal girl like me. Was that the fate the Goddess had laid out for me—for Cerridwen—that I would become like Andraste? I couldn’t think of a destiny any less appealing.
“I am sorry, Cerridwen. Now, go from this place,” she said then reached toward me. “Out, out brief candle,” she whispered, then snubbed the light on my wick.
I shuddered then found myself standing in complete darkness.
My heart was beating hard in my chest.
I stilled and listened. It was so silent. Reaching out, I felt for the wall. I touched cut stone. Patting the wall, I moved slowly across the room, nearly stumbling when my foot found the stairs leading upward. Moving carefully, I made my way up the steps. As I neared the top, a dim light shone. I was in the ancient throne room of the castle.
Retracing my steps, I wound my way down the hall on the first floor of the castle. A few moments later, I heard voices.
“Here, let’s go down here,” someone called, panic in their voice.
Following the sound, I made my way forward. I exited a hallway to find myself face to face with one of Macbeth’s soldiers.
His eyes went wide. “She’s here. She’s here. I’ve found her,” the man screamed.
Behind him, I heard a flood of footsteps.
Killian appeared at the end of the hall. He rushed toward me. “Gruoch,” he called.
Macbeth’s soldier raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
I looked out the window. To my surprise, the sun was rising. The horizon was lit bright pink and yellow. It was morning once more.
There was shouting all around the castle.
“Gruoch, where were you?” Killian asked.
I shook my head.
A moment later, Macbeth turned the corner. His sword was drawn. He had a look of panic on his face.
What in the world was happening?
“Gruoch,” Macbeth called, crossing the hall toward me as he slipped his sword back in its sheath. “Thank god. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Please, there is no cause for alarm. I’m fine. I think I…I got turned around in the castle.”
Macbeth turned on Killian, rage in his eyes. “How did you let this happen?”
“Your Majesty,” Killian said, his voice stiff. “We didn’t even know she was out of the room until this morning.”
“How is that possible?” Macbeth spat.
“We…we don’t know. We had a guard on her door all night.”
Both men turned and looked at me.
“I think I was walking in my sleep,” I said, knowing then how ridiculous the excuse sounded.
“But how did you get out of the room without your guard noticing?” Macbeth asked.
“When the watch changed, maybe,” I said, meeting Killian’s dark blue eyes. I begged his help.
“Yes. Yes, I forgot about that. When the watch changed, there may have been enough time,” Killian said, his gaze on me.
“Change your procedures, soldier,” Macbeth said roughly. He reached out to take my arm, but I moved away from him. “Please, Gruoch,” he said. “We were afraid someone had abducted you. We turned the castle inside out searching for you.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Please come. Let’s have some of your sweet herbs and settle all our nerves,” he said. It was then I realized how pale he looked, his eyes wild.
I nodded. “All right.” I set my hand on Kilian’s arm. “I’m all right,” I said, reassuring him. I then turned and went with Macbeth.
“Gruoch, are you sure you’re unharmed?” Macbeth asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry I frightened everyone.”
Macbeth nodded. “I was…I was frightened,” he said in a soft voice. “If something ever happened to you, I would never have the chance to win your forgiveness.”
I felt my heart harden. I would hear nothing from him. Nothing. “Well, we wouldn’t want that.”
Macbeth sighed.
I ignored him, my mind turning to what I had seen.
Despite how strange and horrible Andraste’s truth was, the truth was revealed at last. Andraste had deceived and lied to me.
But in the end—in the end—Lulach and Crearwy belonged to Gillacoemgain. Knowing that gave me a piece of my husband back, something I thought had been lost forever. And no matter how angry I was at Andraste, I also blessed her.
No one had ever told me a better lie.
Chapter 28
Calm returned to Dunsinane once more. We lingered over breakfast, and I tried to soothe everyone’s rattled nerves.
“I was so eager to see the castle, I walked in my sleep,” I told Kirk.
Killian, who was sitting down the table from me, looked skeptically at me. He knew very well I had not sleepwalked. He knew I was lying. Luckily, I knew he would keep my secret.
“They said you were discovered in the oldest part of the castle, my queen,” Kirk told me. “If you and the king are done with your morning meal, I would love to show it to you in the light of day.”
I nodded.
“Yes, let’s have a look,” Macbeth said.
The three of us rose, Killian coming to attention. He motioned for Magnus to join us.
“Now, the original castle dates much older than even the Parisi,” Kirk told me. “The section of that castle you discovered was the very first castle. It was molded from the land itself.
“And who ruled that place?”
Kirk shook his head. “I cannot say, my queen. There are some markings in the walls, but there are no records left from those days.”
Taking torches, we wound down the narrow halls to the part of the castle where the stones shimmered.
“You see here,” Kirk said, his fingers touching the carvings. “Like the marks on the standing stones that dot this great land.”
“Such an ancient hall,” Macbeth said, a wistful sound in his voice.
Kirk nodded. “The Parisi built upon this place, and then up and up over the years,” Kirk said, awe in his voice. “But below. That is where the roots of the castle lie.”
“What is below?” Macbeth asked.
“A cave network.”
Macbeth frowned. “Is it safe?”
“Oh, I suppose, if one knows their way around,” Kirk said.
“But can the castle be breached through the caves?” Macbeth asked.
Kirk shook his head. “No. The caves wind from chamber to chamber, but there is no outlet. I believe the old lords used it as living and storage space. Rudimentary, but secure.”
Macbeth nodded. “Please be certain.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Shall we have a proper look at the rest of the castle?” he asked then led us away from the old throne room. Kirk guided us through the rest of Dunsinane. He spoke excitedly, gesturing as a man does when he’s passionate about his craft. And I could see why. The improvements he made to the castle were magnificent. And the structure itself…I had not expected to, but how could I not help but love Dunsinane. Its very roots led to Ynes Verleath. And the trees surrounding the castle whispered.