“How terrible.”
Balor nodded.
“I will do anything in my power to help you. It would be useful if I knew where my holy brothers and sisters resided, the locations of the other covens and holy sites.”
Balor considered the matter. “We have always thought it unwise to set such information down.”
“Do you read Ogham, Father?”
“Of course.”
“Are many others learned in the art?”
He laughed. “As far as I know, only Epona…”
“And me.”
Balor chuckled. “Very good, Your Majesty. Very good. Let’s meet and discuss further before we depart.”
“And Crearwy,” Lulach piped up.
“Sorry, love?”
“Crearwy can also read the language you speak of.”
Banquo cast a wary eye toward Lulach.
“Very good,” I said, seeking to curb Lulach’s tongue. It was one thing for him to be proud of his sister, but quite another to speak her name in open spaces.
Fleance, who must have had a better sense of the matter then Lulach, elbowed his old friend.
Lulach gave Fleance an annoyed look but said nothing more.
We spent a pleasant evening feasting and talking of old things. Banquo’s staff moved in and out of the room as if the druid visitors were nothing of particular interest, but I watched Killian out of the corner of my eye. How closely he listened to their words and eyed the men over. It had been a long time since the druids had walked freely amongst our people. Perhaps it was time for that to change.
Late in the night, after Balor and the others had gone to bed, I sought out Lulach. Though they were both older, Lulach and Fleance had asked for a room together. It was late in the night when I found them there—both still awake—talking like two old women.
“My boys,” I said, entering the room quietly. I closed the door behind me.
Both dogs, Thor and Angus, looked up at me. Thor lay his head back down, deciding it was too much trouble to get up from the comfortable spot on the end of Fleance’s bed to come see me. Angus, who’d been resting by the fire, came to me and licked my hand. I scratched his red ears then sat down on the corner of Lulach’s bed.
“You should be asleep, Corbie,” Fleance told me. “A woman should rest when she’s coming to the end of her time.”
“A month and a bit to go,” I said, setting my hand on my belly. “Depending on how stubborn your sister is.”
“How odd, isn’t it?” Fleance asked Lulach. “We shall share a sister. What have you and father decided to name her?”
“Aelith.”
“And are you sure it’s a girl?” he asked.
I nodded. “As sure as one can be.”
“It’s a girl,” Lulach said absently, his eyes fixed on the fire.
“Lulach,” I said, touching his leg. “I love you well, my son, but you must hold your tongue when it comes to Crearwy. I have paid a heavy price to keep your sister’s identity secret. If others were to learn you had a sister—”
“But who would ever guess?” Lulach asked.
“She is named after your father’s sister. One doesn’t need the sight to make connections. Among the holy brothers, it is one thing to speak her name. But never among servants or in common spaces.”
“I told you,” Fleance chided Lulach. “How like you she is, Corbie.”
“You think so?” I asked.
Fleance smiled, and for a moment, I saw a strange wisp of a soft expression cross his face. “Yes. Though a bit more waspish.”
“She is angry,” Lulach said.
“Was she…unkind to you, Lulach?” I asked.
“No. Not to me.”
“I see,” I said, guessing that Crearwy had spoken harshly of me to her brother. “She doesn’t understand. I can’t blame her. One day, she will realize and forgive.”
“May the gods let it be so,” Lulach said, his voice resonating with a deep otherworldliness.
“Have you shown her?” Fleance asked Lulach.
Confused, I scrunched up my brow. “Shown me what?”
Lulach pushed his sleeve up to reveal a small tattoo on his wrist. Inked thereon was a dog surrounded by swirling Pictish designs.
I took his hand into mine and studied the tattoo. “It’s beautiful, but why did they give you such a mark?”
“I walked…beyond,” he said. “Angus guided me.”
I stared at my son. Before me sat the future King of Scotland. And before he had even reached full manhood, the gods had shown fit to take him to the Otherworld.
“And what did you see there?”
Lulach smiled at me. “You know I cannot say more.”
“Then know this, my son, that the Otherworld is full of those who love us, but also many who would trick and harm us.”
“Not where I went. Not who I saw,” Lulach said.
“And who did you see?”
“The one who brought me my dog. Eochaid.”
At that, I laughed out loud. “Fey things. Love them well, but always be cautious of fey things,” I said then reached out to scratch Angus’ ear. The dog tipped his head at me, giving me the impression he understood my words.
“Like these?” Lulach asked, reaching out to touch my gloved hand.
“Why are you wearing those gloves, Corbie?” Fleance asked.
“The better question is, who gave them to you?” Lulach said.
“Fey things,” I said. “You know I cannot say more.”
Lulach chuckled.
“But why are you wearing them?” Fleance asked again.
“My hands are…bespelled. The gloves contain the curse.”
Both boys stared at me, their eyes wide.
“I’m not in any danger, I swear,” I told them.
Frowning, Lulach looked back at the fire.
“As long as you’re not hurt,” Fleance said.
“I’m not hurt,” I reassured him.
“But you should get some rest,” he told me.
“Yes, you’re right. Hopefully Balor lets you stay for a time.”
“A fortnight,” Lulach told me.
“Do you wish to continue on with him?” I asked Lulach. I wasn’t sure what Lulach would make of the holy life, but I could see that it suited him as it had suited me.
“Yes. I hope you will permit me.”
I nodded. “Of course. My father, Boite, once studied amongst the holy brothers.”
At that, Lulach smiled. “Thank you, Mother.”
“And you, Fleance? Will you stay in Lochaber?”
Fleance laughed. “Only if father makes me.”
“That is unlikely.”
Grinning, Fleance looked at Lulach. “Then we’re for the road once more.”
Lulach returned his smile.
Shaking my head, I rose. “Goodnight, my dears,” I said then left, my heart brimming with joy.
Chapter 33
Relishing every moment I had with Lulach and Fleance, I was very sorry when it was time for them to depart.
“We need to reach a holy site in the north before the weather becomes too harsh. We will winter in Caithness then return this way in the spring,” Balor told me. “But if you need our prince, Banquo can always send word.”
“Thank you, Father,” I said, watching Lulach pack up his horse. Already the wind had become cold, and I could smell snow in the air. The autumn leaves had lost their luster and were starting to turn brown. “And thank you for trusting me,” I said, referring to the conversation Balor and I’d had regarding the other covens in Scotland. With the southern-most coven disbanding, there were now only eight covens in the realm. Balor and I had pored over a map, Balor showing me the location of each of the other covens. As it turned out, the covens all sat upon ley lines, magic lines of energy, that crisscrossed our realm. I had made notes in Ogham, noting the location of each holy site. As I had suspected, deep within Birnam Wood was a sacred place.