She laughed lightly then let me go, hopping away once more to hunt for sticks for her pack to chase.
Banquo crossed the rocks and came to stand behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist.
“She is so wonderful,” I whispered. “Thank you, my love.”
He laughed. “She’s wild, dirty, and odd. I’m not sure how well I’ve done.”
I looked up at him. “You’ve done perfectly.”
That night, I lay in Banquo’s arms for the first time in many years.
“How long can you stay?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Lulach has things in hand, but Macbeth is awake once more and is agitated.”
“There are rumors of war once again.”
“Yes. We’ve found spies everywhere. I don’t know what Siward is planning, but he is planning something. They say Malcolm, Duncan’s son, is as shrewd. I fear for what they are planning.”
“Then stay with me.”
“I cannot.”
“Are you sure? Cerridwen, are you really sure? If Lulach is ready to take his place, maybe it is time.”
“Madelaine—”
“Can come here and live with us. She is old now, my Cerridwen. She would enjoy spending her final days in peace at Lochaber with Aelith.”
As I lay there in Banquo’s arms, I considered his words. Macbeth had told me not to return. Maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe Banquo was right. Was I really needed?
“I’ll have to discuss it with Lulach. And something will have to be done with Macbeth.”
“Yes, but maybe, for once, not by you.”
“You’re right.”
I crawled onto Banquo, bending to kiss his neck.
“Cerridwen,” he whispered, stroking my hair.
“It has been a very long time,” I murmured in his ear.
“All the more reason not to delay,” he replied, his hands stroking my back.
“Then we’d better get to work,” I said, setting the first of many kisses on his lips.
Chapter 44
A few weeks later, Banquo, Aelith, and I lounged before the great fire after our morning meal.
“What happened to your leg?” I asked Banquo, watching as he crossed the hall. He was limping badly. Aelith sat pretending to do some work Banquo had given her. She was supposed to be reading. Mostly, she was just listening to us. I was just relieved that Aelith had warmed up to me after her initial surprise. But I understood how she felt. I remembered how it was for me when Boite would suddenly appear. It was like a star had fallen from the heavens.
“I was thrown, if you can believe it,” Banquo said. “A deer startled in the woods, and my horse shied. I found myself lying on my arse looking up at the clouds. It’s taken several months to get the leg this loose. The injury happened right before the winter. The cold weather has prolonged the recovery.”
“Why didn’t you send for a healer?”
Banquo smiled at me. “I did learn a few things under Balor. Now I’m teaching Aelith. She loves to stay inside and read and write. Especially when it’s bright and sunny outside. She hates being outside.”
“Oh, aye,” Aeltih said, tilting her head back and forth as she grinned.
Banquo winked at me.
I smiled at him. How sweet it was to be together like this. Banquo had proven himself a loving father. I expected no less. He had been a devoted lover. As I studied Aelith, my heart filled with joy.
If Lulach agreed, I could step back from ruling the country. I could return to Lochaber and stay there. For once, I would be able to have my child by my side.
“And what are you reading this morning?” I asked Aelith, fully aware that she wasn’t reading anything. If she had, she might have missed the conversation.
“Words,” she replied pertly.
“Words,” I told Banquo.
He chuckled. “Words.”
“Is it an interesting story?”
Aelith frowned. “No. I hate it. Just when everyone is happy, the worst thing you can imagine happens to them.”
“What’s the name of your tale?” I asked, but her answer was interrupted by the sound of a horn. A long, forlorn call echoed across the valley. A visitor had arrived.
I looked at Banquo.
“Lulach, maybe?” he suggested.
“No, I would sense…” I said then reached beyond me, feeling for whoever was there. I gasped. “Oh no.”
Banquo rose. He looked at the castle door, his eyes going wide. He turned and gazed back at me. “Cerridwen,” he whispered.
I heard the castle doors bang open and the sound of footsteps.
“Wait. Please, Your Majesty,” Killian protested.
A moment later, Macbeth rounded the corner.
We all froze.
Macbeth stood looking at the three of us, his eyes going from Banquo, to me, to Aelith. I moved protectively toward my daughter, my hand on my dagger.
“Ah, so here you are,” Macbeth said with a smile. “I came to see you, old friend,” he told Banquo.
How strange Macbeth looked. He was in full armor, even wearing his crown, but he lacked any boots or stockings whatsoever. He looked haggard, his skin pale as milk, his eyes bulging.
“Killian, will you see to the king’s men?” I said.
“Lady Gruoch, he—”
“I rode alone,” Macbeth told us. “I wanted to see if I remembered the way.”
“Perhaps a drink,” Banquo said, motioning to his servant. “A wine, for His Majesty.”
The servant nodded then rushed off.
Behind Macbeth, Killian had drawn his sword. His eyes met mine. I motioned for him to hold.
“I keep seeing you at supper, Banquo,” Macbeth said as he pulled off his gloves. He tossed them into the fire. “All week, you were there in the chair beside me, but you were covered in blood. I asked the others. No one else saw you. Not even Madelaine. She told me I have scorpions in my mind. But every night, you came and sat beside me. You never spoke, you just sat there, staring at me, a dagger sticking out of your chest. Isn’t that strange?”
“Very strange,” Banquo agreed.
“Very strange,” Macbeth repeated. “So, of course, I had to come and see for myself if you were among the living,” he said then hit the side of his head. “Scorpions. They scurry.”
Beside me, Aelith whimpered.
Macbeth turned and looked at her. His gaze lingered far too long.
“She’s very like you, Gruoch,” Macbeth said. “And you too, Banquo. I see you both in her eyes.”
“What do you want, Macbeth?” Banquo asked, his voice hard.
“Wine. Where is your servant?”
“Here, Your Majesty,” the girl called. She carried a tray with wine goblets.
Macbeth lifted a goblet and drained it. He took another cup from the tray. He crossed the room and pushed the goblet toward Banquo.
“Drink, Thane,” Macbeth said, forcing the drink at him.
“I’m well enough without it,” Banquo said.
I watched Macbeth. There was a mad gleam in his eyes. I pulled Scáthach from my belt.
“I said drink,” Macbeth told Banquo. “Let’s drink, old friend. Look at your daughter. How beautiful she is. I never had a daughter. I had a son, but they tell me he died in battle. And then there is the child Gruoch lost. Two dead sons. But look at your daughter. Your daughter…with my wife. How beautiful she is,” he said, stepping toward Aeltih.
Banquo moved between us. “Macbeth,” he said, his voice full of warning.
“Look at her. How like an angel,” he said then exhaled loudly. “Stars, hide your fires. Let not your light see my black and deep desires.” Moving quickly, Macbeth pulled his dagger and lunged at Aelith.