Aelith screamed.
Brandishing Scáthach, I readied myself, but then the unthinkable happened.
Banquo moved to protect us. He stepped between Macbeth and us. But he was unarmed. Using only his body, he blocked Macbeth’s blow.
There was a terrible thud.
Banquo groaned then staggered backward.
Macbeth stepped back, his hands wet with blood.
Banquo turned to face us, a dagger protruding from his chest.
“Cerridwen,” Banquo whispered.
Aelith shrieked then fled, Greer racing after her.
Banquo fell into my arms.
Killian rushed across the room. He slashed at Macbeth. Turning fast, Macbeth blocked Killian’s attack. Dodging around Killian, Macbeth raced out of the hall.
“Stop him! Stop the king! Stop the king! The thane has been murdered,” Killian screamed as he raced after Macbeth.
“Cerridwen,” Banquo whispered. With shaking hands, he touched the dagger protruding from his chest. “Murder most foul.”
Quickly sheathing Scáthach, I gently lowered Banquo to the floor.
Blood seeped through his shirt. Macbeth’s dagger stuck out of his chest.
“No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening,” I whispered.
I pressed my hands against Banquo’s chest, trying to stop the flow of blood, but it was no use.
“Cerridwen,” Banquo whispered, reaching up to touch my face. “Look at me, my love.”
“No, no, no.”
“Cerridwen.”
“No,” I screamed. But this time, it was not me who spoke but the raven. Summoning the full force of that dark power, I let it overtake me. I flung Gruoch away like a tattered rag and looked down at Banquo.
He stared at me.
I lifted my hands into the air, pulled magic from the aether, and tore a hole in the world. There, on the other side, I saw Ynes Verleath. Andraste and Nimue looked up. Nimue gasped. Andraste rose, a look of astonishment on her face.
Reaching down, I pulled Banquo away from the great hall, away from Lochaber, and into Ynes Verleath. Nimue stared out at the world beyond.
“Nimue. Get my daughter. Now.”
Without another word, Nimue stepped into the world to fetch Aelith.
I turned to Andraste.
“Come, you ancient, black, and midnight crone. Fix this,” I commanded.
“I cannot.”
“You will. Now,” I ordered her, my voice booming through the hollow space.
“Foul, strange, and unnatural,” she muttered as she dipped a ladle into her cauldron, filling it with silver liquid. “This was not foreseen,” Andraste whispered as she knelt. “This cannot be. A price must be paid.”
“I will pay any price.”
“Hold him still,” Andraste said.
I held Banquo’s body firmly against the ground. His eyes fluttered open just a little. “My Cerridwen,” he whispered. “I will see you again in the next world.”
Andraste grabbed Macbeth’s dagger and tugged it from Banquo’s body. It came out with a spray of blood. She ripped the fabric on his shirt. Drawing arcane runes in the air, she began chanting in a language I did not know. She poured the liquid from the cauldron onto Banquo’s wound. Still, she chanted, moving her hands in front of her. I watched with my raven’s eyes as swirling blue designs formed in the air then sank into Banquo’s body. Again, Andraste poured her liquid on his wound. Before my eyes, the deep cut healed.
Banquo sucked in a breath and opened his eyes.
“Cerridwen,” he said, staring up at me.
I turned and looked at Andraste.
She inclined her head to me, a soft smile on her lips. “For all that I have done, I will pay the price,” she said then fell over dead.
I gasped.
A moment later, I felt a rush of air. Nimue appeared with Aelith at her side.
“Father,” Aelith cried, rushing to Banquo.
Disbelieving and in shock, Banquo stared at me.
“May all the gods be silent,” Nimue whispered, her hands covering her mouth. She stared at Andraste.
I swallowed hard then closed my eyes. I tried to push away the raven, to send it back from whence it had come. But when I did so, I was met with resistance. There was no separation between it and me. There was only we.
Aelith let out a little whimper.
“It’s all right, my girl,” Banquo told her, reaching out to touch her cheek. “It’s all right. We’re safe now,” he said.
“Say a prayer for this lady. Give your sorrow words,” I said, motioning to Andraste. “She has sacrificed herself to save your father’s life. May she be reborn into a better world.” I reached out and closed Andraste’s eyes.
Aelith nodded and began whispering.
A tear trickled down her cheek.
I reached out to wipe it off then hesitated.
Pulling off my gloves, I stared at my hands.
There was nothing there. The spots were gone.
I wiped away my daughter’s tear with one hand then took Banquo’s hand into the other.
“Cerridwen?” Banquo whispered.
“What’s done cannot be undone,” I said then gazed at Andraste’s still form.
Thank you, Andraste.
Chapter 45
“Help me get him up,” I told Nimue who appeared to be in shock. “Nimue!”
“Yes. Yes, all right,” she said.
Working together, Nimue and I lifted Banquo to his feet.
“We’ll take him to my chamber,” I told her.
“Mother,” Aelith said, worry in her voice. She held on to the skirt of my dress.
“It’s safe here, Aelith. This is a hidden place. No one can come here.”
We supported Banquo as we guided him to my old bedchamber. Moving gently, we lay him down on my bed. Banquo groaned.
“Are you in pain?” I asked.
“It’s a strange ache,” he said.
Blood still marred his skin.
“Can you bring some water?” I asked Nimue.
She nodded then rushed away.
“I know this place,” Banquo said. “I was here, once.”
“This is the home of the Wyrds.”
“That smell…that beautiful flower smell,” he said sleepily.
“Rest, my love. You will heal now, but you must rest.”
Nimue returned a few moments later carrying a bowl of water. I took it from her and cleaned the blood from Banquo’s chest. Again and again, I checked the rhythm of his heart, his breathing, his temperature. He was well. He was in shock and aching, but he would live.
I removed his ripped and bloody shirt then covered him with a blanket. When I was done, I rose.
“We must see to Andraste,” I told Nimue.
Nimue, who had gone terribly pale, nodded. I pitied her. She and Andraste had been together for hundreds—hundreds—of years. In a single instant, her sole companion had disappeared.
“Aelith, stay with your daddy,” I told the girl.
She nodded but said nothing.
“No wandering out of the temple. I mean it.”
She nodded again.
Nimue and I went back to the cauldron terrace.
“What should we do?” I asked Nimue.
“We’ll take her to the temple of the Lord of the Hollow Hills.”
Bending, Nimue and I gently lifted Andraste. I was amazed at how light she was. Her body was frail, most of her weight coming from her robes. It was not easy carrying her down the steps and into the city, but neither Nimue nor I spoke or complained. We did the task that needed doing.
We walked down the narrow side street and then down into the temple of the Lord of the Hollow Hills. The blue fire in the sconces flickered to light before us. We turned and looked at one another but said nothing.