Lulach set the crown of Moray on the altar stone.
“Mother, what about you? What will you do?”
“I am for the Wyrds, as was always intended. And Banquo is with me.”
“The Thane of Lochaber lives?”
“He does.”
“I must tell Fleance.”
“Please do,” I said then slipped off the raven torcs on my wrists. “And give these to Crearwy. Tell her they are a bridal gift from her mother,” I said, handing them to Lulach. “Tell her and Fleance to follow their hearts. That they are beholden only to one another. I free her from any obligation I ever laid upon her. I love her, and I set her free.”
Lulach flexed his brow, a move he had made a thousand times since he was born, then he nodded. “And Aelith?”
“You will see her soon.”
Lulach nodded. “Thank you, Mother.”
A horse whinnied. Lulach and I turned to see Arden, the priestess from Birnam grove, there.
“Go, my son. The green calls you.”
Lulach looked at Arden, a curious expression on his face. He turned back to me. “I love you, Mother.”
“I love you too,” I whispered, then closed my eyes and willed my spirit onward.
A moment later, I found myself standing beside a brook. Water fell gently into a pool at its base. The surface of the water rippled as a fey thing bobbed on the frothy waves. Grinning mischievously, Sid splashed water at me. She laughed when the droplets passed through me.
“Well, finally did it, eh?” she said.
“Did what?”
“Became the raven.”
“Yes.”
She nodded then dunked under the water. After a moment, she broke the surface once more, gasping for breath. She pushed her hair away from her face. “I hate that city of yours. It’s too dark,” she said with a frown. “But I suppose I’ll come anyway.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’d have to force you there. But, Sid, I need your help. I must bring—”
“Mad Elaine. I know. We’ve been waiting for her. Our ninth will return to us once more but this time as the crone. Tell her to come when she is ready.”
“I will. I don’t know yet what we will do about Aelith.”
Sid shrugged. “The answer will come to you in time, raven beak.”
“Sid,” I said with a shake of my head. She could make light of the most serious matters.
She grinned wickedly at me. “Now go away, and no spying on me through that cauldron of yours.”
I laughed. “I love you, Sid.”
“I love you too. Now, go run away with Banquo,” Sid called then disappeared under the water once more.
Laughing, I closed my eyes.
My body swooned, and once again, I found myself standing at the cauldron terrace. I breathed in the heavy scent of wisteria. A strange sense of peace came over me.
“Cerridwen?” Banquo called.
“Coming. I’m coming,” I said then turned and left it all behind.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading The Celtic Blood Series. This series has been an important part of my life for more than a decade. I am so pleased to bring you Gruoch’s final chapter. As you know, I started writing this series many, many years ago. When I started revising Highland Queen, I realized the book needed a complete overhaul. Gruoch has become a part of me, and the first draft of this novel did not give her, or many of the other characters, the endings they deserved. Just to give you an idea, in the first draft of Highland Queen, Banquo, Sid, Madelaine, and Lulach were all violently murdered. Sid’s death was the worst. I shudder to think of it. When it came time to complete this series, I realized the story I’d written in the first draft was no longer the story I wanted to tell. Killing Sid would have been like killing Harry Potter’s Hagrid. You just don’t do that! I hope you enjoyed the way the story ended. I loved that Madelaine finally showed her MacAlpin blood in those last moments—she surprised me with that one. And Macbeth got what he deserved. He knew Scáthach was after him.
I am sure you are wondering what happens next for Crearwy, Lulach, Fleance, Aelith, and the others. One day, I will write an epilogue for you. But for now, please know they go on to have happy-enough lives. Not perfect, but Gruoch sacrificed for them. Those sacrifices will not have been in vain.
As for the historical elements of this final book, I found myself at a crossroads. The purpose of this novel was to tell Gruoch’s tale, snatching her back from William Shakespeare and giving her life context and meaning. In order to stay in line with Shakespeare’s story, I bent a few historical details here and there. The real Macbeths ruled peacefully a bit longer than in this novel. The real Macbeth was eventually killed by Malcolm, son of Duncan, at Lumphanan. To this day, there is a stone in Lumphanan called Macbeth’s stone, which marks where Macbeth was beheaded. This stone is in my series. Macbeth and Gruoch meet for the first time beside this stone in Highland Vengeance. Lulach did become King of Scotland following Macbeth’s death. He ruled for a year, and it is recorded that he was killed by deceit (aka, assassinated). Malcolm, son of Duncan, takes the throne after Lulach. Research yielded other fun details that found their way into the book. Once upon a time, there was a Stone Age fortress on Dunsinane Hill. Only the foundation remains now. But in the 11th century, there would have been a castle on the hill. I enjoyed imagining what that castle might have looked like. Thorfinn and Macbeth did go on pilgrimages to Rome. It’s unclear if they went together or separately. In the end, Shakespeare maligned Lady Macbeth. The real Macbeths were good, peaceful rulers.
As for Ynes Verleath, I’ll leave it up to you and your raven eyes to determine if that is fact or fiction.
Thank you for taking this journey with me.
Much love,
Melanie
About the Author
Melanie Karsak is the author of The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, The Celtic Blood Series, The Steampunk Red Riding Hood Series, Steampunk Fairy Tales, and The Chancellor Fairy Tales. A steampunk connoisseur, zombie whisperer, and heir to the iron throne, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.