“Morag, did you set out gloves?”
“No, my lady, but there is a pair here,” she said, pulling a pair of kidskin gloves from the trunk. She handed them to me.
I pulled them on, trying to ignore the spots on my hands.
“I’ll go downstairs and make sure Tira and Rhona are ready,” Morag said.
“Thank you, Morag.”
She nodded then headed out.
I went back to the window. I eyed Macbeth at the front of the army.
Just because I was riding south with Macbeth didn’t mean I had to tolerate a single word from him. He was nothing to me. No one. I would rule this land and rule it well, with or without him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow beside me.
I cast a sidelong glance to see the shape of Gillacoemgain there.
“Now I will go to Scone. I will become queen. But if I’d had a choice, I’d rather have stayed here all my life, content to be your lady and your wife,” I whispered.
While I loved Banquo, my words were true. I missed Gillacoemgain desperately. That beautiful dream Gillacoemgain and I had shared was rare, precious, and fragile… And it had been, in the end, just a dream.
I turned my head to look at him, catching only a glimpse of him before he disappeared back into the aether once more. But at that moment, I caught the soft, regretful look on his face.
One day I would be with him again.
One day.
But not today.
Adjusting my belt, I headed downstairs. Everywhere I looked, people were making ready. I passed through the hall, spotting Thora dozing sleepily by the fire. I went to her, bending to pet her.
“Lazy girl. What, you don’t want to become Queen of Scotland’s dog?”
Thora lifted her head and thumped her tail. Thora had never been one to miss an adventure, but the war had taken some of the spirit out of her. Both she and Kelpie had returned broken. It wasn’t like Thora to let me go without a disagreement. But this time, she didn’t seem interested. In a way, I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t excited to go either.
I patted her gently. “Be good. Keep an eye on my castle.”
Thora licked my hand then lay her head back down, closing her eyes to sleep once more. A nervous apprehension flickered in my stomach. What would I ever do without her?
“My lady,” Tira called from the door. “We have everything ready.”
Rising, I crossed the room and met Tira.
“Rhona is waiting outside with the Moray men. Standish has the horses ready.”
We exited the castle and crossed the courtyard. As we went, I pulled on Gillacoemgain’s helmet. In the courtyard, Standish waited with the blood bay stallion.
“My lady,” he said, helping me up.
“Thank you, Standish.”
“Lady Gruoch, this is Killian,” he said, motioning to a dark-haired man I had seen often about the castle. Killian had a serious, hawkish expression. I remembered him from amongst Gillacoemgain’s men. He was the second son of one of the clan leaders. “He has agreed to go south with you. He will organize your guard.”
I nodded to the man. “Killian. My many thanks to you and the others,” I said, motioning to the men assembled there, faces I knew.
“You are safe with us, Lady Gruoch,” Killian assured me.
“Safe travels, Queen Gruoch. Don’t worry about Cawdor. She will be held as you requested,” Standish told me.
“I’ve no worries,” I said, smiling gently at him. Gathering up my reins, I nodded to the others then we rode out.
The bay trotted gingerly across the field. I could feel the energy coursing through his veins. It took all the restraint he could muster not to sprint.
“Don’t worry,” I told the horse. “You’ll get your chance.”
The stallion turned his ears back to listen to me.
“Wild thing. Swift as an arrow, aren’t you?”
The horse neighed softly in reply.
My stomach turned as I approached Macbeth.
The years had done little to change him. His skin was still as pale as milk, his dark hair flecked with just a bit of silver at the temples. He was looking everywhere but at me.
I rode to him, stopping in front of him.
“How now, Macbeth?”
Finally, finally, he turned and looked at me. I saw his light-colored eyes take in my armor. The muscles around his mouth twitched. He inhaled deeply, slowly blowing out his breath.
“Where is Lulach?” he asked.
“Not here.”
“Not here? Then, where?”
“Not here, and not coming. Shall we?” I said, motioning to the field.
“But Lulach must come. He must ride south with us.”
I turned the blood bay and moved my horse alongside Macbeth. The bay snorted and stepped high, making the steed Macbeth rode shy sideways. Macbeth tightened his reins, controlling his nervous animal. I leaned toward Macbeth. “Lulach is not here, and he is not coming. You will not ask about my son again. Ride south, Macbeth.”
“Gruoch,” Macbeth whispered.
Tapping the bay, I rode to the front of the army, the men of Moray behind me.
Banquo, who had organized the line, called for the army to advance.
Whatever Macbeth thought was going to come next, he was very, very wrong.
Chapter 6
We rode throughout the day without incident. Bonfires lit the fields as we made our way south, a signal to us that the north was on our side. They were lighting our way to glory. From sunup to sunset, we rode southward. That night, the men of Moray prepared my tent. Across the field, I could see Macbeth amongst his own men. We hadn’t spoken since the sparse words we had exchanged that morning. It was for the best. I wouldn’t waste my breath on him. Once the tent was settled, I went inside to rest.
“Tira and I will find us something to eat, my lady,” Rhona said. “There are guards here to keep watch. I can smell that the soldiers are cooking. Let’s see what they’ve made.”
“May the Great Mother protect us,” Tira said with a laugh, exiting behind Rhona.
I chuckled then began pulling off my armor. My whole body ached.
“My lord,” one of the soldiers outside my tent said.
“My lord,” the second echoed.
I scowled. The last thing I wanted was to see or talk to Macbeth. I was relieved when Banquo called my name.
“Gruoch?”
“Come.”
He entered the tent, closing the drape behind him. “I can’t stay long. I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
“Road-weary but well enough. How are the men?”
“Good. Eager to get to Scone.”
I nodded. “Are there any reports from our scouts?”
Banquo nodded. “The way south is clear, for the most part. There are mercenaries hiding in the woods, but our soldiers are making quick work of them. We have captured some of Northumbria’s spies. Otherwise, most of the lords who allied with Duncan have remained within their keeps, their armies disbanded. I suspect they will seek to broker peace.”
Outside my tent, one of my soldiers said, “Sir,” a hard tone in his voice.
“Sir. My lady is engaged,” Killian said. His shadow reflected on the tent, he moved protectively toward the tent opening. Another second soldier joined him, blocking the path.
Banquo and I both turned.
“Gruoch, perhaps you should remind the men of Moray that I’m about to be crowned king,” Macbeth called.
Still, the Moray soldiers didn’t move.
I met Banquo’s eye. A thousand unspoken words passed between us. I shook my head then pushed the heavy fabric of the tent door aside.