“It’s lovely,” I said.
“Lady Macbeth will take her rest now,” Macbeth told Ute. “Only disturb her if you must.”
“Yes, my lord,” Ute said, her voice uncertain. She was not used to taking directions from anyone but me.
Macbeth led me by the arm to our bedchamber. A large wooden bed covered in heavy furs waited. A stone fireplace was built into the corner. It filled the space with a cheery orange glow. There was a tall wardrobe engraved with images of cats and dragons.
“The journey was too hard for you. I forget that the sea is rough, especially if you’re not used to it. Lie down a while. I’ll send someone to fetch you when the feast begins tonight.”
I wanted to protest. The sea had not made me ill, but I was still fighting off the shaking in my hands. “All right.”
“Do you need anything? Ute can fetch you wine or water. We have a large storage area and a cooking space at the other end of the longhouse.”
I looked around the room. “There is no cradle for Lulach.”
“It is in Ute’s sleeping space. I…had hoped that maybe we could…that maybe I could stay with you. Lulach will be close at hand if you’re needed. We haven’t had much of a chance to live as husband and wife. I’ve been keen to come to Thurso, away from rules of propriety in Inverness.”
Was that what he had worried about? Was he trying to keep the ways of Malcolm’s court in Inverness? No wonder he’d seemed so uneven. Something that had hardened inside of me relaxed.
“I’d like that,” I said.
Macbeth kissed my forehead. “Take your rest, and tonight, dress in your finest. You will dazzle them all and put Lochaber’s milkmaid of a wife to shame,” he said then laughed.
Frowning at Macbeth’s rude comment, I lay down on the large bed. The furs were soft, but I felt a sharp pain poke me. Sitting up, I realized Gillacoemgain’s dagger had poked a hole through the bottom of her sheath. To my surprise, the blade had broken through, penetrated my long skirt, and pierced my leg. A tiny spot of blood appeared on the fabric of my dress. I unbelted the dagger and set it on the table beside me.
As I lay down, a thought crossed my mind. I had not named the dagger. My sword had taken the name Uald’s Gift quite by accident—I’d called the blade that so many times, it had become her name. The dagger, as far as I knew, had none. I picked up the dagger once more, pulling it from the sheath. “Scáthach,” I said. “Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked the blade. I turned it over in my hands. It reflected the orange light of the fire. I turned it over and over, the orange flames of the firelight reflecting on the blade. “Scáthach.”
My eyes grew drowsy, but still, I turned the blade.
On the next turn, a vision appeared on the length of the glowing metal. Before my eyes, I saw a field of battle. Banquo rallied a massive force. Torches burned brightly, shimmering orange against the skyline. Banquo rode down the line. Reining in his horse, he paused and inclined his head to me. I looked down to see Kelpie beneath me, my sword and dagger armed and ready.
I gasped, gripping the blade by the handle as it nearly slipped from my hand.
“Trying to stab me again, Scáthach?” I said with a smile then set the weapon aside.
War was coming. And I would be in the midst of it.
Chapter 16
I fell asleep thereafter, not waking until Ute shook my shoulder.
“My lady,” she said gently.
I opened my eyes.
At first, I was disoriented. The unusual smells of the longhouse and sea were unfamiliar. It took me a moment to realize where I was.
“They’ll begin the feast soon, and our little lord is hungry,” Ute said.
Nodding, I sat up sleepily and took Lulach.
“They’ve brought some of the trunks from the ship. I’ve been putting things away. I’ll go get one of your gowns ready.”
I settled in with Lulach. “Well, wee boy,” I said with a smile. “You’ve traveled almost the entire length of Scotland in your short life. What a strong boy you are.”
Lulach treated me with a smile, his eyes watching my mouth carefully as I spoke, his hand opening and closing as he ate. I closed my eyes and thought of Crearwy. I would never have been able to manage all this with two tiny babies. It was better this way. She was safe and away from all this…mess. While my thoughts were correct, my heart still hurt, and I longed for my daughter regardless. Who had earned her first smile? I hoped it was Sid. In fact, I was almost sure it would be Sid.
After Lulach was sated, I rose and got dressed. All my muscles ached.
“Where is Thora?” I asked Ute as I pulled on an elegant red gown trimmed with fur around the neck and wrists. Ute brushed out my hair then braided it from the temples, fixing it at the back.
“She was here. She nosed through everything then went back outside. There are other dogs around. Last I saw her, she was running off with a pack.”
Typical.
Once I was dressed, I slipped on my raven amulet and torcs. Ute, I noticed, was still in a house gown.
“Aren’t you coming?”
She smiled nervously. “Lord Macbeth asked me to stay back and look after Lulach.”
“He did?” I asked, feeling annoyed with Macbeth for ordering my maid—and my child—about.
“It’s all right. I don’t mind,” she said then added, “It’s just… It’s a wild place, and I don’t know the manners of the gentlemen here.”
I nodded. “I’ll see to it you and Lulach have a guard.”
She exhaled deeply. “Thank you, my lady.”
I nodded, pulled on my heavy fur cape, and then turned to exit. “If you or Lulach need anything, please come right away.” I eyed Lulach who was now lying in the crib. Suddenly the same anxiety that had Ute jittery washed over me. I turned then and left.
The noise coming from the longhouse was very rowdy. Loud voices, music, and light seeped from the house.
“Corbie,” a voice called.
Banquo, who had come from the docks, made his way toward me.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked, extending his hand to me.
I nodded. “Do you… Are there some of your men here? Loyal men of Lochaber?”
Banquo paused. “Yes. Why?”
“Macbeth suggested that Ute and Lulach stay behind tonight. I want a guard on my son. Someone I can trust.”
“And you’re asking me, not Macbeth?”
I stared into Banquo’s chestnut-colored eyes. “I am.”
Banquo stiffened.
“Lulach is the heir of Moray, a fact that, despite his pretty words, does not seem to sit well with Macbeth. Macbeth is so… I don’t know.”
Banquo stroked his beard. “It troubles me that your instincts bid you be wary.”
“As it does me. Believe me. Macbeth is difficult to read.”
Banquo nodded. “He’s been more erratic of late. I’ve also felt a frost from him that was not there before. I don’t think he likes our friendship. And he certainly didn’t take well to my brotherly advice on how to make you more comfortable.”
“Brotherly advice?”
“I see you are unhappy. I tried to tell Macbeth that you are not like the southern ladies he is used to. He was not interested in my counsel on the matter.”
“I see.”