“You will always be my wife. Feel the spirit world around us. Don’t you feel the Lord of the Wild Hunt? The Great Lady? We are their children, and under their watch, we are man and wife.”
“Banquo,” I whispered. His words spoke to my heart.
Banquo exhaled a shuddering breath. “There are standing stones on the other side of that rise, a sacred space. Do you have time to see them, just for a moment?”
I looked around me. The forest floor was covered in thick green moss. Shafts of golden sunlight slanted through the green canopy overhead. Motes made the air sparkle. Trained in Ynes Verleath, the goddesses of death and darkness called me. I was not a druid and knew only what Epona had taught me of the Stag God and the Great Mother, but I did feel the woodsy energy around me. It called to me.
I nodded.
We dismounted and led the horses through a thicket of tall ferns to a small, secluded valley. Leaving the horses to graze, we walked into the green space. At its heart was a small ring of stones. Golden sunlight shimmered on them, illuminating the swirling symbols carved thereon. A ring of oaks surrounded the stone, their tall branches reaching toward the sky. It was a beautiful place. Magic filled the air.
“When I found you in that dark place, this was the passage I used to enter the otherworld. This place is a gateway. The worlds are thin here, and these stones are very, very old. They are different. See their color, texture,” Banquo said, setting my hand on the stone. “This stone isn’t from our island. It’s from a lost land. Even the symbols are not Pictish. The faces, the designs, these are not the engravings of druids. Balor taught me how to move between the worlds, to use the thin places,” Banquo said, touching the stag tattoo on his brow. “I searched everywhere for you. But then it occurred to me that you were not in the places known to the druids. You were somewhere far older, darker. That place… It was so strange.”
“Yes,” I said in a whisper.
“An ancient place,” Banquo said.
“An island lost in the mist,” I said, staring up at the monolith.
“Were you alone there?”
“No. I was with the Wyrds.”
“The Wyrds,” Banquo said aghast. “The earth has bubbles, and they are of them. And what did the three dark ladies teach you?”
“Two.”
“Two?”
“There were but two there…until I came.”
Banquo stared at me, understanding washing over him. “The gods are at work.”
“Yes.”
My hand still lying on the stone, Banquo set his hand over mine. I could feel his body beside me, feel how I fit into the curve of his shape. I could feel his warmth and breath on my neck. And more than anything, I wanted to turn around and take him into my arms and make love to him there in the eyes of the gods. But I couldn’t.
“It is agony to be this close to you,” he whispered in my ear.
“It is a pain we must endure.”
“Must we? We are alone here.”
“Please don’t ask me such questions.”
“Do you still love me?”
“More than anything,” I said then turned and looked at him. “But we cannot. We cannot. I love you, but we cannot. We must wait until the time is right again.”
“And what if that time never comes?”
“Then I shall meet you in the next life.”
“Promise me here, before the old gods, that in the next life we will overcome any obstacles and be together. We will forsake any blood or creed to be together. Promise me. Promise me that we will be together in the next life. Promise me, then I can bear it.” Banquo’s brown eyes shimmered with tears. In them, I saw the druid I had fallen in love with. And through his eyes, I saw the echo of Prasutagus.
The wind shifted, and I felt buzzing in the air. The gods were listening.
“I promise.”
“As do I,” Banquo said.
Banquo pulled me into his arms. I closed my eyes, lost in his embrace. When I opened them once more, I discovered that the world around us had changed. It was very dark, and I smelled the sweet scent of wisteria. Slowly, the world came into focus. Ynes Verleath.
“Banquo,” I whispered, pulling back.
Banquo turned, his eyes wide as he took in the sight.
We were on the cauldron terrace.
Nimue stood there in her purple robe.
“Hail, Banquo!” Nimue called.
Banquo stared at her.
“Hail, Banquo. Lesser than Macbeth but greater. Thane of Lochaber, thou shalt get kings, though be none. Thou shall have the love of a queen, though wear no crown. Hail, Banquo and his queen hereafter. Old blood, may your vows carry on the winds of time, and your love last forever,” she whispered then waved her hand, closing the veil between our world and hers.
Ynes Verleath, the terrace, and Nimue disappeared.
Once more, we stood in the grove of standing stones.
Banquo stared into the space where Nimue had appeared then looked at me.
“Come, my druid, it’s time to go,” I said. Taking Banquo’s hand, I led him back to the horses.
“What is the name of that dark place?” Banquo asked.
I smirked, remembering how I’d asked Andraste the same question. I shook my head then mounted my horse once more.
“One day, you will tell me,” I said.
Banquo raised an eyebrow at me. “I will tell you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“You will remember,” I said with a smirk.
“Remember?”
I nodded.
Banquo shook his head. “Was there ever a pair like us before?”
“Yes,” I replied with a laugh, “life, after life, after life, which is precisely our problem.”
At that, Banquo laughed, his strong voice filling the enchanted woods.
Chapter 18
When we returned, Banquo and I reluctantly parted ways. Morag and Fleance were with Merna at the great hall. Lulach was sleeping at the longhouse. Ute looked exhausted, her eyes having an odd, wild gleam. Lulach must have been hard on her. I didn’t remember her ever looking so frazzled before. Suddenly I felt sorry for taking so long. Ute appeared to be in desperate need of a break.
Macbeth, must to my surprise, was also at our longhouse. He was drinking wine and looking over dispatches.
“Ah, so my wife returns from the wild. Now that your lady is back, Ute, why don’t you go out,” Macbeth said absently as he looked over a letter.
“Yes, my lord,” Ute said then rushed out of the house leaving the door open behind her.
There was a strange tension in the air. Had Ute and Macbeth quarreled? I turned and watched Ute go. She headed down the hill toward the shore.
“Is everything all right?” I asked, closing the door.
“Hmm? Yes. Why do you ask?” he asked as he sipped his wine, a light smile dancing on his lips.
“It’s just… No reason. Anything news of importance?” I asked, glancing down at the scrolls.
“Nothing interesting. Duncan is Duncan. Malcolm plays games. All is the same.”
Somehow that seemed like a less than specific answer.
“Is Malcolm aware you are in Thurso?”
“Apparently,” Macbeth said, tapping one of the scrolls.
“And?”
“Questions, veiled threats, boasts of power, lots of wind, but nothing to worry yourself over. I’ve already written to him, told him I’m here spying,” Macbeth said with a laugh. “Thorfinn and I are watching and waiting. We will make our plans carefully. Now, tell me, where did you and your playmate run off to?”
His choice of words stung. I bit back my annoyance then said, “There is a family living not far from here. The lady of the house is an old friend.”