A look of relief washed over her face. “Oh yes, my lady.”
“Very good. We’ll leave in the morning,” I said then set about getting ready. I sent footmen to the kitchens, stables, and asked Macbeth’s guard to speak to his lord about assigning me four men to accompany me on the trip. By the time I was done, I had everything ready and it was time for bed.
I lay down that night with Lulach beside me, a small hope in my heart that Macbeth would come to me and ask my forgiveness. Would say something. Would make some gesture.
But that night, I slept alone.
I woke early the next morning. Ute, Lulach, and I dressed for the road. Thora trotted around excitedly. Kelpie had been saddled, as had a horse for Ute. A mule carried what small supplies I had requested to take with me south. A small group of guards had been assembled to ride with us. It was an unusually warm morning.
A footman rushed out of the castle. He handed me a letter. “A scroll for Fife. Lord Macbeth wishes you a safe trip, my lady.”
“Does he?”
I looked back at the castle. Macbeth was nowhere to be seen.
Angry, I clicked to Kelpie. Lulach seated on the saddle in front of me, and lashed to me for safe keeping, I turned and headed south, swearing I would never speak another word to Macbeth again.
Chapter 28
The ride was long but without consequence. When we finally arrived at Madelaine’s castle, I discovered Fife was away.
“He’s in Edinburgh,” Madelaine said, taking Lulach from my arms as I dismounted. “There’s trouble with Norway,” she added in a low tone. “But no matter. Let’s get Macbeth’s men provisioned and back on their way. How big you are, Lulach,” Madelaine chirped happily, kissing a very sleepy Lulach. “And how much he looks like you, Cerridwen. Ah! I see Gillacoemgain in his brow and chin,” she said, tickling Lulach’s chin to make him smile.
I smiled lightly. What could I say? It was lucky that Lulach had some features that resembled Gillacoemgain. It made the deception easier.
“Gruoch,” Tavis called happily, crossing the lawn to embrace me. “Good to have you home.”
“If just for a day. We’ll be off again tomorrow. Will you see to the preparations?” Madelaine said.
Tavis nodded. “Of course.”
“Off? Off where?” Ute asked, her voice sounding nervous.
“To our holy sisters,” Madelaine answered.
“Oh,” Ute said softly.
“I think you’ll be comfortable here with Madelaine’s household. Madelaine and I will take Lulach with us. You can get some rest,” I told her. “Will that be all right?”
“Yes, my lady. I would like that.”
“You will be safe here,” I said softly. As I’d reflected on Ute’s behavior, it had occurred to me that maybe she had rid herself of her child because some mischief had been done to her. Her sadness reminded me of myself when I was so misused. I cared deeply for Ute, but I didn’t know how to ask. And if I was wrong, it could cause her terrible embarrassment. It was better if I just let the matter lie until Ute was ready.
She nodded. “Thank you, my lady.”
We rested that night, and in the morning, Lulach, Madelaine, Tavis and I journeyed to the coven. Thora pranced around excitedly, racing ahead at every chance, rushing back time and time again as if to hurry us along. We rode until we reached Tavis’s usual camp spot.
“You sure you’ll be all right?” Madelaine asked him.
“I’ll be hunting. Maybe…Uald will come join me.”
Madelaine smiled. “I’ll let her know,” she said then leaned in and kissed him.
Tavis cupped Madelaine’s cheek then kissed her once more. “Be safe,” he whispered.
“You too.”
I waved farewell to Tavis, then Madelaine, Lulach, and I—and an impatient Thora—made our way deeper into the forest.
“He should just join us,” I said. “After all these years, the coven is no secret to him. Ask Epona. I am sure she will consent.”
Madelaine nodded then sighed. “Epona is not the problem. In fact, Tavis and Uald are old friends at this point. It is Tavis who will not agree to it.”
“Why not?”
“Holy ground. Sacred space. He says he is no druid, so he stays away.”
“His stubbornness is going to earn him frostbite one of these times.”
Madelaine laughed. “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that.”
I grinned.
As we rode through the hidden pass into the coven, all concerns about Macbeth fell away as I focused on a single thought: Crearwy.
At last, I would have both my children with me.
Anticipating our arrival, Epona and Uald met us in the square.
“Sisters,” Epona called and came forward. Madelaine’s face flashed with the same surprise as mine. Epona looked older. Around her eyes, little wrinkles reached out with spiderweb hands. Her mouth showed all her years of smiling, her laugh lines deep, as were the grooves on her forehead. Epona was aging. All this time she had seemed to be frozen around the age of thirty. Now she looked nearly twice that. It was chilling to consider why.
Uald helped Madelaine dismount then embraced her.
“Well met,” Epona told me then kissed Lulach on his forehead. “How much he’s grown. And how like his sister!”
“Corbie,” Uald said, smiling at me. “And Lulach.”
Kelpie nickered at her.
“Yes, you old goat, I haven’t forgotten you,” she said, patting Kelpie on his nose. “Come along, you grumpy old beast. You too, Thora. I have a bone for you somewhere,” Uald said then took Kelpie’s reins from my hands.
Madelaine gave me a little wave then went with Uald. Thora trotted along behind her.
My eyes scanned the coven very quickly. No one else was up and about. The windows of Sid’s house were dark. I hoped the faerie would tell her I was there. I cast a look toward Bride’s house, feeling sad that I had not had a chance to say goodbye. I was surprised to see puffs of smoke coming from her chimney.
“You will be anxious to see Crearwy,” Epona said.
I nodded.
“May has gone to the stream to bathe. She took Crearwy with her. They will be back directly. “
“Sid told me that Bride passed away,” I said.
Epona nodded. “We were very sorry to lose her, but the Crone called. She went peacefully. Tully was here. She brought a young woman who has taken the name Juno. You will like her. She also belongs to the Dark Goddesses. We expect Tully to return soon with two more girls. It is getting more difficult to find families willing to send their daughters for training. The world is changing,” Epona said sadly then looked at Lulach once more. “Come, let’s get you inside. Lulach looks like he could use a biscuit.”
“Eat,” Lulach said. “Me eat.”
Epona chuckled. “Clever boy.”
“And how are Inverness and Macbeth? My, it’s chilly,” Epona said, pulling her shawl around her. Once inside, she rummaged through her cabinet, returning with a biscuit for Lulach.
I studied Epona closely. There was no chill in the air, and Epona’s house was overly warm.
“I confess, I don’t know what to say. I started the marriage hopeful, but…”
“But?”
“But Macbeth is not Gillacoemgain. I had visions of Macbeth long before I even knew who he was. And Andraste, that old riddler, had once called him my king. But he’s not what I expected.”
Epona poured us both a goblet of wine then sat back in her seat and looked thoughtful. “You saw Macbeth in the cauldron?”
“Yes.”
Epona frowned heavily, drank her goblet of wine, then rose and stood by the fire. “It is no secret that Andraste and I do not see eye-to-eye on many matters, including her over-involvement in things—including conjuring visions. But the Wyrds are kingmakers.”