Tavis reached out and ruffled Lulach’s hair.
“Boys, this is Tavis. He is a close friend of our family.”
“I remember you when you were no larger than a loaf of bread,” he told Lulach. “And you, young man, I hear your father is a fine Thane and a good commander,” he told Fleance.
“Thank you, sir,” Fleance said, setting down the plate.
Lulach smiled at Tavis but this his brow furrowed, and he gave Tavis a questioning look. “Is my Aunt Madelaine well?”
Tavis looked at me then back at Lulach. “She is safe.”
Lulach nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. I studied my son. For years, I had seen that glimmer of the otherworld in him. I ached for Banquo to be with me, to advise me on what to do. Lulach was a lord, but the mark on his brow said he was much more. How was I to raise such a child? And now that Duncan and Suthen had two sons of their own, Malcolm and Donalbane, Lulach’s claim to the throne was not as strong as it once had been.
Tavis took a long drink of his ale then said, “I will stay here with you if that’s all right. And if not, you must take it up with Madelaine, who insisted.”
“She does know I have an army at my disposal, doesn’t she?”
Tavis chuckled. “Indeed she does. I half suspect she told me to stay here for my own protection.”
“You are always welcome.”
Tavis wrapped his arm around me and gave me a squeeze. “Little Corbie,” he said with a smile.
This, of course, made Lulach and Fleance laugh.
“Laugh again, and I’ll call your tutor back. Or, you can go upstairs to your chamber where you can see all the commotion from your window. It’s going to get very busy around here soon.”
Lulach and Fleance looked at one another then turned and raced away. This time, Thora could not resist, and she trotted along behind them.
“The king will ride north,” Tavis said stoically.
The third time, he will come to my bloody fields like the soldier he should be. There he will meet my champion.
“Yes,” I said, picking up my mug of honeyed herbs.
Tavis clicked his mug against mine. “When the king is dead, long live the queen,” he said then winked at me.
I took a sip of my drink then smirked.
It was time to get ready. The final three had come, and when it was done, my world would turn to right again.
Or so I hoped.
Chapter 42
As the next month passed, word began to slowly flow northward. Rumors abounded about the force amassing in Northumberland. And Duncan began to announce loudly and everywhere he went that he would tour the north in the spring, that he longed to visit his cousins. Macbeth wrote, sharing that Duncan had written requesting an audience with Lord and Lady Macbeth. And in Macbeth’s letter, he asked for my help preparing Moray for war.
The raven smirked when she read his words. Fool. So, now he had a use for me? Part of me wanted to resist just for the pleasure of doing so. But I would not. I would protect Moray because it was my home, Lulach’s birthright, and out of love for Gillacoemgain’s memory. How had that man become so fixed in my heart and soul? A single year. Not even that. That was all we’d had together, but it had changed me forever.
While the disturbing news came in from the south, at long last, word—in the form of flesh and blood—came from the north.
“My lady! My lady,” Tira called, rushing into the great hall one busy morning.
“What’s wrong?”
He hand on her chest, pausing to catch her breath, she smiled. “A rider coming toward the castle. Lord Banquo!”
“Please fetch Fleance. He and Lulach are with Tavis in the training hall.”
Tira nodded happily and raced out of the room. I inhaled deeply then smoothed down my gown and pushed my hair behind my ears, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the few streaks of silver in my hair at my temples. I slipped the day’s messages back into my pocket and headed to the yard.
A few moments after I arrived, I spotted the banner of Lochaber and a party wearing Lochaber’s colors ride into Cawdor, Banquo at the front.
My heart beat hard. I restrained myself from running across the lawn to meet him, aware that there were eyes on me everywhere. In Cawdor, we vetted each new arrival and kept our friends close and our enemies out. But coin always speaks, and I did not know for certain if it had bought someone’s tongue. I would not have any more rumors surrounding me than already did.
Smiling, Banquo dismounted then came to me.
I took his hands in mine. “Well met,” I said, my eyes pricking with tears of joy.
“My lady,” he said, lifting and kissing my hands, one after the other. “My lady. You are a sight for my weary eyes.”
“Come. Take some rest. You and your men.”
Banquo leaned into my ear. “We’ve ridden in from the Firth. Thorfinn has ridden on to Inverness. I must join them there, but I wanted to see you all first.”
I nodded.
I linked Banquo’s arm in mine then motioned for the others to join us. I led the small party to the great hall where my servants were in a bustle of activity, preparing food and drink for the party.
A flurry of footsteps raced down the stairs outside the hall. I heard a clatter as something was knocked over. A moment later, Fleance—Lulach just behind him—stood in the doorway.
I saw a million emotions wash over Fleance’s face. He was nine now, and often it seemed as if he was not sure if he should play the part of a man or still be a boy. He straightened his posture and crossed the room to meet his father as a gentleman might, but the moment he drew close, he threw himself toward Banquo, wrapping his arms around him.
“Father,” he whispered.
Lulach crossed the hall and took my hand. I kissed him on his head. It was a happy moment, my family—save one—all together. Soon, I would see Crearwy again.
Banquo led him to a bench.
“What a fine young man you have become, Fleance. Look how you have grown. You must tell me how you have been. Cerr—Corbie writes that you and Lulach have been studying hard.”
Fleance cast a grateful smiled at me, glad to hear I had stretched the truth a bit to please his father. In truth, both Fleance and Lulach were bright boys and one day, Fleance would make a good Thane. But for now, at least, he was far more interested in swordplay and riding. Of the two, Lulach was more keen to learn, if he was not too busy daydreaming.
“Mum, Lord Banquo should take some rest and refreshment. Shall we go check on Thora and her pups? I haven’t been by to see her yet today.”
I eyed Banquo and Fleance. They needed a moment alone. I smiled at Lulach, proud that he had also seen the need.
“You’re right. She’ll be wondering if we’ve abandoned her,” I said then grabbed a bit of bread from the basket on the table. “We’ll be back in just a bit,” I said, setting my free hand on Banquo’s shoulder. He took my hand, kissed it lightly, then let me go.
Lulach and I walked to the stables. The spring sun was shining. It cast its rays on Lulach’s dark hair, pulling up tints of blue and gold.
“I’m happy for Fleance,” he said, but there was a catch in his voice that I understood well. It was the sound of a child who had lost a parent, a child who had never known the love of someone who they wished, beyond everything, they could have known.
I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, burying the secret thoughts about Lulach’s true paternity. My mind, instead, turned to Gillacoemgain.