“With Thorfinn’s arrival, Macbeth will call the northern lords to Inverness. Will you come?” Banquo asked.
I shook my head. “I will not step into that castle ever again.”
Banquo frowned. “Those who were once loyal to Gillacoemgain may not listen to Macbeth if you are not in attendance. They look to you, not him, to see which way to lean.”
“I’ll send messages to Buchan, Mar, and the others. In truth, if it were not for you and Thorfinn, I’m half inclined to let Duncan pass and have at Macbeth.”
“Cerridwen.”
I shrugged. “What difference does it make if I make peace with one rotten cousin or the other?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m not. But the thought has occurred to me. I do not trust Duncan to lord over my bannermen or me. I have already chosen my burden. I must live with the consequences of my choice to ride north rather than south.”
Banquo frowned. “But you… Are you very unhappy?”
I shook my head. “No. Macbeth has left me in peace. The separation was clean and complete. I have been content to raise our sons and think only of my true husband.”
Banquo eyed the door then pulled me close.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“I missed you too.”
Leaning in, he kissed me hard, his longing and passion matching my own. I loved the feel of him against me, the strength of his arms and chest, the taste of rich red wine on his lips, and the smell of him, his body, his hair. I’d missed him desperately. Our hands roved over one another, and soon, before we did something rash in this very public space, we pulled back. I rested my head on his chest.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too.”
“How soon must you leave?”
“Today. I…cannot stay the night here with so many lords roaming about. There will be too much gossip. We will prepare for war, and I will be asked to lead an advance on one of the fronts you have foreseen.”
“Then Macbeth believed me?”
“He has put out your prophecy as word from his spies. He believes you. I do not know what he has seen to change his mind, but he has no doubt in your words.”
“He has seen the raven.”
Banquo snorted. “Good,” he said then turned and lifted his goblet of wine. “Cerridwen, in your vision, how far south was Duncan’s army?”
“Not far from Cawdor.”
Banquo frowned. “I’m concerned for Lulach and Fleance.”
“As am I, but Cawdor will be well fortified.”
“I think I should send for Balor.”
“Send for Balor?”
“My love, Lulach is touched by the Otherworld. And if the fey have seen fit to lavish gifts on him… It would do him good to spend some time amongst holy men. Not only would he learn to navigate the spirit realm, but Balor will also teach him caution. Not all the fey have mankind’s best interest at heart. And with Balor, he would be safe. Balor can teach him the ancient roads, him and Fleance. And amongst Balor’s men, Fleance and Lulach are not the sons of lords targeted for kidnapping or worse. Lulach will be Mormaer of Moray. And if—when—Duncan is defeated, you and Macbeth will take the throne, Lulach will be the heir to this realm.”
“I…” I began, but he was right. Lulach was a valuable prize. It would be wise to send him into hiding much as Madelaine had already done. “Yes, you’re right.”
“I’ll send for Balor at once. Even now Duncan may be plotting to send a man to kidnap your boy.”
“The queen wrote to Madelaine, inviting—insisting, really—that she go to Edinburgh. They would use her to their advantage. She escaped to Epona.”
“I would never seek to take him from you. It would just be until everything was settled.”
“He’s still so young,” I said softly.
“Yes, but he’ll be safe.”
I stared into the fire.
He’s right.
My eyes flicked to the side where, for just a moment, I spotted the shadowy apparition of Gillacoemgain.
All my husbands are ganging up on me.
Exhaling deeply, I looked into the flames. Visions took shape before my eyes, and in the fields and villages south of Cawdor, I saw war, and fire, and blood.
I closed my eyes. “Send for Balor.”
Banquo wrapped his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “We don’t have time to send a messenger. I must cast to him. May I make use of this chamber…alone?”
“Of course,” I said. I set a sweet, soft kiss on his lips then turned and exited the room.
I headed out into the yard where Lulach and Fleance raced in circles, Thora’s entire brood, and little Angus, running after them.
“I’ll pick the fastest one,” Fleance called to me.
Thora sat watching on the other side of the yard, gazing on in a manner that mirrored my own expression. The sight of it was so ridiculous that it made me laugh aloud. Thora trotted over and sat down beside me.
“Thora, choose your most loyal and loving pup. We shall ask Eochaid to take that wee one to Crearwy.”
Thora wagged her tail, and we both watched on, a ridiculous pair, fawning over the children who would soon leave us.
But as I watched them, my thoughts went to the sons of Duncan and Suthen. They’d had two boys, Malcolm and Donalbane. What would be done with those boys when Duncan was defeated? Where would they go? If the king was toppled, his children would grow up plotting their own revenge. I stared at Lulach. Even now we moved to protect him. What was Duncan doing to protect his own boys? I considered Suthen. Would Macbeth have already made plans to kidnap her sons? I chewed my lip as I considered the problem. If those boys fell under the care of the Earl of Northumbria, they’d be turned into adders. What could be done to prevent it? My heart went out to Suthen. Suthen had suffered, I had no doubt about it, and surely she loved her boys as I loved mine. It did not do for one mother to strike at another. I would make no move to harm those boys, and if a time came when I could prevent it, I would do what I could. After all, they were still my blood.
I shook my head, unable to see the way. For now, I had my own sons to worry about. Soon, Balor would come, and Fleance and Lulach would be gone.
Chapter 43
As dusk neared, Banquo and his men prepared to depart. Lulach, Fleance, and I gathered around to say goodbye.
“I will return as soon as I can. My son is here. Let tongues wag about you and me as they will, but I will return see to my boy,” Banquo told me.
“Balor?”
“He will ride for Cawdor. He and his band are not far.”
“You trust him. Completely?”
“With my life. With Fleance’s. And with Lulach’s.”
I sighed heavily.
Banquo squeezed my hand then mounted his steed. Waving to the boys, he and his men then turned and rode to Inverness.
Wordlessly, Fleance came to me. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close. “He’ll be back soon,” I whispered in his ear.
Fleance nodded and pulled himself up straight, trying to look far more grown than he was. Despite his manly posture, he quickly dashed a tear from his cheek.
“Fleance, you haven’t told me what you decided to name Thora’s son,” I said, petting the puppy Fleance held tightly.
“I don’t know what to name him.”
“I never liked to name anything either. It seemed to me their names should come by them naturally.”