“Like the name Angus,” Lulach said. “I just knew his name was Angus.”
I chuckled. “Angus. It is a good name.” I lifted the puppy from Fleance’s hands and stared into his little face. He looked every bit like Thora had when I found her that windy morning on the hilltop. My fey black dog, her feet nearly as big as her head. This puppy, however, had a mischievous face. “Well, little wild thing, what is your name?” I asked.
“I…I did have an idea,” Fleance said.
“Really?”
“Thor, like the thunder god, and also after his mother. I think it would be good to name him after his mother.”
I swallowed hard, hearing the hurt in his voice. Of course he ached. His real mother was gone, and his father had just ridden away again. “I think Thora would like that. And look at him. What a brute he will be! Thor is a perfect name. Perhaps the thunder god will bless him.”
“I like it,” Lulach said.
“Thor it is,” Fleance said, taking the puppy from my hands once more.
“Better get them something to eat,” I said, motioning for the boys to go inside.
Nodding, they set the pups down then turned and ran back into the castle, their tired puppies loping along behind them.
“My lady,” Morag called, coming up to me with a small bundle wrapped in cloth. “Here you are. I did my best, but there was not much to be had save dried fruits.”
“Thank you, Morag,” I said, taking the warm bundle from her hand. I kissed her on the cheek.
She patted my arm then headed back inside.
I returned once more to the stables. Thora lay sleeping in her stall with her little brood all around her. She was down to four puppies now. I passed her stall and went to the back. There, Gillacoemgain’s mews still sat unused. I had asked Standish to leave them as they were. One day, I hoped, Lulach would learn to love birds as Gillacoemgain once had.
Opening the pen, I lay down some clean straw on a ledge. I opened the wrapped bundle in my hand. Morag had made the tart just as I had asked her to with as many berries and nuts as we had in supply. I could smell the honey and berries. I wrapped the confection back up and set the tart inside the pen. I then stepped outside and looked out toward the pasture.
“Sweets for the sweet,” I called lightly. “Eitri, will you share my words, my gift, with Eochaid?” I called to call the little fey man who had surrounded Eochaid as Nadia did with Sid. “Eitri, please give Eochaid my thanks. And may I ask a favor of my good neighbors? Will you ask Eochaid to do something for me, to take one of Thora’s pups to my daughter?”
In the distance, crickets started to chirp.
I smiled.
“Blessed be,” I called.
I turned and headed back inside. On my way back to the castle, I stopped at the gate where Standish was organizing the night guard.
“My lady,” he said.
“Tomorrow, we will close Cawdor. Call in the first of my bannermen, the most loyal, to guard the castle. No riders or messengers in or out without my say so. Save Lord Tavis, expel anyone from the castle who does not have a place here and prepare the north and south wings to garrison soldiers. How have we done with the stores?”
“We are stocked, my lady. We did it little by little, as you planned, but we are nearly at capacity.”
I nodded. “A war in the spring will cost us in the winter. Begin the rationing now.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I stared out the gate at the open road. “Close the gate tonight.”
“Yes, my lady. Lady Gruoch, what have you—”
“Thorfinn is at Inverness. The king prepares his ride north.”
“I understand,” he said then turned and headed to the gate. A few moments later, I heard the sound of steel and wood as the gate closed and Cawdor made ready.
Chapter 44
The next morning, I found Lulach and Fleance in their chamber watching the flurry of activity below with curiosity.
“Mum,” Lulach said when I entered. “The castle is closed, and there are soldiers in the yard.”
Fleance stared out the window. “Will my father be able to come back in?”
“Of course. We have closed Cawdor to outsiders.”
Both boys turned and looked at me.
“Why?” Fleance asked.
“The king will ride north,” Lulach said, his eyes taking on a faraway look.
“Yes.”
Lulach blinked hard. “We should go to Tavis for sword practice.”
Both boys nodded then turned and headed out of the room, their puppies scampering quickly behind them. But Lulach paused at the door. “Mum, did you need something?”
I smiled softly at him. “No. Not yet.”
He nodded then turned and rushed off.
I gazed out the window, and in the distance, I saw a rider approach the castle. I was startled to see the familiar gold and red colors of King Duncan. I hurried back downstairs and outside.
A footman raced to me. “Lady Gruoch, a messenger from the king.”
I crossed the lawn where I met Standish. “Take the scroll. Send the rider away. Get someone ready, and send a rider to track the messenger.”
Standish nodded then went to the gate. He paused, speaking to a Moray soldier standing there. The man rushed to the stables. Not long after, he returned on horseback, waiting just inside the gate. Standish went outside, returning a few moments later with the scroll. I heard the sound of hoof beats as the king’s messenger departed. The gate opened, and my own rider slipped out. Standish returned, the parchment in his hand.
“The messenger rode north,” he told me.
“Thank you. Let me know when our rider returns,” I said then went back inside.
Returning to my council chamber, I unrolled the letter, which was written in Duncan’s own hand.
It began nicely enough with fine courtly pleasantries. Then Duncan made two moves I did not expect. He wrote that he was sorry to learn that Macbeth and I were estranged and that if it was ever in his power to see his cousin more happily wed to anyone of her own choosing, no matter the lord’s station, he would do everything he could to ensure my happiness.
There was his first offer. If I let Duncan pass, if I let him destroy Macbeth, he would bless my union to Banquo without interference. Clearly, the rumor of my attachment to Lochaber had reached the king.
I frowned then read on wherein Duncan sent his regards to Madelaine, hoping she did not find the winter climate in Moray too cold. He said he looked forward to seeing us both, and the little Lord of Moray, in good cheer when he made his visit to the north.
He thought Madelaine was here. Or, at the least, he was trying to determine if she was. No doubt someone had seen Tavis at Cawdor and recognized him as Madelaine’s personal guard. Perhaps Fife had put it about she’d gone north as a way to decline the invitation from the queen. That made sense. Either way, I was glad Duncan thought she was at Cawdor. If he did, he would have no reason to look for her anywhere else.
I tapped the scroll in my palm then went to the fire.
So, Duncan wanted to make a deal. What deal did he offer Macbeth? A new bride? An acknowledgment of his bastards? Little Findelach, Elspeth’s son, would be nearly six by now.
Should I consider the offer?
What would it cost me, really?
I closed my eyes and thought about Creawry.
Because of Duncan, I had to give up my daughter.
If not for Duncan, Crearwy and Lulach might actually be Gillacoemgain’s children, not Duncan’s.
If not for Macbeth, Gillacoemgain might still be alive.
Damn them.
Damn them both.
There was the sound of movement behind me. My heart stilled, and a strange sensation crept across my skin.