“And to you, Lady Gruoch.”
“Calean,” I said, nodding to him. “It is good to see you again.”
He smiled knowingly. “Lady Gruoch.”
“May I introduce my party,” Balor said, turning to the unknown men. “This is Beric,” he said, introducing a man who wore leaves tattooed on his brow and on his cheeks, symbols of the green god of the woods.
“Lady,” he said, inclining his head.
“And Diarmad,” Balor introduced, referring to the man who wore the symbols of the raven.
The man put one hand on his brow and another on his heart then bowed to me.
“My lady,” he said. And from his tone and manner, I realized it was the other he saw, not Gruoch.
I nodded to him.
“My friends, come take your rest,” I said, motioning for them to follow me.
I looked back to see Standish rubbing his chin as he considered the group. He turned and met my eye, nodded, then went back about his business.
I led the druids inside to the great hall.
“Gentlemen, will you excuse me for just a moment? My house will see to you,” I said, waving to the servants to bring refreshments.
Balor nodded.
I turned then went upstairs to the chamber from which Lulach had been watching. He was still alone in his room—save Angus and Thora. He was sitting by the open casement looking out.
“Lulach,” I called merrily. “Where is Fleance?”
“With Tavis.”
I crossed the room and took a seat opposite my son.
“Who are those men?” Lulach asked.
“You tell me.”
“They… Well, I can see, but I don’t know what name to use.”
“They are druids.”
“Druids,” Lulach repeated as if saying the word made it more real.
“Why are they here?”
“You will go with these men for a time.”
“Where?”
I shook my head. “I do not know. Perhaps Lord Banquo can say better than me.”
“For how long?”
“Not long, my dear,” I said, taking his hand. “The king marches north. He means to remove Macbeth from power, and me along with him. Lulach, you must understand, as the son of Gillacoemgain, you are a very important person. If Duncan is defeated in battle, Macbeth and I will rule Scotland. Given we have no other son, that means you—”
“That I will become king after Macbeth. But doesn’t King Duncan have sons?”
“He does.”
“What will happen to those boys?”
“I don’t know. As was the case for Macbeth, perhaps they will be fostered with Macbeth himself. But, given your importance, it is imperative that when the king rides north, you go somewhere safe. If Macbeth is defeated, Balor will know what to do.”
“If Macbeth is defeated, what will they do to you? What would happen to you?”
I smiled as to soothe his worries. “I will be fine. Ladies are treated differently. Duncan would probably give me a new husband, but I won’t be hurt.”
“Would he give you Banquo as a husband?”
“I don’t know.”
“That would be good. But what about me? Would they try to hurt me?”
The truth was, I wasn’t sure. To protect Donalbane’s and Malcolm’s claim, they might. But still, something told me Duncan would be more inclined to bargain with me if it came to it. And I could certainly spin a web of lies to ensure a future for Lulach and me. But I didn’t want to trouble Lulach with such things. “No, but just to be safe, it is better if you are with Balor. Moray is yours, my son. No one can ever take her from you. But crowns change heads, so you must guard yours well.”
“What about Fleance?”
“You will go with the druids together.”
At that, Lulach eased. “But not forever, right?”
“No, not forever. Think of it as an adventure. Go see what these men know. Like you and me, they too can see that other side. They will teach you.”
Lulach nodded. “All right,” he said then smiled. While his words were spoken with certainty, his smile eliciting the dimple in his cheek, there was also a tremble in his chin. It was telling enough. But it was the manner of his expression that caught me off guard. It so reminded me of Gillacoemgain that I stared. Once more, doubts nagged at me. Both Andraste and Epona had told me Duncan was the father of my children. I’d had a vision of Lulach in the hours after Duncan had…assaulted me. But still. I shook my head. No, it was merely wishful thinking.
I turned and gazed out the window. There, I saw Thora pass through the yard, three little ones nipping at her tail.
“One of the puppies is gone,” Lulach said sadly. “I looked everywhere for it.”
I nodded. I had already discovered the same, but I’d also found the bundle of cloth that had held the fruit tart empty. “Yes. But I think she’s all right.”
“You think so?”
I nodded. “I know so. Come,” I said, reaching out for his hand. “You must meet our guests. Say nothing about them to anyone. Save Lord Banquo and myself, no one will know where you have gone. Not Tavis. Not Morag. No one.”
Lulach nodded then slipped his hand into mine.
“I’m not afraid,” he said.
I realized that his words were partially for his own comfort and partly for mine. “Of course not. You are the son of Gillacoemgain of Moray and the blood of the ancient line of MacAlpin. There is no more blessed and fierce blood in this land.”
At that, Lulach smiled, his heart filling with pride.
And for some reason, this time when I spoke the lie, it felt like the truth.
Chapter 46
The night passed quickly, and we did not press Balor and his men to stay longer. As I had done with Lulach, Banquo told Fleance the plan. Unlike Lulach, Fleance was more hesitant to leave, but tried not to show it. Lulach’s courage gave him strength. The band of druids waited until nightfall before they prepared for their departure.
“There are spies in the hills all around Cawdor,” Balor told Banquo and me.
“How will you slip through unseen?” I asked. “If anyone spies you riding from Cawdor with the boys, they will be at risk. As it is, I worry that someone marked your arrival.”
Calean smiled patiently at me. “They will only remember a party passing through, no more.”
“And on the road, we are unseen. You have my word, my lady,” Balor said. “Epona is not the only one who can pull shadows from the otherworld. Nor step between them, as her most apt pupil is said to do,” he added with a wink.
I smiled softly. “My son… Lulach has the sight already.”
Balor nodded. “The otherworld shimmers all around him. As if the fey pup is not a sign on its own. But we must teach your son that not all of the golden troupe wish us well. I will do my best to coach him.”
“For that, you have my gratitude. I am indebted to you.”
“One day, you will return the favor,” Balor said with a smirk.
“Indeed?”
Balor looked at Diarmad.
“After the raven has had her day,” the man said, once more touching his brow.
“I serve the gods. As they will,” I said. And while what I said was true, it was one thing to trust a druid’s word, to trust my own faith in the gods, and quite another to give over my son in the middle of the night. But soon, it was time for them to depart.
Banquo, Lulach, and Fleance returned from the stables, both boys on their horses, their puppies stowed in their sacks just like I used to ride with Thora when she was small.
My stomach quaked when I saw Lulach on his horse. He was still just a boy. It was too soon. My resolved slacked, but I put on a brave face. Both boys had turned their gaze to me to see how they should feel. I smiled boldly, like there was nothing at all to fear.