Highland Blood

Chapter 20

“Macbeth has escaped Malcolm’s hold,” Gillacoemgain was explaining when I entered his conference room later that day. So as not to interrupt the conversation, I settled into a seat along the wall in the back of the room. The clan leaders had already been assembled and riders had been departing Cawdor with messages since morning.

“How?” someone asked.

Gillacoemgain shook his head. “Malcolm is in England battling Cnut. I don’t know how.”

“Will he make for Inverness?” another of the lords asked.

“No. He is with Thorfinn of Orkney.”

The room fell silent. The news was ominous. Thorfinn was Gillacoemgain’s strongest opponent in the north. Gillacoemgain had barely subdued him these past months. If Macbeth was in league with Thorfinn, we would soon be at war.

“Let them come. Our men are ready,” one of the clan leaders called.

“Have you heard from Mar?” another man asked.

“No,” Gillacoemgain replied. “I’m waiting for word. Now we shall see who is loyal to Moray.”

I listened as the men batted around names, who would remain loyal and who would turn. One thing was certain, Gillacoemgain did not know who his friends were. In that moment, I pitied him. All of Moray thought him a butcher. He had killed his brother, and many loathed him for it. If only they knew the reason why.

“What about Banquo of Lochaber?” someone asked, capturing my attention. “He’s sworn his allegiance to you. He and Echmarcach of the isles will—”

“No,” Gillacoemgain interrupted. “Lochaber’s peace is false. He is allied with Thorfinn. They’ve been waiting for Macbeth’s return.”

My heart thundered in my chest. Gillacoemgain already knew. A million ‘what ifs’ rolled around in my mind. I shook my head. If they all only knew why Gillacoemgain had killed Findelach, things would be different. But Gillacoemgain would never tell, would never disparage his sister’s memory with such filth.

“Will Malcolm send reinforcements?” someone asked.

“He is at war in England. If he can, he will,” Gillacoemgain answered, which was near the truth. If he wanted to, he would. But if Malcolm needed men in England, Moray was on her own.

I cast my gaze around the room. When I did so, however, my head felt dizzy. The air around me seemed to buzz, and I thought I heard Andraste whisper. Damned.

All at once, the room seemed to erupt into flame. The walls flooded with fire. Black smoke filled the room, ash falling like snow from above. I heard men screaming and felt the hot licks of fire on my skin. In the middle of the inferno, I saw Gillacoemgain, his face full of anguish. He called my name. Then, the flames ravaged him. Before my eyes, he burned until he was nothing more than ash.

I screamed.

“My Lady,” someone said, shaking my shoulder. “Lady Gruoch?”

“Move back,” I heard Gillacoemgain call.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t want to see the fire, the ash. The flames felt so real. I felt their heat on my skin. I smelled the smoke. Gasping for air, I felt the press of people around me step aside as Gillacoemgain drew close.

“Gruoch?” Gillacoemgain whispered, taking my hand.

I realized then I was lying on the floor.

Afraid that I would see a burned man, I didn’t open my eyes. I shook my head.

“Corbie? What happened? Are you all right?” Gillacoemgain asked.

“She must have heard the conversation, took a fright,” Fergus said softly.

“No,” Gillacoemgain answered. “Boite’s daughter doesn’t fear war. Corbie?”

Finally, I opened my eyes to find Gillacoemgain looking down at me. His forehead was wrinkled with worry.

I exhaled deeply. The vision had passed. “I’m okay,” I replied, offering my other hand so Gillacoemgain could help me up.

“Someone get her maid,” Fergus called.

“What happened?” Gillacoemgain asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to say.

“My Lady?” I heard Ute call. She arrived a moment later with Thora hot on her heels.

“Take Lady Gruoch to her chamber to rest,” Gillacoemgain told her then turned to me. “Should I come now? Do you need me?”

“No. It was nothing. Just…it was nothing. You have important work to do here.”

Gillacoemgain nodded then saw me to the door.

“Come now, My Lady. Oh, my sister used to have fits something terrible when she was pregnant. All manner of things would set her off. Let’s have a rest,” Ute told me.

As we walked away, I heard Fergus’ voice. He spoke in a low tone to Gillacoemgain. “Like a banshee wail. You know what they used to say about her father. Ill-omened.”

For a moment, Gillacoemgain did not reply. Then I heard him say, “It is for the gods to decide.”

“Then let’s hope they are on our side,” Fergus said, closing the door behind them.

I hoped Fergus was right, because when I looked down at my clothes, I realized they were covered in ash.

For the next few weeks, messengers rode in and out of Cawdor. The Lord of Moray had his supporters, but it wasn’t clear if he had enough. With Thorfinn backing Macbeth, and the west of Scotland with divided loyalties, it was unclear if Gillacoemgain had the men he needed. Much depended on Malcolm. And I knew, better than many, that Malcolm could not be trusted.

“I need to get you out of Cawdor,” Gillacoemgain told me one night as he settled into bed beside me. “Spies are reporting that Thorfinn is amassing his naval army. I want you far away from any place near the water. We are too close to the Moray Firth here. You’re in too fragile of a state. If Cawdor is overrun and you are taken by force, neither you nor the babes may survive. No matter what happens, I must see you and my children safe. Malcolm has sent word that he is preparing forces to head north to support me. He’s inquired on your welfare. He told me to send you to Aberdeen.”

“Aberdeen? It’s right on the coast.”

“That’s right,” Gillacoemgain said, a knowing look in his eyes.

My heart started beating hard. Malcolm wanted me somewhere easy to retrieve. If Gillacoemgain fell, Malcolm wanted to pluck me out of the middle of the fray and put me where he wanted me next. From Aberdeen, I could easily be bundled up and sent south…to Duncan? Was that Malcolm’s plan for me if Gillacoemgain failed?

“No,” I said. “Send me to my aunt. I’ll go back amongst my women where I will be hidden and can safely deliver the babies.”

“Malcolm…”

“Malcolm be damned. We both know his motives.”

Gillacoemgain nodded. “We’ll send word to Madelaine in secret. I’ll tell Malcolm you will be sent to Aberdeen. You must ride south. War is coming, just as our little ones are ready to join this world. I must get you somewhere safe,” he said, setting his hands on my stomach. “Gruoch,” he said, looking carefully at me. “That day in the meeting room…what did you see? What vision?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to tell him. “It was nothing.”

He touched my chin. “I know what you are. I’ve known it all along. Highland blood. The old blood thunders in your veins. Tell me. What did you see?”

“Fire.”

“Pray to the Goddess. Pray to her. She will listen to you,” he said then pulled me against him. “I love you, little raven.”

“I love you too,” I replied, swallowing the anguished moan that wanted to escape my lips.