Highland Blood

Chapter 21

Two nights later, I found myself wide awake as the moon rose high in the sky. Macbeth. Who was this man to come and rip my world apart? Sighing, I looked back at Gillacoemgain who was sleeping soundly. The little chamber was warm, soft orange light pouring like liquid amber across the room, shining down on my husband.

Wrapping a shawl around me, I rose and stood over him. How handsome he looked in the firelight. I closed my eyes and imagined how he’d looked that summer day in the field with the falcons, smiling as the sun shone in golden hues on his hair.

Gillacoemgain grimaced in his sleep, then turned and rolled over.

I sighed then set my hands on my stomach. We expected word from Madelaine to come at any time. Soon, I would ride south. This late in my pregnancy, it would be a difficult journey, but one I had to make. Malcolm wanted me within his reach. This time, I had more futures than my own to think of. Growing within me were the heirs of Moray, little ones who would, through me, have a claim to the throne of Scotland. I had to keep them safe.

Frowning, I went back to the fireplace. I lifted another log to drop on the flames but jumped when I saw an image dance across the surface of the water in the cauldron hanging there. I looked inside. The room around me suddenly grew distant, and I found myself standing along the shore. Moonlight glimmered on the waves. I wasn’t sure where I was, but the smallest flakes of snow swirled in the air around me. Overhead, I looked to see the sky was alive with color. Streaks of purple, indigo, and golden light rolled across the starry canvas.

Startling me, I heard someone speak. I turned to find a man kneeling on the ground, his sword before him, hilt end up. His words were soft.

“May all that is to be come to pass through you. Amen,” he whispered then rose.

When he did, I found myself standing face to face with my raven-haired man.

“You,” he whispered.

How long had it been since I’d seen him? He looked older, but still as handsome as ever. The aurora of light overhead shimmered on his armor, casting incandescent hues on his pale face.

I reached out, wondering if I could touch him, but realized then I was little more than spirit. Quite by accident, I walked between the worlds. When I sought to speak, I heard only the raven’s cry.

He gasped and backed away, a startled expression on his face.

His reaction caught me off guard, and I was flung back into myself. Once more I was in my chamber with Gillacoemgain. Sharp pains struck my temples. I sat, holding my head, hoping to ward off the terrible pain and tremor that sometimes followed. Not now. Not while I was so heavy with child.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply, blowing the pain away. My raven-haired man. It had been so long since I’d seen him last. My king, Andraste had once called him. Perhaps he was, but not in this lifetime. Perhaps he, like Banquo, belonged to a life lived long ago. Was he anything more than a buried memory come to life again? Did I walk the edges of time to join him? I didn’t know.

I looked down at my hands, studying the lines thereon. Gruoch, Lady of Moray, daughter of Boite and Emer. Boudicca reborn. Who was I really? I stared into the flames. If the otherworld had never touched me, if I’d never gone to the coven, or to Ynes Verleath, what kind of woman would I have been? I glanced back at Gillacoemgain. I would be his wife, undistracted by visions of the otherworld. But when I looked back at my hands once more, I saw the now-faded scar on my palm, evidence that my soul knew and loved another before Gillacoemgain. And along with that scar, I saw the cut I’d made with my own knife, slicing my bind in half. Banquo was gone. My raven-haired man was some spirit who lived in a different world, a different time.

I closed my eyes and tried not to think about what would come next. I tried to think only of Gillacoemgain and the little ones growing inside me. Soon. They would be here soon. And so would Thorfinn and Macbeth. I could only pray that I had enough strength to endure them all.

Forces amassed all around Cawdor as Gillacoemgain’s army prepared to ride north into Orkney and Caithness. Tents popped up in the fields all around the castle as the first snow began to fall. It was a bitter cold morning when a familiar shape rode through the castle gates.

Gillacoemgain and I had been passing through the yard when Tavis arrived.

“Gruoch,” he called, dismounting.

He was road-weary, but a look of relief flashed across his face as soon as he spotted me. My heart felt happy to see him. In truth, Tavis had been in my life for as long as I could remember. He might have been Madelaine’s champion, but he’d always watched over me like a father. In that, he was dear to me.

“Tavis,” I called in reply and we turned to meet him.

He dismounted then kissed me on my cheek in greeting. “Well met. I come with Madelaine’s apologies for the delay. The path is clear. We can ride whenever you’re ready,” he said but then looked at my stomach. “Gruoch…such a trip may be very dangerous,” he said then looked at Gillacoemgain.

The expression on Gillacoemgain’s face startled me. I could read very plainly then that he, too, was worried. If he left me at Cawdor I was not safe. If he sent me to Aberdeen I was not safe. If I rode south I was not safe.

“I’ll be all right,” I told them both. “Kelpie is a sturdy horse. He never shies at anything. I can make the trip.”

“A wagon, maybe?” Tavis asked Gillacoemgain.

I shook my head. “It will attract too much attention.”

Gillacoemgain frowned. “I’ll send Standish and two other of my best men with you.”

“But you need them here.”

“No,” Gillacoemgain said, “I need you safe. There is time.”

I sighed then turned to Tavis. “Please take your rest. Eat, drink, and sleep if you can. I’ll need to get ready,” I told him then waved to one of the lads crossing the square. “Will you escort my guest to the main hall?”

“Yes, My Lady,” the boy said.

I took the reins of Tavis’ horse. “I’ll have him fed.”

Tavis nodded. “Just let me know when you’re ready,” he said then followed the boy inside.

Gillacoemgain patted Tavis’ horse on the neck. “It will be a difficult trip,” he told me then. “I…I don’t know.”

I looped my arm in his, and together, we led Tavis’ horse to the stables. I passed the steed off to the master of horse then wordlessly led Gillacoemgain back to the mews where his falcons waited.

Almost instantly, he smiled then whistled playfully at the birds. They responded by turning an eye toward him, hopping across the mew to get close to him. They were keen to fly, and happy, or so it seemed, to see him.

“You’ll have to teach our sons how to hunt with them, when they’re old enough,” I told him. I wanted Gillacoemgain to have faith in the future. I needed the reassurance as well.

Gillacoemgain smiled at me. “Sons now, is it?” He set his hand on my stomach.

“We’ll soon see.”

Gillacoemgain reached for me, taking my face into his hands. He pulled me into a deep kiss and after, set his forehead against mine.

“Think of the summer. Think of the sunshine. We’ll all be together. All four of us…and your birds and Thora too. We will roam the hills together. Think of your sons’ laughter. Make the dream real, then lock it in your heart. If darkness comes, close your eyes and remember the dream,” I whispered.

“Corbie,” he whispered, setting the lightest kiss on my forehead.

“Gillacoemgain?” a voice called. We turned to see Fergus. He was holding a scroll. “Sorry, My Lord, My Lady. News from King Malcolm.”

Gillacoemgain smiled at me then touched my chin.

“Go ahead,” I told him. “I’ll come in a moment.”

He nodded then turned and joined Fergus.

I waited a few more moments, gazing out at the tents covering the field. I was not surprised when Eochaid arrived. In truth, I’d been waiting for him.

“Lady Gruoch,” he said with a smile. “You’ll be traveling south then?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “And you, you are not planning on marching with the men, are you?”

“No, M’Lady, I’ll stay here and keep watch on M’Lord’s falcons.”

“Good. Eochaid…I don’t know what will happen. If Cawdor gets overrun…make sure you stay safe, stay away. But please know, wherever I am, you are welcomed to join me. You can ride south with me, if you’d like.”

Eochaid cocked his head, and I knew he was listening to the invisible fairy man, but he simply said, “No, M’Lady. But thank you.”

“May the fair ones watch over you,” I said, gently squeezing his shoulder.

“And over you too,” he said, but then he had a confused expression on his face. “I don’t understand, but he, Eitri,” he said, motioning to his shoulder, “told me to tell you to lock the dream in your heart as well. Does that make sense to you?”

“Yes,” I said, trying to hold back the tears that threatened. Gently, I hugged the boy then turned and left, a heavy feeling of dread sweeping over my heart.