Highland Blood

Chapter 7

I woke the next morning to the sound of servants. The women who’d attended me the previous day were stoking the fire and readying my clothes.

Disoriented, I sat up and looked around.

“Gillacoemgain?”

“He went to meet with the Thane of Fife,” one of the serving maids told me. “His man, Fergus, sent us here to look after you.”

“Ah,” I said. “I must have walked here in my sleep.”

“Common problem,” the eldest of them replied with a laugh as she shook out my chemise. “Happens to many a young lad and lass. Come now, Lady. Let’s get you dressed.”

With the women’s help, I dressed in a bright blue gown then headed downstairs to look for Thora. She was waiting for me at the bottom of the main stairwell.

“I see the maids let you out. Find anything to eat?”

She wagged her tail happily. Since she wasn’t dancing in circles and jumping all over me, I assumed that meant she’d had her meal.

There was no sign of Gillacoemgain, Fife, or Madelaine anywhere. I drifted through the kitchens. I saw many familiar faces as I grabbed bread, cheese, and a handful of dried meat then headed outside. Thora and I walked to the small creek that ran very close to the castle. I sat eating my breakfast, tossing the bits of dried meat to Thora as I watched fish dart through the water.

The air smelled fresh and clean. A soft wind blew across the hills and down the valley, carrying with it the scents of pine and damp grass. I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my body. Thora waded into the water and stood snapping at the fish and turning over rocks with her nose and paws.

I lay back in the grass and stared up at the sky. Thin wisps of clouds adorned the periwinkle blue sky.

My thoughts tumbled over themselves, each one begging to be heard first. I tried to focus on Gillacoemgain and my encounter—well, mine and the raven’s—the night before, but no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts turned to Banquo. I wondered what, exactly, Epona had said to him that he’d given me up so easily. Had Uald’s words not comforted him? He could hardly deny his father and wait for a girl who might have been dead, or lost, or out of his reach in some fashion. He would have had to give in. And if he believed I was lost to the otherworld, he had no reason to wait. All my conjecture was pointless. In the end, I had lost the man I loved…that is, if Andraste was telling the truth. I could cast to Banquo and learn the answer for myself, but then what? Have my heart broken even further? And was it even safe to travel in such a manner while I was with child…no, children?

I sighed heavily and lay my hands on my stomach. Like Banquo, I would have to abandon my love. Gillacoemgain seemed likable. He would be the father of my children. I had to find a way to accept what I had lost. But as I thought of the children growing inside me, my mind flashed to Duncan, and the mist, and the rain. A tremor ran through my body.

“The scullery maids said to look for you here,” a man’s voice called, interrupting my thoughts. “I wondered if they jested, but here you are, lying like a fey thing amongst the grass.”

I sat up and looked behind me. “Good morning, My Lord,” I called to Gillacoemgain. Today he wore a black leather tunic that accented every curve of his chest. Goddess Mother, my head was a mess.

He sat down beside me. I broke off a piece of bread and handed it to him as I eyed him over. He was even more handsome in the light of day. His eyes, which had seemed dark under the firelight in the hall, were actually an unusual gold-green color. And his hair picked up hints of gold, with a few strands of white, under the sunlight.

It seemed that he, too, was surveying me.

He smiled then stroked my hair. “It shines blue in the sunlight, the same shade as your gown.”

“Madelaine always called me Corbie partially on account of that reason. My feathers shimmer,” I said with a smile.

Gillacoemgain laughed. “Corbie? I like that. So tell me, Corbie, are there any fish in there?”

“Yes, and they are driving Thora mad,” I replied.

Upon hearing her name, Thora looked up at me and wagged her tail.

Gillacoemgain tossed the hunk of bread I’d given him to her.

Thora, who never missed a meal, caught it like a marksman.

“You’ve found the best way to win her heart,” I said with a laugh.

Gillacoemgain reached out and gently touched my chin. “And what about yours?”

“I…I must thank you for last evening. You were very gentle. It means so much,” I whispered in truth. Through the raven’s eyes, I had seen and felt him. He’d been passionate, but tender. Maybe next time, I could come to him as Gruoch. Maybe it would be safe.

“My lovely wife,” he whispered then pulled me into a soft kiss. His lips were warm and soft, the stubble of a new beard scratching my skin.

“Shall we go back?” I asked after we finally let one another go.

Gillacoemgain nodded. Taking my hand in his, he led me across the grassy field. As I felt him beside me, towering over me, I realized that his presence made me feel…safe. It was an odd feeling, all things considered.

When we reached the castle gate, Madelaine was waiting for us. Gillacoemgain kissed my hand, bowed to Madelaine, then let me go.

“I’ll meet you inside,” he said then left me with my aunt.

“Well,” Madelaine said with a chuckle, “this is unexpected.”

I shrugged. How could I explain to her what I didn’t understand myself?

Madelaine turned, and we headed into the castle. “My husband was informed of your late-night wandering.”

“And did it trouble him?”

She laughed. “No. All was found…in order.”

“Of course,” I replied, trying to hide the disgust in my voice.

“I’m glad you like him. I know this is difficult, but you are strong. I see you trying to make the best of it. I’m proud of you. You will do well in Moray.”

“I hope so.”

“Moray…you will be the queen of the old kingdom of Gododdin. Would your father have lived to see this day.”

“Would my father have lived.”

“These are strange times. Malcolm’s health is waning, and Prince Duncan is unpopular. Your husband is an ambitious man. There may yet be a greater crown in your future. Malcolm has positioned Gillacoemgain to be an ally to that pompous boy, but Moray is not the kind of man who would follow a puppet on the throne. Watch your husband well. Guide him. He would need strong support behind him for any such bid, but a wife has her husband’s ear more than any council.”

A smile slipped across my face as I imagined Gillacoemgain putting an ax through Duncan’s head.

“We shall see,” I replied.

“What else can we do?” Madelaine said with a smile. “Now, come. Your farewell breakfast waits. You leave for Moray this afternoon.”

“So soon?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

No, he was too busy kissing me. “No.”

“He needs to return. And you, my love, will go with him. You’ll wed when you reach Moray.”

“You’re not coming?”

“The travel…it’s not safe. And Fife is old,” she said with a laugh.

“Then it will be goodbye again,” I replied.

“Just for now.”

I nodded. If I did as I’d promised, made good on my word to Epona, I would be back soon.