“My lady,” Tira chirped happily. “Lady—no, Queen—Gruoch. Best get out of bed.”
“Leave her be a while longer. Get me some kindling for the fire,” Rhona said.
“But the other lords and ladies are already at morning meal,” Tira protested.
“Let Lady Madelaine entertain them. If our lady is tired, let her sleep. She’s worked herself half to death.”
“But what will they say if she doesn’t come for morning meal?”
“That’s she’s odd and unfriendly.”
“Rhona!”
“I hardly think Lady Gruoch would mind such gossip,” Rhona said then added, “since she knows herself it’s true.”
Both of the maids chuckled lightly.
“But still,” Tira protested.
“Lay out her clothes. When she rises, you’ll have everything ready.”
“By all the gods, who could sleep with such noisome and gossiping maids anyway?” I complained from the bed.
At that, they both laughed.
“Now, see what you’ve done,” Rhona complained to Tira.
“Well, it’s time to get up anyway.”
“Right, otherwise I’ll seem odd and unfriendly,” I said.
Both of the maids stilled. For a moment, it seemed they were unsure if I had been offended or not.
I laughed. “I am odd and unfriendly. Rhona is right. There are only a handful of people in this world whose company I enjoy. I suppose that includes the two of you…most of the time.”
The maids chuckled.
Rising slowly, I began getting ready for the day. Once I had properly cleaned up, I dressed in the green gown Tira had selected. With a yawn, I headed toward the feasting hall.
As I neared the room, the scents of roasting meat and bread assailed my nostrils. I paused a moment when a wave of nausea swept over me.
“Queen Gruoch?” Magnus, one of my guards, said, offering his arm to steady me.
“I’m all right,” I reassured him. Pregnancy was such an odd thing. The kitchen smells made me feel both ill and famished at the same time. “I think I’m still tired.”
Magnus, a stout man with a red beard, smiled warmly but made no comment.
I arrived in the feasting hall to see, much to my great relief, that the number of people gathered there had slimmed down to half.
I went to the end of the table and took the empty seat between Madelaine and Macbeth.
“My Queen,” Macbeth said politely.
I forced myself not to sneer at him.
“Good morrow to you all,” I said. I gave Macbeth a passing glance.
Madelaine wrapped her arm around me and kissed me on the cheek. “My dear.”
I smiled at her then turned to Banquo.
He lifted his cup to toast me.
I grinned at him.
“We’ll be setting sail this morning,” Thorfinn told me. “Much work to be done in the north, and I don’t want Injibjorg to get used to southern luxuries,” he said, patting his wife on the back of her head.
She laughed. “Southern luxuries?” She glanced down the table at the richly-dressed lords and ladies sitting there. “Some of the men dress like women here.”
We all laughed. She was right. But her observation was also an important one. Many of the southern lords were dressed in such a manner to show there was great wealth in their lands. How had they come by it? What trade or deals had they won to earn it? And why hadn’t any of that wealth come north? That was something Macbeth and I needed to know.
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you,” Macbeth told Thorfinn. “But Gruoch and I will depart for Glamis within the week.”
“I will go with Fife for a time and join you after,” I said absently.
There was a brief, awkward silence.
“Of course,” Macbeth chirped. “I meant you’d join me in Glamis afterward. Naturally, since we are in the south, you will spend time with Madelaine. But you will always be welcome at court, Lady Madelaine,” Macbeth said. “I suspect Gruoch would appreciate having you there.”
“To herd the chattel,” Injibjorg said, motioning down the table.
I laughed then turned to Thorfinn. “All these years you bragged of Injibjorg’s beauty. You didn’t tell us that the gods had cut her tongue to match yours.”
“Why do you think I found her so beautiful?” Thorfinn said, laughing merrily.
I raised my cup. “Then a toast. To a perfect match.”
The others around me raised their cups.
“To Thorfinn and Injibjorg,” I said.
“To Thorfinn and Injibjorg,” the others called.
I lifted my cup and drank, fully aware that Macbeth’s eyes were on me—as were Banquo’s. The sooner I got out of this place, the better.
The Northmen packed their belongings after the morning meal and got ready to return to their ships. We all joined them in the courtyard to wish them farewell.
I kissed Injibjorg on both cheeks. “I wish you safe travels.”
“May Freya watch over you and your little one,” she told me.
“Thank you.” I squeezed her hand then let her go. I then went to Thorfinn. “I am sorry to see you leave so soon, but I understand there is much to be done.”
Thorfinn nodded. “Things are not as settled for Magnus as they should be, but I will make sure things stay quiet in the north for you, Queen Gruoch.”
I grinned at him. “I expected no less.”
He leaned forward, his voice low. “Gruoch, you must be watchful. The paint covering the surface is already beginning to crack. Don’t get too far away or we may lose everything we’ve worked for,” he said then passed a glance toward Macbeth who was speaking to another of the Northmen.
“I understand.”
Thorfinn nodded.
“Safe travels, all of you,” I called then stepped back.
“Brother,” Banquo called to Thorfinn. “Fair travels.”
“And to you, Thane of Lochaber,” Thorfinn said, touching his fingers to his brow.
Banquo mimicked the gesture.
I moved to join Banquo.
“Macbeth has asked me to move some of the men, a standing army, to Glamis. I will begin today and will meet you at the coven as soon as I can,” Banquo whispered. “I’ve already told Macbeth I will go to Lochaber for a time, but he has asked me to return to court as soon as possible.”
I nodded. “I shall see you soon. Stay safe.”
“And you. Gruoch, are you well? You looked very pale this morning.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I was dying to tell him the truth. But not now. Not here. “I am very well, Thane.”
At that, Banquo smiled. “Good.”
“Queen Gruoch,” the Thane of Fife called, crossing the yard to meet me. “We will ride this afternoon. You’ll be joining us?”
I nodded.
“Very good,” he said happily. “Now, let me see about our escort,” he said then wandered off.
“I’ll send Tira, Rhona, and most of the Moray men to Glamis. Have you been there before?” I asked Banquo.
He shook his head. “No, but the report is it’s a small but sturdy castle.”
“And the fortress of Dunsinane?”
“Old, by all accounts, but Macbeth has already arranged for workmen to refortify the castle and craftsmen to improve upon it.”
I frowned. “Why did he choose such a place?”
Banquo shook his head. “Why does Macbeth do anything?” he said then looked toward Macbeth.
I followed his gaze. Macbeth had taken to horse and was reining in beside Thorfinn. Apparently, he would ride to the port with the party.
I shook my head. “Who knows? And now he is King of Scots, for better or worse. And we have placed him there. We are the ones who must ensure no harm comes from our doing.”
“May the Great Father and Mother give us strength,” Banquo said.
“And all the gods watch over us,” I said. While Scotia had set me on my path, something told me that I would need to elicit the help of all the gods—even the White Christ—to keep Macbeth in check.