Highland Queen

Chapter 23

In the days that followed, I did my best to avoid Macbeth. Instead, I made plans to return north. I could still do good for Scotland. I could still make my country strong, but I couldn’t do it at Macbeth’s side. Not only was such a condition miserable, but it was dangerous.

Midafternoon three days later, there was a knock on my door. My guard, Magnus, opened it to reveal one of Macbeth’s messengers.

“Your Majesty,” he said. “Crinian, the Abbott of Dunkeld, is here, but King Macbeth is…indisposed. Will you see the Abbott?”

“Where is Macbeth?”

“He’s unable to attend to state matters at this time.”

I stepped closer to the boy who looked so unnerved that his spirit was about to jump out of its skin.

“What is your name?” I asked the footman.

“Aed, Your Majesty.”

“Aed, please take me to the king.”

The boy nodded then motioned for me to follow him.

Without another word, Magnus fell in line behind us.

The boy led me down the halls of Glamis to the chapel. Inside, I spotted Macbeth before the altar. He was wearing a simple white robe and lying prostrate on the floor.

I suppressed a gasp, but then anger washed up in me.

Now what?

By all the gods, now what?

I entered the chapel, Magnus just behind me. I motioned for him to stay by the door. Moving carefully, I approached Macbeth.

He was lying there, his eyes open wide as he gazed off toward some faraway place. The back of his dressing gown was wet with blood. The fabric had been torn. He had flagellated himself.

“And what are we doing, Macbeth?” I asked.

“Praying,” he whispered.

“Prayer is important, but there is an element of timing to the matter. Crinian is here.”

“You see to him,” Macbeth said absently.

“Very well,” I said then turned to go.

“Gruoch,” Macbeth called weakly.

“What?”

“I’m sorry for what I did.”

I huffed a laugh. “Which thing, Macbeth? Which thing?” I said then stalked away. Leaving the chapel, I entered Macbeth’s meeting chamber located not far away. “Bring Crinian here,” I told Aed.

The boy nodded then rushed off.

I took a seat at Macbeth’s desk. All around the table were notes, most of which I couldn’t read, mad scribbles. Amongst the incomprehensible papers were dispatches with important news. As I waited, I started sorting. From what I could see, Macbeth had left many important matters unattended.

Chains rattled, and a moment later, soldiers led Crinian into the room. I frowned when I saw that he had been roughed up, his lip bloody.

“Unchain him,” I said.

The men removed the bindings.

“Your Majesty. Thank you,” Crinian said, rubbing his wrists.

I inclined my head to him then crossed the room and poured him some water. I handed him the glass. He drank greedily.

“You may sit,” I said, motioning to a chair by the meeting table. I signaled to a servant at the back of the room. “Bring food.”

She bobbed a curtsey then disappeared.

“My lady, your cousin, Bethoc… What have they done with my wife?” Crinian asked.

“Bethoc will be brought to court. There is no reason for her to live in fear or discomfort. We are, after all, kin. She need not fear me.”

He sighed in relief. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“So,” I said, taking a seat across from him. I relaxed back into my chair. “What are we going to do now?”

“Do, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. What are we going to do with you? You’ve been funneling silver to Siward and lining the pockets of the lords in the south—presumably to buy their support. I see you have been unequally distributing coin to the church, which, of course, has made your life very comfortable. So, I am in a conundrum on what to do with you. I’m inclined to have you killed. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn’t?”

“I…I only did as my son asked.”

“Duncan ordered you to rob the country?”

“Duncan ordered me to rob the north.”

“I’m sorry, but I met your son. He lacked the imagination.”

“No, Your Majesty. You’re right. Forgive me. I’d forgotten how astute you are. I did what I could to safeguard my son’s realm.”

“At your own devising.”

“Yes. At my own devising.”

“I see. You have been a man of the world for many years. Perhaps it’s best we return you to holy things. After all, you are the Abbot of Dunkeld. The monastery needs its master. You should turn your mind to less worldly things. Yes. That will be good. A return to the spiritual life might just be what you need. Perhaps some time spent in prayer, illuminating manuscripts, seeing to the holy brothers at the monastery will feed your soul.”

“Your Majesty,” Crinian said, the look of relief plain on his face.

“And, of course, you can guide the holy brothers on how to run self-sufficiently, without the support of the crown.”

“You…You’re going to cut off support to the monasteries?”

“They should have plenty saved from your years of generous patronage.”

“But Scotland is a Christian nation. We must be supported by the monarch.”

“Must we? Half of Scotland is a Christian nation. Considering the years we have spent money to support the Christian faith, it’s only fair we send some wealth to provide backing to those who follow the old gods. And you should be feeling lucky to be alive.”

“Lady Gruoch, you will take the country backward.”

“If you’re disinclined to accept my offer, that’s fine. I accept your decision either way.”

“What is the alternative to returning to my position as Abbot of Dunkeld?”

“Oh. Sorry I wasn’t clear about that. The second option is death. Really, it’s your choice.”

“And my wife…she will come to court?”

“As I said.”

“And the king, is he in agreement?”

“No. Not at all. He wanted to murder you, but we’ll handle things my way today.”

“Then I am grateful for your mercy and the chance at life you’ve offered. I accept.”

“Very good.”

The serving maid returned then with a platter heaped with meat, bread, cheese, fish, and potted fruits and vegetables. She set the tray in front of the abbot.

“Funny,” I said, leaning forward to snatch a tender morsel from his plate, popping it into my mouth. “Gillacoemgain used to hunt to feed us. I remember how happy we all were when he returned with a stag or wild hog. We would make tarts from berries I found in the field. There we were in Moray, foraging for food like villagers, while you saw to it that the monks ate better than the lords in the north,” I said then rose. “Eat well, abbot. We’ll see you returned to the monastery as soon as you’re done.”

I motioned to my guard who stepped in to keep an eye on Crinian.

Just outside, however, I found Macbeth’s soldiers still waiting.

“When the abbot is done eating, put him back in chains and have him taken to the monastery of Dunkeld. He won’t need his fine clothes and jewels. A simple shift should do.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And the treasury?” I asked.

The man motioned for me to follow him. We headed back outside. There, I found three wagons waiting. They were surrounded by a ring of guards. The soldier lifted the tarp on one of the wagons to reveal chest upon chest within.

“Have it all secured in Glamis’ armory. Put men on it at all times.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As King Macbeth ordered, we have sent men to secure the silver mines,” he said, handing some scrolls to me.

I nodded. “Very good. I will see to the rest. And Lady Bethoc?”

The man sighed heavily, exasperation filling in his voice. “Another battalion was sent to the castle to retrieve her ladyship. She should arrive soon. I understand that removing her was more difficult than displacing the abbot.”

“Well, the abbot can always be smacked about the head and neck if he fails to comply. Her ladyship is quite another matter.”

The man chuckled.

“When she arrives, she can be taken to a family chamber. Surely there’s a maid or two around here who are hard of hearing.”

At that, he laughed aloud. “Very good, Your Highness.”

“And well done, sir…”

“Wallace, Your Majesty.”

“Well done, Wallace.”

He bowed. “I shall see to the rest now, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

I tapped the scrolls in my hand then headed back inside. Getting the crown’s coin in hand was a critical step. But more importantly, I needed to get the ladies’ chambers ready for Bethoc. It was of the utmost importance to my sanity that she was housed far, far away from me before I started seeing blood spots everywhere.