Highland Queen

Chapter 28

Calm returned to Dunsinane once more. We lingered over breakfast, and I tried to soothe everyone’s rattled nerves.

“I was so eager to see the castle, I walked in my sleep,” I told Kirk.

Killian, who was sitting down the table from me, looked skeptically at me. He knew very well I had not sleepwalked. He knew I was lying. Luckily, I knew he would keep my secret.

“They said you were discovered in the oldest part of the castle, my queen,” Kirk told me. “If you and the king are done with your morning meal, I would love to show it to you in the light of day.”

I nodded.

“Yes, let’s have a look,” Macbeth said.

The three of us rose, Killian coming to attention. He motioned for Magnus to join us.

“Now, the original castle dates much older than even the Parisi,” Kirk told me. “The section of that castle you discovered was the very first castle. It was molded from the land itself.

“And who ruled that place?”

Kirk shook his head. “I cannot say, my queen. There are some markings in the walls, but there are no records left from those days.”

Taking torches, we wound down the narrow halls to the part of the castle where the stones shimmered.

“You see here,” Kirk said, his fingers touching the carvings. “Like the marks on the standing stones that dot this great land.”

“Such an ancient hall,” Macbeth said, a wistful sound in his voice.

Kirk nodded. “The Parisi built upon this place, and then up and up over the years,” Kirk said, awe in his voice. “But below. That is where the roots of the castle lie.”

“What is below?” Macbeth asked.

“A cave network.”

Macbeth frowned. “Is it safe?”

“Oh, I suppose, if one knows their way around,” Kirk said.

“But can the castle be breached through the caves?” Macbeth asked.

Kirk shook his head. “No. The caves wind from chamber to chamber, but there is no outlet. I believe the old lords used it as living and storage space. Rudimentary, but secure.”

Macbeth nodded. “Please be certain.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Shall we have a proper look at the rest of the castle?” he asked then led us away from the old throne room. Kirk guided us through the rest of Dunsinane. He spoke excitedly, gesturing as a man does when he’s passionate about his craft. And I could see why. The improvements he made to the castle were magnificent. And the structure itself…I had not expected to, but how could I not help but love Dunsinane. Its very roots led to Ynes Verleath. And the trees surrounding the castle whispered.

Once we were done overseeing Kirk’s work, we got ready to ride back to Glamis.

“Thank you, Kirk,” I told the man. “Your castle enchanted me,” I said with a laugh.

He chuckled. “I’m pleased to hear you say so, Your Majesty.”

I nodded to the man then mounted Swift once more. Our party ready, we turned and rode from Dunsinane.

“Did you like the castle?” Macbeth asked, reining in his horse beside me.

I nodded. “Yes. It’s an ancient thing.”

Macbeth smiled. “I remembered the place. We stopped there when we were hunting…my father, Gillacoemgain, and me. I never forgot the castle. I had never seen a more amazing place, greater in my eyes than even Inverness.”

A bubble of fury sparked up in me to hear Macbeth toss around Gillacoemgain’s name so freely, a name he had cursed far too often to have any right to use it in fondness.

I said nothing, simply kept my face blank then rode ahead.

Noting the tension, Macbeth reined his horse away from me. He trotted forward to speak with his men.

My gaze drifted to the forest as we rode, remembering the poem Cad Goddeau and The Battle of the Trees. It didn’t take much imagination to envision the massive old oaks coming to life.

But as we wound deeper into the forest, I felt eyes on me.

I scanned the woods.

Were there spies on the road? Enemies? I frowned and studied the green. As I did, my raven’s eyes sharpened. There, well-hidden amongst the trees, stood a girl. She was wearing breeches and a tunic, a bow strapped over her shoulder. For a moment, I thought it was Uald. But this girl was far younger, her hair very dark.

She stilled when she realized I had picked her out, then she raised her fingers to her brow and then bowed to me.

My gods, she was from a coven.

There was a coven near here.

She turned and slipped unseen back into the forest.

“Lady Gruoch, is anything the matter?” Killian asked, reining in beside me.

“No. Nothing at all.”

“How filled to the brim you are with secrets,” he said with a laugh.

“Am I? Doesn’t that make me interesting?”

“You are far too interesting for my own good, Lady Gruoch. I am very sure Lord Banquo would not appreciate the depth of my interest,” he said, his voice low so no one else could hear.

I smiled at him. He really was a very handsome man, and more, I liked the spirit within him. “I appreciate the thought, but as you have already gleaned, my life is…complicated. Perhaps in another life. But let’s keep that a secret,” I said softly.

He smirked. “As I assumed. Though, a man can always hope. Yet, there is one secret I am particularly interested in,” he said. And I could see from the expression on his face that he was trying to turn the conversation away from his confession. I followed where he led, never wanting him to feel uncomfortable around me.

“Oh? What is that?”

“When did you learn to walk through walls?”

“Well now, that is very secret.”

“It’s a very neat trick. Perhaps you’ll teach me sometime.”

“If the right time ever presents itself.”

At that, he chuckled lightly. I joined him in his laughter.

Once again, Macbeth looked back at us. Jealously flickered across his face. What did he expect from me? As it was, he was getting far more from me than he deserved. I had stayed in Glamis for Scotland, not for Macbeth. I had worked to heal Macbeth for Scotland, not for any love I had for the man.

And I still had work to do.

If there was a coven near Dunsinane, I needed to know. I would need to talk to Balor. If there was anything I could do to help the practitioners of my faith, I would do so.

But even as I thought it, a voice whispered within me: Then do it soon, before great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill comes again.