Highland Vengeance

Chapter 15

Macbeth and Thorfinn returned a short while later.

“Our home is ready, the fire lit, the rooms warm. Come, my dear. You need some rest. Ute,” Macbeth said, indicating to my maid to take Lulach. She lifted the boy gently from Banquo’s arms then followed along behind us. We moved away from the great longhouse at the top of the hill to a smaller, similar structure not far away. A dozen such places dotted the landscape.

“Thorfinn had this place built for me,” Macbeth said with a smile. “My home in the north,” he said then pulled open the heavy wooden door.

A wave of heat wafted from the room.

The house, true to its name, was long and narrow and built with a rustic design. The roof was made of thatch supported by wide timbers. The walls made of stone, wood, and clay. The floor was made of stone and covered with fresh straw to retain the warmth. The house was divided into sections. It opened to an open room with a hearth. To the right was a partitioned section which appeared to be the sleeping space for Ute. There was another closed space behind that. On the left end of the house was a more substantial sleeping space for Macbeth and me.

“It’s lovely,” I said.

“Lady Macbeth will take her rest now,” Macbeth told Ute. “Only disturb her if you must.”

“Yes, my lord,” Ute said, her voice uncertain. She was not used to taking directions from anyone but me.

Macbeth led me by the arm to our bedchamber. A large wooden bed covered in heavy furs waited. A stone fireplace was built into the corner. It filled the space with a cheery orange glow. There was a tall wardrobe engraved with images of cats and dragons.

“The journey was too hard for you. I forget that the sea is rough, especially if you’re not used to it. Lie down a while. I’ll send someone to fetch you when the feast begins tonight.”

I wanted to protest. The sea had not made me ill, but I was still fighting off the shaking in my hands. “All right.”

“Do you need anything? Ute can fetch you wine or water. We have a large storage area and a cooking space at the other end of the longhouse.”

I looked around the room. “There is no cradle for Lulach.”

“It is in Ute’s sleeping space. I…had hoped that maybe we could…that maybe I could stay with you. Lulach will be close at hand if you’re needed. We haven’t had much of a chance to live as husband and wife. I’ve been keen to come to Thurso, away from rules of propriety in Inverness.”

Was that what he had worried about? Was he trying to keep the ways of Malcolm’s court in Inverness? No wonder he’d seemed so uneven. Something that had hardened inside of me relaxed.

“I’d like that,” I said.

Macbeth kissed my forehead. “Take your rest, and tonight, dress in your finest. You will dazzle them all and put Lochaber’s milkmaid of a wife to shame,” he said then laughed.

Frowning at Macbeth’s rude comment, I lay down on the large bed. The furs were soft, but I felt a sharp pain poke me. Sitting up, I realized Gillacoemgain’s dagger had poked a hole through the bottom of her sheath. To my surprise, the blade had broken through, penetrated my long skirt, and pierced my leg. A tiny spot of blood appeared on the fabric of my dress. I unbelted the dagger and set it on the table beside me.

As I lay down, a thought crossed my mind. I had not named the dagger. My sword had taken the name Uald’s Gift quite by accident—I’d called the blade that so many times, it had become her name. The dagger, as far as I knew, had none. I picked up the dagger once more, pulling it from the sheath. “Scáthach,” I said. “Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked the blade. I turned it over in my hands. It reflected the orange light of the fire. I turned it over and over, the orange flames of the firelight reflecting on the blade. “Scáthach.”

My eyes grew drowsy, but still, I turned the blade.

On the next turn, a vision appeared on the length of the glowing metal. Before my eyes, I saw a field of battle. Banquo rallied a massive force. Torches burned brightly, shimmering orange against the skyline. Banquo rode down the line. Reining in his horse, he paused and inclined his head to me. I looked down to see Kelpie beneath me, my sword and dagger armed and ready.

I gasped, gripping the blade by the handle as it nearly slipped from my hand.

“Trying to stab me again, Scáthach?” I said with a smile then set the weapon aside.

War was coming. And I would be in the midst of it.