Highland Vengeance

Chapter 16

I fell asleep thereafter, not waking until Ute shook my shoulder.

“My lady,” she said gently.

I opened my eyes.

At first, I was disoriented. The unusual smells of the longhouse and sea were unfamiliar. It took me a moment to realize where I was.

“They’ll begin the feast soon, and our little lord is hungry,” Ute said.

Nodding, I sat up sleepily and took Lulach.

“They’ve brought some of the trunks from the ship. I’ve been putting things away. I’ll go get one of your gowns ready.”

I settled in with Lulach. “Well, wee boy,” I said with a smile. “You’ve traveled almost the entire length of Scotland in your short life. What a strong boy you are.”

Lulach treated me with a smile, his eyes watching my mouth carefully as I spoke, his hand opening and closing as he ate. I closed my eyes and thought of Crearwy. I would never have been able to manage all this with two tiny babies. It was better this way. She was safe and away from all this…mess. While my thoughts were correct, my heart still hurt, and I longed for my daughter regardless. Who had earned her first smile? I hoped it was Sid. In fact, I was almost sure it would be Sid.

After Lulach was sated, I rose and got dressed. All my muscles ached.

“Where is Thora?” I asked Ute as I pulled on an elegant red gown trimmed with fur around the neck and wrists. Ute brushed out my hair then braided it from the temples, fixing it at the back.

“She was here. She nosed through everything then went back outside. There are other dogs around. Last I saw her, she was running off with a pack.”

Typical.

Once I was dressed, I slipped on my raven amulet and torcs. Ute, I noticed, was still in a house gown.

“Aren’t you coming?”

She smiled nervously. “Lord Macbeth asked me to stay back and look after Lulach.”

“He did?” I asked, feeling annoyed with Macbeth for ordering my maid—and my child—about.

“It’s all right. I don’t mind,” she said then added, “It’s just… It’s a wild place, and I don’t know the manners of the gentlemen here.”

I nodded. “I’ll see to it you and Lulach have a guard.”

She exhaled deeply. “Thank you, my lady.”

I nodded, pulled on my heavy fur cape, and then turned to exit. “If you or Lulach need anything, please come right away.” I eyed Lulach who was now lying in the crib. Suddenly the same anxiety that had Ute jittery washed over me. I turned then and left.

The noise coming from the longhouse was very rowdy. Loud voices, music, and light seeped from the house.

“Corbie,” a voice called.

Banquo, who had come from the docks, made his way toward me.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked, extending his hand to me.

I nodded. “Do you… Are there some of your men here? Loyal men of Lochaber?”

Banquo paused. “Yes. Why?”

“Macbeth suggested that Ute and Lulach stay behind tonight. I want a guard on my son. Someone I can trust.”

“And you’re asking me, not Macbeth?”

I stared into Banquo’s chestnut-colored eyes. “I am.”

Banquo stiffened.

“Lulach is the heir of Moray, a fact that, despite his pretty words, does not seem to sit well with Macbeth. Macbeth is so… I don’t know.”

Banquo stroked his beard. “It troubles me that your instincts bid you be wary.”

“As it does me. Believe me. Macbeth is difficult to read.”

Banquo nodded. “He’s been more erratic of late. I’ve also felt a frost from him that was not there before. I don’t think he likes our friendship. And he certainly didn’t take well to my brotherly advice on how to make you more comfortable.”

“Brotherly advice?”

“I see you are unhappy. I tried to tell Macbeth that you are not like the southern ladies he is used to. He was not interested in my counsel on the matter.”

“I see.”

“Merna’s maid, Morag, is watching Fleance tonight. I’ll ask her to join Ute and send a guard to them both so not to raise questions. Our sons will grow up together. We shall raise them to be the best of friends,” he said then took my hand, kissing it gently.

“Banquo,” I whispered.

“I’ll see to it and meet you later. You look very beautiful, Lady of Moray.”

“And you look very handsome, Thane.”

He laughed. “I haven’t even changed out of my traveling wear yet.”

I grinned. “I know.”

Banquo smiled, pleased with the comment, then headed toward one of the smaller longhouses nearby.

My nerves calmed, I joined the others in the feasting hall. The place was a wild scene. Its drunken revelry reminded me of Allister’s hall. But here, everyone was merry—not just the lord. The other thing I noticed was how much larger the ale tankards were. One could practically bathe in them.

“Lady Macbeth!” a loud voice called.

I looked across the room to Thorfinn who was standing—more swaying—his tankard lifted, a smile on his face.

“My friends, let us all properly welcome Lady Macbeth, wife of the Lord of the North, and queen hereafter!”

The assembled crowd broke into raucous cheers. I couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling my worries dissipate. The room was full of drunken Northmen, not cutthroats. I was over-zealous in my care of Lulach, but I was a mother.

Macbeth rose. I was surprised to see his steps were also unsteady. From what I’d seen of him in our marriage thus far—little as it was—he was usually careful to be very correct in his manner. His cheerful smile and red cheeks, rouged from drink, were unguarded.

“Come, Gruoch,” he said, taking me by the arm. “Glad to see you feeling better. How lovely you look. Like a queen, a true queen. Come,” he said, pulling me toward the head of the table where Thorfinn sat.

“Sit here by me. I’ve heard enough of your war mongering for the night,” Thorfinn told Macbeth, pulling out a chair beside him. He patted the seat.

Chuckling, I sat beside Thorfinn.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Well, my lord.”

Thorfinn leaned toward me. “Ah, she smells as pretty as she looks,” he said then looked me over with such intensity that I blushed. “She’s a beauty. Not pretty…more than that. You have a glow to you, girl.”

“Do I? Or all that ale you’ve drunk doubled your vision,” I said, tapping on the side of his tankard.

He laughed. “That’s true. All women look beautiful once I’ve found the bottom of my cup,” he said with a laugh, slapping the bottom of a girl passing with a basket of bread.

The girl laughed. “My lord,” she said, then pinched his cheek playfully.

“Now,” Thorfinn said, leaning in toward me. This time I got a good look at his green eyes. They were a mix of spring green with flecks of gold. He had playful, but honest eyes. “Now, tell me, how do you like Macbeth? Does he treat you well?”

I looked over my shoulder at Macbeth. He was grinning at Thorfinn.

I struggled to find a good answer. “He treats me like a lady.” That, at least, was honest.

Thorfinn laughed. “I hope better than that.”

“Of course she’s well treated,” Macbeth interjected. “Her and her boy, little Lulach. I’m so proud of them both,” Macbeth said, gently stroking my hair and pulling me close to him, planting a wet kiss on my cheek.

What the hell? I looked at Macbeth, who was smiling at me in complete adoration. Who was this man? Where had he been all this time?

The door opened again, and Banquo and Merna entered. Banquo made quick eye contact with me, his gaze reassuring me that he’d done as I asked and all was well.

Some of my tension left me.

“Thane of Lochaber!” Thorfinn called, the others in attendance cheering.

“My lord,” Banquo said, joining us at the front, taking a seat on the other side of Thorfinn.

“Come, Merna. Kiss me. How sweet you look,” Thorfinn said, claiming a kiss on the cheek from Banquo’s wife, who smiled at me in greeting. “I was just getting acquainted with Lady Macbeth,” Thorfinn told them.

“Did you know that Banquo had already known my wife? Only after I made war to win her did Banquo bother to tell me they were childhood friends,” Macbeth said, his voice slurring.

“Is that right?” Thorfinn asked, his eyebrows raising. “You knew one another?”

“In passing. When I traveled with Balor,” Banquo explained.

“Ahh,” Thorfinn said thoughtfully. “Is that so?”

Banquo nodded, and a look passed between them.

Thorfinn smirked knowingly then winked at me. After, he turned his attention back to Macbeth.

“Macbeth, you look for reasons to complain. How is Banquo supposed to remember every pretty girl he met in his youth? I can’t even remember the names of all the ones I’ve tumbled this week. Hell, sometimes I forget their name before I get their knickers off,” he said then laughed.

“My lord,” Merna scolded him. “Lady Macbeth is not used to such rowdy talk.”

“Oh, isn’t she?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow at me. “Those eyes tell me differently. Macbeth, go easy on Banquo. God knows, I’m sure you can’t remember all the ladies you’ve met in your travels. Don’t pick on poor Banquo.”

Macbeth stiffened a bit but smiled all the same. “Of course, brother. You’re right.”

“He’s just jealous,” Thorfinn said, patting Banquo good-naturedly on the shoulder. “He’s afraid you tumbled her first. Not like he’s one to talk. Do you remember when we were in port at the Isles? How many girls did Macbeth have that one night? Lord, there must have been at least four—no, five—or was it more? I’ve never known him to—”

“My lord,” Banquo interrupted, casting a glance at me.

Thorfinn passed me a quick look then stopped talking. “No matter. Let’s have some ale, wench! We’re thirsty,” he called to one of the women passing through.

I inhaled then exhaled slowly. So, Macbeth had enjoyed his share of women. It was no matter, of course. Many young men were prone to indulging. Gillacoemgain had not been of that mind. Nor was Banquo, from what I could tell. But it didn’t matter. I looked down at my hands in my lap and smirked. With all his practice, one would think he’d be a bit more polished in the bedchamber. Perhaps it hadn’t occurred to him that the exchange was usually two-sided. Given he was an heir to the throne, no doubt court ladies were very eager to please him any way he liked.

“My lady,” one of the serving girls said, pausing to pour me a drink.

Against my better judgment, I picked up the tankard and drank. The sooner I stopped thinking about it, the better all of this would go.

After that, Merna deftly shifted the conversation to Thorfinn’s ships. Soon, Banquo, Macbeth, and Thorfinn were lost to the conversation. I scanned the room. The men of Caithness and the Orkneys filled the place. The dress of some of the men there told me they’d come abroad from Norway and other northern kingdoms.

King Malcolm had a good reason to be worried. Thorfinn had men and alliances that exceeded Malcolm’s grasp. It was this force Gillacoemgain had feared. Now I could see why. But Thorfinn was not what I expected. He was a merry and honest man. I liked his frank nature, even if the raw truth was not always easy to hear.

In truth, Macbeth had done very well for himself by aligning with Lord Thorfinn. Together, the two of them held sway over all of the north of Scotland and the isles. This was a mighty force. If King Malcolm could not broker peace, he would have a massive enemy at his backdoor very soon.

But then I remembered the Morrigu’s words. There would not be peace. Once more, war was coming.

Regardless, the night passed cheerfully. Thorfinn was perpetually smiling, and I found that I liked him very much. His hall was a happy place. The wild drumming and pipe players had us all dancing. Switching dancing partners from Macbeth to Banquo to Thorfinn, my feet were exhausted by the end of the night. As the evening waned on, the revelers either fell asleep near the fire or returned to their lodgings. At some point, I realized I could barely understand Macbeth’s slurred words, and his head bobbed drunkenly. I had never seen him in such a state before.

“I think my lord needs to find his bed,” I told Macbeth whose eyes fluttered drowsily. He might be drunk, but he was also happy, which was a good change of pace.

“Yes. Gruoch. You’re right,” he said then tried to stand but swayed and sat back down.

“Good night, my lord,” I told Thorfinn.

“Lady Macbeth,” he said, raising his tankard.

I chuckled. It was a miracle Thorfinn was still upright. His blood much have been half ale.

“Merna and I shall go now as well,” Banquo said, taking Merna’s hand.

I had kept an eye on Banquo that night, watching his practiced hands and eyes. Druid-taught, he melded into the cheer without drinking too much or forgetting himself. Long ago, druids were the chief advisers to kings. They needed to keep their wits about them at all times. It seems this was a skill Balor had instilled in his student.

Macbeth, on the other hand, had grown up at Malcolm’s court, and he was dead drunk. “Come along, my lord,” I said, practically lifting Macbeth.

Macbeth stumbled to his feet. “Brother,” he told Thorfinn. Then leaning heavily on me, we exited the hall.

Banquo chuckled. “You’re swimming home, Macbeth.”

“No, you are,” Macbeth retorted stupidly, which made us all laugh.

We walked to our longhouse where Merna and Banquo collected Fleance and their maid. When Banquo’s man who’d been standing guard saw us approach, he nodded to his lord then turned and left.

“Morag, this is Lady Macbeth,” Merna said, introducing me to the woman. She was an older woman about Madelaine’s age with silver in her dark hair and lines on her brow. She dropped me a tired curtsey.

“My lady,” she said. “A fine boy you have, my lady. Sweet-tempered and easy to soothe.”

“You almost sound jealous,” Merna exclaimed good-naturedly.

“I am! Fleance is a wee devil. In three hours’ time, he nearly fell into the sea twice, the fireplace three times, upset the Macbeth’s bed and food stores, and almost had the wardrobe pulled down on himself.”

Banquo took the sleeping child from Morag’s arms. “Morag, you’d be far too bored with a babe like Lulach.”

“Would I? I spent the entire night wondering if Lady Macbeth would have me! My old bones… Ute is young. Perhaps a trade?”

“We could never give you up, Morag,” Banquo exclaimed.

The woman shook her head sadly. “So I was afraid you’d say, my lord.”

We all chuckled.

“Goodnight, Gruoch,” Merna said, kissing me on both my cheeks. “Sleep well.”

“And you.”

Banquo, hands full of his wee devil, inclined his head to me then they headed back to their own house.

I smiled at Morag who winked at me.

Ute, who had stepped outside, waited for me. “Lulach is sleeping, my lady,” she said.

“Thank you, Ute. Come, my lord,” I said, leading Macbeth to the bed. He swerved as he walked. “Watch your step here,” I said, guiding him across the threshold.

Ute chuckled at the sight.

Moving carefully, I helped Macbeth to bed then pulled off his boots.

“Prettiest wife in the hall,” he said, reaching for me.

I shook my head then sat on the side of the bed beside him.

He reached out and touched the amulet I wore. “Where’d ya get this?” he asked, his voice slurring.

“My father,” I lied.

“So, did he tumble you?”

“What?”

“Banquo. Like Thorfinn said, has he had you?”

My stomach knotted. “No,” I lied again, feeling guilty for it.

“I see the way he looks at you.”

“There is nothing to see.”

Macbeth laughed. “You’re a liar, Gruoch. I see the way you look at him too. Did you look at Gillacoemgain like that? God knows that’s not how you look at me. By Christ, I think I drank too much.”

“Oh? You think?”

Macbeth laughed, rolled over, and then fell asleep.

I sat there a moment longer. I hated lying, and in the span of a single moment, I’d lied twice. I dwelled for a moment on Macbeth’s words. How did I look at Banquo? Was my love so obvious? And Gillacoemgain? A light smile crossed my face. Yes, I had looked at him with love. I glanced down at Macbeth and sighed. He was drunk, but he was also right. I didn’t look at him like I’d looked at Gillacoemgain or Banquo. It’s just…nothing was working. I wanted to love Macbeth. I really did. He was just so damned difficult to deal with.

A cry pulled my attention away. Lulach.

Sighing once more, I rose and joined Ute by the fire.

“There now, wee boy,” I said, lifting the child from his bed. “Ute, why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be awake for a while.”

“Thank you, my lady. And thank you for sending someone. Morag was good company. And it was kind of Lord Banquo to have a man keep watch.”

I nodded.

“Goodnight, my lady.”

“Goodnight, Ute.”

I sat there in the silence, listening to the crackling of the fire, and staring down at my sleepy boy. Lulach got his fill then slept. I stayed with him, holding him a bit more, staring down at him. He smiled in his sleep, his left cheek dimpling. I kissed the baby on his forehead then lay him back down in the wooden cradle near Ute. I still didn’t like having him so far from me.

I turned and headed back to the other end of the house when I heard a distinctive scratch on the door. I unbolted it only to find a shivering dog on the other side.

“Well, do they know you’re the alpha yet?” I asked Thora.

Thora wagged her tail then trotted inside, heading directly toward the hearth where she flopped down.

Bolting the door once more, I headed toward our partition. There, I found Macbeth snoring loudly and reeking of ale.

Sighing, I pulled off my boots and slipped into bed beside him, pulling the heavy furs over me. For the first time in our marriage, my husband slept by my side, passed out cold from drink.