Highland Vengeance

Chapter 28

The ride was long but without consequence. When we finally arrived at Madelaine’s castle, I discovered Fife was away.

“He’s in Edinburgh,” Madelaine said, taking Lulach from my arms as I dismounted. “There’s trouble with Norway,” she added in a low tone. “But no matter. Let’s get Macbeth’s men provisioned and back on their way. How big you are, Lulach,” Madelaine chirped happily, kissing a very sleepy Lulach. “And how much he looks like you, Cerridwen. Ah! I see Gillacoemgain in his brow and chin,” she said, tickling Lulach’s chin to make him smile.

I smiled lightly. What could I say? It was lucky that Lulach had some features that resembled Gillacoemgain. It made the deception easier.

“Gruoch,” Tavis called happily, crossing the lawn to embrace me. “Good to have you home.”

“If just for a day. We’ll be off again tomorrow. Will you see to the preparations?” Madelaine said.

Tavis nodded. “Of course.”

“Off? Off where?” Ute asked, her voice sounding nervous.

“To our holy sisters,” Madelaine answered.

“Oh,” Ute said softly.

“I think you’ll be comfortable here with Madelaine’s household. Madelaine and I will take Lulach with us. You can get some rest,” I told her. “Will that be all right?”

“Yes, my lady. I would like that.”

“You will be safe here,” I said softly. As I’d reflected on Ute’s behavior, it had occurred to me that maybe she had rid herself of her child because some mischief had been done to her. Her sadness reminded me of myself when I was so misused. I cared deeply for Ute, but I didn’t know how to ask. And if I was wrong, it could cause her terrible embarrassment. It was better if I just let the matter lie until Ute was ready.

She nodded. “Thank you, my lady.”

We rested that night, and in the morning, Lulach, Madelaine, Tavis and I journeyed to the coven. Thora pranced around excitedly, racing ahead at every chance, rushing back time and time again as if to hurry us along. We rode until we reached Tavis’s usual camp spot.

“You sure you’ll be all right?” Madelaine asked him.

“I’ll be hunting. Maybe…Uald will come join me.”

Madelaine smiled. “I’ll let her know,” she said then leaned in and kissed him.

Tavis cupped Madelaine’s cheek then kissed her once more. “Be safe,” he whispered.

“You too.”

I waved farewell to Tavis, then Madelaine, Lulach, and I—and an impatient Thora—made our way deeper into the forest.

“He should just join us,” I said. “After all these years, the coven is no secret to him. Ask Epona. I am sure she will consent.”

Madelaine nodded then sighed. “Epona is not the problem. In fact, Tavis and Uald are old friends at this point. It is Tavis who will not agree to it.”

“Why not?”

“Holy ground. Sacred space. He says he is no druid, so he stays away.”

“His stubbornness is going to earn him frostbite one of these times.”

Madelaine laughed. “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that.”

I grinned.

As we rode through the hidden pass into the coven, all concerns about Macbeth fell away as I focused on a single thought: Crearwy.

At last, I would have both my children with me.

Anticipating our arrival, Epona and Uald met us in the square.

“Sisters,” Epona called and came forward. Madelaine’s face flashed with the same surprise as mine. Epona looked older. Around her eyes, little wrinkles reached out with spiderweb hands. Her mouth showed all her years of smiling, her laugh lines deep, as were the grooves on her forehead. Epona was aging. All this time she had seemed to be frozen around the age of thirty. Now she looked nearly twice that. It was chilling to consider why.

Uald helped Madelaine dismount then embraced her.

“Well met,” Epona told me then kissed Lulach on his forehead. “How much he’s grown. And how like his sister!”

“Corbie,” Uald said, smiling at me. “And Lulach.”

Kelpie nickered at her.

“Yes, you old goat, I haven’t forgotten you,” she said, patting Kelpie on his nose. “Come along, you grumpy old beast. You too, Thora. I have a bone for you somewhere,” Uald said then took Kelpie’s reins from my hands.

Madelaine gave me a little wave then went with Uald. Thora trotted along behind her.

My eyes scanned the coven very quickly. No one else was up and about. The windows of Sid’s house were dark. I hoped the faerie would tell her I was there. I cast a look toward Bride’s house, feeling sad that I had not had a chance to say goodbye. I was surprised to see puffs of smoke coming from her chimney.

“You will be anxious to see Crearwy,” Epona said.

I nodded.

“May has gone to the stream to bathe. She took Crearwy with her. They will be back directly. “

“Sid told me that Bride passed away,” I said.

Epona nodded. “We were very sorry to lose her, but the Crone called. She went peacefully. Tully was here. She brought a young woman who has taken the name Juno. You will like her. She also belongs to the Dark Goddesses. We expect Tully to return soon with two more girls. It is getting more difficult to find families willing to send their daughters for training. The world is changing,” Epona said sadly then looked at Lulach once more. “Come, let’s get you inside. Lulach looks like he could use a biscuit.”

“Eat,” Lulach said. “Me eat.”

Epona chuckled. “Clever boy.”

“And how are Inverness and Macbeth? My, it’s chilly,” Epona said, pulling her shawl around her. Once inside, she rummaged through her cabinet, returning with a biscuit for Lulach.

I studied Epona closely. There was no chill in the air, and Epona’s house was overly warm.

“I confess, I don’t know what to say. I started the marriage hopeful, but…”

“But?”

“But Macbeth is not Gillacoemgain. I had visions of Macbeth long before I even knew who he was. And Andraste, that old riddler, had once called him my king. But he’s not what I expected.”

Epona poured us both a goblet of wine then sat back in her seat and looked thoughtful. “You saw Macbeth in the cauldron?”

“Yes.”

Epona frowned heavily, drank her goblet of wine, then rose and stood by the fire. “It is no secret that Andraste and I do not see eye-to-eye on many matters, including her over-involvement in things—including conjuring visions. But the Wyrds are kingmakers.”

I stared at Epona. “What do you mean?”

“Do you like Macbeth? Is he a good man?”

I clutched Lulach tighter and pressed my cheek against his head. Epona always had a way of putting things that made the truth clear. “No,” I whispered.

Epona nodded. “But you gave him a chance?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

“Because Andraste told you he was your king and because you saw him in your cauldron.”

“Are you saying—”

“You know what I am saying.”

I frowned heavily. “Epona, what should I—”

But my words were cut short when the door to Epona’s cabin opened. A little hand held onto the doorframe as the little body that went with it struggled to pull herself up and into the room. I stared as my baby entered then rose slowly.

Epona lifted Lulach from my arms. “Come, let’s get you another biscuit, Lulach.”

Taking her other hand to help her along, May assisted Crearwy into the room. The girl had very dark hair, dark blue eyes, and pale skin. She looked just like Lulach and me. Yet in her brow, her chin, I saw Gillacoemgain. I gaped as I looked at her. She was a miniature doppelganger of Crearwy, Gillacoemgain’s sister, for whom she was named. I tried to hold all of the emotions in, but tears welled in my eyes. I kneeled down and held out my hands to her. “Hello, Crearwy,” I whispered.

She looked uncertain, casting a glance to May for reassurance. The idea that she needed the approval of a stranger to come to her mother startled and saddened me. May nodded to her, and tepidly, the girl came to me.

“Dat one? Mum. Mum? Mum! Dat one?” Lulach called.

I cast a glance back to see Lulach straining to see his sister.

Keeping in mind that while I was her mother, I was also a stranger, I gently picked Crearwy up. She smelled of soap, her hair wet from being freshly washed. She wore a green woolen dress. Her hair curled around her ears.

“Sweet baby,” I whispered then hugged her. “My sweet Crearwy.”

She squirmed a little.

I pulled back a little then eyed her carefully. She gave me a look so full of suspicion that everyone in the room laughed.

“Really, Crearwy. Won’t you smile for your mother?” Epona told her good-naturedly.

I stroked her cheek, and she gave me a soft, shy smile.

“Dat, dat, dat! Mum,” Lulach screamed, annoyed with being ignored.

Once more, everyone chuckled.

“Yes, Lulach. I hear you,” I said then moved toward him. “Lulach, this is Crearwy.”

Crearwy perked up then and looked at Lulach. Her brow furrowed like she was trying to figure out a puzzle.

“Dat, Dat,” Lulach said, pointing at her.

“Crearwy,” I told him.

“Crw, Crw,” he tried.

“Crearwy, this is Lulach. He is your brother,” I said.

She stared at him. “Lulu,” she said, pointing.

“Yes, Lulu,” I said with a laugh.

Crearwy gave me a sour look as if she took my laughter as mocking.

Oh my goodness, Sid was right. What a personality.

The door opened once more, and Madelaine and Ute entered.

“Oh, I missed it!” Madelaine lamented, joining Epona and me. “Well, Crearwy, here are your mother and brother.”

“Lulu,” Crearwy explained to Madelaine, pointing to Lulach.

“This is Lulu?” Madelaine asked her. “Oh, all right then,” Madelaine said then smiled, kissing the girl on her forehead.

Crearwy favored her with that same soft half-smile.

“She looks very well, very healthy. Thank you for your care,” I told May.

May smiled. “Of course. I love her very much.”

My stomach felt queasy.

I sat down then, Crearwy in my lap. I dug into my pocket and pulled out the small wooden top Lulach always played with and handed it to Crearwy. Lulach, distracted by yet another biscuit, didn’t notice.

“Would you like to see this?” I asked Crearwy. “It’s Lulach’s toy.”

“Lulu,” she said then pointed to Lulach once more.

“Yes, Lulu.”

The door opened once more, and Aridmis, Druanne, and a stranger entered. I assumed this to be Juno, the girl Epona had mentioned. She had a head full of curly black hair that fell down her back. Her nose and cheeks covered with freckles. She smiled at me.

“Well met, Cerridwen,” Druanne said stiffly.

“Druanne.”

“Cerridwen,” Aridmis said happily then embraced me, pausing to kiss Crearwy, who seemed not to mind. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you, sister.”

“Cerridwen, this is Juno,” Epona said, introducing the girl.

I moved to rise, but she motioned for me to stay seated.

“I’m pleased to meet you, sister,” Juno said with a smile. She then went to Epona’s cupboards, pulled out cups and started pouring everyone some wine.

“And where is Sid?” Madelaine asked.

“Wherever the wind blows,” Uald said. “She’ll be back soon, I suspect.”

Everyone sat and Juno handed out goblets while Epona served small cakes and sweets to the assembled crowd.

I smiled at my sisters. I was home. I was safe. I grinned at everyone even Druanne whose chilly—but consistently chilly—nature felt comforting and familiar. I was with my family. Madelaine eased back into her seat, sipping her cup of wine. Finally, I felt at ease. Finally, I felt like myself again. I squeezed Crearwy close to me.

“My little lass,” I whispered in her ear. “I’m your mum.”

Crearwy looked up at me from under her long, dark lashes. “Mum?”

I nodded.

She smiled then turned her attention back to the top, turning it around and around in her hands, a slight smile on her lips.

I kissed the back of her head. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the scent of her hair. I never wanted this moment to end.