Highland Vengeance

Chapter 2

I headed into the castle. The Morrigu was right. I needed to escape. Duncan would have a head start. Malcolm would have sent him to Aberdeen looking for me. I needed to get to Macbeth. And even as the thought crossed my mind, I felt the sting of guilt. Macbeth, or his men at least, had masterminded Gillacoemgain’s death. I could take this chance to disappear, to run away. But at what cost to Lulach? My boy would have a claim to the throne of Scotland. My son could be king. Didn’t I owe it to him to endure? Didn’t I owe it to my country? My people? But I had to choose, my rapist or my husband’s killer. Death in battle was a chance all warriors took and one Gillacoemgain had accepted. Would he begrudge my choice? Macbeth was his brother’s son. What if Macbeth was more like his uncle than his father? Banquo saw something good in him. Didn’t that count for something? In the end, I couldn’t go to Duncan, couldn’t put Lulach on his knee. Macbeth had warred against Gillacoemgain. The man I loved was dead. If Macbeth sought me, needed me, then Lulach and I had a better chance with him. But the guilt… I shook my head. I would have to live with it. I would have to betray Gillacoemgain’s memory, which I held dear.

Inside the castle, I found Madelaine hurriedly packing supplies. “Send your fastest rider north. He must find Macbeth and tell him I’m coming.”

Madelaine shook her head. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. It cannot be Duncan. One day I will explain. One day, but not now.”

“Oh, my poor girl,” she whispered, searching my face for answers. Finding none, she kissed me on the forehead then turned and began shouting orders.

I went to the chamber where I’d stayed before departing for the coven. There, I quickly grabbed the rest of my supplies and belted my sword.

Thora trotted nervously around me.

“We’re on the run again,” I told her. “If you are too tired, stay with Madelaine.”

Thora wagged her tail.

“My lady,” Ute said, entering the room carrying two satchels. “I have everything ready. But, my lady. Macbeth? He killed the mormaer.”

“Yes. That is true. But I saw Duncan once, and he is quite hideous,” I replied, trying desperately not to think about Gillacoemgain, to shut out the misery that wanted to insist itself upon me.

Ute stared at me.

“Do you have everything?”

She nodded. “My lady, the babies?”

I moved my coat to reveal Lulach who was now sleeping soundly. “This is Lulach. The other child did not survive. Let’s head to the stables.”

“Oh, my lady,” Ute said, reaching out to comfort me. “I’m so sorry. The little one. The mormaer.”

“Now is not the time to mourn our losses.”

“Are you sure you can ride? You risk yourself riding hard so soon after giving birth.”

“We have no choice.”

“Stay here, lady. Send word to Prince Duncan. Let him fetch you here. If you wed him, you will be queen.”

I shook my head. “We’ll go home to Cawdor.”

“I don’t underst—”

“Ute. We must go. Now.”

Sensing I was reluctant to share my reasons with her, she finally said, “Yes, my lady.”

We went downstairs to the main hall. Madelaine had just returned from outside. “The rider left. There was news that Macbeth’s men were on the Spey.”

Kelpie waited, and a fresh horse was brought for Ute. Tavis stood ready with two heavily armed soldiers.

“These two men will join us,” he told me. “They can be trusted. I wanted extra arms along…just in case.” I could see the fear and worry on his face.

I looked at them.

“My lady,” they said in unison, nodding to me.

I inclined my head to them.

Madelaine pulled me into a gentle embrace, moving the fabric to look once more at Lulach. “Little piece of life. Bless you, wee one. Oh, Corbie, are you certain?” she whispered to me.

“I cannot be given to Duncan. Not him.”

“Then may the Goddess watch over you,” she said then turned to Tavis. “Please, take care…of all of you.”

He nodded, and I saw an anxious look pass between them.

Moving as best I could, I mounted Kelpie once more. Pain from my fresh birthing wounds shot across my body. Ute was right. It was dangerous to ride in such a condition, and a long ride could jeopardize my ability to bear again. But there was no choice. I felt yanked forward by the pull of fate. There was no resisting its tide.

We set off. It was late at night, and I was weary. Fat snowflakes fell. I was heading north once more, but not to my husband, not with both of my children. All that waited for me now was uncertainty.

I closed my eyes and imagined the sunshine, and Gillacoemgain, Lulach, Crearwy, and me all together in Cawdor. I saw us laughing, playing in the fields. I tasted wild strawberries and heard my husband’s laughter. Overhead, I envisioned the falcons calling to their master. It was all joy and light. I forced myself to remember the dream, then I rode north knowing it was nothing more than a lie.