Highland Vengeance (The Celtic Blood Series Book 3)

by Melanie Karsak

  Banquo looked at me then lowered his eyes, seeing that it was not Gruoch who spoke but the other. “Yes, my lady.”

  I inhaled sharply, feeling the presence of the other—me and not me—fading once more. “Banquo, I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  He shook his head. “Say nothing of it. I’ve known all along what you are. I should not have tried to stop you. We will make plans to keep you safe. I expect Balor to arrive tonight. We shall see our sons safely bestowed then we will make our plans for battle.”

  “Banquo—”

  “I honor the words of the Dark Lady, but prophecies do not always hold true. Sometimes our visions are lies. We see things that make us act in one way, but, perhaps, we should not. The gods have been said to plant false visions, stir our emotions, and make us know things that are false to see their own will is done. I honor the gods, but I know how they meddle. We may not win this battle, Cerridwen. The numbers… The Earl of Northumbria’s army is enormous. Cnut has sent his armada north. There is a chance we could all die.”

  No.

  “Then we will do what matters most and see our sons safely hidden away,” I said. But then my thoughts turned to Andraste. She often riddled, and in the past, I questioned her motives. Was Banquo right? Would the gods be so cruel to give us visions, make us believe lies just to see their own will done?

  “That will settle them, but what about ourselves?”

  “Ourselves? Well, tonight I will make passionate love to my husband and dare the world to damn me for it.”

  Banquo smirked. “That, at least, is a plan I can agree with.”

  * * *

  In the early evening, I received word that a small band of riders was at the gate.

  “They have an odd manner about them, my lady,” Standish said.

  I went to the gate, climbed the rampart, and looked out to see the familiar face of Balor and that of the druid, Calean. With them were two other young men I did not know, but both were tattooed in a similar manner to Banquo. While the others did not carry the mark of the stag, I saw ravens and other swirling designs on the brown of one of the men. No wonder Standish had thought them odd. These men were amongst the last druids in all of Scotland. And they had come for my son.

  I swallowed hard.

  It wasn’t forever. It was just for a time.

  “Let them in,” I called.

  The gate opened and Balor’s party rode inside.

  At the same time, Banquo emerged from the castle.

  I descended the stairs and went to welcome the party.

  Banquo held Balor’s reins as the Arch Druid of Scotland dismounted. When Balor finally alighted, Banquo kissed both of his hands in a show of respect, the druid placing his hand on Banquo’s head. Balor whispered something in undertones that I did not hear.

  “Thank you, Father,” Banquo whispered then turned to Calean. “Calean,” he said, embracing the druid. I remembered the man from my days at the coven. I had liked him, mainly because he’d argued with Druanne.

  Suddenly, I felt eyes on me. I glanced up to see Lulach watching from the window, his eyes on the druids. After a few moments, he turned from them and looked at me.

  I inclined my head to him.

  He smiled and returned the gesture.

  I went to Balor. “Merry met,” I told him.

  “And to you, Lady Gruoch.”

  “Calean,” I said, nodding to him. “It is good to see you again.”

  He smiled knowingly. “Lady Gruoch.”

  “May I introduce my party,” Balor said, turning to the unknown men. “This is Beric,” he said, introducing a man who wore leaves tattooed on his brow and on his cheeks, symbols of the green god of the woods.

  “Lady,” he said, inclining his head.

  “And Diarmad,” Balor introduced, referring to the man who wore the symbols of the raven.

  The man put one hand on his brow and another on his heart then bowed to me.

  “My lady,” he said. And from his tone and manner, I realized it was the other he saw, not Gruoch.

  I nodded to him.

  “My friends, come take your rest,” I said, motioning for them to follow me.

  I looked back to see Standish rubbing his chin as he considered the group. He turned and met my eye, nodded, then went back about his business.

  I led the druids inside to the great hall.

  “Gentlemen, will you excuse me for just a moment? My house will see to you,” I said, waving to the servants to bring refreshments.

  Balor nodded.

  I turned then went upstairs to the chamber from which Lulach had been watching. He was still alone in his room—save Angus and Thora. He was sitting by the open casement looking out.

  “Lulach,” I called merrily. “Where is Fleance?”

  “With Tavis.”

  I crossed the room and took a seat opposite my son.

  “Who are those men?” Lulach asked.

  “You tell me.”

  “They… Well, I can see, but I don’t know what name to use.”

  “They are druids.”

  “Druids,” Lulach repeated as if saying the word made it more real.

  “Why are they here?”

  “You will go with these men for a time.”

  “Where?”

  I shook my head. “I do not know. Perhaps Lord Banquo can say better than me.”

  “For how long?”

  “Not long, my dear,” I said, taking his hand. “The king marches north. He means to remove Macbeth from power, and me along with him. Lulach, you must understand, as the son of Gillacoemgain, you are a very important person. If Duncan is defeated in battle, Macbeth and I will rule Scotland. Given we have no other son, that means you—”

  “That I will become king after Macbeth. But doesn’t King Duncan have sons?”

  “He does.”

  “What will happen to those boys?”

  “I don’t know. As was the case for Macbeth, perhaps they will be fostered with Macbeth himself. But, given your importance, it is imperative that when the king rides north, you go somewhere safe. If Macbeth is defeated, Balor will know what to do.”

  “If Macbeth is defeated, what will they do to you? What would happen to you?”

  I smiled as to soothe his worries. “I will be fine. Ladies are treated differently. Duncan would probably give me a new husband, but I won’t be hurt.”

  “Would he give you Banquo as a husband?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “That would be good. But what about me? Would they try to hurt me?”

  The truth was, I wasn’t sure. To protect Donalbane’s and Malcolm’s claim, they might. But still, something told me Duncan would be more inclined to bargain with me if it came to it. And I could certainly spin a web of lies to ensure a future for Lulach and me. But I didn’t want to trouble Lulach with such things. “No, but just to be safe, it is better if you are with Balor. Moray is yours, my son. No one can ever take her from you. But crowns change heads, so you must guard yours well.”

  “What about Fleance?”

  “You will go with the druids together.”

  At that, Lulach eased. “But not forever, right?”

  “No, not forever. Think of it as an adventure. Go see what these men know. Like you and me, they too can see that other side. They will teach you.”

  Lulach nodded. “All right,” he said then smiled. While his words were spoken with certainty, his smile eliciting the dimple in his cheek, there was also a tremble in his chin. It was telling enough. But it was the manner of his expression that caught me off guard. It so reminded me of Gillacoemgain that I stared. Once more, doubts nagged at me. Both Andraste and Epona had told me Duncan was the father of my children. I’d had a vision of Lulach in the hours after Duncan had…assaulted me. But still. I shook my head. No, it was merely wishful thinking.

  I turned and gazed out the window. There, I saw Thora pass through the yard, three little ones nipping at her tail.

&nb
sp; “One of the puppies is gone,” Lulach said sadly. “I looked everywhere for it.”

  I nodded. I had already discovered the same, but I’d also found the bundle of cloth that had held the fruit tart empty. “Yes. But I think she’s all right.”

  “You think so?”

  I nodded. “I know so. Come,” I said, reaching out for his hand. “You must meet our guests. Say nothing about them to anyone. Save Lord Banquo and myself, no one will know where you have gone. Not Tavis. Not Morag. No one.”

  Lulach nodded then slipped his hand into mine.

  “I’m not afraid,” he said.

  I realized that his words were partially for his own comfort and partly for mine. “Of course not. You are the son of Gillacoemgain of Moray and the blood of the ancient line of MacAlpin. There is no more blessed and fierce blood in this land.”

  At that, Lulach smiled, his heart filling with pride.

  And for some reason, this time when I spoke the lie, it felt like the truth.

  Chapter 46

  The night passed quickly, and we did not press Balor and his men to stay longer. As I had done with Lulach, Banquo told Fleance the plan. Unlike Lulach, Fleance was more hesitant to leave, but tried not to show it. Lulach’s courage gave him strength. The band of druids waited until nightfall before they prepared for their departure.

  “There are spies in the hills all around Cawdor,” Balor told Banquo and me.

  “How will you slip through unseen?” I asked. “If anyone spies you riding from Cawdor with the boys, they will be at risk. As it is, I worry that someone marked your arrival.”

  Calean smiled patiently at me. “They will only remember a party passing through, no more.”

  “And on the road, we are unseen. You have my word, my lady,” Balor said. “Epona is not the only one who can pull shadows from the otherworld. Nor step between them, as her most apt pupil is said to do,” he added with a wink.

  I smiled softly. “My son… Lulach has the sight already.”

  Balor nodded. “The otherworld shimmers all around him. As if the fey pup is not a sign on its own. But we must teach your son that not all of the golden troupe wish us well. I will do my best to coach him.”

  “For that, you have my gratitude. I am indebted to you.”

  “One day, you will return the favor,” Balor said with a smirk.

  “Indeed?”

  Balor looked at Diarmad.

  “After the raven has had her day,” the man said, once more touching his brow.

  “I serve the gods. As they will,” I said. And while what I said was true, it was one thing to trust a druid’s word, to trust my own faith in the gods, and quite another to give over my son in the middle of the night. But soon, it was time for them to depart.

  Banquo, Lulach, and Fleance returned from the stables, both boys on their horses, their puppies stowed in their sacks just like I used to ride with Thora when she was small.

  My stomach quaked when I saw Lulach on his horse. He was still just a boy. It was too soon. My resolved slacked, but I put on a brave face. Both boys had turned their gaze to me to see how they should feel. I smiled boldly, like there was nothing at all to fear.

  “We’re ready,” Lulach said.

  I went to him first and kissed his hand. “I will see you soon,” I whispered. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” he said with a cheerful smile.

  I then went to Fleance. “And you, my sweet. I’ll see you safely home in no time.”

  Fleance looked less certain. He quickly glanced toward his father, for whom he was putting on a brave face, then back to me. I took his hand.

  “Corbie,” he whispered.

  “All will be well. I promise,” I whispered. “Have I ever broken a promise to you before?”

  He shook his head.

  I squeezed his hand. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  At that, I stepped back and joined Banquo, linking my arm in his.

  Both Banquo and I bowed to the group who in turn nodded to us.

  I motioned to Standish, who ordered the men to open the gate. Standish hadn’t asked me anything, but his eyes surveyed everything, watching the druids, Fleance, and Lulach.

  The druids turned and rode out into the darkness, Fleance and Lulach along with them. My mind tripped over a million things: had I packed enough food for them, did they have enough warm clothes, were their boots new enough, were the puppies old enough, did Banquo select horses who were sure of foot, and on, and on, and on.

  And then the gates closed once more.

  I left Banquo and climbed the rampart. I scanned the horizon, expecting to see them on the road, but there was no one there. Thinking they’d followed the wall to the river, I looked in both directions, but I didn’t see them there either. No matter where I looked, they were just gone.

  Standish climbed the steps and came and stood beside me. His arms folded across his chest, he surveyed the landscape, making the same assessment I had.

  I looked back at Banquo who waited for me. My confusion must have been evident on my face. Banquo gently touched his brow. I turned back and looked across the landscape once more, a feeling of relief washing over me.

  Standish nodded slowly. “You have done the right thing, my lady. It pains you. I see that. But leave it to you and Lord Banquo to find a way to hide Fleance and Lulach in the one place Duncan would never think to look.”

  “The one place?”

  “Under the shield of the old gods,” Standish said then smiled. “Where none will find them.”

  * * *

  True to my promise, I joined Banquo in his chamber that night. My heart ached for Lulach, but I knew he was safe. Banquo and I lay together late into the night, holding one another, our fingers entwined.

  “When we win, what will you do?” Banquo asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Macbeth will go to Scone and then to Edinburgh. He will need to win back the hearts of the lords he knew in his youth. Will you go too?

  “I will go to Scone.”

  “And after?”

  “And after, I will return to Cawdor. I am the Lady of Moray.”

  “And queen, hereafter.”

  “If we win.”

  “We will win.” Banquo kissed the top of my head. “I love you, Cerridwen. And so does my son. You cannot know how much that means to me.”

  “I love him too and his father.”

  Banquo laughed. “Then kiss me again, lady. Tomorrow the army will begin to fill the fields outside Cawdor. Let me have one last night in a warm bed with the woman I love.”

  So I kissed him again, and again, and again. And that night, as I lay in Banquo’s arms, I had a very strange dream. I saw Macbeth in an elaborate dining hall talking with Banquo. Macbeth smiled and smiled, the face of a friend and madman all at once. Macbeth’s eyes shimmered with wild glee. When Macbeth poured Banquo a glass of wine, his hands shook, and he wet his lips in anticipation. When I saw Banquo’s hand reach for the drink, a feeling of terror gripped me so hard that it shook me from my dream.

  Gasping, I sat bolt upright.

  “Cerridwen? What is it?”

  I shook my head. “Just…a dream.”

  Banquo pulled me back down beside him. “You’re shaking.”

  “Banquo,” I whispered. “You must not trust Macbeth.”

  Banquo pulled me close and kissed my bare shoulder. “I don’t. Sleep, my Cerridwen, and dream of something nice.”

  “I’ll dream of Sid. She would be jealous to see us here without her.”

  Banquo chuckled. “There is no one quite like Sid.”

  “That is an understatement. When it is all settled, we should ride south and see her.” But my stomach twisted then, realizing that if Banquo ever saw Crearwy, he would quickly learn the truth. But then, it was Banquo. What harm would it do to reveal the truth to him? “I love you,” I whispered, the last of the anxiety the dream had provoked fading. It was jus
t a dream, after all.

  “I love you too.”

  * * *

  Three days later, a dispatch came from Lord of Mar that the king was on the road north with an army right behind him. The time had come.

  Chapter 47

  All across the north, the red banner of war was raised. On the one hand, Duncan sent riders letting everyone know he rode in peace with his brother in law, the Earl of Northumbria, to tour the north. On the other hand, reports of a massive army amassing to the south and ships spied off the coasts came flooding in.

  As Banquo had anticipated, not all the northern lords were quick to trust Macbeth. And despite Macbeth’s pretty words and rallying at Inverness, I found my hall full of lords and clan leaders who saw the same thing in Macbeth that both Banquo and I had seen, the shimmer of madness and the rotten seed of his father.

  “My lords,” I said, addressing the assembly. “Lord Banquo of Lochaber will lead the army south. He is a loyal Thane and loyal to the north. This war will have a ripple effect. Duncan seeks to unseat the north and fix his English-loving allies here. We cannot allow this. Cnut and Duncan are playing games. If Duncan defeats us from the south and his armada, combined with that of Cnut’s, manages to win in the north, we will be crushed in the middle. Duncan would seat his own puppets in here, men loyal to him and his English factions. And Caithness and Orkney will fall to Cnut. But Duncan is a fool. How long before King Cnut decides little King Duncan is all that stands in his way? We must stop the English incursion now.”

  “My lady, where is King Magnus?” someone called.

  “North with Lord Thorfinn. An armada approaches the northernmost provinces. We will defeat those forces and assist King Magnus, who is now of age and a good and loyal ally, in retaking his throne.”

  “Lord Macbeth went with his ships? He is not leading his men south?” another man called, a sour tone in his voice.

  “No. Macbeth is a ship commander. His skills are best used at sea. A second wave of ships, an English armada, has been spotted near Aberdeen. He will sail to meet them.”