Page 1 of Highland Queen

Chapter 1

I shuddered. All at once, my conscious mind rushed back. My heartbeat was wild, my breath heavy, and my hands trembled. Knees weak, I pitched sideways, only catching myself the moment before I tumbled to the ground. Blood ran down my arms, dripping from my fingers.

I looked down at the corpse at my feet. The empty shell that had been Duncan lay with his mouth open wide. His eyes bulged as he stared into the night’s sky.

Slowly, I became conscious of the splatters of blood all over me. I smelled death. Lifting my hands, I stared at them. They were deep ruby red, covered in chunks of pulp, shredded armor, and blood.

I gazed at Duncan once more.

It was over.

It was done.

The dark presence which had guided my steps receded. My rage settled. Once again, the world around me came into focus. I could smell the mud and the mist. Bodies littered the ground. In the distance, I heard the sounds of men.

“Banquo,” I whispered, peering into the fog.

Pausing to grab Gillacoemgain’s helmet, I retraced my steps toward the field, following the sounds of the dying battle. Ahead of me, I spotted a small band of men standing perfectly still. When I neared them, they turned and looked at me.

It was the Moray men I had woken from their eternal slumber. Their eyes had taken on the white glaze of death, and they held their broken bodies at weird angles. They turned to face me as if awaiting further instructions.

Andraste, what wizardry have you taught me?

“Thank you, my brothers,” I told the men. “Thank you. The deed is done.”

I raised a blood-covered finger, pointed it upward, drawing magic from the air.

Blue light crackled around my blood-soaked digit.

“Sleep,” I told them, leveling my finger on them. In the air, I made the arcane rune that Andraste had taught me. “Sleep,” I said again, releasing the magic back into the ground.

The men tumbled down like rag dolls.

“Cerridwen? Cerridwen!” Banquo called from a distance. “Cerridwen, where are you?”

A moment later, Thora appeared, her nose to the ground. When she spotted me, she turned and barked. Jogging through the mist, Banquo raced to join her. When he saw me, he stopped and stared.

“Cerridwen,” he whispered. “Are you… Are you hurt?”

No, not anymore.

“No,” I replied.

“It’s just… It’s so much blood.”

I shrugged. “Who knew the young man would have so much blood in him.”

Banquo’s brow furrowed. He looked toward the field behind me. “Duncan?”

I nodded.

“We need to get you off the battlefield. The day is done, and we are victorious. But no one must see you.”

I nodded then pulled on Gillacoemgain’s helmet once more.

“Where is Kelpie?” Banquo asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Alive, I hope.”

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