Page 111 of Highland Queen

All at once, I was overcome with thoughts of Lulach.

“Lulach,” I whispered then rose. Grabbing a fur, I rushed outside.

Balor, Calean, Beric, and raven-tattooed Diarmad arrived, Fleance and Lulach along with them. My heart skipped a beat when I set eyes on my child, a deep feeling of relief washing over me. I looked then to Fleance whose eyes were fixed on me. He smiled.

Swift hoofbeats raced toward the castle. Banquo rode into the yard behind them.

Tears welled in my eyes, a deep sense of relief washing over me.

Killian appeared from within the castle. He eyed the party.

“Is that the mormaer?” he asked, his voice full of surprise. He stared at Lulach who was smiling at me.

“Yes.” I grinned when I realized that two dogs also traveled with the party, a white dog with red ears, and a massive black brute who looked just like his dame.

“Who are those men?” Killian asked.

“Druids,” I replied.

Killian shook his head. “Lady Gruoch and her secrets.”

I winked at him then went to Balor.

“Fair greetings, Father,” I called. I took the reins of Balor’s horse.

Smiling, Balor dismounted. He bowed to me. “Your Majesty.”

I took his hands, kissing them both. “You are welcome in Lochaber.”

“We are pleased to find you here, my lady,” he said then eyed me over. Smiling, he set his hands on my stomach. “A girl.”

I nodded.

“May the Goddess bless her and keep her from harm,” he said then turned to Banquo, leaving me to wonder about the druid’s words. Surely, he meant nothing ominous by them. A blessing was a blessing. Leaving a mother’s worries behind, I inclined my head to my druid brothers who returned the gesture then made my way to Lulach and Fleance.

“Mother,” Lulach called, passing off the reins of his horse to a groom.

Only a year had passed, but I could already see that Lulach had changed. He was at least a hand taller, and his baby-soft features had started to lose their roundness, his chin taking on the same square shape of Gillacoemgain’s features. How much like Gillacoemgain he looked.

“Son,” I said, pulling him into an embrace.

“Mother, how big you are.”

“Very soon, you will have a sister.”

“Another sister,” Lulach corrected. I caught an edge on his voice that surprised me.

“Yes, another sister.”

Lulach smiled at me. “We’ve just come from visiting Epona. They all send their greetings, and Crearwy sends her love.”

Ah. So, they had been together again. I was dying to know what conversations had transpired between Lulach and Crearwy, but Lulach’s correction told me he and his sister had bonded, for better or worse. In the end, what more could I ask for?

“Corbie,” Fleance called, coming to greet me. Thor, his dog, followed along behind him.

Fleance, a few years older than Lulach, had taken a leap into manhood in the year that had passed. He was taller, his voice deeper. He looked much like his father.

I embraced him.

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