Page 121 of Highland Queen

“She’ll be all right,” Banquo told me. “She’s eating solid food very well now.”

I nodded. Already Aelith had begun to wean herself, preferring the taste of table food to milk. Poor lamb, she had no sense of flavor at all.

“It would be better if I had more time.”

“Of course,” Banquo said. “But you do not.”

“I don’t want to leave her or you or this life. This was the life I was supposed to have. I don’t want to go. All those years ago, we should have run away together.”

Banquo huffed a laugh. “So we have said, time and time again, but we didn’t. We had our reasons. Now, here we are.”

“Do you think Macbeth will believe you? Will he believe the story of the ailment?”

“He has no reason not to. And if you confirm it to him, he will have no doubts.”

“Will you regret giving up your duties?”

“No,” Banquo said very matter-of-factly. “I have caused enough harm on Macbeth’s behalf. Now, I will live my life. I will care for our daughter and look after our boys as best I can when I can. And I will rule the land of my fathers. I love Lochaber. I want to be home.”

“I will miss Lulach and Fleance’s return,” I lamented.

“Yes, but one day, you will come back.”

“Yes. I will.”

“Yes, you will,” Banquo echoed, but his voice had taken a faraway sound. When I turned and looked at him, he was staring into the fire. The look on his face was one of fear.

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