Page 136 of Highland Queen

Chapter 41

The woman turned her horse and led me into the forest. She clicked at her steed. The beast picked up his pace, the horse I was riding following along. We rode through the forest at a brisk pace. As we went, I eyed the trees. Soon, a pattern emerged: nine ash, nine oak, and ahead of me, I spotted the first thorn tree.

Guiding her mount, the girl led us to a river. She clicked at her horse and soon, we forged our way across. I pulled up my feet and held on as we moved through the deepest part. Once we had crossed, she drove us toward a thick patch of woods.

My raven’s eyes had not yet left me. Ahead, the trees glowed silver. Two tall monoliths stood sentinel at the entrance to the old forest. The woman guided her mount, and we rode through the stones. The air shivered. On the other side of the rocks, situated within a ring of massive old oaks, was a small village with nine houses.

At the center fire, a woman with long black hair waited. Eight other women, all of whom were robed in green, stood behind her.

“All hail,” the woman with long, black hair called. “Hail the Dark Lady. Our queen has come.”

The girl who’d brought me slipped off her horse then took my reins so I could dismount.

I climbed down and went to the leader of the coven. “Mother,” I said, inclining my head to her.

“Welcome, Dark Lady, to Birnam Grove,” she said. “I am Diana, leader of this coven.”

“I am pleased to meet you.”

“Come,” she said, motioning for me to follow her. She led me to her home, a dome-shaped building made of stone and earth. Once we were inside, she motioned for me to sit by the center fire. She poured me a goblet of amber-colored liquid then sat on a stool across from me.

“Amongst our people, you are called Cerridwen.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

The woman nodded thoughtfully. I studied her. Her eyes were lined with coal, and like Banquo, she had tattoos on her arms and brow. “I am glad you have come.”

“I spoke with Balor in the autumn,” I told her. “I want to help people of our faith. I have begun drafting grants of land, so the covens are protected by the crown. And I—”

“I am not interested in such matters,” she told me.

“Then why have you brought me here?”

“Because I was told to do so. Take my hand,” she said, reaching across the fire to me.

I watched as the flames surrounded her arm, her gown, but they did not burn her.

She eyed my gloved hand but said nothing. I placed my hand in hers.

When I did so, I felt a sharp jolt. The world around me trembled.

I opened my eyes to find myself somewhere familiar.

I was in Epona’s cabin. Before me, Epona lay on her bed. Crearwy sat beside her, holding her hand. Uald sat on a chair at Epona’s bedside.

Crearwy shivered then she turned and looked at me.

“Mother,” she said with a gasp.

Uald rose. “Cerridwen.”

Diana had cast us to the coven.

“Epona,” I said. I reached out to touch her, but in my phantom form, I could not.

Epona was so pale and shrunken. She opened her eyes just a little and looked at me.

“Cerridwen?”

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