Page 142 of Highland Queen

“What about you, Fleance? Will you return to Lochaber?”

“Cawdor was just as much my home as Lochaber. My father has things well in hand in Lochaber. I will stay at Cawdor with Lulach. For now. Unless the wind blows me south again.”

Lulach gave Fleance a look that I didn’t understand.

“The gods and Balor have chosen the time very well. There are rumblings in the south. Very soon, we may be at war again.”

Lulach nodded. “Malcolm’s star is rising.”

I raised an eyebrow at Lulach.

He inclined his head to me. “Thus, I must be ready. And where better to begin than Moray?”

That night, we dined. Everyone was delighted to meet their prince. The lords and ladies in attendance tripped over themselves to introduce their daughters to Lulach. The young ladies eyed my son. He was every bit as handsome as his father, but an otherworldliness clung to Lulach. Add to that the tattoos that covered his arms and brow, Lulach was very different from the lords. While all the pretty girls wanted Lulach to notice them, they were also wary.

“And what about you?” I asked Fleance, elbowing him as if to push him toward the crowd. “Don’t you want to meet the fair ladies?”

“No, Corbie.”

“What, have you given your heart elsewhere already?” I said in jest, but Fleance shifted uncomfortably. I had tripped upon the truth. “Fleance?”

“I suspect Lulach’s heart is a puzzle even to him,” Fleance said, diverting the topic.

“What about you?”

He patted his chest above his heart but said no more.

I didn’t press. When he was ready, he would tell me.

As I watched Lulach, I was impressed with his skill handling the lords and ladies. His quiet way made them eager to talk. Too eager. Lulach listened, smiled only a little, and left the great thanes wondering what else to say or do to please their prince. I realized then the power Lulach had. Long ago, Banquo told me Lulach’s reserved ways might serve him well. He was right.

It was late in the night, after the others retired, that Lulach turned to me and said, “Shall we see him now?”

I nodded.

Taking a torch, Lulach and I headed to the old part of the castle. Winding down the narrow halls, we passed the unused chambers until we found ourselves standing in the great hall of the Parisi. Long ago, I had the room cleaned and the center fire pit rebuilt. A throne had been installed on the wall once more. Here, Lulach and I found Macbeth holding court to phantoms.

“Macbeth?” I called.

Jabbering on about something, Macbeth stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. He narrowed his eyes, looking confused for just a moment. “Who is that beside you?” Macbeth asked then he rose, his face flashing with rage. “Damned, murderous uncle.”

I pulled Uald’s Gift and lifted it protectively in front of Lulach.

“Fool, it is Lulach you see before you. Gillacoemgain is long dead. You should remember it well. You murdered him.”

“Lulach?” Macbeth asked, dropping his sword. It clattered to the floor.

“Your Majesty,” Lulach said stiffly.

Turning, Macbeth gestured to the empty room. “They tell me Siward’s army is growing. They tell me my cousin’s son wants to kill us. They tell me I need to wake again and rejoin you. Is that right, Gruoch?”

“Their intelligence on the matter is as good as my own.”

“Should I rejoin you?”

“That depends on the manner of man who will rejoin me. You know you cannot speak to them in the presence of others.”

“They tell me they will go away so I can rule again.”

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