Page 145 of Highland Queen

“I see. I am sorry to surprise you. Will you please see to my men?”

“Of course.”

“And are you well?”

“I am. I’ve become a father, Lady Gruoch. Greer had a boy this winter. We named him Standish.”

At that, I hugged Killian. “I’m so glad for you both.”

A moment later, Banquo appeared. “Gruoch?” he called.

As he made his way toward me, I noticed he was walking with a limp. When I’d seen him last, his hair had been peppered with gray. Now, much of his locks had changed color, his curly hair thinning at the front.

As he made his way toward me, he adjusted his clothes, straightening them and re-lacing his ties.

“Gruoch,” he said as he neared me. “I… We didn’t know you were coming.”

“So Killian told me, but I sent a messenger.”

“There was no one.”

“That’s disconcerting,” I said.

Banquo nodded then looked around. “Where has Aelith gone?”

“There, Thane,” Killian said, pointing to a path that led around the castle.

“She was taken by surprise as well,” I told Banquo.

“Come,” he told me, linking his arm in mine. My heart melted to feel the warmth of his body beside mine. We had been apart so many years. I loved him still and dreamt of him often. But nine years was a very long time.

“My Cerridwen, you must forgive me. I’m a mess,” Banquo said, stroking the scraggly grey beard on his chin.

“My love, you could be covered from head to toe in mud, and I would love you no less.”

“I am covered from head to toe in grey hair and wrinkles,” he said with a laugh.

“And? You are always perfect in my eyes,” I said.

We rounded the side of the castle. This section of Tor Castle faced the river. There, out of the eyes of the others, we paused.

I reached out and touched Banquo’s cheek.

“I’ve been eating fish with garlic,” Banquo said with a chuckle.

“I don’t care,” I said then set my lips on his.

Banquo pulled me close. I fell into his embrace, feeling his warmth, and loving being close to him again—garlic be damned.

When we pulled away, he smiled at me. “Come, let’s see where our pixie has gone.”

“She looked like she was frightened of me.”

Banquo shook his head. “You are her mother. But we don’t get many strangers here, and I am sure she was shocked.”

I nodded.

Banquo led me down a path that led to a rocky peninsula that jutted out into the river. There, Aelith and her brood were playing. The puppies splashed in the water, chasing one another, nosing through the grass at the shoreline, snapping at fish or flipping rocks.

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