Page 148 of Highland Queen

Chapter 44

A few weeks later, Banquo, Aelith, and I lounged before the great fire after our morning meal.

“What happened to your leg?” I asked Banquo, watching as he crossed the hall. He was limping badly. Aelith sat pretending to do some work Banquo had given her. She was supposed to be reading. Mostly, she was just listening to us. I was just relieved that Aelith had warmed up to me after her initial surprise. But I understood how she felt. I remembered how it was for me when Boite would suddenly appear. It was like a star had fallen from the heavens.

“I was thrown, if you can believe it,” Banquo said. “A deer startled in the woods, and my horse shied. I found myself lying on my arse looking up at the clouds. It’s taken several months to get the leg this loose. The injury happened right before the winter. The cold weather has prolonged the recovery.”

“Why didn’t you send for a healer?”

Banquo smiled at me. “I did learn a few things under Balor. Now I’m teaching Aelith. She loves to stay inside and read and write. Especially when it’s bright and sunny outside. She hates being outside.”

“Oh, aye,” Aeltih said, tilting her head back and forth as she grinned.

Banquo winked at me.

I smiled at him. How sweet it was to be together like this. Banquo had proven himself a loving father. I expected no less. He had been a devoted lover. As I studied Aelith, my heart filled with joy.

If Lulach agreed, I could step back from ruling the country. I could return to Lochaber and stay there. For once, I would be able to have my child by my side.

“And what are you reading this morning?” I asked Aelith, fully aware that she wasn’t reading anything. If she had, she might have missed the conversation.

“Words,” she replied pertly.

“Words,” I told Banquo.

He chuckled. “Words.”

“Is it an interesting story?”

Aelith frowned. “No. I hate it. Just when everyone is happy, the worst thing you can imagine happens to them.”

“What’s the name of your tale?” I asked, but her answer was interrupted by the sound of a horn. A long, forlorn call echoed across the valley. A visitor had arrived.

I looked at Banquo.

“Lulach, maybe?” he suggested.

“No, I would sense…” I said then reached beyond me, feeling for whoever was there. I gasped. “Oh no.”

Banquo rose. He looked at the castle door, his eyes going wide. He turned and gazed back at me. “Cerridwen,” he whispered.

I heard the castle doors bang open and the sound of footsteps.

“Wait. Please, Your Majesty,” Killian protested.

A moment later, Macbeth rounded the corner.

We all froze.

Macbeth stood looking at the three of us, his eyes going from Banquo, to me, to Aelith. I moved protectively toward my daughter, my hand on my dagger.

“Ah, so here you are,” Macbeth said with a smile. “I came to see you, old friend,” he told Banquo.

How strange Macbeth looked. He was in full armor, even wearing his crown, but he lacked any boots or stockings whatsoever. He looked haggard, his skin pale as milk, his eyes bulging.

“Killian, will you see to the king’s men?” I said.

“Lady Gruoch, he—”

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