Page 99 of Highland Queen

A bubble of fury sparked up in me to hear Macbeth toss around Gillacoemgain’s name so freely, a name he had cursed far too often to have any right to use it in fondness.

I said nothing, simply kept my face blank then rode ahead.

Noting the tension, Macbeth reined his horse away from me. He trotted forward to speak with his men.

My gaze drifted to the forest as we rode, remembering the poem Cad Goddeau and The Battle of the Trees. It didn’t take much imagination to envision the massive old oaks coming to life.

But as we wound deeper into the forest, I felt eyes on me.

I scanned the woods.

Were there spies on the road? Enemies? I frowned and studied the green. As I did, my raven’s eyes sharpened. There, well-hidden amongst the trees, stood a girl. She was wearing breeches and a tunic, a bow strapped over her shoulder. For a moment, I thought it was Uald. But this girl was far younger, her hair very dark.

She stilled when she realized I had picked her out, then she raised her fingers to her brow and then bowed to me.

My gods, she was from a coven.

There was a coven near here.

She turned and slipped unseen back into the forest.

“Lady Gruoch, is anything the matter?” Killian asked, reining in beside me.

“No. Nothing at all.”

“How filled to the brim you are with secrets,” he said with a laugh.

“Am I? Doesn’t that make me interesting?”

“You are far too interesting for my own good, Lady Gruoch. I am very sure Lord Banquo would not appreciate the depth of my interest,” he said, his voice low so no one else could hear.

I smiled at him. He really was a very handsome man, and more, I liked the spirit within him. “I appreciate the thought, but as you have already gleaned, my life is…complicated. Perhaps in another life. But let’s keep that a secret,” I said softly.

He smirked. “As I assumed. Though, a man can always hope. Yet, there is one secret I am particularly interested in,” he said. And I could see from the expression on his face that he was trying to turn the conversation away from his confession. I followed where he led, never wanting him to feel uncomfortable around me.

“Oh? What is that?”

“When did you learn to walk through walls?”

“Well now, that is very secret.”

“It’s a very neat trick. Perhaps you’ll teach me sometime.”

“If the right time ever presents itself.”

At that, he chuckled lightly. I joined him in his laughter.

Once again, Macbeth looked back at us. Jealously flickered across his face. What did he expect from me? As it was, he was getting far more from me than he deserved. I had stayed in Glamis for Scotland, not for Macbeth. I had worked to heal Macbeth for Scotland, not for any love I had for the man.

And I still had work to do.

If there was a coven near Dunsinane, I needed to know. I would need to talk to Balor. If there was anything I could do to help the practitioners of my faith, I would do so.

But even as I thought it, a voice whispered within me: Then do it soon, before great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill comes again.

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