Page 29 of Highland Queen

I looked down at my hands, then took a deep, shuddering breath. A slick of red covered my fingers. Droplets of blood dripped from my hands onto the stones below. Pausing a moment, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the image away.

“Queen Gruoch?” Injibjorg said, reaching out to take my arm. “Are you all right?”

I exhaled slowly then opened my eyes. Queen? Queen? “Yes. Thank you. Sorry.”

She laughed lightly. “Not at all. All women swoon so when they are with child. One day soon, I hope to swoon too. If I can get Thorfinn off his ship.”

“With child? Me?” My hand drifted toward my stomach, but I froze just short of touching my stomach for fear that I would leave bloody marks on my clothes. I clenched my jaw then forced myself to look. There was nothing there.

“I am very good at noticing such things. Some people call me a völva. You see, I can tell the moment a woman conceives. And I can even guess the gender, and I am always right. For instance, you are carrying a princess for this land.”

I stared at her.

She laughed again then took my hand. “Don’t look so startled. It seems I’ve given you the news before the gods. I hope they don’t mind my presumption. In my mind’s eye, I see you large and round with child. And I sense a sweet girl within you. Odin sends you happy tidings. I am delighted to be the first to give you such glad news.”

“I… Thank you. But please, say nothing to anyone else,” I whispered.

“No? There is no need to doubt. I know some ladies do not wish to excite their men with the news too soon. But I assure you, I am never wrong.”

“I have no doubt in the wisdom of the old gods…and those to whom they lend their voice on this earthly plain. But, please. Say nothing.”

“As you wish.”

“Injibjorg, where have you gone?” Thorfinn called to his wife.

“Here,” she called. She squeezed my hand then let me go. She went to her husband who gave her ass a hard squeeze as we made our way to the feasting hall.

A small band of priests passed us. They crossed themselves at the sight of Thorfinn and his men.

Banquo fell into step with me. “What is it?” he asked, his eyes searching my face. “Something Injibjorg said upset you.”

“Nothing.”

He chuckled lightly. “You can’t lie to me, Gruoch.”

“It’s nothing. Please don’t worry yourself.”

“Cerridwen,” Banquo whispered silently so others couldn’t hear.

I took Banquo’s hand, forcing myself not to look when I did so for fear the vision would return. “Later.”

Banquo looked at me, his eyes meeting mine. “All right.”

Was it possible? Was it really possible that I was carrying the child of the man I loved? As we passed into the abbey once more, a raven alighted on the archway.

Its sharp cry shattered my happy thoughts.

I looked up at the bird.

Banquo followed my gaze. He lifted his hand and touched the mark of the stag on his brow.

The bird cawed loudly once more then turned and flew off.

My hand drifted to my stomach.

And where I should have been filled with a deep sense of joy, a terrible feeling of dread washed over me.

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