“Who?”
“An ancient thing who riddles like yourself.”
“The Wyrds.”
I nodded.
He shrugged. “Everything is too muddled. If I understood, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you.”
What had he seen? Did he have an inkling of what Injibjorg told me? I wanted so desperately to tell him, but now was not the time. I wanted to tell Banquo when and where the moment could belong to us alone—as it should.
“Speaking of news. Anything about Tavis?” I asked.
Banquo shook his head. “No. No one’s returned yet.”
“And do you sense anything?”
“Not anything good.”
“As I feared. Tavis is like a father to me.”
“And dear to your aunt. I can only hope the gods, too, care for him.” Banquo flicked an eye behind us where my guard followed a safe distance away. “I like how dedicated your men are to your safety, but I can’t even steal a kiss with them around.”
I chuckled. “I’m sorry.”
“I believe that dark-haired guard of yours is in love with you,” he said, motioning with his chin to Killian who was standing just outside my chamber door.
“Are you jealous?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
Banquo chuckled. “I won’t see you in the morning. Not until Moot Hill.”
I nodded.
“Cerridwen,” he said in a whisper. “I am so proud of you.”
I took his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”
He returned the gesture. “I will see you tomorrow, Queen Gruoch.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Sighing, I let Banquo go. Emotions washed over me—from frustration to joy to worry—but I was too tired to master any of them. More than anything else, I wanted to sleep.
Once I was in the chamber, Tira and Rhona helped me redress into my nightclothes. I was just settling in when there was a knock on the outer door.
“I’ll go see,” Rhona said.
A moment later, she returned with Madelaine.
“Rhona, Tira, will you give us a moment?” Madelaine asked.
The maids nodded then left us alone.
I moved to get up, but Madelaine motioned for me to stay in bed. “Rest. You look very weary, Gruoch.”
“That I am.”
“Gruoch, you must not let Lulach come into Macbeth’s reach again. At dinner, he said—”
“He lied. He doesn’t know where Lulach is. He will never come close to my boy again.”
“Thank the Great Mother. I saw that odd spark behind his eyes.”
“He is unwell, mad in fits and starts. He can’t be trusted.”
“Oh, my Corbie. What will you do?”
“When the coronation is done, I will return with you and Fife. I will see Crearwy and speak to Epona. Some things are not clear to me. I need her advice.”
“And then?”
“And then, I will see. I may have to join Macbeth in Glamis. I don’t know.” The truth was, if what Injibjorg said was true, then much was in upheaval.
“What about Banquo? Will he really return to Lochaber?”
“I don’t know.”
“All is uncertainty. There is no news on Tavis?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
Madelaine wrung her hands together. “I can’t stand it,” she whispered.
“If there is no news by the time the coronation is done, we will all ride to your keep together.”
She nodded. “I’m sure he’s fine,” she said, putting on a brave face, but I saw her chin tremor. “Now, you must rest, my dear. Tomorrow, we will see you crowned queen.”
“As the goddess wills.”
Madelaine rose, kissed my cheek, and then set a loving hand on my head, stroking my hair. “As the goddess wills. Goodnight, little raven.”
“Goodnight.”
She kissed my cheek once more then left me alone.
I closed my eyes. Under my blankets, I shifted my hands to my stomach. Was I with child again? I couldn’t remember when my courses had last come upon me. They hadn’t since Banquo’s return that I could remember. Was Injibjorg right?
“Andraste,” I whispered into the darkness. “What trouble are you stirring up?”
But there was no reply.
And a moment later, I was lost to dreams.
Chapter 11
The following morning, Madelaine did her best to make me look like a queen. She’d brought with her the most beautiful gown I had ever seen in my life. The dress was scarlet-colored and embroidered with silver thread on the neck and sleeves.
“A gown for a queen,” Madelaine said as she tightened the laces. “But, Corbie, I don’t know what to do about your hair. A veil, maybe?”
“I’ve come to rule, not set fashion.”
Rhona shook her head. “If it were not for us, I swear you’d go to the stone in an apron and mud-covered field boots.”
“And what would be so bad about that? There is work to be done. Perhaps I could herd some sheep on my way.”
Tira, Rhona, and Madelaine chuckled in unison.
Madelaine tugged the laces around my waist, making me grunt. My hands drifted down to my waist, and as I felt my stomach, I realized there was a swell that had not been there before. My aunt paused then and let out a soft hum. A moment later, she loosened the laces.
I said nothing. It was not the time.
Tira ran a brush through my hair, braiding it to the side. She decorated my short locks with a silver pin and some wildflowers. “That will have to do,” she said.
“That works fine,” Madelaine said.
Lifting my belt, threaded with my sword and daggers, I started fastening it.
“Oh, Corbie. Must you?” Madelaine asked.
I looked down at my weapons. “Must I what?”
“The gown is so lovely.”
“So it is, and it will be just as lovely if Siward decides to ambush us. But with these at my side, I might get a bit farther.”
Madelaine sighed but didn’t protest.
Turning to her bags, Madelaine produced a length of red fabric that put me in mind of the red robe of the Morrigu.
“What is that?”
“A cloak.”
“Oh, how beautiful,” Tira gushed.
“Turn,” Madelaine said. She attached the cloak to my shoulders with silver broaches made in twisting Celtic knot designs. Once she had adjusted the cloak, she stepped back to assess her handiwork. She nodded. “A queen.”
Tira and Rhona wrapped their arms around each other’s waists and stood admiring me.
“My Lady of Moray,” Tira said, her voice cracking with emotion. “How beautiful you look.”
Rhona nodded vehemently. “But Lady of Moray no more. Now she is Queen of Scots.”
“I will always be the Lady of Moray.”
Both women smiled at me.
There was a knock on the door. Rhona went to answer. On the other side, I could hear Killian.
“They’re ready for you, my lady,” Rhona told me.
Madelaine kissed me on both cheeks. “I’ll go join Fife. I’m so proud of you, Corbie,” she said, kissing me once more before turning to Rhona and Tira. “Girls, go on now and get your places so you have a good view.”
I nodded to them, indicating that they were free to go. They both bobbed a curtsey then departed, Madelaine following along behind them.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “Be with me, Lady,” I whispered, then went to the door.
On the other side, the men of Moray waited.
“My lady,” Killian said. They all bowed when they saw me.
“Come, lads. Let’s go and stand for Moray.”
The bells on the chapel rang as Macbeth and I progressed to Moot Hill where the Stone of Destiny awaited. For Duncan’s coronation, the ceremony had taken place within the abbey itself, and the stone had been safely tucked under his throne. Macbeth had asked for the stone to be returned to the mound near the Celtic cross where the ancient kings had received their coronation.