“Well, you’re already here,” I said then motioned to Killian to shut the door.
He did so with a frown.
“I don’t like that your guard tried to stop me. I am king,” Macbeth said then crossed the room to the table where he poured himself a glass of wine. He sat down and took a long, slow drink as he gazed around the room.
“They are charged with protecting me.”
Macbeth set down his goblet with a clatter. “From me? From their king?”
“Of course.”
Macbeth blew air through his lips.
“What do you want, Macbeth?”
“When will you come to Glamis?”
“I don’t know. But I will come. I am sending my household ahead to join you if you are hunting for reassurance. Though you will not harass any of my people.”
“Harass your people? What nonsense.”
“Nonsense? Tell that to Ute. You will leave my people alone. That is not a request.”
Macbeth turned and poured himself another drink. “And in the meantime, what am I supposed to tell the lords and ladies who want to see you? The ladies who want to come to court to join you?”
“Tell them Queen Gruoch is traveling and that I will invite them when Dunsinane is ready.”
“And will you?”
“Perhaps. We shall see…once Dunsinane is ready.”
“Why are you going with Fife?”
“Because I wish it.”
“There is work to be done.”
“So there is. I have already begun my work. Have you?”
Macbeth huffed then ran his fingers through his hair. The action was so rough I thought for a moment he might rip his hair from his scalp. “I know what to do.”
“I hope so. The southern lords are rich beyond any reasonable measure. They scowl and talk behind your back. Crinian, who holds all the silver in this land, is noticeably absent. Duncan’s son, Donaldbane, is still unaccounted for, and we have no more allies today than we did when the war began.”
Macbeth threw his wine goblet across the room, the red liquid splashing the skirt of my dress. The cup hit the door then fell with a clatter.
“I know what to do,” Macbeth shouted at me.
I set my hand on the hilt of Uald’s Gift. “Then go do it. Besides, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Macbeth glared at me. He eyed my blade and then his eyes went to my gown where the red wine marred the pale green fabric of my dress. He furrowed his brow as if he were confused by what he saw. Then a look of realization crossed his face.
“Gruoch, I—”
“It’s time for you to leave,” I repeated.
Macbeth let out a noise that sounded like a growl then rose roughly, the chair falling in his wake. He stalked to the other side of the room and wrenched the door open.
Outside the door, my guard stood waiting. Their blades were drawn.
I motioned to them, and they stepped aside to let Macbeth pass.
Macbeth thundered down the hall and out of sight.
I took a deep breath, calming the beating wings of the raven that were echoing at the edges of my senses. Pulling on a placid smile, I went to Killian. “Killian, please divide our men. I want most of the Moray guard to go to Glamis to keep an eye on my household while I am gone. You and two other men will ride with me to Fife.”
“Yes, my queen. Are you…are you all right?” he asked, glancing down at my hand still resting on the hilt of my blade.
“How can I be anything but well?”
He smirked but said nothing else.
I inclined my head to him then closed the door behind me.
I couldn’t wait to leave Scone.
Chapter 16
That afternoon, as we prepared to leave Scone, a rider—one of Banquo’s men—arrived. Banquo, who had already gone to Glamis, wasn’t there. I flagged the man down.
“Sir, do you have a message for Lord Banquo?”
The rider nodded. “Yes, my queen. Lord Banquo, he…” he began then paused.
“You may tell me anything you would tell Lord Banquo,” I said, reassuring the man. For once, I hoped news of my relationship with Banquo would help soften the situation.
It did.
“Lord Banquo sent some of us out looking for a man.”
“Tavis? Did you find him?”
The man lowered his gaze. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
For a moment, I felt like my heart stopped beating.
I grabbed the man by his arm. “And?”
“He was close to Lady Madelaine’s castle but senseless. He was badly injured. I took him there, left him in the care of that house, then came straight here afterward.”
“Bless you, sir,” I told him. “Go, get some refreshment. Thank you,” I said then turned to go.
“Your Majesty,” the man called. “You should hurry.”
I swallowed hard then nodded. I rushed across the courtyard to Madelaine and Fife who looked like they were almost ready to depart. I forced myself to stay calm. It wouldn’t do for me to show my worry. As it was, Madelaine was going to be in a fit of distress.
“Corbie?” Madelaine called.
“Aunt, we must go to your castle at once. A rider has come. Tavis has been taken to your keep. He is injured.”
Madelaine gasped.
Turning, Fife snapped his fingers and called to his men to make ready. “We’ll ride together,” he told Madelaine. “Now.”
Not waiting another moment, I grabbed the reins of the blood bay and mounted. Wheeling the horse around, I trotted over to Killian and the other Moray men. “We need to leave now,” I told them.
Working quickly, the men finished readying their horses and supplies then mounted.
I rode back to Madelaine. She was watching Fife’s men make ready. Her brow furrowed, and she chewed her lip.
“Thane,” I called to Fife who turned and looked at me. “Moray is ready to ride. We shall go ahead.”
Fife inclined his head to me.
“Let’s go,” I told Madelaine.
I nodded to Killian, and our small party set out.
We rode quickly across the land. I wanted to ride harder than I did. I knew that during the battle I had not been careful. But now that I knew I was with child, I hesitated. After all, I had already lost a wee one. I didn’t want to risk another, especially Banquo’s child.
Regardless, we rode briskly across the land and arrived at the castle in the early evening.
I was surprised when we were met by a familiar face, Ute.
“My lady,” she called to Madelaine. She rushed to my aunt and helped her down.
“Where is he?” Madelaine asked, her eyes wild.
“With a healer in his chamber.”
Without waiting another moment, Madelaine rushed off.
“Ute,” I called lightly, slipping off my horse.
“Gruoch,” she said happily. She pulled me into an embrace.
I leaned back and looked at her. “How good to see you,” I said. The years in Fife had given Ute time to recover. She’d regained much of the weight she’d lost in the last months she’d been with me. Where her cheeks had once been hollow, they were full and rosy once more. She smiled at me, but there was worry behind her eyes.
“Tavis…how is he?”
Ute shook her head. “Fever. The wound has festered. It’s good you’re here. You should come now.”
I nodded. “Do we know what happened to him? Has he said anything?”
“He’s in no state to speak clearly. From what we have been able to glean, he sustained a sword wound on his side. It looks like he tried to treat it, but the wound went bad. He’s burning up, and convulsions started an hour ago. He…Gruoch…” she said then shook her head.
Ute led me to a chamber on the second floor of the castle. Even before we got to the room, I could smell sickness.