“Do you want me to send someone along with you?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure, my lady?” Killian whispered.
“Thank you. Yes. I have my steel.”
Killian shook his head then turned and went with the others.
Steadying my nerves, I turned to the footman. “Please take me to Macbeth.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The interior of Glamis Castle was like nothing I had ever seen before. The castles I had lived in were old, showing their ties to the ancient kings of the realm. Glamis was luxurious. Everywhere I looked, I saw tapestries and rugs, beautiful furniture, paintings, and other ornaments. As I followed the servant, I considered the castle. Fife’s estate also had fine trappings. I’d never thought much of it. But as I considered, I wondered why all the wealth in the realm was centered in the south.
The footman led me to a chamber not far from the great hall. There, Macbeth was sitting at a table reading dispatches.
“Your Majesty,” the footman called.
Macbeth waved his hands rudely as if to shoo the man away.
The servant shifted uncomfortably. Clearing his throat, he said, “Your Majesty, Queen Gruoch is here.”
Macbeth looked up then flopped back in his seat.
“You’re dismissed,” he told the footman. When the man left, he asked, “Where is your guard, Gruoch?”
“I have guard enough here,” I said, setting my hand on my sword.
Macbeth huffed a laugh. “I’m surprised you’re back.”
“Did you think you would rule Scotland alone?”
“Of course not. Why would I ever dream of that? My loving wife is here to help me.”
“What’s a loving wife without a loving husband?”
Macbeth laughed. “Will you sit?” he said, motioning to a chair.
I observed him carefully with my raven’s eyes. It was safe, for the moment.
I took a seat.
Macbeth poured some wine and set the cup in front of me. “You’ve just returned from Fife.”
“Yes. I put a friend to eternal rest.”
“I’m sorry to hear it,” Macbeth said. He poured himself a glass of wine then sat down.
“What have you been working on?” I asked.
“Deciding whether or not to attack England.”
“Attack England?” I blurted out. He couldn’t possibly be serious.
Macbeth nodded, his bottom lip jutting out as he considered it. “We have a great army. We’re strong. Why not?”
“Because many of the southern lords are still against you. And Thorfinn has taken the army to back to Magnus. And, because, there are better ways to gain control. Allies, Macbeth. We need allies.”
“Such as?”
“The Holy Church of Rome? The Franks? The Irish? We have many options to choose from. But first, we need to stop bleeding silver. Where is Crinian?”
“In Dunkeld.”
“Summon him. While he is here, send a force to seize the treasury. We shall put someone truly loyal in charge of the realm’s wealth. Crinian can return to being abbott if God still calls him, and Bethoc will join us at court.”
“Now, that is a wily plan,” Macbeth said with a tittering laugh. “You don’t trust Crinian?”
“We just murdered his son.”
“True. But I believe his love of silver outweighs his sentimentality for my dearly departed cousin.”
“We shall see.”
“Quite the sacrifice, Gruoch.”
“Removing Crinian is no sacrifice.”
“I mean bringing Bethoc to court. I suspect you’d rather gouge your eyes out than listen to her talk about the weather.”
Surprising even myself, I laughed. “That is true. But it will be good to have her here for when we reacquire Donaldbane.”
Macbeth raised an eyebrow. “Indeed?”
“Indeed. I’m working on it as we speak. Now, about the southern lords, who do we need to make an example of? Who is still backing Siward, making noise?”
“Menteith.”
“Let’s send some men to Menteith to let him know, by the sharp end of a sword, that we disapprove,” I suggested.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Macbeth grinned.
“I’m tired. It has been a very long day,” I said then rose to go.
“Gruoch…” Macbeth called out to me. In his voice, I heard the tone of the man I had first met, the man I had first married, the man I had hoped to love. But knew that sound to be a lie.
I cast a glance over my shoulder at him.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said with a smile.
“Goodnight, Macbeth,” I said then turned and left.
Never.
Never again.
Chapter 22
For the next several days, I worked almost without stopping. Documents and ledgers had come from Edinburgh. I thanked Epona a thousand times over for teaching me to read and write as I went through the records. Everything was a mess. Aside from tracking land, wealth, and resources, I also spent considerable time considering what allies could be made abroad. I had just decided on a course with the Franks when a messenger arrived.
“Your Majesty, an envoy from Echmarach of the Isles has arrived. King Macbeth has asked if you would join them in his conference room.”
Setting my work aside, I slipped down halls of Glamis to join Macbeth. I still hadn’t gotten used to the lovely rugs on the floors, gold-trimmed sconces, and tapestries and paintings on the walls. Such opulence seemed foreign to me.
I arrived at Macbeth’s chamber to hear the sounds of jovial laughter.
I entered without hesitation.
“Ah, here is my queen,” Macbeth said, crossing the room, his arm outstretched in greeting.
The strangers bowed to me, their leader stepping forward. “Your Majesty, I’m Finnegan Macdrummel. I bring good greetings from my lord, Echmarach of the Isles.”
“We are grateful to hear from our friend and ally,” I said.
“We come with news. Your Majesty, you sought word of Donaldbane, son of Duncan, who was taken by Ímar mac Arailt?”
“Yes,” I said.
“We have confirmed he is with the Irish king. Lord Echmarach was eager to learn when he should send a force to retrieve the boy. As I am sure you know, Ímar mac Arailt has taken our lord’s lands by force. He is eager to repay the Irish king for this slight. Given the support Lord Echmarach gave you in your efforts to win the crown, he was hoping to hear news of how you could repay his help—by men or by coin—to both our happy ends.”
Macbeth poured himself a glass of wine. “Ímar mac Arailt is, undoubtedly, in the wrong here. Does Echmarach have men at the Irish king’s court?”
“Men, Your Majesty?”
“Spies. How did you confirm Donaldbane is with Ímar mac Arailt?”
“Oh. Well. I don’t know for certain how such information was acquired. But the boy is there.”
“Echmarach has been a valuable ally. We shall reward him for that. Please, why don’t you gentlemen take your rest? Feast with us tonight. I will consider his proposition and give you an answer tomorrow,” Macbeth said then motioned to his servants to lead the men away.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Finnegan said, the others echoing him. They bowed then left.
“You knew Ímar mac Arailt had Donaldbane?” Macbeth asked.
“Yes. I sent a messenger to the Irish king some time back.”
“Any reply?”
“Not yet.”
“We will support Echmarach’s bid to topple the Irish king and recapture Donaldbane,” Macbeth said.
“No, we will not. We will negotiate with Ímar mac Arailt.”
“What? Why?”
“Because we aren’t strong enough to go to war in Ireland. We do not have the men, resources, support, or desire to wage another war. If we do, Siward will come running back.”