“Rolling and kicking,” I replied.
Banquo laughed then kissed my stomach. “We cannot wait to meet you. Will you look like your mother or me?”
“Or both.”
Banquo gazed up me, a look of love on his face. But I also saw the lines around his mouth tremble.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s just…it should have always been like this.”
“Yes. You’re right. But in spite of it all, we have won this moment,” I said, taking his hand in mine.
Banquo nodded then embraced me again. “How true. How very true. Don’t tell her I said so, but your mother is the wisest woman I’ve ever known,” Banquo whispered to my stomach.
“Is that so? There are none wiser?” I asked playfully.
“Well, there is Sid. She’s wise in her own way.”
I chuckled. “That makes me wonder what she’s said to you when I wasn’t around.”
Banquo laughed. “You wouldn’t believe your ears.”
“I can only imagine.”
A month later, a horn sounded as riders approached the castle. I had been sitting in the great hall by the fire, trying to warm my perpetually cold feet when I heard the noise. I set down the letter I was reading.
All at once, I was overcome with thoughts of Lulach.
“Lulach,” I whispered then rose. Grabbing a fur, I rushed outside.
Balor, Calean, Beric, and raven-tattooed Diarmad arrived, Fleance and Lulach along with them. My heart skipped a beat when I set eyes on my child, a deep feeling of relief washing over me. I looked then to Fleance whose eyes were fixed on me. He smiled.
Swift hoofbeats raced toward the castle. Banquo rode into the yard behind them.
Tears welled in my eyes, a deep sense of relief washing over me.
Killian appeared from within the castle. He eyed the party.
“Is that the mormaer?” he asked, his voice full of surprise. He stared at Lulach who was smiling at me.
“Yes.” I grinned when I realized that two dogs also traveled with the party, a white dog with red ears, and a massive black brute who looked just like his dame.
“Who are those men?” Killian asked.
“Druids,” I replied.
Killian shook his head. “Lady Gruoch and her secrets.”
I winked at him then went to Balor.
“Fair greetings, Father,” I called. I took the reins of Balor’s horse.
Smiling, Balor dismounted. He bowed to me. “Your Majesty.”
I took his hands, kissing them both. “You are welcome in Lochaber.”
“We are pleased to find you here, my lady,” he said then eyed me over. Smiling, he set his hands on my stomach. “A girl.”
I nodded.
“May the Goddess bless her and keep her from harm,” he said then turned to Banquo, leaving me to wonder about the druid’s words. Surely, he meant nothing ominous by them. A blessing was a blessing. Leaving a mother’s worries behind, I inclined my head to my druid brothers who returned the gesture then made my way to Lulach and Fleance.
“Mother,” Lulach called, passing off the reins of his horse to a groom.
Only a year had passed, but I could already see that Lulach had changed. He was at least a hand taller, and his baby-soft features had started to lose their roundness, his chin taking on the same square shape of Gillacoemgain’s features. How much like Gillacoemgain he looked.
“Son,” I said, pulling him into an embrace.
“Mother, how big you are.”
“Very soon, you will have a sister.”
“Another sister,” Lulach corrected. I caught an edge on his voice that surprised me.
“Yes, another sister.”
Lulach smiled at me. “We’ve just come from visiting Epona. They all send their greetings, and Crearwy sends her love.”
Ah. So, they had been together again. I was dying to know what conversations had transpired between Lulach and Crearwy, but Lulach’s correction told me he and his sister had bonded, for better or worse. In the end, what more could I ask for?
“Corbie,” Fleance called, coming to greet me. Thor, his dog, followed along behind him.
Fleance, a few years older than Lulach, had taken a leap into manhood in the year that had passed. He was taller, his voice deeper. He looked much like his father.
I embraced him.
“How do you like Tor Castle?” Fleance asked.
“You have a fine home,” I said.
Fleance eyed my belly. “Corbie?”
“You and Lulach will soon share a sister,” I said, measuring my words carefully.
Fleance looked at Lulach, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. “We will truly be brothers then.”
I touched Fleance’s cheek then smoothed his hair. “Come, let’s go inside.”
“We’ll see to the horses,” Mackintosh, Banquo’s sentinel, told me.
I motioned to Killian, encouraging him to come along.
Banquo draped his arm over Fleance’s shoulder. “Son,” he said, smiling at his boy. “And the Mormaer of Moray. It is good to see you again, Lulach,” Banquo told him.
“And you, Thane,” he said, an awkward smile on his lips.
Lulach slipped his hand into mine. He lifted our joined hands and looked at the gloves, studying them carefully.
“Are your hands cold, Mother?”
“No,” I replied.
Lulach raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.
Banquo and Fleance joined Balor and led the druids into the great hall.
“Lulach,” I said, pausing to wait for Killian. “Lulach, I want you to meet Sir Killian. He is a loyal man of Moray and my guard.”
“Sir,” Lulach said, inclining his head to Killian.
“My Mormaer, I am pleased to see you again.”
Lulach smiled.
“Killian’s father and brother served Gillacoemgain—and they were lost alongside your father at the very end,” I told Lulach.
Killian looked at me, an expression of surprise on his face.
Lulach turned to Killian. “Is that so?”
“Yes, my lord,” Killian said.
Lulach set his hand on Killian’s arm. “Then tonight, we shall toast them together.”
I swallowed hard, feeling proud of my son. He nodded to Killian then went to join the druids.
“Lady Gruoch,” Killian whispered.
When I met his gaze, I saw his eyes were wet with unshed tears. I patted his arm gently then went to join the others.
The servants worked quickly, passing out mulled wines and honey mead to our guests. I caught the sweet scents of freshly baked bread and roasting meat. My stomach growled hungrily. I sat beside Lulach, listening as the druids spoke about their travels. Soon after, the servants called us to feast. I was relieved. Aelith had been rolling and kicking since I’d caught the first whiff of food. I took my seat at the head of the table, Banquo at one side, Balor on the other. It seemed strange to take precedence over Banquo in his own castle. In Lochaber, it was easy to forget I was Queen of Scotland.
As we ate, Banquo fell into conversation with Fleance and the other druids. My attention turned to Balor.
“I understand you’ve come from Epona,” I told him. “How is she?”
Balor shook his head. “It wounds my heart to see her thus.” I was sure it did. Balor and Epona had always been very close.
“When I saw her last, I asked her what I could do to help our people. She advised me to speak with you,” I told Balor.
“We could use your aid, Queen Gruoch. Lands granted for our use, protection, coin, and acknowledgment. The south has shifted toward the White Christ. The southernmost coven is over. The last of the priestesses have gone.”