Highland Vengeance

Chapter 31

Lulach and I rode north the next morning under heavy guard. With Madelaine’s many gifts, it was necessary to take a wagon. Madelaine had the foresight to pack some household supplies as well. Cawdor would not be expecting me. It might take time to get everything back in order. As we rode, I saw that the harvest season had arrived once more, and the farmers were working their fields, busy with ensuring the safety of their families in the winter months that would soon come.

My heart set on a new course, I rode back to Cawdor. As I passed through the gate and into the walls of the citadel, I felt at ease once more. Cawdor had come to feel like home. I was safe here.

“My lady?” Standish called, crossing the quiet courtyard to greet me. He helped me and Lulach down.

“Standish,” I said, hugging him gently.

“We weren’t expecting you, my lady. We’ll get a room ready for you to rest for the night.”

I shook my head. “Will you please provision the Thane of Fife’s men so they can return when they are ready? Afterward, I will reopen the castle. I am returning to take up residence once more.”

“We had no word from Lord Macbeth about it, Lady Gruoch. There are but a dozen servants here, Macbeth’s sentinel, and a handful of men—Macbeth’s men.”

“Send Macbeth’s men back to Inverness. I want the sentinel gone by nightfall.”

Standish smirked but quickly tried to hide the expression. “As you wish, my lady. Rhona and Tira are within. I’m sure they will be happy to see you since your maid isn’t here.”

“Very well. And I need to send a rider to Inverness,” I said, pulling a scroll from my bag. I had written Macbeth a very formal letter informing him that the Lord of Moray was returning to Cawdor. I outlined the supplies I needed to be sent from Inverness for the winter.

Standish took the scroll from my hand then nodded. “I’ll arrange everything, my lady.”

“And I would like some Moray men on the castle. Loyal men. Macbeth’s guards can go serve Macbeth. Will you see to it as well?”

This time, Standish smiled, unable to control himself. “Indeed I shall. Go get yourself a glass of wine and warm yourself by your hearth, Lady Gruoch. I’ll make things right. Welcome home, my lady.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Standish.”

I glanced down at Thora who was sniffing the wind excitedly. “Go and see if there is any sign of Eochaid.”

Thora wagged her tail then ran off.

I looked down at Lulach. The boy was sleeping in my arms. “Welcome home, Lord of Moray,” I said then headed inside.

* * *

“Lady Gruoch, we are so pleased to have you back,” Rhona said as she and Tira cleaned Gillacoemgain’s and my old chamber, refreshing the bedstraw and linens, getting the fire going, and unpacking my things.

“Will Lord Macbeth be joining soon?” Tira asked.

“Well, I’ve not invited him to do so. I’m guessing no.”

Both of the women stopped and looked at me.

I laughed at the expressions on their faces.

“My lady, I’m sorry to hear things are not…” Rhona began then trailed off, seemingly unsure what to say.

“Not all marriages are happy ones. That is common, my lady, amongst those born high and low alike,” Tira said. “You and Lord Gillacoemgain…that was love.”

“Yes,” Rhona said affirmatively as she helped Tira make the bed.

“Yes,” I echoed, looking into the fireplace. Yes, that was love. Something Macbeth did not understand. Now we would see what he would do. He wanted to be king of Scotland? If so, he needed me. He would either find a way to control himself and make amends with me, or he could try to have me murdered. Try, of course, being the critical point. The raven would never allow such a thing. In the end, I was the Lady of Moray, daughter of Boite, and of the line of MacAlpin. I was the mother of Lulach of Moray, ally to Lord Thorfinn and King Magnus, niece of King Malcolm, and Prince Duncan’s cousin. My people were loyal to me. Macbeth? He was an outsider, son of a lord few loved. I didn’t need Macbeth to rule the north. He needed me.

The next morning, a courier arrived carrying a letter written in Macbeth’s hand. It was simple, stating what provisions were being sent to Cawdor and when they would come. There was not a single word of reconciliation, not even an acknowledgment of the estrangement. Instead, there was a list of cows, pigs, chickens, ale, wheat, and wine.

Standing in the middle of the yard, I could not help but laugh. My loud laughter echoed across the yard. I shook my head then watched as Macbeth’s men rode out of the castle and back toward Inverness. In their place, faces I recognized, Moray’s men, returned one by one to Cawdor.

I tapped the scroll on my hand then turned and headed toward the stables, passing the empty mews, to the back where I had a good view of the fields. A soft wind blew in, carrying with it the scent of the highlands.

In the end, all my pain had come to nothing. There was nothing between Macbeth and me. But I had secured Lulach’s birthright. That was all I had ever wanted to do. As for me, I would rethink my world, my life, and find my own way once more.

In the name of the Goddess.

As Gruoch, the raven.