Page 71 of Highland Queen

Chapter 20

I rose the next morning to a familiar warble in my bedchamber; Ute was singing. I had missed her companionate presence.

“Good morning, Ute.”

“Gruoch. Good morning to you.”

Groggily, I rose to see it wasn’t long past sunrise.

“Uald and the healer—Druanne—are downstairs getting ready to depart.”

“Madelaine?”

Ute sighed. “Still in bed.”

“Leave her there.”

Ute nodded.

“And how are you, Ute? Tell me how you’ve been,” I said.

“Very well. Honestly, Lady Madelaine looks after herself. I don’t have much to do. I’ve… There is a man in Fife’s household. I’ve formed an attachment.”

“Have you?”

“We’re not married yet, but we are planning. It’s a happy life. And now you are queen.”

“Yes,” I said with a sigh.

Ute nodded but said nothing. What could she say? Like me, she hated Macbeth, and I didn’t blame her for it. I understood her hatred very well.

I rose slowly and went to the basin to wash my face. I then prepared myself for the day, dressing in the gown Ute had set out for me.

“Do you need anything else?” Ute asked.

I shook my head. “No. Thank you. It’s good to see you doing so well, Ute. It makes my heart happy.”

She smiled softly at me. “Thank you, Gruoch. That means so much coming from you. I’ll go check on Madelaine now,” she said then left.

I pulled on my boots and headed downstairs. Uald and Druanne were talking to Madelaine’s staff. Servants were hauling bags of barley, oats, and flour out the front of the castle and loading them into the wagon.

“Will it be enough?” I asked Uald, watching as the footmen passed.

She nodded. “That should get us through. Hunting is still good.”

“Don’t hesitate to ask Madelaine for help. I didn’t like to see things so thin,” I said.

“Epona is not herself,” Druanne said. “The rest of us will step forward to guide things in the future.”

Uald set her hand on my shoulder. “And look after Crearwy.”

I nodded. “Thank you both. Are you leaving now? Should I wake Madelaine?”

Uald shook her head. “No. But thank her for us.”

I nodded then embraced Uald. “I’d offer to send a guard to travel with you, but I know you won’t accept.”

“You’re right,” Uald said with a wink. She then turned to Druanne. “Ready?”

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