Page 72 of Highland Queen

Druanne nodded.

“Thank you, Druanne.”

She sighed. “There is little to thank me for.”

“You comforted him in the end,” Uald said.

Druanne frowned. “It was too little too late.”

“Thank you all the same,” I told her.

To my surprise, she gave me a half smile. She and Uald then climbed into the wagon. Their horses were tied to the back of the cart. I was relieved to see the wagon was fully loaded with goods. One less thing to worry about.

“Tell Madelaine we’re keeping the wagon and horses,” Uald said with a grin.

I grinned then waved to her.

Uald chuckled, raised her hand in farewell, then rode off into the misty morning.

I stayed and watched until they were out of sight. I turned then and walked out onto the field surrounding the castle. Allister had been dead for many years, but I still could not escape the memories that haunted the place. Everywhere I looked, I saw something that put me in mind of my life here. I climbed the nearby hill then walked toward the valley where the stream flowed lazily past the castle. How many days had I spent here, hiding from Allister and his men?

I sat down by the water. It was still cold, the ground below me not yet thawed. Spring, it seemed, did not want to come. I gazed into the water. It was here that Gillacoemgain had found me the morning after I’d made love to him. He had come with words of love on his lips. I entwined my gloved fingers and pressed them against my mouth. For so many years, I had believed Duncan to be Crearwy and Lulach’s father. But every time I spoke of their father to them, every time I had declared Lulach to be the son of Gillacoemgain, it had felt like the truth. Perhaps, because it was. Perhaps, after all the loss and pain, I had finally won something back. If they were indeed his children, then Gillacoemgain wasn’t really lost. He would live on in them.

I set my hand on my stomach.

“You, on the other hand, present a very big problem.”

“Gruoch?” a voice called.

For a moment, I stilled. Remembering this place and this moment with Gillacoemgain, I rose, half expecting to find his shade there.

Instead, I found Banquo.

“Banquo?”

He grinned.

I rose and crossed the field to greet him.

He cast a glance around. Once he was sure we were alone, he planted a kiss on my lips. “I was met on the road by a fey thing. She told me what happened and that I should come here.”

“It’s good you’ve come. We need to perform rites for Tavis today. Will you…”

Banquo nodded. “Of course. How is Madelaine?”

“As expected. It breaks my heart to see her like this. But you must tell me, how was Sid? Did she delay you overlong?” I asked, arching a playful eyebrow at Banquo.

He coughed uncomfortably. “She tried.”

“And did she succeed?”

“Not in full. I like that woman, but my heart belongs elsewhere.”

Somehow, it felt unfair that Banquo and I loved one another so much—without Sid. Echoes of past lives wanted to impose themselves on me. I reminded myself that I was not obligated to choices I made in another time and space. I loved Sid well, but this life was mine. And so was Banquo.

“This is where you grew up,” Banquo said, looking back at the castle.

“Alas.”

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