Page 80 of Highland Queen

“Are you suggesting we offer him Echmarach’s lands?”

“No. You must think ahead. Always think ahead. Echmarach rules himself. Half of the time, he makes war on his Irish neighbors without the blessing or support of the other noble lords. He sees the isles as independent, and he lords over them as such. How presumptuous is he to send an envoy here to pressure us to make war?”

“You are right about that.”

“There is a third option.”

“Which is?”

“We support Echmarach, and we try to strike a bargain with Ímar mac Arailt. Neither will be the wiser. And we will also send an operative to Ímar mac Arailt’s court and liberate Donaldbane on our own.”

Macbeth stared at me. He huffed a laugh. “Who knew…”

“Who knew?”

“Who knew that you were more like Malcolm than any of the rest of us.”

It was my turn to laugh. “I am not like Malcolm.”

“If you say so. So, you suggest we play both sides.”

“Yes.”

“How will we explain it once the boy is recovered.”

“We will tell Ímar mac Arailt it was Echmarach’s doing. We will tell Echmarach we were planning it all along because we hate Ímar mac Arailt, then we step back and let them finish out whatever game they are playing. When they are done, we make peace with the winner.”

“Very well. I shall arrange to have operatives sent into Ireland.”

“Good.”

Macbeth nodded then stood staring at me.

The silence went on for too long.

The hairs the back of my neck rose.

“I should be going,” I said.

“Gruoch, where is Lulach?”

“What difference does it make?”

“People talk. It’s strange that he is not here with us.”

“Is it? Let people talk. If they knew the truth, they wouldn’t find it strange at all.”

“The truth? And what is the truth?”

“If we are to co-exist, it is better if we let the truth lie dead and buried.”

Macbeth scowled. “If Lulach plans to be king, he should be here at my side.”

“No. Don’t push on this topic.”

Macbeth slammed his fists down on the table. “It is you who is pushing. You are forcing me into a corner. I must have an heir, don’t you realize? To secure the throne, I must have an heir. You…you will produce no other child for me. Lulach must come here. I must show this land that I do have an heir, even if he is just my step-son.”

I exhaled lightly, trying not to let Macbeth’s words unnerve me. There was a grain of truth to what he said. The only problem was I would never let Macbeth near Lulach again. “We shall see.”

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