Page 5 of Highland Queen

It will pass. The girls were right. I was tired, and my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I crossed the room and let Tira redress me. She’d pulled a dark blue gown from the wardrobe. It was a pretty velvet dress with silver trim on the collar. I put my torcs and amulet back on. Lifting my belt, I re-sheathed Scáthach then lifted the dagger with the raven on the hilt, the dagger I had taken from Duncan, my father’s blade. I turned it over in my hand, remembering Uald describing it. But I remembered more. I remembered it on my father’s belt. The memory had been lost, but with the blade in my possession, it returned once more. I remembered hugging my father when I was just a girl. The beak of the raven had scraped my cheek.

“Now,Macha,” my father had said, scolding the dagger. “Be kind to my daughter.”

“Macha?” I’d asked.

My father had nodded. “The raven goddess. I keep her here at my side,” he’d said with a wide grin.

I clutched the dagger. How strange it was that some memories lay buried, unleashed by the smallest things. My father had carried a raven with him. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I went to my trunk and found a spare sheath for the blade. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but it would have to do for now. When I returned to the coven, I would ask Uald to make me another. I added the blade to my belt alongside Scáthach.

“Thank you. I’ll go down now.”

“My lady,” Morag said, rising slowly. “Lulach and Fleance…”

She let the question hang unasked in the air.

“They are safe, but hidden, and will remain so until things are quiet.”

“Let’s hope that day comes.”

She was right about that. I inclined my head to her. “Then I had best get to work to see that it does.”

I slipped down the steps and headed to my council chamber. The place was packed with people. Banquo was at the head of the table talking to some of the other Thanes. Both the younger and elder Ross were in attendance.

“Lady Gruoch,” someone called when I entered.

The men cheered, banging their ale horns and weapons.

I nodded to them. “Gentlemen, my greetings and congratulations on this victory.”

The men cheered.

As I crossed the room, I heard whispers in the crowd.

“Look at the Lady Gruoch’s hair,” someone said.

“A battle sacrifice?”

“No. There is talk amongst the men. They say she was on the field.”

“No. It cannot be.”

“No? Look at her face. The bruise.”

“Some say they saw Gillacoemgain’s ghost amongst the men.”

“Strange omens.”

Ignoring the talk, I went to Banquo who handed me the first of many scrolls in his hand.

Shaking my head, I took Banquo aside. “Malcolm and Donaldbane. What did Macbeth arrange?”

“As far as I know, nothing.”

“Then he’s let two adders free who can return to strike us.”

Banquo nodded.

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