By Honor Bound Part 22

"Oh, mistress, you should not have seen that. Sit down here. Let me get you some wine."

Elen took the cup Ava offered and drank the contents down without stopping. "It was evil," she muttered.

her."Mistress?" Ava was plainly worried about"There was something evil, some vile thing hovering about those bodies."

"Because it was murder." Ava crossed herself, then crossed herself again. "When a son kills his father, that is the worst kind of evil. Of course you felt it."

"I don't believe-" Elen stopped, recalling Drust's warning. "Leave me, Ava. When Talcoran returns, tell him I wish to speak with him."

She felt feverish and ill. She threw off her gown, poured cold water into a basin, and splashed it on her face and shoulders. Then she began to pace as Gruach had done earlier.

Fergus had spent more than half a year at Laggan, living in her home, and in all that time Elen had notheard him say one word against Bancho. They had been happy to see each other when Bancho visitedLaggan. No matter what anyone said, Elen was certain Fergus was innocent of his father's death. Hemust have fought off the attackers, trying to save his father. That would explain his knife in one man'sback. But where was Fergus now?

When Talcoran finally returned, she tried to question him."Leave it alone," Talcoran told her roughly. "It is safer thus.""Has Fergus been found?""He has fled. We think Crania has gone with him. Macbeth says he believes they planned the murdertogether."

"That's ridiculous. Crania hasn't the wits to plan a needlework pattern, let alone a murder." WhenTalcoran did not answer, Elen went on, "I for one don't believe it. Fergus loved his father, and whatgood would it do him to kill Bancho if he must flee and be an outlaw? There's no profit in that. Bancho's lands and t.i.tle will now revert to the crown."

Elen stopped, staring at Talcoran's haggard face.

"It is Macbeth who profits," she said slowly. "Bancho's lands and t.i.tles are Macbeth's now, to keep or to bestow on someone else. Bancho was Macbeth's general and his men loved him well, perhaps too well for Macbeth's comfort, but Bancho's soldiers are now Macbeth's men. My cousin Macbeth."

"Believe the story you have been told," Talcoran said. "Gruach knew, or suspected, what he planned, and tried to stop it by arranging that marriage for Fergus and Crania," Elen went on, unable to stop the terrible direction of her thoughts. "Macbeth hid his true intent behind the marriage arrangements and the feast for Bancho." She wondered if she should tell Talcoran about the two men, the murderers she had seen on their way to the king's chamber. She decided against it. The knowledge might be dangerous to Talcoran, and she would not put him in danger.

"There will be others," she said, "who will surely ask the questions I have asked, and who will find the same answers."

She had not finished speaking before Talcoran grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her so hard that she cried out, frightened.

"Don't ever speak of your doubts to anyone else," he ordered. "Don't speak of them to me. Don't even think of them!" He caught her against his chest, hugging her so hard she could not breathe. "Sometimes I fear for you, my love. You are both too wise and too foolish."

As abruptly as he had embraced her, Talcoran let her go. Elen was so upset she hardly registered the fact that he had just touched her for the first time in months. There was something more important than the sad state of their marriage to think about. This, after all, was Macbeth's man. She had to ask the question that tortured her.

"What do you know of this affair, Talcoran?" "I know nothing. I have dark thoughts which I will not speak," was all he would say. "Do as I command you, Elen, and never mention this again."

16.

Winter 1043 to Summer 1045.

Conal mac Duff had no qualms about discussing Bancho's death, especially when he and Fionna visited Elen and Talcoran in their chambers. a.s.sured of privacy, he spoke freely.

"Despite those rumors about his contacts with Earl Siward-and they may be true-still Bancho was loyalto Macbeth," Conal insisted. "There is something very strange about all this. I think someone at courtwanted him dead. He was too powerful and too well loved."

"I would not say that to anyone else if I were you," Talcoran warned. "Macbeth is none too fond

of you these days."

"Do you think I'll be next?" Seeing Talcoran's shocked reaction, mac Duff laughed. "I'll be careful. It seems to me that even your loyalty to our king is stretched a bit thin just now."

"He must do what he thinks is best," Talcoran said."Best for Alba or for Macbeth?" Conal'squestion was almost teasing."It is the same thing, my friend.""I agree with Conal," Elen said, "even thoughthe king is my cousin."232quiet, woman," Talcoran ordered. "I will have no traitorous words from my wife."

Elen saw Fionna look- from her to Talcoran and back again with a puzzled expression. They must be careful, Elen realized, or clever Fionna would soon discover how it was between her and Talcoran, and Fionna's knowledge was the one blow her sorely damaged pride could not tolerate.

Macbeth provided a n.o.ble funeral for Bancho and offered a huge reward to anyone bringing Bancho'smurderous son to justice. But he never had to pay it. Within a few weeks, the king himself was advisingthem all to put the sorry business of Bancho's death behind them, and the incident ceased to be talkedabout.

On the surface at least, life at Macbeth's court returned to normal, though Elen and a few other friendscontinued to mourn for Bancho, and she wondered, each time she looked at her royal cousin, if she haddiscerned the truth about her old friend's death. There was no one to whom she dared voice herthoughts, and when Conal and Fionna returned to Fife, Elen was more lonely than ever.

At Christmas of 1044, Macbeth held a great feast. Most of the n.o.bles were present. Even Thorfinn the Mighty had come from the storm-battered islands of Orkney to celebrate with his cousin and friend the King of Alba, and as he said, to drink the darkness down until the days began to lengthen again.

Elen met Fionna in the great hall before the feast began.

"How good it is to see you again!" Fionna exclaimed. "Conal and I have been in Fife so long I feared my friends had forgotten me."

"Never." Elen embraced her warmly. "I have

sorely missed you."

"Conal wanted to stay away from court for a while. He grows impatient with the intrigues and silly feuds of some of our n.o.bles. Elen, may we talk privately sometime soon? I have something important to tell you."

"Of course. We could slip out now to one of the anterooms."

"No, we can't, for here come the king and queen. We'll do it later." Fionna swept into a low curtsy as Macbeth and Gruach pa.s.sed by, followed by Thorfinn, Talcoran, Conal, and the other n.o.bles who were the king's close friends and advisors, and then the queen's ladies who were in attendance on her that day.

"How tall Lulach has grown," Fionna remarked, eyeing Macbeth's slender stepson.

"He is sixteen. I find it hard to believe." Elen watched Lulach fondly. "I remember when he was just a frightened little boy, and now he is beginning to grow a beard, and his hair is darker. He begins to look like a man."

"Do you think Macbeth will make Lulach his heir?" "That is the question everyone has been asking since he finished his studies at Loch Leven and returned to court. It seems certain now that Gruach will have no more children. Since Lulach is not Macbeth's own son, but the child of two of his cousins, Talcoran feels he will be acceptable to those n.o.bles who favor royal succession by the old laws."

"And since Lulach is Gruach's son and Macbeth's stepson," Fionna added, laughing, "there will be few complaints from those who hold with this new idea the English have, of succession by direct descent. What a clever man our king is. He can have it either way."

"Except for those who favor Duncan's sons. There are a few who feel that way, including Duncan's father Crinan, who would like to see his grandson Malcolm on the throne."

"Elen, don't even whisper that in this court. And certainly not to me. I must give Macbeth no cause for suspicion, else I could put Conal and the children in danger." Seeing Elen's sharp glance, Fionna added bitterly, "Well, I am the one who has the traitorous brother, am I not?"

The feasting began then, and they had no chance to talk further. The palace cooks had outdone themselves with roasted venison, grouse, a whole roasted boar, beef, fish, pies of minced meats and spices, breads and sweetmeats, apples and nuts, dried berries and clotted cream, and bottomless pitchers and jugs of wine, ale, beer, and mead.

Thorfinn's skald, Arnor, had come with him to entertain the courtiers with songs and poems about the brave Nors.e.m.e.n. He and Macbeth's harper soon began a contest of their musical and poetical abilities that threatened to go on all night.

In another part of the hall a magician performed his tricks, and in a clear s.p.a.ce before the lower tables, wrestling matches were held.

When the eating was done and the guests had settled down to earnest drinking and entertainment, Fionna motioned to Elen. Together they made their way to a room set aside for ladies of the court to use to refresh themselves. It was crowded with chattering women, not a place in which to exchange confidences. They left the room and walked along an empty corridor.

"How cool it is here, after the hot banqueting hall," Elen said, breathing deeply. "What is it you wanted to tell me, Fionna?"

She had expected to hear that Fionna was

with child again, but it was not that. She was stunned by what Fionna did say.

"I have had a letter from Patric."

"What? How could he do such a thing? Doesn't he realize how dangerous that could be for you?

Suppose someone found out? Does Conal know?"

"I have told no one, not even Conal. The servant who brought the letter did not know what it was. It wa.s.sent to a monastery here in Alba. I won't tell you which monastery. The letter was pa.s.sed to me from theabbot, so there is nothing to connect it to Patric."

Elen knew the letter must have gone through Dunkeld. King Duncan's father Crinan was lay abbot ofDunkeld. He had retained his position after his son's death and enjoyed King Macbeth's protection. Elenhad heard rumors of plots against Macbeth being hatched at Dunkeld, though none of them ever came tofruition. No doubt Macbeth had his informers among the monks there. Any ruler with his wits about him would.

"Elen, are you listening? Patric has been living at the English court and in Northumbria, where he hasbeen Earl Siward's guest. He and Siward seem to have become good friends. Patric is still unmarried."

"Why should I care about that?" Elen's voice was louder than she had meant it to be, considering thecontent of this conversation. She spoke more softly. "I don't want to hear any more of this, Fionna,"

"He says," Fionna persisted, ignoring Elen's growing agitation, "that Fergus of Lochaber is safe in Wales.

Patric met with him a few months ago."

"Fergus?"

"Aye. I thought you would want to know that. Patric writes that Fergus told him he and Bancho were ambushed the night Bancho was killed. Fergus was wounded. He fled when he realized Bancho was dead, and he took Crania with him."

"That is no news. We guessed as much."

"Fergus believes Macbeth ordered Bancho's death, and that the feast Macbeth arranged for that night was a trick, to deflect any hint of blame from Macbeth."

When Elen made no reply to this news that Fergus had reached the same conclusions she had about his father's murder, Fionna continued her recital.

"Crania died in childbirth. She was with child when they left here. In fact, that is why she went with Fergus. Both she and the child died."

"Crania dead? That silly, giddy young girl?" "At least she was with her love," Fionna said gently. "Patric said they did marry as soon as they could."

"Poor Crania. Poorer Fergus. He has lost everything-father, wife, lands, t.i.tle. How sad."

"Yes." Fionna waited expectantly."How is Patric?" Elen asked at last."He says he is well. He also said he hoped one he cared for but could not name is well and happy. Thatcould only be you, Elen."

"Why did you tell me that, Fionna? Why?"