By Honor Bound Part 10

There was a motion as of a wave moving in from the sea, as every man and woman in the hall-officers, ordinary soldiers, ladies and serving wenches-knelt in the presence of their new queen.

Elen, too, fell to her knees, her mind blank. She had not had time to think of what Macbeth's message would mean for her. She was only grateful that Gruach would not be harmed. Then she felt Gruach's gentle hands on her shoulders, raising her to her feet.

"Cousin." Gruach's grey eyes were shining, her beautiful face was radiant. "I will need a lady-in-waiting. Will you serve me?"

"I am still betrothed to an enemy," Elen reminded her, "and I would gladly have seen Duncan win against Macbeth."

"That means nothing now." Gruach was generous in victory. "We are kin, and you have done nothing to harm either me or the king." It was amoment before Elen's numb mind, dwelling now on Duncan and Patric, registered the fact that whenGruach said 'the king,' she meant Macbeth. "There are n.o.bles," Gruach went on, "brave men whofought against Macbeth with all their skill and strength, who will now make submission to him and bejoyfully received as loyal subjects. Why should not you, our beloved cousin, also be welcomed?"

Elen wondered briefly if Patric, if he were still alive, would be among those men submitting to Macbeth.

Somehow, she did not think so. If she were truly strong, she, too, would refuse, and bravely face death or exile. But Gruach's arms were open, and she was smiling her beautiful smile.

"My dear cousin," Gruach said.Elen went into her loving embrace.Macbeth returned to Burghead at midday. Gruach and Elen greeted him formally in the great hall. Hestrode in wearing upon his head Duncan's gold circlet, which was too small for him. It tilted rakishly overone eye as he embraced Gruach.

It was not until Macbeth, Gruach, Talcoran, and Elen were in Macbeth's private chambers that Alba's new king pulled off his crown and tossed it onto his bed with an irritated gesture.

"Talcoran, find me a metal worker. I will not wear that weakling Duncan's coronet. I want a new crown.

Talcoran hurried out, and Macbeth turned to

Elen.

"I am thankful you are safe with us, cousin. I would not want you at Forres today."

"Even though I was brought here at knifepoint?"

"Talcoran is a bit rough at times." Macbeth grinned at her. "But he always obeys my orders.""You know I did not wish to come. I wanted to stay with Patric."Macbeth's face darkened at mention of Patric's name. He had listened to Elen's complaints about the manner of her leaving Forres when first she came to Burghead, and he did not want to hear them again.Then Gruach hastily diverted her husband's attention from the unpleasant subject."I have appointed Elen my first lady-in-waiting. With your permission, of course, my lord.""You have it gladly. That was wise of you, Gruach. I have plans for our cousin."

Talcoran returned with a blacksmith. Macbeth explained that he required a new crown.

"I have little skill in such things, my lord," the blacksmith protested, "and no precious metals with which to work."

"I have enough gold for a dozen crowns," Gruach said. "If my husband the king will allow me, I will bring

you my gold jewelry to melt down and use."

"Yes," Macbeth agreed, laughing at this idea. "Blacksmith, you will make two crowns, one for me and one for my queen, to wear when we ride into Forres Castle."

"My lord, as I said before, I have no ability in gold work."Macbeth clapped the man on the shoulder."Just do your best for me, my friend, and it will be good enough. You have three days."After the blacksmith had left them, Macbeth poured mead into four silver cups and gave one to each of them."Let us drink to peace and a plentiful harvest," he said."To peace in Alba," Talcoran echoed. "And to King Macbeth and his queen."They drained their cups."Now," Macbeth said, "leave us alone. My lady and I have much to discuss in private, and much to celebrate."Elen was halfway down the corridor toward her own chamber when Talcoran caught up with her."Lady, I would speak with you."A stinging reply was on Elen's lips, but she did not say what she thought. She disliked this man for forcing her away from Patric, but there was something she desperately needed to know and it had just occurred to her that Talcoran could tell her. She put on what she hoped was a pleasant smile, and waited.

"I beg your forgiveness for unsheathing my knife against you."

"Surely for a soldier that is a small matter. You often use both dagger and sword.""I have never killed a woman. I fight men. I would never have harmed you. Not you." His eyes werepiercing into her in that intense way he had. "I had my orders, and it was necessary to make you go withme quickly."

"Before I could be rescued?"

He smiled, and his severe face softened. He c.o.c.ked his head and smiled more broadly, and his one

slightly crooked tooth gave him a jaunty, youthful look. Suddenly Elen found herself smiling back at him, her anger evaporating like the morning mist when the sun rises.

"Aye." Talcoran chuckled. "Who knows what those four fierce maidens in your room might have done to

me if they had decided to release

you? Not to mention your maidservant."

"Talcoran, you terrified them." Elen sighed. "I forgive you. I, too, always obey Macbeth's orders. Well, almost always," she amended, thinking of secret meetings with Patric.

She moved a step nearer to Talcoran, and laid one hand on his arm. She felt him tremble slightly at her touch, but his gaze, level with her own, was steady.

"I need your help," she said. "I will do nothing that would harm Macbeth." "I know that. I have heard the story. You saved his life. He rewarded you and raised you from a common foot soldier to high rank. I have heard that you saved his life a second time while putting down Macdowald's revolt. You and Patric mac Keith together saved Macbeth that day." "What do you want of me?" "Tell me if Patric is alive or dead." "I do not know." Talcoran shook his head. "I never saw him in battle, but that does not mean he wasn't there. I have not heard that he was killed." "I must know. Can you find out what has happened to him? Please?"

Her hand still rested on Talcoran's sleeve, and now his covered it. Not a large hand for a man, but strong and warm.

"Dead or alive, he is fortunate," Talcoran said. "I will see what I can discover."

Elen felt a faint surge of hope. Perhaps Patric had survived the battle. At least she would know. She knew she could depend on Talcoran.

Patric was alive and well. He had been ordered by Duncan to remain in Forres in readiness to take the young princes to safety, should that be necessary. He chafed at not being able to lead his own men into battle, but he obeyed. Now that the castle had been surrendered, he must find a way to leave it.

Bancho had been placed in charge of Forres, until Macbeth made his triumphal entry three days hence. Patric went to see Bancho.

"Submit to Macbeth," Bancho advised. "Your own brother-in-law has agreed to do that."

"Conal is a thane, with vast lands and wealth," Patric replied. "He wants to keep his property and his t.i.tle to pa.s.s on to his son."

"You would have sons yourself," Bancho said, "were you to stay in Alba and marry Elen."

"It is partly because of Elen that I cannot stay. Macbeth dislikes me. He will never let me marry Elen. He did not approve of our betrothal, and now that he is king, I am certain he will end it. I cannot stay and watch Elen marry another man."

"I understand." Bancho's expression was sympathetic.

"There's something else preventing me, Bancho, and that is my oath to Duncan, which in honor I cannot break. His death binds me even more closely to keep my word to him. I have told you about that, and you have said you understand. Give me leave to take his sons to England."

"Poor lads. Their father slain in battle, their mother dead of a broken heart. They are too young for such sorrow."

"They would be well cared for by their uncle Siward."

"Who would use them as weapons against Macbeth."

"If they remain in Alba, Macbeth will have them killed. He must, for there are those here also who will use them as weapons if he lets them live."

"Then they are better dead.""Who will kill them? Will you?"Bancho blanched."Will you kill your dead king's heirs?" Patric persisted. "Or do you think Macbeth will order Talcoran todo the deed? Talcoran, who owes everything to Macbeth and who will refuse him nothing? I think yoususpect, as I do, what Mac-beth's plans for Talcoran's future are. Would you see royal blood on hishands?"

"Elen," Bancho whispered.

"Aye." Patric's face was lined with pain. "We agree, then. Well, my friend Bancho, make your choice."

"Take them. I'll write the pa.s.s myself. Go at once. This evening. And if you are wise, you will find Elen and take her with you."

"She is too fragile for such a dangerous journey."

"I suspect that Elen of Laggan is stronger than you imagine," Bancho said dryly. "If you were to give her the choice, I feel certain she would want to go with you. She loves you."

"It is because I love her that I cannot take her.

Macbeth would declare her a traitor and confiscate all of Lagganshire as soon as Elen was across the border of Alba. How could I deprive her of her inheritance, take away all that once belonged to her father-lands, t.i.tle, everything? It is one thing to choose for myself to give up all I possess. It is something very different to force such a choice upon the woman I love. I cannot do it. My heart is breaking, Bancho, but I must do what I believe is right."

"You are an idealistic fool." Bancho finished writing the safe-conduct pa.s.s and handed it to Patric. "Iadmire your steadfastness, lad. I only hope you don't regret what you are about to do."

"I'll see Fionna, then I'll be gone." Patric was at the door when he turned back. "Where is Duncan's body?"

"He was carried to Elgin after he was wounded in battle. He died there. We left his body, waiting forMacbeth's orders about it."

"Give it to me.""What?""He was King of Alba. He should be buried at lona."

"Are you mad? You would take three young boys and a corpse, and try to escape from Macbeth?"

"We have three days until Macbeth rides into Forres. He will be too busy until then to think about either Duncan or the princes. We will have a head start."

"If you believe that, you don't know Macbeth."

"Give me your leave, Bancho."Bancho considered the man before him."What did Duncan ever do," he wondered, "to deserve a friend like you?"

"Why, that's easy." Patric smiled, looking like