Read Online Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa Klein
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Helwain, frowning.
“Enough, sister!” Mother warns.
My few clothes are quickly packed on the horse that Rhuven and I will take turns riding. As we set out, I feel a stirring of anticipation, like the first time I went to the shieling. I will live with a real family! I might become friends with their children.
At the edge of the Wychelm Wood, we stop at Murdo’s cottage so I can say good-bye to Colum. He greets us with a puzzled look on his face.
“Are you going on a journey? At this time of year?”
“Rhuven is taking me to the town of Dunbeag. I will live in a thane’s castle, among all sorts of people. Will you take care of my sheep until I come home?”
“You know I will watch them as if they were mine. But why must you go?” His face clouds over.
I choke back sudden tears. “Don’t ask. I will miss you, Colum.”
“Dunbeag is only a day’s journey. I will visit you, if summer ever comes again.”
Rhuven is talking to Murdo, who strokes his beard and nods. I hear her asking him to look after her sisters. I feel a stab of guilt that I didn’t even try to persuade Mother that she needed me. Why? Because I want to leave, and for that I feel even worse.
“What is wrong?” says Colum. “What are you thinking?”
“Of my poor mother!” I sigh, then shake my head stubbornly. “But I am not deserting her, for she sent me away!”
“Don’t be sore. You are a fledged bird now, almost grown. Why, in two years you will be as old as I am now,” he says, thrusting out his chest.
“And in two years you will be a man,” I say, smiling despite myself. “Is that a beard on your cheeks?” I reach up playfully to touch his face.
He takes my hands in his and with a sudden move spins me around so that I am pinned in his arms. He picks me up and I scream.
“I don’t want to wrestle now. Put me down!” I laugh and twist in his arms.
“Albia, my lambkin, don’t think you can run away from me! I’ll come after you and bring you home to the flock.”
The sensation of Colum’s arms about me lingers long after he sets me down, and I feel less alone as Rhuven and I follow the glen southward towards Dunbeag. The frozen grass crunches underfoot. I know I will see Colum again, but for now I am leaving behind want and worry and fearsome wolves for something unknown but new and therefore promising. The brisk pace warms me, stirring up hopeful thoughts like brew in a kettle.
Then in my mind I see Mother’s worn-looking face and the sadness in her eyes when I did not return her farewell embrace. Regret washes over me. What kind of daughter am I? I should stay by her side, Helwain be damned, and love her to the end, like a good daughter.
Chapter 9
Dunbeag
Albia
Weak winter sun shines on a cluster of turf houses in the valley of the River Findhorn. Thin strands of smoke drift from the roof-holes.
“Why, Rhuven, this is no more than a village!” I say, disappointed.
“Aye, but Dunbeag is important.” She points to the top of the hill, where a large timber fort overlooks the huddled houses. “This is the seat of Banquo, chief of the king’s army in these northern shires. He is an honest and kindly man who will protect you.”
So I am to stay with Banquo, the man I glimpsed with Macbeth on Wanluck Mhor! I hide my surprise, for as far as Rhuven knows, I was asleep while she and her sisters danced and greeted Macbeth, then argued about Helwain’s promises to him.
“Protect me from whom?” I ask.
Rhuven ignores my question. “Banquo’s wife needs a companion. The advantages of such a position can be great, as you see.” She spreads her arms for me to admire her soft woolen gown. “A gift from the queen, whom I have served since she was a mere girl.”
“Do Banquo and his wife have children?” I ask.
“A son who is near manhood. Their daughter died lately. She was your age.”
Do they expect me to replace her? Anxious, I follow Rhuven up the hill.
Banquo reminds me of a bear with his
“Enough, sister!” Mother warns.
My few clothes are quickly packed on the horse that Rhuven and I will take turns riding. As we set out, I feel a stirring of anticipation, like the first time I went to the shieling. I will live with a real family! I might become friends with their children.
At the edge of the Wychelm Wood, we stop at Murdo’s cottage so I can say good-bye to Colum. He greets us with a puzzled look on his face.
“Are you going on a journey? At this time of year?”
“Rhuven is taking me to the town of Dunbeag. I will live in a thane’s castle, among all sorts of people. Will you take care of my sheep until I come home?”
“You know I will watch them as if they were mine. But why must you go?” His face clouds over.
I choke back sudden tears. “Don’t ask. I will miss you, Colum.”
“Dunbeag is only a day’s journey. I will visit you, if summer ever comes again.”
Rhuven is talking to Murdo, who strokes his beard and nods. I hear her asking him to look after her sisters. I feel a stab of guilt that I didn’t even try to persuade Mother that she needed me. Why? Because I want to leave, and for that I feel even worse.
“What is wrong?” says Colum. “What are you thinking?”
“Of my poor mother!” I sigh, then shake my head stubbornly. “But I am not deserting her, for she sent me away!”
“Don’t be sore. You are a fledged bird now, almost grown. Why, in two years you will be as old as I am now,” he says, thrusting out his chest.
“And in two years you will be a man,” I say, smiling despite myself. “Is that a beard on your cheeks?” I reach up playfully to touch his face.
He takes my hands in his and with a sudden move spins me around so that I am pinned in his arms. He picks me up and I scream.
“I don’t want to wrestle now. Put me down!” I laugh and twist in his arms.
“Albia, my lambkin, don’t think you can run away from me! I’ll come after you and bring you home to the flock.”
The sensation of Colum’s arms about me lingers long after he sets me down, and I feel less alone as Rhuven and I follow the glen southward towards Dunbeag. The frozen grass crunches underfoot. I know I will see Colum again, but for now I am leaving behind want and worry and fearsome wolves for something unknown but new and therefore promising. The brisk pace warms me, stirring up hopeful thoughts like brew in a kettle.
Then in my mind I see Mother’s worn-looking face and the sadness in her eyes when I did not return her farewell embrace. Regret washes over me. What kind of daughter am I? I should stay by her side, Helwain be damned, and love her to the end, like a good daughter.
Chapter 9
Dunbeag
Albia
Weak winter sun shines on a cluster of turf houses in the valley of the River Findhorn. Thin strands of smoke drift from the roof-holes.
“Why, Rhuven, this is no more than a village!” I say, disappointed.
“Aye, but Dunbeag is important.” She points to the top of the hill, where a large timber fort overlooks the huddled houses. “This is the seat of Banquo, chief of the king’s army in these northern shires. He is an honest and kindly man who will protect you.”
So I am to stay with Banquo, the man I glimpsed with Macbeth on Wanluck Mhor! I hide my surprise, for as far as Rhuven knows, I was asleep while she and her sisters danced and greeted Macbeth, then argued about Helwain’s promises to him.
“Protect me from whom?” I ask.
Rhuven ignores my question. “Banquo’s wife needs a companion. The advantages of such a position can be great, as you see.” She spreads her arms for me to admire her soft woolen gown. “A gift from the queen, whom I have served since she was a mere girl.”
“Do Banquo and his wife have children?” I ask.
“A son who is near manhood. Their daughter died lately. She was your age.”
Do they expect me to replace her? Anxious, I follow Rhuven up the hill.
Banquo reminds me of a bear with his
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