Chapter 27 #2
“That’s what his runner said. He arrived a few days ago to inform us of the king’s visit.” Uathach wiped her eyes and stepped out of her mother’s arms. “Hello, Cu. Did you get your spear?”
Cuchulainn pointed a thumb at his back and the bone spear that was strapped there. “We did.” He turned to Tabiti. “Good to see you. And let me thank you again for teaching me how to swim.”
Tabiti grinned and bowed her head. “You are most welcome, Hero of Ulster.”
“Have we really been gone for months?” Cuchulainn asked.
“Yes. I was becoming worried,” said Uathach.
Scáthach threaded her arm through her daughter’s as the four of them, with Leannan trotting close beside, walked along the rocky shoreline to the seaward entrance to Dunscáith. “Has Mother not visited?”
“Not once,” Uathach said.
“It’s why we worried,” added Tabiti. “We thought you two might have gotten yourselves in such trouble that Béfionn had to help you out.”
“No, she’s still in Valhalla with Father,” said Scáthach. “I know because I spoke with him and he said she was there.”
“You were in Valhalla?” Uathach asked.
“It’s a long story,” said Scáthach.
“Well, save it for later. Right now, you need to greet the King of Ulster,” said Tabiti.
“I’ll welcome him to the Great Hall while you dress,” said Uathach as they climbed the stairs to the keep.
“When I sighted his ship, I informed the kitchen to expect the king and his retinue for the morning meal.” Before they parted, Uathach hugged Scáthach tightly again.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” she whispered.
Then Tabiti and Uathach hurried away—one to ready the Great Hall and the other to greet a king.
“So those nights we spent in each other’s arms,” Cuchulainn said softly. “They were weeks, months long.”
She met his gaze. “They were.”
“I knew it—knew what we had wasn’t so brief.”
“I knew, too.” She took a step toward him but footfalls on stone made her pause. Then dozens of warriors poured down the stairs from the battlements.
“Cu! You’re back!”
“Scáthach!”
“We missed you, Queen of Shadow!”
“Hail, Scáthach!”
“Cu, you got the Gáe Bulg!”
They were surrounded and separated by the jubilation of student warriors and Shadow Guards until a sharp whistle sounded, silencing everyone. Tabiti, fists propped on her slender hips, shook her head. “Give them some damn space!” she snapped.
Muttering apologies, the warriors reluctantly backed off.
With Leannan beside her, Scáthach slipped away to her suite of rooms as student warriors—some who knew him and some who had recently joined the school—escorted Cuchulainn, barraging him with questions as they tried to get a better look at the famous spear.
Scáthach breathed a long sigh when she closed the door to her rooms behind her. She knelt to hug Leannan and kissed her muzzle. “I’ve missed you. I hope you were good for Tabiti.” Leannan sneezed and woofed, which Scáthach took as a solid no.
Scáthach hurriedly peeled off her wet clothes and chose a tunic dyed black to match her Shadow Guard and embroidered with silver sturgeons.
She pulled on black leather breeches and laced up knee-high boots.
Then she sat in front of her polished bronze mirror.
With a contented sigh Leannan lay at her feet while Scáthach began combing through her damp hair.
It was good that Conchobar mac Nessa, King of Ulster, was there. Good that he would escort Cuchulainn back to his homeland.
Scáthach stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“Today. Cuchulainn must leave today.” She put down her brush and reached for the wooden box that sat on the table.
It held the slender golden coronet she wore only to receive high-ranking visitors, as well as a few other pieces of jewelry, though the warrior queen didn’t often adorn herself in jewels.
She opened the box and her hand stilled.
As expected, within were her coronet, her modest collection of jewelry—and unexpectedly, a golden crown decorated with roaring lions and glittering stones.
Scáthach frowned. She knew all too well where the crown had come from—she’d already turned the thing down.
She sighed, placed her coronet on her head, and closed the box.
Later there would be time to sort out what had transpired in Lethra while she was gone.
Scáthach had more urgent matters to deal with.
She’d made a decision about Cuchulainn. There would be no changing her mind, but that didn’t mean the execution of her decision would bring her any pleasure.
Leannan trotted with her to the door. Before she opened it, Scáthach drew back her shoulders and straightened her spine.
She set her face in a pleasant expression as she told herself, Rip the dressing from the wound quickly and it will hurt less.
The Great Hall was filled with warriors, who parted as Scáthach strode in with Leannan at her side.
Tabiti and Uathach were already on the raised platform that held Scáthach’s table.
They waited near it for their queen. The King of Ulster stood before the dais with Cuchulainn beside him.
As Scáthach approached, the king turned and bowed his head.
He was a big man whose girth and muscle made him appear bull-like.
His thick hair was dark, curling around his golden crown, but his beard was beginning to show silver.
“Greetings, King of Ulster,” Scáthach said, dipping her head in a similar bow. “I welcome you to Dunscáith. My daughter tells me your timing is impeccable. Cuchulainn and I have been questing in the Underworld and did not realize one year and a day had passed since he first entered my school.”
“Queen of Shadow! It is always such a pleasure to see you.” Conchobar’s voice boomed throughout the Great Hall.
“I cannot take credit for the timing of my visit. That goes to Lugh of the Long Arm. He appeared to me to announce I needed to come to Dunscáith, that it was time to escort our hero home.” The king clapped Cuchulainn on his back.
“He has been missed, especially by his betrothed, who awaits his return with much anticipation.”
“Well then, it is good that it is still so early in the day. There is plenty of time for you to break your fast here at Dunscáith and be on your way.” Scáthach smiled pleasantly at the king as she motioned for him and Cuchulainn to join her on the dais at the head table.
Tabiti clapped and called for the servants to bring in the food.
Conchobar sat at Scáthach’s left in the place of honor. Uathach was at her usual place on her mother’s right, Tabiti next to her. Cuchulainn sat beside his king. As they were being seated, Scáthach whispered to her daughter, “Why is the crown of Lethra in my chamber?”
Uathach shrugged and whispered, “I didn’t know where else to put it. Geirr delivered it last month with word Aife had birthed a son. Lethra has refused to accept the child as their next Jarl. Geirr asks again that you agree to wear the crown and rule Lethra.”
“I’ll send it back to him with another refusal,” Scáthach said.
“Queen Scáthach!” Conchobar’s deep voice ended the whispered crown discussion. “Cuchulainn tells me the two of you actually retrieved the Gáe Bulg.” He clapped Cuchulainn on his back again. “I would love to hear of that adventure.”
Cuchulainn’s smile was not reflected in his eyes. “The Queen of Shadow led the quest. I simply did my best to keep up.”
“Ha! Modesty!” Conchobar laughed. “What of Curruid? Was he as fearsome as legend tells?”
“Yes, my king. The sea monster was mighty,” said Cuchulainn.
“How did you kill it?” Conchobar asked Cuchulainn.
Cuchulainn leaned forward and met Scáthach’s gaze. “Teamwork,” he said.
The king turned in his seat to face Scáthach. “Perhaps the Queen of Shadow will be more specific.”
“Cuchulainn slit the monster’s throat,” she said. “Many times.”
Cuchulainn covered his laugh with a cough.