Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler

Author:Isabelle Schuler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Tall flames leapt into the sky, bathing the coast in an eerie orange light. They reflected on the dark sea, illuminating the waves that lacerated the sandy beach.

I pulled Allistor to a halt, expecting the others to do the same with their mounts. They paused, but only for a moment, before continuing towards Burghead.

“Wait!” I shouted. “Where are you going?”

They didn’t respond. I turned Allistor around. Perhaps whoever had attacked Burghead might not have reached Elgin. There would still be time to warn them. But two guards blocked my path.

“Get out of my way,” I said, trying to sound commanding, trying not to let the panic crest and crash over me and catch me out in its wake.

“We have instructions to take you to Burghead.”

“Burghead is on fire, you fool! I think your instructions are no longer relevant.”

Still the guard did not move. My chest constricted and I struggled to breathe.

Had this been part of the plan?

I thought about bolting; I could tell Allistor was ready for it. He wanted to run away from the burning mass as much as I did. But where could I go? There was no hope of crossing Alba to find my father. And Burghead was on fire. Donalda? Findlaich? Were they even alive?

Still the guards stood behind me, blocking my path. There was nothing to do but face whatever was in store for me in the ruins of the settlement. I turned to Sinna. I had forgotten about her in the panic and felt sorry for it now. She was crying quietly. I reached over and took her hand in mine.

“It will be all right,” I said, making my voice more resolute than I felt.

As we began the ascent inland and round to the keep, we met straggling soldiers, drunk in celebration. I did not recognize any of them, though I had known Findlaich’s guard well. These were neither the coastal farmers nor the large Norsemen who often frequented Findlaich’s lands. They wore no distinguishing symbols and their hair was shaved short reminding me of those Irishmen, the mercenaries Mael Colum and Gillecomghain had brought to Moray all those years ago.

Gods!

I knew exactly who had attacked the keep.

My stomach clenched. If Mael Colum had returned for revenge, what would he do when he saw me? Was he expecting me? Had this been part of King Malcolm’s plan? My vision went blurry and my head spun with all manner of possibilities, each more terrible than the last. My breath came in shallow starts and my vision began to cloud. But this time I did not have Ardith to comfort me.

I forced myself to slow my breathing and willed myself to carry on.

The horses resisted our commands, tossing their heads anxiously as we rode closer to the fire, but we urged them on until we crossed the bridge over the deep moat I had once hidden in and entered the settlement. Here we alighted, unable to bring them any closer without risk of their bolting.

Mercenaries were streaming out of the inner fortress, swaggering with the gait of victors.

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