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I shuddered and then looked down at Cormag. I set my hand on his cheek. “We are pawns in a game of fidchell. You have gone to the Otherworld first, my love. I am sorry for it. No words can express my grief, but I am glad you are with our girls. Kiss them for me. Hold them and squeeze them until they laugh,” I said, then smiled, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I will be with you soon enough. But for now… I am being played across some board I do not see,” I whispered, kissing him on the forehead.

I turned and left the chamber, my heart pounding as I planned my vengeance.

CHAPTER 35

The news I had been waiting for came within days…both the good and the bad.

A messenger arrived from Gaul. The Romans were preparing to launch.

“Not without difficulty,” the man told us. “There was a mutiny. We did not hear the details, but many men refused to sail. There were signs, they believed, from the gods, warning them away.”

“What signs?” Corva asked.

“The wind howled and whispered, the ground shook, and the trees seemed to move.”

I looked at Corva. “The druids?”

“Perhaps,” she mused.

“The Roman general, Aulus Plautius, executed the mutinous soldiers and shamed the army for their superstitious ways. They will launch within days, my queen,” the messenger told me.

“What news of their landing? Where will they put in?”

“General Plautius has had advanced teams scoping out the best spot to land. The Romans have even sailed as far north as Northern Iceni lands. But your silver bought us a look of at the general’s map. They plan to land at the mouth of the Thames.”

I crossed the room and stood before a map of the island. In my mind’s eye, I could see the Romans preparing in Gaul. They would sail east, across the rough waters, to the river. “So, they seek to push through Cantiaci lands to retake Verica’s seat,” I said as I considered. “King Anarevitos will never give them passage,” I said, referring to the warlike Cantiaci king. “He will fight.”

“Then he will die,” the messenger said. “The Romans come with war machines. Elephants. And more forces than I have ever seen. Queen Cartimandua…I cannot express to you the sheer size of the army,” the messenger told me.

I laced my fingers behind my back, my eyes on the map. “I understand.”

“Ancient Aedd Mawr’s banner flies amongst the Romans as well. The Trinovantes have come to retake their lands.”

Or so the Romans want them to believe.

“Thank you for making the arduous journey to keep me abreast. Take your rest,” I told the man.

Corva gestured for the messenger to depart. “I will find you later,” she told him.

“Priestess,” he said. Bowing to both of us, he departed.

“I want to know about this Roman general, Aulus Plautius. We must learn all we can.”

“Agreed,” Corva said, then joined me in examining the map. “The Romans will take the fight to the Catuvellauni.”

“Yes, but that is merely the opening act. It is what comes after that concerns us.”

“You’re right.”

“I will go fetch—” Corva was saying when a horn sounded at the lower gate.

And then another.

And another.

Corva and I looked at one another and then turned and hurried from the room, making our way to the courtyard.

We arrived there in time to find Ben, son of Chieftain Brennan of Mydils. He was covered in mud from head to toe, and his horse was panting. He leaped from his horse and hurried to me.