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Lifting the hem of my dress, I returned downstairs.

False hearts…

The little people of the hollow hills often riddled where clarity was needed. In this case, a false heart could be anyone. Others thought I had played my hand with the Carvetti wrongly. I told myself they did not know Venu as I did. What if Iwaswrong? Was he the false heart?

When I returned to the main hall, everyone had gone save the servants. I made my way down the hall until I found Kamden.

“My queen? We thought you had gone to rest,” he told me.

“I am looking for Corva.”

“I believe she went into the city. Anything I can assist you with, Queen Cartimandua?”

I shook my head. “No, thank you, Kamden. It was a perfect night. Thank you for your efforts. Ulixes would be proud of you.”

His cheeks grew red. “Thank you, my queen. That is a great compliment.”

“Well deserved,” I replied, touching his shoulder.

Leaving Kamden, I made my way to my workroom. I went to the window and looked down at the courtyard below. How could I, a foreign queen whose lands were so far away, penetrate the massive machine of Rome?

But the answer was obvious.

Rome was massive, and that was its weakness.

I would find a way.

The day the chieftains left,Cormag also departed with Aedan on his epic adventure/punishment.

“Don’t let him work you too hard,” I told Cormag, grinning at Aedan.

“Your husband lost the bet. I’m afraid you cannot help him now, Queen Cartimandua,” Aedan replied.

“You didn’t need to hang us with you,” Brodi told Cormag.

“We will endure the trials of this life together and will leave it together. Isn’t that what we have always said?” Cormag replied.

Damhan huffed. “That was before you made foolish bets and moved us all to Brigantes lands.”

“Are you complaining about being in Brigantes lands, Votadini?” I asked. “We do have you surrounded.”

“I would not dream of it,” Damhan replied, giving me a brief but playful smile.

I chuckled, bent to pat Scratch and Beef, then went to give my husband one last kiss before he left.

“Be safe,” he told me, briefly setting his hand on my stomach.

“And you,” I replied.

Cormag gave me a quick kiss then mounted, joining the others.

The Votadini and their dogs, with the exception of Fergus, who waited at my side, rode off.

Cormag whistled for the beast once, but Fergus merely wagged his tail and watched him go.

Shaking his head, Cormag turned back then rode off.

“You’re hurting his feelings,” I told the dog who gazed up at me adoringly.