Page 15 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 14

W hen I opened my eyes again, the room was dark and warm. My gaze shifted to the windows. Through the thin cracks, I could see it was night once more.

“Eddin?” I called softly.

“I’m here,” he replied, rising.

I realized he’d been sleeping in a chair beside my bed.

“Where are my girls?” I asked.

“Sleeping,” Eddin whispered, gesturing to the cradle close to my bed. Seated beside it was Verbia, her hand on the side of the cradle, her chin on her chest as she slept.

I looked around, confused. “What… What happened?”

“You fainted after the birth. It was… For a moment, we thought…” he said, his voice catching. He coughed lightly. “You lost so much blood. You must rest, Carti.”

“The children. They’ve had nothing,” I said, my hand dancing toward my aching breasts.

“The midwife sent for a wet nurse. She and Hilda had a terrible argument about it. Hilda tried to forbid it until Verbia silenced your maid.”

“Verbia?” I asked.

Eddin laughed lightly. “Still fire left in her. Everyone was ashen when she was done speaking. The woman, Greer, is resting in there,” he said, gesturing to the room just off my own where Ystradwel once resided. “She has been looking after the princesses.”

I smiled warmly at Verbia, my gaze shifting to my girls. “I barely saw them. Let me gaze on them,” I said, trying to shift my position in bed, but I felt too weak.

“You should not get up. I can bring them to you.”

I nodded.

Moving gently, Eddin lifted dark-haired Regan, who exhaled softly but did not wake. He carefully set her in my arms.

“Her hair is so dark,” I said in a whisper.

“Like yours…and Cormag’s. As Verbia no doubt knows, the name means queen.”

“As the elder sister, she will be my heir, even if she beat her sister to it by moments.” I stroked her soft hair and then kissed her head. “My sweet princess.”

Working quietly, Eddin lifted my younger child and brought her to me.

“Aelith,” I said, smiling as he set her in my other arm.

“Carti, you do not need to keep?—”

“Eddin, your mother was the essence of grace and beauty. Verbia is right to remember her,” I said, wondering what other motivations Verbia may have had in naming the princess after the late Dardani queen. “Sweet Aelith,” I said, looking at my small daughter. Her hair was so fair. “They are tiny.”

Eddin nodded, sitting on the bed beside me. “Violet said it was because they were two, and the birth came a bit early, but both are healthy and eating well,” he said, gently stroking Aelith’s hair.

A moment later, we heard a commotion in the hallway. There was the sound of voices and the ringing sound of gear. Eddin rose, his hand going to the sword on his belt.

“Eddin,” I whispered in terror, holding my girls closer.

The door flung open. Cormag appeared silhouetted by torchlight.

“Cartimandua,” he said, breathless.

He was a rumpled sight, mud-splattered, his cloak fastened crooked, tunic untucked.

Eddin’s stance relaxed. Smiling, he went to Cormag, who stood frozen in the doorway. “Cormag,” Eddin said with a smile, slapping him good-naturedly on the shoulder. “Come, my friend. Meet your daughters.”

“Daughters?” Cormag whispered, staring at me.

Eddin laughed, took Cormag by the arm, and led him across the room.

Brodi and Damhan stood in the hallway, both watching with smiles on their faces.

“The twin goddesses bless you. You have two little maidens,” Eddin told Cormag.

My husband stared.

Chuckling, Eddin added, “Speak to him, Carti. He’s half-frozen from cold.”

“Come meet your girls, Husband.”

Eddin led Cormag to me, patting his back again, then quietly went to the door. Giving me one last smile, his gaze going to my daughters, Eddin closed the door behind him, but not before I saw it…a flicker of some other emotion on his face. He was all smiles and friendship, but I had seen that shadow of sorrow and pitied him for it.

“I tried, Carti. I tried so hard to reach you. Shade may not forgive me. There were moments that I felt like I was flying, but I was still too late,” Cormag said.

“Perhaps it was better you were not here. I am told it was harrowing. You can experience the joy without the mayhem.”

“Have you brought mayhem, my girls?” Cormag said, looking from them to me.

“Regan,” I said, looking at my dark-haired girl. “And Aelith.”

Cormag smiled. “You decided on names.”

“Verbia named them. I have been grateful to have her here. The delivery was very difficult. I am told I must rest.”

“Carti,” Cormag said, aghast.

“I’m all right now. I just need rest. They’ve brought a wet nurse, but I have not yet met her.”

Cormag nodded, then stroked Regan’s hair. “I am glad for Verbia’s help. And it is fortunate King Eddin was here as well.”

“Yes.”

Cormag said nothing more, but he did not need to. He knew Eddin cared for me and would have ensured I was well cared for. But Cormag also knew my heart was with him. Cormag’s gratitude for Eddin’s help—rather than some misspent jealousy—moved me.

Regan stirred lightly in her sleep, fussing a little.

Cormag took her from my arms and rocked her gently, coaxing the baby back to sleep. When he did so, I shifted Aelith, getting a better look at my small daughter.

“Didn’t want to come out, did you, dear Aelith? Well, your father is here now. No more hiding.”

“How fair she is compared to her sister.”

“And was stubborn to leave the womb,” I said, stroking her tiny hand. “But we are all together now. May the twin goddesses be thanked.”

“May Brigantia and the Cailleach be praised and blessed,” Cormag said, smiling at Regan, his cheeks wet with tears. “I am a father twice over. May all the gods keep you and my little ones safe.”

The rest of the night was a blur. Cormag stayed beside me, falling into an exhausted sleep. The babies slept soundly in their basinet. I could hear others moving in the room but did not wake.

The sky was pale gray when I finally opened my eyes again. Cormag was pulling on his boots.

“Carti, I must go check on Shade. I fear I rode him far too hard. I must check to make sure he’s all right.”

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “We’ll be here,” I replied, then slipped back to sleep.

Later in the morning, Verbia woke and began changing the girls’ wet clothes.

“I’m told I have you to thank for interceding on my behalf,” I told her.

Verbia lifted an eyebrow but said nothing more, merely smiled.

“I would rise to give you an annoying kiss on the cheek if everything didn’t hurt.”

At that, she merely chuckled.

There was a soft knock on the door from Ystradwel’s old room, and a moment later, a girl appeared.

“Your majesty,” the girl said, curtsying deeply. She had honey-brown hair, loose strands framing her freckled face. She was, perhaps, twenty years of age. “I’m Greer, the wet nurse. Violet sent for me. I’m sorry I could not speak to your majesty when I arrived, but I have been looking after the princesses as best I can.”

Verbia gave me a knowing look, then gave the girl a brief nod and smile.

“I am very grateful to you, Greer. My poor daughters…”

“My poor queen,” the girl said kindly. “They said it was an arduous labor, and if you do not mind me noting, Your Majesty still looks white as snow. It will be tough for you to manage two children on your own and see to the Brigantes. I’ll be here as long as you need me, my queen.”

“But your family?—”

“I… My husband died fighting the Parisii, Queen Cartimandua. And my daughter is nearly weaned. She’s with my cousin in the village.”

“I am very sorry for your loss,” I said, feeling an ache in my stomach. My war with the Parisii had won us Mydils and secured the south, but we had paid the cost in blood. The proof of that sat before me now. “Your daughter, how old is she?”

“Nine months, my queen.”

I paused a moment as I considered. I was exhausted, and Greer was right. There was no way I would manage two hungry mouths and see to my tribe. But I had already taken this girl’s husband. Would I now take her from her child? “Would you and your daughter like to stay here at the fort? I can see to a chamber for you both. That way, you can attend to your child and help with my own.”

“My queen, that is too much to ask,” the girl replied, looking surprised.

“That is nothing to ask. But your family… Do you have obligations in the village? I would not upheave your life.”

“No, my queen. Only my cousin and her family are there. Heather and I have been staying with them since my husband passed. The rest of my family is in the Otherworld.”

“Heather is your daughter?”

Greer nodded.

“If you want, and only if you want it, I would be happy to have you both here. Your girl can grow with the princesses—friends from the start.”

“My queen, that is an honor far beyond my asking.”

“You are not asking. I am offering. You will help keep my children and the future queen of this tribe alive. It is the least I can do for a woman whose husband died bravely to defend the Brigantes. Your sacrifices are worth any honor.”

The girl swallowed hard. “Then, with your permission, I will send someone to fetch Heather and my things.”

“Kamden, my housecarl, will help you. I am sure he is lingering about somewhere.”

“Oh, yes. Master Kamden has been very helpful,” she said. “Then, I will find him now, if that is all right, since the princesses are asleep.”

I nodded. “Take whatever time you need.”

She curtsied to me once more, then disappeared, leaving me alone with Verbia again.

“Well?” I asked her.

She gave me a nod, crossed the room and picked up Nettle, then gestured with her chin that she was returning to her chamber.

“Verbia… Thank you.”

At that, she merely waved her hand at me and departed. Outside, I heard the guards offer to escort her back, but she must have rebuffed them as well, as I heard them muttering in her wake.

I chuckled lightly, then looked down at my sleeping babes.

“The future queen of the Brigantes… or queens, perhaps, if you wish it. May the Cailleach and bright Brigantia watch over you. And when the day comes, may my spear and crown pass to you to keep the Brigantes safe and strong until the end of your days.”

But even as I spoke, a thick cloud crossed the sun outside, bathing the room in darkness.