Page 16 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 15

T he days that followed became a blur of caring for the little ones while trying to recover from the painful aftermath of birth. As I had feared, Onnen and the other priestesses of Brigantia had been far to the south attending to one of their shrines when the girls were born.

“I came as quickly as I could when the message finally reached me,” Onnen told me as she brewed me a healing draft. She had said very little while she examined me, but the pensive look on her face told me all I needed to know. “Violet did well, Cartimandua. I spoke with her at length this morning about the delivery, but…” Onnen said, then paused. “The midwife shared her concerns with me. My queen, this will be hard to hear, but you should know the truth. It is not wise for you to bear a child again. Violet and I agree. Another pregnancy may kill you, if you can bear again at all.”

I swallowed hard, then nodded slowly. “Yes, so she suggested.”

“Your recovery will be slow. And you must let it take the time it needs, even if you have a very attractive husband, if you understand my meaning.”

“Have you been ogling my husband, Priestess?”

“I have a heartbeat still, do I not?”

We laughed at that, but Onnen turned serious once more. “Ah, Cartimandua… Brigantia and the Cailleach have given you two children. Little though they are, they are strong and will grow quickly. Content yourself with that,” she said, then gave me a steaming tonic. “Three times a day until you are fully recovered. I will show Hilda how to prepare the brew,” she said, gesturing to a crock of dried herbs she’d brought.

“Thank you, Onnen.”

Onnen leaned over the bassinet in which the children slept. She smiled at them but did not wake them. “I have not seen Corva. She is usually close enough to be your shadow.”

“She went to Mydils and has not yet returned.”

Onnen frowned. “How long ago?”

“Some weeks,” I said, unable to hide the worry in my voice.

Onnen nodded slowly.

“What is it?”

Onnen pulled back then smiled. “Nothing.”

“Onnen, I know I am healing, but if there is something I must know…”

“Just…signs, my queen. Nothing solid to share. Now, I shall go find Verbia and needle her until she speaks.”

“Don’t let her fool you. That tongue of hers is still sharp as ever.”

“Oh, so I hear. They say she made Hilda cry,” Onnen said with a laugh. “Rest, Cartimandua,” she told me, then made her way to the door. When she opened it, she revealed Kamden on the other side.

“High Priestess,” Kamden said, bowing to Onnen. “My queen.”

I gestured for him to come inside.

“Queen Cartimandua, Lady Ystradwel has sent a messenger. He is below.”

Finally, word from Ystradwel.

“Can you fetch Greer to watch the little ones?” I said. “And where is the king consort?”

“He and King Eddin rode the walls this morning, Queen Cartimandua.”

I nodded. “Very well. I will change and come to meet the messenger.”

Kamden nodded.

“Kamden, any word from Mydils on Corva?”

“No, my queen. Nothing. And no one I’ve spoken to has seen the priestess. But there are… Your crows have left messages, when you are ready for them.”

“I will meet you below after I speak to the Setantii.”

Kamden nodded and then left the room.

With a heavy sigh, I went to dress. My whole body ached, but I managed to find a loose enough blue gown over which I pulled on a sleeveless black-and-silver cloak affixed with moons and stars. Brushing out my hair, I went downstairs, my guards following behind me.

The Setantii messenger had been left to wait in the formal meeting room. The man stood, his hand behind his back, studying the tapestries. When I entered, he bowed deeply.

“Queen Cartimandua,” he said.

I studied the tall, slim man. He was finely dressed in the teal colors of the Setantii, his expensive garments finely adorned. This was no standard messenger, and I did not recognize him from Cam’s court.

“You are welcome in Rigodonum,” I said, taking the high seat at the front of the room, my guards falling in line behind me. “But I am afraid I do not know you, sir.”

A moment later, the door opened, and Conall slipped inside. He gave the man a cursory glance, then inclined his head to me.

“I am one of Lady Ystradwel’s retainers, my queen. I am Lord Gregor. My lands are in that little nob to the west that is sometimes Setantii and sometimes Cornovii.”

“Sometimes Brigantes, you mean. Not Setantii.”

The man smiled and then bowed to me. “Of course. Brigantes. I refer only to our long history of conflict.”

“And when were you last Cornovii, Lord Gregor?”

“When Cam was a king, he acquired my lands, which were reacquired by the Brigantes, of course.”

I studied the man for a long moment, my eyes fixed on his face. I stared hard at him, a deep sense of mistrust welling up in me. Finally, his forced smile faded, and he looked away.

“What is the message from Lady Ystradwel?” I asked.

The door opened, revealing Fabius. He paused momentarily, but I gestured for him to enter and take his place with the guards.

Lord Gregor gave him a cursory glance then continued. “My lady regrets she cannot come in person, Queen Cartimandua. She has taken ill this spring.”

“Ill? How so?”

“I do not know precisely. She has described it only as a female malady that hinders her ability to ride. However, she sends gifts for the princesses,” the man said, gesturing to two chests sitting on a table nearby. “May I?” he asked, offering to open them.

I gestured for him to go ahead.

There was a slickness to this man I did not like. As he worked, I reflected on the limited news my crows had brought from Bell’s Harbor. Had there been word of Ystradwel being sick? I didn’t recall anything. Of course, such an ailment as he described would have easily been kept from others. And yet…

“Crowns adorned with pearls and abalone that come from your shores off the coast of Bell’s Harbor,” the man said, motioning to the two diadems in the cases—one for each daughter. “Gifts fitting for princesses of the Brigantes…and Votadini too, I suppose.”

“Lady Ystradwel is to be thanked. They are beautiful,” I said with a polite smile. “Now tell me, Lord Gregor, given your close connections with the Cornovii, what news of their internal war? How has King Aengus fared since I last saw him?”

The man paused. Was he not expecting me to ask? Or was his hesitation something else?

“Aengus is still king of the Northern Cornovii, much like the Northern Iceni rule their tribe. To the south, King Ord finds himself further pulled into the Catuvellauni’s ambitions. Soon, Ord will find that waging war on two fronts is a risky business. Not all rulers are as successful as Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes. I suspect Aengus will soon wish to press his case south.”

In which case, he will call on us for help—thanks to Cam’s ill-conceived actions.

“Cam may have had old friends and obligations, but I am under no onus to pay Cam’s debts.”

“Ah,” Lord Gregor breathed. “You speak of Cam asking Aengus for help with the Carvetti.”

“Indeed.”

“And you are concerned Aengus will call upon the Brigantes to repay that favor.”

I gave the man a stiff smile. “Yes. And when King Aengus comes calling, you will remind him that only I speak for my people—not the Setantii’s chieftain nor her retainers.”

“And what will you say, Queen Cartimandua? Aengus did protect the Setantii shoreline during your war with the Carvetti.”

“That is between King Aengus and me.”

“Of course. My apologies.”

“Won’t you take your rest, Lord Gregor? My housecarl will see you settled for the night, and we can speak again at the evening meal,” I said, gesturing for Kamden to escort Lord Gregor from the room. “You can better acquaint me with your holdings. I see you do very well in trade,” I said, eyeing the pearl hanging from his ear and the others decorating his vest.

The man paused as if he was not expecting to be dismissed—nor my observations about his dress. “Of course. Thank you, Queen Cartimandua.”

I signaled to Kamden to show Lord Gregor out.

After he had gone, I rose and went to look at the chests.

Conall and Fabius joined me.

“Very pretty,” Conall said, eyeing the diadems.

I lifted one of the small crowns. It was a fine piece, lovely for a small princess.

“And what do we know about Lord Gregor?” I asked Conall.

“His loyalty to the Brigantes blows like the wind. He is more Setantii or Cornovii, but not, historically, Brigantes. Cam liked and trusted him, and your father kept his distance.”

“I do not like that Ystradwel sent him on her behalf.”

“Cam was always close to Lord Gregor. Lady Ystradwel would have known him in her youth and would have trusted him. Perhaps that is why she chose him over her other retainers to send with her news and her gifts.”

“He was not there when we fought the Carvetti.”

“No. He was not.”

I frowned. “And what do my crows say about Ystradwel? This is the first I am hearing of her ailment.”

“Nothing. Ystradwel has been seen in Bell’s Harbor but mainly keeps to her fort. There was no reason to suspect anything wrong. If the Setantii priestesses have been caring for her illness, it would have remained secret and gone undetected by observing eyes.”

I stared at the priceless diadems. As I did, my mind began to wander. Had the assault by Catell and Ystradwel’s ridding of their unborn child somehow harmed her? Was she unwell because of what had happened to her here?

“I need someone inside Setantii walls, someone to check on Ystradwel. I do not like Lord Gregor. His dress and manner tell me he is a rich man, although I have nothing in Brigantes coffers to show for it. I need one of my little crows to perch closer to the Setantii nest.”

“It is a hard life when we begin to mistrust our friends,” Conall said, lifting an eyebrow at me.

“Well, my queen certainly shouldn’t trust that man,” Fabius said, lifting one of the small crowns and setting it on his head.

“Why do you say that?” I asked, plucking the crown from his head.

“Aww, I felt pretty,” Fabius complained.

I rolled my eyes at him, then gestured for him to answer.

Fabius sighed, then said, “Because he and that king you were speaking of are friends.”

“How do you know?”

“He only referred to the man by his first name. He didn’t even realize it, which means it’s a manner of habit.”

I frowned.

Conall looked at the crown in my hand. “It is a rich gift.”

“Yes. Given by a friend, or given by a friend under the influence of a bad man?”

“It would not be the first time Lady Ystradwel chose her friends poorly, I am sorry to say.”

I sighed heavily. “I wish Corva were here.”

“Do I get no credit for my astute observation?” Fabius asked.

“You see very well, for a Roman,” Conall told him.

Fabius smirked. “Actually, I am Caprese, not really Roman at all.”

Conall shook his head and then turned to me. “We will get more eyes in Bell’s Harbor.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Conall.”

He inclined his head to me. “I’ll make the arrangements now,” he said, then turned and departed.

After Conall had gone, I lifted the pair of diadems once more. Something was not right with Ystradwel. Were these others seeking to take her power from her? Or had they done so already? Of course, the story Lord Gregor delivered was easy to believe, yet something was not right.

I sighed heavily.

“Remember,” Fabius told me. “Be gentle on your friends but dangerous to your enemies.”

“And when you can’t tell the difference?”

“Then be a danger to them all.”