Page 18 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 17

N early two months later, I was sitting in my bedchamber, Regan sleeping in a sling on my chest while Aelith lay asleep in a bassinet nearby. Cormag had gone for the day. A farm nearby had experienced harsh flooding. He went with a party of men to help the farmer see to repairs.

I gazed down at little Regan, who slept with her mouth open, her lips puckered in tiny rosebuds. My firstborn daughter, tiny princess, and future queen of the Brigantes. Already, her personality was showing through. She was adamant when she wanted something, crying until her needs were met, and crying louder when they were not met fast enough. Her black hair had not faded, growing thicker and darker since birth. Aelith, who slept soundly, her arms flung above her head, was her sister’s opposite. A quiet, watchful girl, she rarely fussed, and when she did so, there was a demureness to her manner…my fair-haired princess. I could not wait for them to grow and show us who they would become.

In this silent moment, the last thing I expected was a commotion in the square below. First, I heard the guards on the gates call. Then, I heard Conall shouting in greeting.

Moving slowly to not wake the girls, I went to the door.

When I opened it, I was surprised to find a mud-spattered Corva, her cape billowing as she hurried down the corridor, coming toward me.

“Corva,” I said, reading the serious expression on her face.

She bowed to me and then said. “I have sent riders to M?d and Onnen.”

“What’s happening?” I asked, holding Regan tighter against me.

The priestess met my gaze, her eyes steely, and replied, “Rome.”

I gestured for her to enter my bedchamber.

“Will you not take some rest?” I asked her as she unrolled a parchment stuffed into her pocket.

“There is no time,” she told me. “Emperor Caligula has ridden from Rome at the head of his army, carrying war machines with him as he advances upon the coast across the channel. They are readying ships for an assault on Brittania , as they call us.”

“By the gods, I?—”

“Ousted King Verica rides with Caligula. Cartimandua, the emperor is a madman. There is no telling what he may do, and for the most part, the southern tribes are sleeping. The Cantiaci seem to be making ready. The Regnenses have been preparing for something but not war. Their tribe has maintained close connections with Rome, trade and the like. They must know Rome is coming, but?—"

“Corva, where have you been?”

“Mydils to Durovernum to Gaul and beyond. I saw the armies myself. They are marching, albeit slowly, north.”

“There has been nothing about Rome. And now…”

“Caligula ate nothing but fish for a month, trying to gain the favor of the Roman sea god. He listened to Neptune’s whispers with a clam shell to his ear. Finally, the god summoned the man to march his army north. Now, with Verica at his side, he rides.”

“His mind is touched?”

“Or the gods do speak to him. Caligula is despised by Roman leaders—save his horse, who is a councilman—but still, they bend their knees and call him a god. No wonder the man believes the sea god his friend.”

My heart thumped in my chest. Was this what the Cailleach had warned of? The eagle had flown and was making its way north once more. Was this the vision of blood and fire that even the Setantii goddess feared?

All signs suggested it was, and yet…

Something felt wrong.

Something felt off here.

“Cartimandua?” Corva said, eyeing me. “What is it?”

I narrowed my gaze and tried to listen to the echoes of my heart. I set my hand on my chest, feeling my fast heartbeat…but more. There was a deeper feeling, that stony heart the Cailleach had put within me was thumping to its own beat. “Something is not right.”

“Rome marches and the southern tribes sleep. Of course, there is nothing right here. I sent riders to M?d and Onnen when I landed in Mydils, summoning them to Rigodonum at once. They cannot be far behind me.”

“Get your rest, Corva. We will confer with the priestesses when they arrive, and our work will begin.”

Corva paused, then looked from me to my sleeping daughters. “Oh. By Brigantia, I am blind. I missed it,” she said, reaching out to touch Regan’s hand. She then looked in the cradle at Aelith. “Two princesses.”

“Yes, it will be a queen for the Brigantes.”

“How sweet they are. I’m sorry I was not here with you.”

“It was harrowing. Be glad you missed it.”

“I’m sorry to hear it. Cormag must have been distraught.”

“Alas, he, too, was absent, but Eddin was here.”

“King Eddin?”

I nodded. “He was at my side when Regan and Aelith came into the world.”

“Regan…and Aelith?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow. No doubt she remembered the Dardani queen’s name.

“Names of Verbia’s choosing.”

“I see. Has King Eddin departed?”

“Yes, he came for a visit and for ships. After the girls were born, he went to Mydils. I’m told he sailed away with one of my best shipmakers . ”

Corva laughed. “Gordie Four-Fingers?”

“You knew him?”

“He is Dardani. Of course I knew him.”

“I did not know there was a secret network of Dardani alive and well in Brigantes lands.”

“And here I thought your crows saw everything.”

“They see well, but sometimes not enough. For instance, a fog has rolled into Setantii lands that my crows cannot seem to penetrate. I am glad you are here to help with that little problem.”

“Lady Ystradwel?”

“Who has taken ill and is surrounded by men I do not trust.”

“You fear for her grip on the Setantii.”

I nodded. “We sent people to check on Ystradwel after I received a messenger from her in the form of Lord Gregor.”

“Is he Setantii now? Or Cornovii?”

“You know him?”

“Yes. And that he is not to be trusted.”

I frowned. “Indeed. And far too close to Ystradwel for my liking. We learned that Ystradwel is unwell, but we can’t uncover more.”

Our spy found Ystradwel pale and thin, but her priestesses were giving her care. Druids had come from Mona, as well, to see her. But more than that, our eyes noted many influential Setantii men in Ystradwel’s house, which I did not like.

Corva stroked Regan’s hand. “I am sorry to leave you so long. You have had troubles here while you should be resting with your little ones, and I have not been here to help.”

“You traveled to Gaul to keep us safe, Corva. I cannot chide you for that. After all, you did leave me Fabius.”

Corva chuckled, but then reached out for a chair to steady herself.

“You are swaying on your feet. Go. Rest. I will send for you when the priestesses arrive.”

“We have much work to do and much to catch up on. This news from the Setantii has me concerned.”

“Concern yourself with your bed. The rest can wait.”

“It cannot, and we both know it, but I will go all the same. Call for me when they arrive.”

I nodded.

Corva departed.

Gently taking Regan from the sling, I lay her down beside her sister. She fussed a little, then cuddled in beside Aelith, her hand on Aelith’s cheek. I set my hands on the side of the bassinet as my mind whirled. Rome was coming, and the south was sleeping.

What to do next…

The Catuvellauni had torn the southern kingdoms apart. They warred with one another and were blind to everything coming their way. Was I, one queen far to the north, responsible to save them from their folly? But it wasn’t them who needed saving, because if Rome managed to get a single foothold on this island, the past told what would become of us. Like pegs in a row, if one of us tumbled, we could all fall.

And I would do anything to keep the Brigantes safe.

Anything…

I looked down at my daughters.

Anything but endanger those I loved the most. And to keep them safe, I would risk it all.

Leaving them, I went to Greer’s chamber.

“My queen?”

“Will you keep an eye on the girls for a time? There is something I must attend to.”

Greer nodded. “Of course. Heather just went down for a nap anyway.”

I smiled and set my hand on her arm. “Thank you,” I told her, and then I departed.

Making my way from my bedchamber, I went to Fabius’s room at the end of the hall.

“Fabius?” I called, knocking.

He opened the door, revealing that he was wearing nothing but a robe and some odd cap with a tassel hanging over his ear. “Queen Cartimandua?” he asked, looking confused. “I was about to take a bath. Is anything the matter?”

“I need you to tell me everything you know about Caligula.”

Fabius paused, reading my expression. “Come in,” he said, stepping aside. “I think better in the water anyway.”

“Fabius,” I said as I entered.

With that, he merely laughed and then closed the door behind us.