Page 19 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 18

T he return of Corva and her news stirred the world around us. By luck, Cormag arrived a few hours later, covered in mud and looking exhausted. When I told him Corva’s message, he became as still as stone.

“And in the south?” he asked.

“The Cantiaci seem to have gotten word. Their warriors were amassing. The Regnenses, too, seem to be preparing, but not for war. For the arrival of a friend.”

Cormag frowned. “Do the druids know?”

“I don’t know. May Bellnorix forgive me, but for the first time, I am wishing I had a druid in my house.”

Cormag looked down at his clothes. “I will change then rejoin you at once,” he said, kissing me on the forehead.

“The farm?”

“Lost half a dozen sheep to the river, but no lives were lost, and the home itself was spared. We did what we could to dam and reroute the water.”

I took his hand. It was covered in grime. “The Brigantes thank you. I thank you.”

“You are one and the same,” Cormag told me, kissing me again.

When he pulled away, I chuckled. “You left mud on my chin.”

“That is your mud, Brigantes queen,” he said, then pulled back to look at his daughters, who were sleeping. “My princesses are still abed.”

“They were roused briefly by the news of the Romans. Greer only now got them to sleep once more. Regan was particularly indignant.”

Cormag chuckled. “That is the Crow in her. She is ready to peck their eyes out,” he told me with a wink. “I will join you again soon,” he said and departed.

Within the hour, Onnen and M?d arrived. By luck, the priestesses had been together at a nearby shrine.

“See to their lodgings,” I told Kamden, “and ensure a fine feast is prepared.”

“Yes, my queen,” the man said with a bow, then departed.

M?d, Onnen, Corva, Cormag, Conall, Fabius, and I all met in my workroom. The priestesses wore severe expressions on their faces.

“The whispers from Rome grew into a soft roar,” Corva told them. “Only when I crossed the channel and rode south did I discover the truth myself. Legions of men marching northward.”

“And the southern tribes?” Onnen asked.

“When I arrived in Durovenrum, I saw early signs that the Cantiaci king had learned the news and was making preparations,” Corva told me. “And we have news from the Regnenses. Roman advance teams were seen at their seat, but there is no sign that they are preparing for a fight.”

“Then they are preparing to become rich as they open the door to Atrebates lands,” M?d said with a frown.

Onnen sighed. “We must reach out to the druids.”

M?d frowned.

“Sister,” Onnen said, looking at M?d expectantly, but the look on M?d’s face told me she had her own ideas. Her eyes had a faraway look, and she drummed her finger on the table. After a long time, she looked up, her gaze going from Corva to Fabius.

“Tell me about this Caligula,” she asked Fabius.

“Mad,” Fabius replied. “When he first became emperor, he was beloved by his military and the people, whom he liberated from taxes. So, of course, they loved him. But behind his back, powerful men plotted his death. Early on, Caligula survived poisoning and emerged from the episode much changed. He now insists he is a god and demands to be treated as such. He dresses like his gods and had a temple erected close to his own lodgings so he might have private council with our great god, Jupiter. Any who oppose him, from his adopted son to his grandmother, he has executed. And if you mention that he is hairy—and he is very hairy—he will have you killed. He built a mansion for his horse with lavish marble floors and gold trim. Oh, and he has beautiful ships, like floating palaces. They are temples to Venus,” Fabius said with a mischievous grin. “He hosts very fleshy parties on those ships. I did try to get invited but never quite made the cut. But once I went to a fertility fest?—”

Corva raised her hand to silence Fabius before he said more. “And now, Neptune has sent him north to conquer our island once and for all.”

“So he speaks to the gods,” M?d said. “To whom does he chiefly worship?” she asked Fabius.

“She is called Diana, the virgin huntress and goddess of the moon,” he replied.

M?d nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you,” she told Fabius, then turned to Corva. “You have done well, Priestess.”

“High Priestess,” Corva replied, bowing.

“What are you thinking?” Onnen asked M?d. “You do not want to contact the druids?”

“No. We will ride south. Perhaps we end this war before it starts,” M?d replied.

Onnen stared at M?d for a long time, then frowned. “That is old magic, M?d. It will take great sacrifice to achieve what you are planning. And it is not without risk.”

“Then we shall make great magic, sister. It is not the druids alone who know how to make the wind and trees speak.”

Onnen exhaled deeply, worry in her voice. “Then may the Cailleach and Brigantia be with us,” Onnen said somberly, to which M?d nodded.

Not understanding, I turned and looked to Corva, who wore an expression of awe—or was that fear?—on her face.

What were they planning?

The Claws of the Cailleach.

It was a sacred site I knew of but had never seen. Located near Isurium Brigantum, where Chieftain Aedan kept his seat, it was a holy place forbidden to all save our holy sisters. When M?d and Onnen told their priestesses we would travel there, the look on the women’s faces told me that they knew something of great importance that I didn’t understand.

“Corva,” I said, taking the priestess aside as M?d and Onnen spoke with the priestesses. “What is the matter?”

“The site is ancient and powerful, but it is difficult to call such magic and direct it as M?d intends to do. The Claws of the Cailleach are ancient magic that we barely understand, made by people whose names are now forgotten.”

I frowned. “Direct the magic? How?”

Corva shifted uncomfortably. She was clearly telling me something the uninitiated had no right knowing. And yet, I was queen of the Brigantes. “The claws have a way of directing thought. At least, that is what I have been told. I have never seen such a thing in action.”

“How is such a thing done?”

“With great focus and sacrifice.”

“I will attend the rite.”

“M?d will not permit it. The Claws of the Cailleach are forbidden even to our holy people. Only on M?d’s word may any go there. You may ask her all you like. She will not agree.”

“I do not have to ask her anything. I am queen here.”

“Shall we start calling you Caligula?”

“Only if I decide I am a goddess and that Nettle is my chief bodyguard and Fergus my lead spiritual adviser.”

Corva chuckled.

But I did not have to ask. Once M?d met with the priestesses, she rejoined me. “I would have you with us, Cartimandua. It is ancient magic we must conjure, and if we fail, you must be ready to act quickly.”

“And here I thought I might have to convince you to let me come.”

“What we will attempt has not been tried in many lifetimes.”

I set my hand on M?d’s shoulder. “We are Brigantes. There is nothing we can’t do. I will send word to Aedan to that tell him we are coming.”

“Very well. We will leave at first light.”

“I’ll be ready. Now, take your rest. We will dine tonight and set out in the morning.”

M?d nodded and then gestured to Corva, who was leaning against the wall while watching the scene. With that, the pair departed.

I rejoined my husband, who looked pensive, his arms crossed on his chest.

“And why do we look sullen?” I asked him.

“I honor the priestess’s wisdom, but we should be sending riders to the other kings and queens.”

I nodded slowly. “Yes. That would be the logical thing to do. But you and I both know that more things are working in this world than the actions of men. If M?d cannot achieve what she hopes, we will act. We have time. It’s a long walk from Rome.”

Cormag considered and then said, “What is this place they speak of, the Claws of the Cailleach?”

“I’ve never seen it. It is as old as the henge of the three sisters. Its magic is a mystery.”

“What will she do there?”

“I don’t know, precisely.”

“Then how?—”

“I will tell you when I return.”

“You will go with the priestesses?”

“Yes.”

Cormag frowned.

“I’ll be all right. The sacred site is near Isurium Brigantum. I will stay with Aedan.”

He sighed heavily, then said, “Then I will remain in Rigodonum. If word comes for you, I can act quickly. Greer can care for our girls, but I will feel better if I am here with them.”

I took his hand. “Thank you, Cormag.”

“Go cautiously, Cartimandua. Do not forget that the Cailleach is the lady of winter and death. You may be queen of the Brigantes, but the Cailleach…”

“Cormag,” I said, meeting his gaze. There, I saw a wound he often kept buried. The Cailleach was his mother, but as such, she was an absentee one. How often had Cormag appealed to her only to find no reply?

“Sometimes, I think the goddesses move us only for their purposes. Do not forget that, and guard yourself. You might be queen of the Brigantes and a daughter to Brigantia and the Cailleach, but you are everything to me,” he said, pulling me close.

“My love,” I whispered.

He kissed the top of my head and held me close.

Cormag knew very well that the gods were real, and now, we would seek their help in stopping the return of Rome once more. Out of all the kings and queens on this island, how had it come down to me—not the Northern or Greater Iceni, not the Coritani, not the warring Catuvellauni— me.

The goddesses had been whispering to me for months, and now I knew why.

The eagle was on our doorstep, and it was up to me to stop them.