Page 31 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 30

W hen I woke again, it was the sound of voices outside that roused me.

“Ruith,” I whispered, sitting up in alarm.

As I looked around the room, I spotted Lollie playing with Ofilla. She was dragging a string before the kitten who was attacking it wildly.

“I tried to be quiet as a mouse, my queen. I’m sorry to wake you,” the girl told me.

“It wasn’t you. It was…” I said, then paused as I listened.

The girl followed my glance. “A rider has come.”

I rose and left the room, hurrying down the stairs. By the time I found my way to the first floor, I walked into a flurry of confusion. First, Corva was there. She was speaking hurriedly to Conall and Aedan, who were standing alongside Chieftain Brennan.

“Corva,” I called, glad to see her.

But when the priestess turned toward me, I could see in her expression that something was very wrong.

“Queen Cartimandua.”

Brennan bowed to me. “Queen Cartimandua.”

“Brennan, what are you… Is it Ruith?” I asked them.

“No, my queen,” Brennan replied, then turned to Corva.

“Cartimandua, we must speak urgently,” Aedan said, gesturing for us to follow him. He led us back to his small dining hall, closing the door behind him and gesturing for the servants to leave.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“I rode from the west to Rigodonum only to learn you were here. I met Brennan on the road from Mydils,” Corva told me. “My queen, our worries about Lord Gregor were right. When he was in Rigodonum, I could not help but notice the fine bow he carried. It has taken some time, but I tracked the maker of Lord Gregor’s bow. The weapon was made by a Welshman living in a small village in Setantii lands. He remembered making the bow for Lord Gregor…and the bow I possessed—the assassin’s weapon. I was in the village with the maker when a man came through summoning Setantii warriors.”

“Summoning them where?”

“Lord Gregor has called up the warriors in the southern Setantii lands. What silver I could spread bought the news that those under Lord Gregor’s control had allied with King Aengus. King Aengus has taken control of the northern Cornovii lands, and now…”

“King Aengus and Lord Gregor will work together to take the Setantii from Ystradwel,” Aedan said, aghast.

“What news from Ystradwel? Has she called for warriors?” I asked.

“No. I don’t think she knows what is happening.”

My fears had come to pass. I had long worried that Lord Gregor was biding his time and that the southern Setantii were not as settled as they seemed. Now, with King Aengus behind them, the king would seek to annex Setantii lands.

“We must return to Rigodonum at once,” I said.

“My queen,” Brennan interjected.

“Cormag arrived in Rigodonum a mere hour before myself. I apprised him of the situation. He is already rallying the Brigantes,” Corva told me.

“Good. We must do the same here,” I said, turning to Aedan.

“My queen,” Brennan said again, but Aedan cut in.

“We must be careful with our Parisii border,” Aedan warned. “If Ruith learns there is trouble in the west, he may realize our men are distracted and take his revenge.”

I frowned. “Yes, you are right. We?—”

“Queen Cartimandua,” Chieftain Brennan said firmly. “My queen, forgive me, but there is urgent news from your eyes from Gaul.”

At that, everyone paused.

A cold feeling washed over me. “What is it?” I asked.

“King Verica and the heirs of King Aedd Mawr ride to the coast with Roman legions— thousands of Roman soldiers—ready to make war. Along the shores in Gaul, ships wait to launch. The word is clear. They are coming.”

I stared at him.

“Like nothing the man had ever seen,” Brennan said, his eyes wide. “The messenger… He said Caligula’s forces looked like a paltry group of miscreants in comparison. Rome is coming at the back of two Celtic kings with more soldiers than we have trees, elephants, war machines… Rome has come to help retake the Atrebates and Trinovantes lands.”

“Rome does not help anyone but Rome,” Fabius, who appeared behind us, said.

“Fabius is right. They are coming for this island and all we have.”

“Cartimandua,” Aedan whispered.

My head began to ache and lights flashed before my eyes momentarily. I inhaled slowly, forcing the pain in my temples to be silent.

“We will ride north for Rigodonum and get this matter with the Setantii in hand once and for all.”

“And the Romans? What will we do?” Brennan asked.

“We will become the wall they cannot break. Leave it to me. As for Lord Gregor, I am in my trophy collecting season again, Chieftain Aedan. Let’s see how Lord Gregor looks hanging from the walls of Rigodonum.

“I am ready to oblige,” Aedan replied.

“Good. Let’s make ready.”

Leaving Aedan and Brennan behind to ensure the border with the Parisii was secure, I rode north with Corva, Fabius, and my guard. The news that it was Lord Gregor who had been behind the assassination attempt unnerved me. The man had been plotting all this time, wheedling his way into Ystradwel’s broken heart, taking advantage of her mourning and illness to win her favor only to ready the ground for plowing. In killing me, he would have unsteadied the Brigantes, leaving us open to attack from King Aengus.

No doubt, Mael Muire would have moved to keep Cormag in power, but if I was dead, the pins would tumble. Venu and the Carvetti would rebel. Eddin and the Carvetti would soon be at war. Ruith and the Parisii would move on Brennan and Aedan. Lord Gregor was crafty. It had been a good plan. No wonder he had considered it. But the gods had saved me that day. Now, I needed to save Ystradwel.

But as we rode, my mind shifted away, not toward an impending war with the so-called king of the Northern Cornovii, but to Rome.

I reined in my horse beside Corva and Fabius who were talking, the Roman chiding her for her long absence.

“Am I interrupting?” I asked.

“Yes, please,” Corva replied.

Fabius gasped in mock offense.

“If you were Rome and wanted this island and its resources, what would you do?” I asked them.

“I’d come as a friend, an ally to Verica and Aedd Mawr. I would defeat those I could in battle, and those I could not, I would try to win over by treaty,” Corva replied.

“The Regnenses are already allied to Rome in trade. They can and will be bought. The Cantiaci will fight.”

“They always fight,” Corva said, shaking her head.

I nodded. “Caratacus and Togodumnus are Rome’s problem. The Catuvellauni will fight to keep what they have won. And they will seek allies.”

“So will the Romans,” Fabius replied. “But not really. Allies for a time. Slaves later, when the time is right. That is what they did in Capri. We were Caprese, more Greek than Roman, but all of Capri is now Rome’s.”

“How will they win the rest of the south, those who do not want to stand with the Catuvellauni but don’t want the Romans here either?” I asked.

“Lies and gold,” Fabius replied.

“Many of the southern tribes swore to send tribute when Caesar was here. That was how they escaped slaughter before Ceasar withdrew,” Corva said. “No doubt, Rome will remind them of that and seek to strike some deal.”

“So, lies, gold, and manipulation,” I replied. “The Brigantes were not involved in that war, so how will Rome try to win me?”

“The same way. As Fabius said, lies and gold,” Corva replied.

“How do I win?”

“Lie to them first,” Fabius said. “You are not dealing with an entity that will ever treat you fairly or see you as an equal, especially because you are a woman. They will only leave you alone if you are an asset or too much of a threat.”

“Or both,” Corva added.

I exhaled deeply. “I will not side with the Catuvellauni. I have never supported their war. But no Brigantes blood will be sacrificed in a war against Rome ever again.”

“Cartimandua—” Corva began.

“I will not do it. I must learn to play their game better than they do. They are coming. I cannot stop that now, but I can protect our people. The Brigantes are the largest tribe on this island. We are a wall between the south and the northern tribes and Caledonian Confederacy. The Caledonians will never kneel to outsiders.”

“Then make sure, my queen, that the Romans know who controls the floodgates,” Fabius said.

“Yes. After I see Lord Gregor’s head on a spike,” I replied. But in truth, my stomach knotted with worry for Ystradwel. I needed to get to her before King Aengus and the rebels did, or it would be my friend’s head on that spike instead. “Corva, did you see Ystradwel at all when you were in the west?”

Corva shook her head. “She keeps to the city, stays in the roundhouse.”

I swallowed hard, the feeling that I had somehow failed Ystradwel washing up in me.

Now, I needed to get north. As Verbia and all those games of fidchell had taught me, the one who makes the opening move often wins. And I was already a play behind.