Page 32 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 31

W hen I reached Rigodonum, I saw that the first of the tents had already been erected in the fields outside the city’s walls. The colors of the Lopocares, Tectoverdi, and Corionototae dotted the fields. The client tribes, all now part of the Brigantes, had answered Cormag’s call. I did not, however, spot the Carvetti.

Venutiux’s absence gave me pause, but I reminded myself that he had to journey far to reach us. I also reminded myself that his Parisii wife was now a liability. If she told her father that the Brigantes were amassing forces to ride west…

I should have just had the girl poisoned the first time Corva suggested it.

Cormag and his men waited for me when I rode into the courtyard.

“Cartimandua,” Cormag said, helping me from Branagán. “May the gods be thanked that you’re back,” he added, pulling me close.

“Careful, I have a passenger,” I replied, gesturing to the kitten sleeping against my chest. “I kidnapped her from the Parisii.”

Fergus looked up at the kitten with great interest, then pawed at my leg.

“Lucky hostage,” Cormag said, then kissed me. “I have news from the west and south. Come inside,” he said, then eyed Corva. “Priestess. You must be weary from riding.”

“I’ve learned to sleep in the saddle.”

“I’m tired too,” Fabius exclaimed wearily. “Not that you asked.”

“Of course you are,” Cormag replied, causing Fabius to screw up his face at my husband.

Cormag chuckled, gesturing to Corva, Conall, and me to follow him.

“I’m for a bath, Queen Cartimandua,” Fabius said tiredly. “Summon me if you need me.”

I nodded to him.

We made our way into my workroom. Cormag had laid out a map of the Brigantes on the table and set tokens depicting armies. My eyes quickly scanned the table. It showed half of the Setantii forces protecting Ystradwel in Bell’s Harbor, the other half on Lord Gregor’s lands, King Aengus’s warriors behind him.

But more than that, I saw he had placed tokens in Gaul.

Rome.

“What is the news from Gaul?” I asked.

“They are two weeks’ march from the port,” Cormag told me.

“And the Catuvellauni?” I asked, looking toward the tokens for Caratacus’s and Togodumnus’s forces.

“Pushing west.”

I studied the board map. “Where is King Ord?” I asked of the rightful Cornovii king.

“Here,” Cormag said, pointing to southern Cornovii lands. “He has pulled back to his own lands while Caratacus and Togodumnus are courting brides—and alliances—before another push east.”

I nodded. “We will send a fast rider to King Ord while waiting for our troops to rally. King Aengus and Lord Gregor have become a thorn in both of our sides. Aengus may have helped in our battle against the Carvetti, but only as an unwanted guest. I hold him no loyalty. Perhaps we can return Cornovii lands to their rightful ruler and make an ally in the process.”

“And crush the rebellion in between,” Conall said.

“Yes.”

“And the Romans?” Corva asked.

My eyes scanned the map again, seeing the tremendous force of the Brigantes. But I was no fool. Everyone knew that once Rome set its eyes on something, there was no stopping it. Rome was an illness. It would snake onto the land and infect all it touched, unless…

There were ways to play Rome’s game.

My father had taught me that one did not always have to bring fire to win.

“Rome is coming. At first, they will say they are coming to aid Verica and Aedd Mawr, but that is a lie. They will build and take. All those so-called client kings who made promises to Rome in Caesar’s time will feel the weight of their ancestors’ promises. Rome will crush the south, through force or friendship,” I replied.

“What do we do?” Cormag asked.

“Be a threat…and a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Embrace with one hand, but hold a dagger in the other.”

“That is a risky game,” Corva warned.

“Yes. And one that will have me dancing on the edge of a blade for the rest of my life. We will deal with the Parisii first and then Rome.”

A rider departed Rigodonum with great haste to reach King Ord. I had considered writing to Caratacus as well, guessing the Catuvellauni king would not want his most fierce ally to lose his crown, but thought better of it. The further I steered away from Caratacus now, the better. Rome was coming to put him and his brother Togodumnus in chains. I would not have the Romans thinking I had any association with the Catuvellauni.

With the rider sent off, we waited.

The chieftains and their bannermen soon began to arrive.

As we waited, we watched.

We watched the Parisii.

We watched the Setantii.

We watched the western ports for news of Rome.

I also kept one eye on the southern tribes. Did they not see? Did they not have eyes abroad to warn them? Beltane was coming. Their minds would be on the spring festivals and farm labors. Would they even think to worry about what was happening beyond our shores?

As I waited for news, I pondered… Where would the Romans land? Regnenses lands seemed the most obvious, but the inclusion of Verica and the heirs of Aedd Mawr in Rome’s midst left some uncertainty. Aedd Mawr, the ruler of the Trinovantes, was so very old. It was doubtful he could make the trip. But King Verica… Verica was young enough, strong enough, and angry enough to make the Catuvellauni second-guess their actions. Although he had been exiled to Rome for many years, the Atrebates had not folded to the Catuvellauni quietly.

But more than that, where in the twin goddesses’ names was Venutiux?

Venutiux was the one I had expected to arrive first of my chieftains.

And still, there had been no word from the Carvetti.

My stomach pinched with worry when I guessed at the worst possible meaning of his delay.

Would Venutiux betray me?

Would he ally with Aengus and Gregor to try to regain his lands from Eddin?

Annoyed, I left my meeting room and went outside to find Cormag speaking with Conall and a rider wearing Eddin’s colors. The man bowed to my husband and then entered the fort, pausing to bow to me as he passed.

Cormag joined me.

“Eddin got your messenger. He is ready if you and Ystradwel need him,” Conall told me.

“And Ystradwel? Any news?”

“A dozen riders sent. No answer,” Conall replied.

“Lord Gregor has spies. The messengers must not be getting through,” Cormag warned.

I exhaled deeply, feeling unnerved. I did not want to act too late.

“Word from King Ord?”

“Nothing yet,” Conall said. “We should have word today if there is any to be had.”

Frowning, I left the men and went to the still-open gate. I looked down over the city. The market was flooded with warriors.

I closed my eyes. Maybe my father had done the right thing by pursuing peace. But my father had not dealt with Rome and assassins. That burden had been left to me. I had been fighting so hard to keep my people strong. Would it be enough?

Cormag joined me. “Cartimandua?”

“No matter what happens next, we must stay one step ahead of the Romans. Rebelling Setantii be damned. To our south, a storm like no other is brewing. The rest is merely a distraction. The Romans will come, and they will fight or flatter. But in the end, they want only power and resources. We must never forget. Have you sent word to your mother?”

Cormag nodded.

“At least there are a few of us in the north who are not blind to what is coming,” I said, referring to Mael Muire, Eddin, Cormag and me.

I was about to turn to go back inside when, from a long distance, I saw the gates to the old village open. A party rode through the gates, carrying the black-and-red banners of the Carvetti.

“And here I thought maybe they’d decided not to come to the party,” Cormag said wryly.

“I’m glad I was not the only one who had doubts,” I said with a frown. “Perhaps they were waiting to see if Eddin joined us. Since Eddin won’t be vacating his lands immediately…” I replied, feeling waspish over Venu’s lateness.

But when I saw Venu’s state as he rode toward Cormag and me, my mood shifted. He was mud-spattered, his clothing rumpled, his hair wild. Was that blood on his shirt? His unkept manner told me he’d been on the road for several days.

“His war band is not here,” Cormag told me, his gaze searching. “It is only the chieftain and a small party of men.”

“He has ridden ahead,” I replied, then moved to meet him.

Venutiux rode through the gates of the king’s fort in a rush, his horse nearly rearing when he pulled him to a stop. He and his men’s horses were lathered with sweat. Leaping from his horse, he raced to join me.

“Cartimandua, Cormag.”

“Venu? What is it?” I asked, meeting his hazel eyes.

“Betrayal.”