Page 37 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 36

I woke the following day to find Corva in my room preparing my things.

“Corva?” I asked groggily.

“I am sorry, Cartimandua, but they are gathering below. The chieftains must be made aware of the Roman advance.”

“Yes. You’re right,” I said, then rose slowly, my body aching.

The priestess attended to my belongings while I took a bath, making myself ready for the day. Finally redressing, I joined Corva, who handed me a note. “The Romans have landed in Cantiaci lands. It is as our messenger told us. The Cantiaci king is calling for aid.”

“And the Catuvellauni?”

“Regrouping. King Ord has pulled back south, but he has left men behind to keep the north in check.”

“And in Setantii lands?”

“Chieftain Maelgwn and his war band stayed behind at what is left of Bell’s Harbor to take control. He will see to the port and the ships. We must do what we can to keep trade going with éire. Many Setantii traders fought with the Brigantes to protect their interests in Bell’s Harbor.”

“I will install a new chieftain.”

Corva nodded.

Slipping on my diadem with the onyx and moonstones, I inhaled deeply and rolled my shoulders back.

Corva gave me a gentle smile, and we made our way downstairs.

I found all the chieftains gathered in the great hall along with Mael Muire, Eddin, and Fabius. I went to Mael Muire first, pausing to kiss her cheek. She looked tired and aged by the loss of her son. I felt her pain deeply.

“Daughter,” she said softly.

I squeezed her hand, then went to Eddin.

“I am sorry, my friend. I have not had a chance to properly thank you for your help.”

“Oh, Carti,” Eddin said, his words soft. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“I… I fear I may have ruined your wedding plans.”

Eddin gave a soft smile. “It was settled before you called.”

“Then, I congratulate you and Amma on your wedding.”

“Thank you, Cartimandua.”

I set a gentle kiss on his cheek, then turned from him, willing all the emotions rumbling below the pain of my loss to stay quiet.

Everything was over.

All hopes of happiness were dead.

Now, it was only myself and the Brigantes.

I went to the front of the room.

“Good chieftains and trusted friends, thank you for being here this day. I thank you for your efforts in this campaign against the Setantii and for your shows of love and respect for Cormag,” I said. “I… We have suffered a terrible loss,” I said, my words faltering. Clearing my throat, I continued, “But we must put our pain aside for a moment. The dark future the gods have long warned of has come to pass. Rome has landed in Cantiaci lands at the head of a vast army.”

At that, the others began to mutter in disdain and surprise.

“How vast?” Chieftain Calos called.

“Twenty thousand strong.”

The room went silent.

I met Fabius’s gaze. His expression told me that I was right to fear.

“We have been tracking their movements for some time now,” I continued, then motioned to Corva, who rolled out a map on the table. “They have been building up Gaul as their forces marched north. General Aulus Plautius is at the head of the army, and General Vespasian along with him. They are experienced generals with a long history of winning and have many important ties in Rome. They ride alongside King Verica of the Atrebates, and the banner of Aedd Mawr of the Trinovantes flies on the field. Although the ancient king is too old to reclaim his throne, he has heirs.”

“Then, Rome comes to help Verica and Aedd Mawr reclaim their lands?” Chieftain Argenorix asked.

“So they will say,” I replied. “But when has Rome ever helped out a petty king out of the goodness of their own hearts?”

That brought a murmur from the room.

“They have landed here,” Corva said, gesturing to the mouth of the Thames. We believe they will fight—and defeat—the Cantiaci, then march to retake Verica’s lands as well as the Trinovantes.”

“What of the other southern tribes?” Venu asked.

“That is yet to be determined,” Corva replied. “There is disarray in the south. King Aesunos of the Northern Iceni is dead, murdered by his brother. Prince Caturix, who is wed to a Coritani princess, has taken his father’s throne. There is a civil war amongst the Northern Iceni. And now, a Northern Iceni princess, Boudica, has wed King Prasutagus of the Greater Iceni. We do not yet know what the Coritani, Dobunni, Belgae, or other tribes will do.”

“When Caesar came, many southern tribes promised to pay Rome tribute in coin and slaves. Not all have upheld their promises,” Mael Muire told us.

“Something Rome has no doubt not forgotten,” Corva replied.

We stood together, all of us looking at the map.

“Cartimandua, Caratacus and Togodumnus may seek the Brigantes’ assistance,” Venu said as he eyed the map.

“I have no interest in the Catuvellauni’s desires. My only interest is in the Brigantes.”

“If we were to ally ourselves with the Catuvellauni… Us, the Cornovii, Coritani, Northern Iceni, Greater Iceni, Dardani, Votadini, and all the other tribes, we could push the Romans back into the sea,” Venu suggested.

“Could we?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “And what of Verica and Aedd Mawr? Do we side with them or the Catuvellauni? Twenty thousand men. Twenty thousand well-trained, well-armored Roman soldiers taught to do one thing.”

The room grew silent. Everyone stared at the tokens Corva had set at the mouth of the Thames.

“Rome will come. They will come in great numbers. They will lie, manipulate, backstab, murder, and punish. They will make false friendships and false alliances. They will prove untrue to their promises. And they are a force that cannot be defeated. Unless…”

“Unless?” Aedan asked.

“We must leave our neighbors to the south to make their way on their own. Our eyes must turn northward. Venu is right that each individual tribe alone is nothing to Rome. A handful of southern tribes trying to push Rome back—when Rome rides alongside the rightful rulers of those tribes—cannot win. They cannot win. But we… We can.”

“How, Carti?” Eddin asked. “If they take a foothold here, how can we keep them out of our lands?”

“We solidify the north. That is what we do. I shall call a great meeting of the kings: Brigantes, Votadini, Dardani, Selgovae, Novantae, Damnonii, Venicones, and all the Caledonian Confederacy. The Brigantes will be the dam that holds back the north. We can find a path through these times and work to our advantage. Make no mistake, it will not be easy. We must be both a danger and a friend to Rome, because that is the only game they will ever understand and fear.”

Mael Muire nodded. “Yes. That is wise. I agree.”

I looked at Eddin, who nodded.

“Then we leave the south to die on Roman blades?” Venu asked.

“Yes. Very courteous of us, is it not? I suspect the Romans will appreciate our noninterference, and one can always hope they destroy the Parisii in the process,” I replied. “The defeat of the Catuvellauni is not without benefit to us. What do you think those warlike brothers were planning to do once they had conquered the south?”

Mael Muire nodded slowly in agreement.

“Cartimandua, if you fail to unite the north…” Eddin warned. “The Caledonians do not agree on anything easily.”

“And who will tell the Romans if they do not all agree?”

At that, Andoc, Aedan, and some of the others laughed.

“I will call for a meeting at Midsummer. Until then, I will juggle the Romans because they will surely come. As for the rest, we will stay our hands in this battle. Let the Catuvellauni reap what they have sown.”

“It is a dangerous game to play,” Eddin warned.

“Yes,” I replied. “But my only other option is to send my people to fight twenty thousand armored soldiers, war elephants, and siege machines. My duty is to protect the Brigantes. Joining the Catuvellauni dooms them. Rome will take every bit of land, goods, and power that it can. Caesar never reached the Brigantes. My tribe, nor any other northern tribe, swore an alliance to Rome. Trade? Yes. Alliance? Never. We are not client kings. We owe no taxes nor tithes to Rome. We are the danger to the north. It is better to befriend us.”

“For now,” Fabius warned. “Until they find a way to betray you.”

I nodded to him. “Yes. The dance is just beginning.”

“Then may your steps be lively, Queen Cartimandua, and your blades be quick,” Fabius replied, lifting his cup in a toast.

“Here, here!” the others called, banging their fists on the table.

When they did so, I watched as the small pegs Corva had set on the map began to tumble. From south to north, from Cantiaci lands to those of the Northern Iceni, the pegs started to fall, with only the Brigantes remaining upright on the map.

I entwined my fingers and looked at the map.

Little ones of the hollow hills, be with us.

Great Mother Brigantia, be with us.

And even you, dark mother Cailleach, if you love my people at all, watch over us in the days ahead…

“Cartimandua, be as strong as the hollow hills, for the ground quakes where Rome steps.”