Page 5 of Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3)

CHAPTER 4

I woke the following morning to find a thin beam of sunlight shining through the slats on the window shutters. I lay still for a long time, watching Cormag breathe, my eyes tracing the tattooed markings on his body. His long, black hair shimmered almost blue in the sunlight.

I set my hand on my stomach.

A child… Of all the thoughts circling in my mind, a child was not one of them. I needed to ensure the Parisii stayed in line, the Carvetti did not rebel, the Setantii remained part of the Brigantes when Cam died, and then there were my visions… Far across the ocean, embers rose. And to my west, Eddin sat on his throne once more.

Alone.

All these thoughts clouded my mind, and yet, Brigantia would have her way: a prince or princess for the Brigantes and the Votadini. Our child would inherit the seat of two mighty tribes and unite old enemies once and for all.

All that assuming I managed to keep control of what was mine and not lose it to enemies at home or from beyond our shores.

With that thought in mind, I slipped from my bed, pulled on a robe, and began readying myself for the day. I pulled a brush through my long, black locks and began thinking about the pickled eggs and onion, only to be met with?—

A wave of nausea washed over me, and I found myself racing for a bucket.

In the most undignified manner possible, I relieved myself of my stomach fluids, waking Cormag in the process.

“Cartimandua,” he called gently, hurrying to me. He helped me hold back my hair and stayed with me, rubbing my back until the worst of it was over. Cormag then rose and poured me some water.

I sat back, trying to collect myself as I sipped the water, Cormag patiently waiting beside me. After a moment, I set the cup aside and took his hand, getting up. “It has passed, I think. I must make ready to meet with the chieftains. Let us hope this was the worst of my day.”

“Shall I call for Hilda to help?”

I frowned at the bucket. “No. She will gossip too much.”

Cormag went to the door, speaking briefly to the guards, and then one of the chamber boys appeared. He whispered in the boy’s ear, then passed off the bucket. The young man quickly departed while I went to make ready.

After I cleaned up, I pulled out a plum-colored gown, pinned my hair with a silver horse pin, and made ready. I rolled my shoulders back, smoothed my dress, and then went to Cormag, helping him lace his vest.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door.

“Queen Cartimandua?” Corva called. “Conall would speak to you a moment.”

“Come.”

Corva and Conall entered.

“My queen,” Corva said. “The chieftains are assembling below.”

“Thank you, Corva,” I told her, then turned to Conall. “What is on your mind, my friend?”

“When your mother ruled, your father met with the chieftains. Your mother saw to the wives. The ladies are also gathering below. I would suggest… Perhaps you should speak to Lady Flora, wife of Chieftain Brennan, my queen. I do not interact much with the women, but the presence of Princess Alys is a problem. Lady Flora would be a reliable steward for the ladies.”

I nodded. “Yes. You are right. I would appreciate it if you could fetch someone to summon her.”

Conall nodded, then departed.

Corva smiled lightly. “Time to dance, my queen.”

I laughed lightly. “Let us ensure the only music that plays is the kind I like.”

At that, Cormag, Corva, and I headed below.

When we arrived downstairs, I found Lady Flora and Conall waiting for me. I gestured for the lady to step aside with me.

“My queen,” she said gently.

“I was ever in my father’s shadow when he was alive. Now, I am in a predicament where I must ask your assistance.”

“Anything, my queen.”

“The king consort will attend me with the chieftains, leaving their wives without someone from this house to guide them. My mother long fulfilled this duty, but now… I suspect you are all old friends, but I must ensure we are all mindful of our new addition.”

“Princess Alys.”

“Whatever is said, even in friendly conversation, will return to King Ruith. I need someone to guide the conversation, someone I can trust to ensure King Ruith hears nothing of importance.”

“I understand and will see to it as best I may, my queen. Perhaps, after our morning meal, your guards would accompany us to the city to browse for wares. I will see that the princess observes all the best vendors and little else. You may rely upon us, my queen.”

“Thank you for your help.”

She inclined her head to me.

With that, Conall went with Lady Flora, the two planning the excursion into Rigodonum, while Corva, Cormag, and I went to the meeting room.

When I entered, I found the chieftains assembled—including Venu and three Carvetti retainers, all of whom looked sourly upon me until Venu chided them with his gaze.

The men rose when I entered, banging their fists on the table in greeting. I went to the end of the table, Cormag taking the seat to my right beside Chieftain Andoc. Corva slipped behind me like a shadow, her eyes watchful.

“Gentlemen, you are welcome to Rigodonum this Samhain,” I told them, gesturing for them to be seated. “We have sent Brigantia to her rest, and soon, the long winter will be upon us, and we will not meet again until bright Brigantia awakens. Now is the time for us to plan for the winter. This season has brought much change to the Brigantes, and we have suffered, yes, but the wheel turns. So, we persevere. For now, let us break our fast,” I said, gesturing to the food on the table, “in honor of the new year and then make our plans.”

“Here, here,” Andoc called.

The others knocked their fists on the table and sat once more.

“Aye, Cartimandua, how like your father. You do not leave us waiting with hungry bellies while we talk on and on,” Chieftain Andoc said, giving me a warm smile.

“I would have you well-fed and happy before we come to any hard conversation,” I replied with a grin.

“Let us hope there is none,” he replied with a wink, then turned to Cormag. “You look well, Crow.”

A light smile danced across Cormag’s lips. Cormag had been uncertain about how the others would receive him, but the arrival of the Votadini in our war had turned the tide and won the Brigantes’ appreciation and respect. Since then, the chieftains had warmed to my husband.

“How can one be anything but well in the halls of Rigodonum?” Cormag replied lightly.

Andoc chuckled.

Cormag waved one of the kitchen boys down, whispered to him, the lad running off and returning with a pot of honey, which he sat before me.

I flicked my gaze momentarily to my husband and gave him a grateful smile. Cormag lifted my hand and placed a kiss thereon. I smiled, then turned back to fix my plate. When I did so, I felt another’s eyes on me. My glance shifted a moment down the table to Venutiux, who was looking at Cormag.

There was a look of—was it jealousy?— something in his expression. When he saw me, he turned away.

I turned back to my plate, setting cheese and meat thereon and trying not to smother everything in honey.

Six months ago, I was all but sure I would wed Venu. Now, I sat, pregnant, beside my Votadini husband. Venu’s father and brother were dead, and his defeated tribe was now Brigantes. Eddin’s name and lands had also been restored—by my hands. I knew that the gentle spirit that lived secretly with Venu, the one I loved, was in pain. I only hoped his marriage to Alys had offered him some solace. But in truth, the pair did not seem happy. But of course not. Alys had married him because he was a prince with a handsome face. Now that he was a defeated man… Apparently, he did not shine so brightly with the title of chieftain.

My brow furrowed when I thought of it.

I looked back at Venu, but he was talking with his retainers once more.

Sighing, I turned to Corva, who was watching stoically from behind me.

“Will you not eat?” I asked her.

“After.”

“We are among friends here,” I told her.

She cocked an eyebrow at me. “Are you sure?”

I rolled my eyes at her and turned back. A short time after we began, Brodi and Damhan joined us, Fergus and the Votadini’s two other massive dogs along with them.

“Our apologies, Queen Cartimandua,” Brodi told me. “We took the dogs to the lower fields to hunt, and Fergus decided it was a game of chase. It took us an hour to summon him back.”

Cormag smiled at his hound, scratching his ears with the rough pat the dog seemed to love. “You are late, Fergus,” he said, but Fergus merely passed him by on his way to me. Setting his head in my lap, the dog whined sweetly, so I patted him. Tail wagging, he then joined Brodi and Damhan’s dogs, who were comically named Scratch and Beef. The little pack, which had already identified one of the kitchen lads as a food source, went to badger the boy who led them away for something to eat.

“I think you have won Fergus from Prince Cormag, Queen Cartimandua,” Brodi said with a laugh.

“He only likes me because I slip him food.”

“Perhaps you did not know, Queen Cartimandua,” Lord Artoci, who had taken over as chieftain of the Tectoverdi in the wake of Gallmaul’s death, called to me. “The ancient sigil of the Tectoverdi is a hound just like Fergus. It’s your father’s blood that calls to the beast.”

“And here I thought it was meat scraps,” I replied.

The others chuckled.

We passed the meal in pleasant conversation, with Andoc, Cormag, Brodi, Damhan, and the others around us conversing about the best hunting hounds. Cormag shared with the others how the Votadini trained their dogs, to which Andoc and the others listened with great interest. But the conversation turned more serious when the meal was finally done and the plates cleared.

The men leaned forward, their eyes on me.

I inhaled slowly. “Gentlemen,” I began, my eyes dancing across the familiar faces in the room, “as winter approaches, we must assess our readiness. Chieftain Brennan, share your needs with us. Have the Parisii remained quiet?”

“Those who held Parisii lands that we acquired in the war have either fled south or quietly folded into the Brigantes, unwilling to leave their farms and lands,” Brennan replied. “Their allegiance was more to the land than to their king or queen, which is both a benefit and a potential detriment to your majesty.”

“It is understandable, in a way. If there was no loyalty to the Parisii, then Ruith did nothing to earn it. Reach out to those who have remained. Offer help in any rebuilding or harvesting. Ensure they know we are here to assist them. Let us earn their loyalty for the sake of the future.”

Chieftain Brennan nodded. “I will see to it.”

“And your stores and repairs at Mydils?”

Brennan nodded and then pulled a parchment from his pocket, on which he’d noted all the repairs being made to the fort and docks and the progress thereon. He read it to us.

“What of Ruith?” Andoc asked. “Any noise to your south, Brennan?”

Chieftain Brennan shook his head. “Queen Cartimandua was effective in making her point, but there has been some grumbling at the borders. So far, only disgruntled men bellyaching, but I will keep an eye on it. There are, however, rumors that Prince Senorix’s health has turned very poor,” Brennan said, glancing at Venu.

“Without Cuneda to serve as his dupe, Ruith will stay quiet now,” Chieftain Argenorix said, causing one of Venutiux’s retainers to huff in annoyance.

I turned my attention to the Carvetti.

“Mads, is it not?” I asked the man who had reacted.

He paused, not expecting to be called out. “Yes, Queen Cartimandua.”

“It is a reality that King Cuneda was persuaded to war by the Parisii, as much as it is a reality he was defeated. He paid for his error with his life, and the rest of the Carvetti suffered losses due to Cuneda’s unwise choices. Or are you pleased with the results of King Cuneda’s actions?”

“I… No, Queen Cartimandua. It is only a disrespect to his memor?—”

“It is a matter of truth, that is all. We must live in the world where we now find ourselves, even if we do not like it. Now, Chieftain Venutiux, is this rumor of Prince Senorix’s ill health true?”

“It is,” Venu replied, “but druids attend him, and there is hope he will survive.”

I nodded. “I will not wish ill on the boy. Perhaps he will prove a better ruler than his father. Very well, Venu. Will you please share with us the conditions of the Carvetti so we may learn how to help heal the losses your people have experienced and prepare for the long winter.”

Venutiux nodded. “Thank you, Queen Cartimandua,” he said, giving Mads a warning sidelong glance. “We do find ourselves at several disadvantages. Those lands given to the Novantae as war prizes and the lands returned to Vellocatux?—”

“King Eddin.”

“My apologies. Eddin.”

“ King Eddin.”

Venutiux cleared his throat. “ King Eddin… Those lands accounted for much of our fertile land and, thus, winter crops. King Merod of the Novantae has already helped himself to the harvest and now has full control of the port, diminishing our trade. To the south, the Dardani fields and groves are reclaimed. We are, as you feared, my queen, at a disadvantage. My father did not emphasize the people’s preparation for winter over his own goals for expansion. In Luguvalium, I am well-stocked. But the Carvetti as a whole? We find ourselves humbled. Without your help, many will go hungry this winter.”

“The Carvetti planted those crops to the south and tended those orchards. Those crops young Eddin has taken in are not his,” Mads grumbled.

“Orchards such as at Whispering Glen?” Corva asked. The tone in her voice was dark.

“Aye, Priestess,” Mads replied, eyeing her carefully.

“A hundred generations of Dardani cultivated those trees,” she said, her voice seething. “Nothing about the groves in Whispering Glen is Carvetti .”

When Mads moved to reply, I lifted my hand, silencing him.

“We are not here to discuss your feelings on King Eddin’s holdings, Mads. We are here to see what Brigantia can offer in aid. It will take time for us all to adjust to our new world. This is the first step. Chieftain Venutiux will lead you into the future, and I believe his ideas will be fruitful. But we must take this season to bandage all wounds and ensure we arrive in the spring fully healed and ready to begin anew.”

“Thank you, Queen Cartimandua,” Venu said. “I have many ideas for the future of the Carvetti. In the meantime, however…” Venu then began to outlay his needs, mainly hay, food, and seed for sowing come spring.

“We will see to your needs as best we can,” I reassured Venu, then turned to the rest of the chieftains to ask for an accounting of their stores. I could see on their faces that none of them wanted to help the Carvetti. I did not blame them, but we had to see beyond the past to the future.

“What of the Setantii?” Chieftain Aedan asked. “Ystradwel is not here, and we were told Cam’s health is failing.”

I nodded slowly. “Lady Ystradwel is at his side now. Cam is not expected to be with us in this world much longer.”

“You must watch them, my queen,” Andoc told me. “Even under Cam’s eye, they have plotted rebellion and were bold enough to seek allies. What seeds of rebellion Cam could not stamp out will continue to stew and fester unless Ystradwel acts.”

I nodded. “Yes. You are right.”

“King Consort, you have been quiet. Do you have any news to share with us, or have you and your men been too busy hunting to attend to the affairs of the Brigantes?” Venu asked Cormag, causing several of the Brigantes chieftains to frown.

Cormag looked down the table at Venu. “I would not presume to speak for men who know their lands better than I. What has been spoken here is plain. Your Parisii relatives are not to be trusted, and your defeated tribe is not yet in hand,” he said, causing Venu’s brow to furrow. “I will add that Chieftain Cam’s unwanted ally, false King Aengus of the Northern Cornovii, rattles his sword even as the true king of the Cornovii, King Ord, fights alongside his warlike allies, the Catuvellauni. There is much to watch,” he said then sat back, adding, “Winter is a time when small, pitiful, and jealous men look for someone else to blame for their impotence,” he replied in a blasé tone.

Beside Cormag, Brodi and Damhan tapped their mugs together and drank.

Aedan swallowed a laugh then gave Brennan a knowing look.

Oh, Venu…

Venutiux smiled at Cormag, lifted his ale in a toast to him, and then drank. But the corners of Venu’s eyes told the tale. Venu had prodded Cormag out of jealousy, but my husband had risen to the occasion and put Venu’s pettiness in its place. I did not like Venu’s attempted slight on Cormag, but I knew it came from a wound.

I glanced at Cormag, whose expression was unbothered.

“The king consort is right,” Chieftain Calos said. “The south is buzzing like bees, but except for this mess Cam has left us, what happens in the south is of no concern to the Brigantes.”

“King Aedd Mawr and King Verica have fled south to Rome,” Corva said stiffly. “The Catuvellauni war is a problem because a divided south invites trouble from beyond our shores.”

“Expecting Caeser to arrive any moment, Priestess?” Andoc asked with a laugh.

Some of the others chuckled.

“What if Rome sees it as an opportunity? Caesar failed because we were united. Where on this island, aside from the Caledonians to our north, do you see unity now?” I asked.

At that, the men grew silent.

“You will exhaust yourself watching every border, Queen Cartimandua,” Aedan told me.

“Me? Never. I am a murder of crows, a dozen eyes looking everywhere all at once.”

Aedan grinned at me. “Our crow queen,” he said, then winked at Cormag, who chuckled.

Our talks bled into the midday meal and resumed thereafter. By late afternoon, however, we had concluded our business, and the chieftains and their retainers left the great hall to attend to whatever business they had in Rigodonum before our final feast that night.

Aedan had already convinced Cormag, Brodi, and Damhan to go with him and Aedan’s nephew, Aerin, into the city in search of pups to train for hunting dogs. Cormag had mentioned to the chieftain that a man in the village was selling a litter of excellent dogs. After kissing my husband goodbye, I turned to join Corva but her gaze went behind me, gesturing with her eyes that someone was there.

I turned to find Venu approaching me, his men having departed.

“Cartimandua, a moment?” he asked.

I nodded. “Come, let’s go somewhere quiet,” I told him, then motioned for Corva to stay behind.

She frowned but did not follow.

Venu and I went to my private workroom. I motioned for Venu to sit while I poured him a mead, then sat across from him.

“Tell me how you are. Really.”

Venu smiled sadly. “I sit in my father’s seat wondering how I got there, but I’m making the best of what the gods have arranged for me.”

“Your people… It will not be an easy winter, but I do not wish to breed any more resentment than what is already in their hearts. Whatever you need, I will ensure you have it.”

“That is what I needed to hear from you, Carti, not from my queen.”

“I am behind you,” I told him, giving him a soft smile. “I want to see you succeed.”

He looked at me for a long time, then said, “Behind me, but not beside me.”

“No.”

Venu shifted in his seat and then sat back. “How is your crow? He seems to have made himself comfortable here.”

Unconsciously, my hand drifted to my stomach. A protective urge welled up in me. As much as I cared for Venu, Cormag was my husband and the father of my unborn child. “He is doing very well.”

“I am glad to see my queen content.”

“Venu.”

“I will need your help with your other king. Eddin would see the Carvetti starve before he helps us through the winter. You must convince him to be more flexible.”

“I do not need Eddin’s help to care for my people. I will look after you.”

“Of course,” Venu said, then rose. “You are Queen of the Brigantes.”

“Venu—”

“I am glad to see you well, Cartimandua,” he said. Setting his cup aside, he rose. “You are beautiful as ever. And in your face, I see all my dreams turned to shadows, a life unlived. But I am grateful to still be alive to look upon you. Thank you for your promise of support. It means more to me than you can ever know,” he said, then turned and left the room.

After he left, I stared at Venu’s empty seat while I tried to harness everything that had just been said. Venu was hurting and had been humiliated. No wonder his love for me and anger at me warred within him.

I stroked my belly.

Venu was alive. He was with his people. I had done everything I could to protect the man I once loved. There was nothing more I could do.

Our time together was done.

Now, I had to think only of the future.