Page 106 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

I looked all around, not recognizing the place. It was so beautiful. The sun shimmered softly, bathing everything in golden light. There was a single standing stone in the field. Butterflies fluttered all around it. Everywhere I looked, I saw flowers.

“Don’t be sad, Cartimandua,” Aelith added. “It is a beautiful place. One day, we’ll all be here together.”

“Aelith, let’s play,” Regan called. Letting me go, she ran off, giggling.

Aelith squeezed my hand, smiling up at me, and then took off after her sister. “I will catch you, Regan!”

The pair laughed wildly.

They raced in circles, chasing one another, as the sun shimmered on their hair. Regan’s hair was so dark that it shone blue. Aelith’s locks were so pale they looked white. Butterflies flew all around them.

It was a picture of pure joy.

Despite how warm my heart felt at the sight, I could feel my real tears slipping down my cheeks, but I bid myself not to wake. Instead, I stayed and watched my girls playing, relishing every moment.

I slept through the day,only waking the following morning. I dressed slowly, clinging to the last of my dream, then joined Aedan in his dining hall, taking the kitten with me.

“Queen Cartimandua,” Aedan said. “Good morrow.”

“Good morrow. Any word?”

“Not yet,” he said, then gestured to his servants to bring me food and drink as he looked over a pile of parchments before him.

I sat beside him, placing the kitten in my lap. “Anything the matter?” I asked, gesturing to his work.

“I sent a shipment to Gaul for trade, but there has been no word back, nor has anyone seen the ship it sailed on. I had word from Brennan this morning. That is not the first Brigantes ship to set sail for Gaul to be late in returning.”

“There are rumors from Gaul.”

“Of?”

“All this trade and infrastructure… The Romans have been building. Ships. Ports. Even a lighthouse. There are rumblings from Rome itself that the new emperor, Claudius, is ambitious.”

“How ambitious?”

“Ambitious enough to complete the work of Caesar.”

“What do the priestesses say? Any sign…like before?” he asked, lowering his voice.

Isurium Brigantum was so close to the Claws of the Cailleach that they had seen some of the magic we had performed that terrible night. The sky had lit up, and lightning and thunder had rolled in a cloudless sky. Aedan didn’t know what we had done, but he knew we had done something. Far to the south, aRoman emperor had gone mad, and and my daughters had died. With them, so, too, had died my faith in the twin goddesses. Since Aelith’s and Regan’s deaths, I had not attended the rites of Samhain and Beltane at the henge. I no longer sought Môd’s counsel. In fact, I had not even seen Môd since that fateful night. All my life, I had trusted the goddesses. But no longer. I had put all my faith in the Cailleach, and she had betrayed me. Now, I listened only to my heart and the whispers from the hollow hills. The dark creatures wanted only one thing…to protect themselves and the land. They would use me to that end. As long I was not blind to their motivations, they could be trusted.

“There are whispers from the hollow hills of war, but it will not be like before.”Because I will never, ever sacrifice my loved ones in Rome’s name again. “I have sent men into Gaul. Many eyes. The wind whispers Rome is on the move. Soon, I will learn the truth.”

“And Corva? Where is the priestess?”

“Corva went west chasing rumors.”

“West?”

“Lord Gregor. I fear for Ystradwel’s seat. This lord has convinced her that he is to be trusted, but I fear he plays her to take what is hers.”

“I hope she will not make the same mistake twice.”

“Nor I.”

The kitten on my lap sat attacking the tassel on the neck of my gown, then fell asleep just before the servants brought me a meal. As I ate, Aedan and I spoke of light things, the conversation eventually turning to his sister.

“Amma writes she is well but it is windy and cold in Barrow.”

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