Page 109 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“He has no one to send riders to. Cuneda is dead, and the Coritani are building alliances with the Northern Iceni,” Aedan said. “Ruith has no allies.”

I sighed.

“There is nothing, Cartimandua. At least, for now,” Aedan reassured me.

“All right,” I replied with a sigh. “Speaking of Northern Iceni. You know, I hear they have two princesses. An alliance with the Northern Iceni would make the Parisii sweat.”

Aedan laughed. “What do I want with a Northern Iceni girl when there are so many beautiful Brigantes women to pick from?” he replied then winked at me.

I shook my head.

Despite my jesting with Aedan, I still couldn’t shake the feeling seeing the caoineag had brought me. My stomach ached with worry.

The evening passed quietly. We shared a dinner with Aedan’s household once more, and then I retired to my bedchamber, the white kitten curling up against me. The feisty little beauty attacked my fingers and made a menace of herself before falling asleep.

“How about Ofilla,” I said, petting her. “A mad beauty. That’s you, my girl. Little Ofilla.”

Petting the tiny kitten, I slipped off to dreams thinking of Cormag. I ached for my husband, feeling his warmth and touch in my bed. Perhaps Ruith would not respond at all. Maybe I was only worrying myself for nothing. If the Parisii did not answer, I should return to Rigodonum. No response was a response. But the messenger Aedan had sent had also not returned. Until there was some news of the man, I should stay. I would not putit beneath Ruith to kill our messenger, even though honor and tradition forbid it.

Sighing, I passed into dreams as the little kitten finally fell asleep beside me. As my eyelids grew heavy, the sound of Regan’s and Aelith’s voices called me.

I woke earlythe following day to the sound of Conall’s voice. “My queen?”

Drifting from the dream, I heard my daughters rush off, laughing as they went. I tried to cling to the memory of the dream but was left only with a feeling. But what a feeling. The presence of my daughters surrounded me, like the fading of a warm hug.

“Queen Cartimandua?”

“A moment,” I called, shifting Ofilla, who had stretched long beside me, then rose.

It was still very early. The sun had just risen, the light peeking through the shutters’ cracks.

Grabbing a robe, I opened the door. “Conall?”

“Our messenger has returned from Ruith.”

I nodded. “I’ll be ready in a moment.”

Conall nodded. “They have woken Aedan as well.”

“Thank you.”

Hurrying back inside, I quickly redressed, pulling on a simple dark green gown. I brushed my long hair, slipped on my boots, and went downstairs. By the time I reached the dining room, Aedan was already there.

“My queen,” the messenger said, bowing deeply.

“What is the news? Relay not only what was said but what was seen.”

“I imparted your message, my queen, and sent along your gift. Queen Cailleacha turned red but was stone silent. Ruith launched into a tirade in a language I did not know. When he collected himself, he said, ‘Tell yourbitchqueen that Remick earned what he got, but if the Brigantes step foot onto Parisii lands again, I will return full force with my army.’ The queen said nothing. Queen Cailleacha saw that I was given food and drink and a place to rest before riding home once more. I was unharried. Nothing more was spoken.”

“Any sign of a rising force? Any show of movement to contradict his words?” Conall asked.

“No. Forgive me if I did wrong, Queen Cartimandua, but I lingered a day in the city in disguise to make sure. I saw nothing that would lead me to believe they are gathering forces. If anything, the Parisii were oddly quiet.”

“Very well. Thank you. Please, take your rest. You have done well.”

“Thank you, Queen Cartimandua,” he said then departed.

“Ruith is weakened and without friends,” I told Aedan and Conall, who nodded in agreement. “We have pulled his teeth.”

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