Page 34 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Fabius has a Saturnalia pantomime he can perform if you want to see it. Shall I call him?”

“Decidedly not,” she said, then laughed. “Most definitely not.”

After ensuringthat Cormag’s wound had been treated and dressed to her satisfaction and that neither I nor the children had sustained any injury, Onnen took her rest.

While she slept, I went looking for Corva. Despite the severe winter temperatures, when I finally found her, she was in her chamber packing her gear.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

She bobbed her chin at the bow. “To find the maker of that bow.”

“The mountain passes will be snowbound. It’s not safe.”

She paused. “I’ll be all right.”

“Corva, it isnotsafe.”

“It is my job to ensureyouare safe. That is the task given to me by Môd and the Cailleach. Already, I have failed you. It is only by chance that Prince Cormag sustained only mild injury. I must find who is behind this.”

“Which can wait until the thaw.”

“At which point, your enemies may be marching on you!”

“Or, you will leave me without a guard, putting me in danger.”

“You are already in danger.”

“Corva,” I said, seeing she was holding back tears. “Corva…”

“King Eddin failed because my father did not protect him. We lost our lands, our home, our name, our tribe! And this…” she said, pointing to her face. “What beauty Brigantia granted to me was stolen by Carvetti fires. The Brigantes protected me when I was lost, and you have given the Dardani people their king back. I have one job, Cartimandua, and that is toprotect you, and I have failed utterly,” she said, dashing tears of frustration from her cheeks.

“Corva,” I said softly. “You are much more to me than a shield. You are my friend, but no more all-seeing than I am. We will both miss things, make mistakes, and maybe fail from time to time, but I do not blame you. The man who wielded that bow and whoever sent him are to blame. But having you freeze to death in the mountains will not help anything. It will not protect me, Cormag, or them,” I said, touching my belly. “I need you here. And in the spring, we will discover the truth. I am certain many people wish me dead, my friend. They have failed this time but may try again. I need you here.”

“Cartimandua… I… I am so sorry.”

I shook my head then moved gently toward her, well aware that Corva did not often consent to be touched. I took her hand. For a brief moment, I saw the scars thereon. Was her whole body burned? “There is nothing to apologize for. Our crows will listen, and we will learn the truth as the gods will. The only thing Iwon’tforgive any of you for is if you let me go this entire pregnancy without walnuts.”

At that, Corva laughed. She squeezed my hand, let me go, and then wiped her tears away.

“Thank you, Cartimandua.”

“Now, unpack. Even if you can’t go traipsing across the mountains in the middle of winter, that does not mean there isn’t work to be done. No wallowing, Priestess. Join me in the meeting room when you are done,” I told her, then left.

As I made my way from her chamber, I considered the issue of the assassin. Someone knew I would be hosting a Yule celebration in Rigodonum, something I had never done before and an event I had planned less than a week before the festivities. There were unfriendly eyes in Rigodonum. Perhaps Corva did not have to travel far from home to learn the truth.Someone wanted me dead. Now, I only had to discover who and end them before they ended me.

CHAPTER 10

After Yule, the winter set in with a vengeance. The wind howled and shook the shutters, and the Brigantes took to their homes. Trade in the markets slowed to a crawl. In a way, it made things easier. Our household became quiet except for Fabius putting on small vignettes to amuse us. Cormag healed quickly while our children grew.

Late one night, deep in the winter, as the wind howled outside our shutters, Cormag lay with his hands on my stomach, the children within me moving.

“Damhan and Brodi were my constant companions growing up, but still, many times, I wished for a sibling who would not silently judge how I came into the world.”

“Even amongst the Votadini, did the manner of your conception matter?”

“They did not call me bastard to my face, but sometimes, in their looks, I saw. My mother has a firm hold on the people, and they honor her. Still, there are many chieftains with large families with many sons who questioned the choices of our priestesses.”

“To question the priestesses is to question the Cailleach herself.”

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