Page 4 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Blessed may you be,” we all called in reply.

My eyes drifted to the sky once more.

Our lands watered with blood… What crops would such a thing bring?

CHAPTER 2

With the ceremony done and the cold evening weather blowing in, we returned to Rigodonum, where the fires burned brightly, bread was baking, meat roasting, and barrels of ale waited in abundance.

My hall was bright and ready for guests. Colorful leaves, late fall berries, and deep gold, red, purple, and orange flowers decorated the hall. Braziers burned, and the air smelled of the heavy spices used in making the honey loaves. Everything was cozy and bright, making the absence of one all the more noticeable.

War had taken me away from Rigodonum when the Cailleach had come for ancient Ulixes, who was more family than housecarl. When we returned home from Setantii lands, we had learned the sorrowful news. At the very least, Hilda said he’d gone to the Otherworld peacefully.

“Didn’t want you to worry,” Hilda had told me. “He told me he’d trained his apprentice well and that young Kamden would make a fine housecarl. Sent you his love, then faded away. We were all there with him.”

One last death had marked a hard year. With the exception of Verbia, my family was gone.

But Ulixes was faithful to the very end. Kamden, the brown-haired, chestnut-colored-eyed young man who’d shadowed Ulixes quietly for the last two years, had stepped into my housecarl’s shoes with incredible deftness.

“The feast is ready, and rooms for the chieftains are prepared, my queen,” Kamden told me, his eyes sparkling. “May I do anything else for you?”

“Everything looks perfect, Kamden. Thank you.”

“My queen,” he said, bowing deeply, his cheeks flushing red momentarily. He turned and bowed to Cormag, giving my husband a quivering smile, then headed off.

Cormag smirked as he watched him go. “The boy is in love with you.”

“Nonsense. He is merely trying to do well at his work.”

“As you say,” Cormag said with a grin, stroking my long locks. “Even your hair is cold, Cartimandua. The plain gave us a wonder to behold, but the wind lingers. Come by the fire.”

With that, Cormag led me to a seat at the table closest to the hearth. When I settled in at the table, I realized I felt insatiably hungry. I loaded up my plate, looking forward to the Samhain feast, while Cormag sat back and nursed a mug of ale as he eyed the room.

Fergus, who was never far from me, curled up at my feet.

“Looking for scraps already? I haven’t even begun,” I told the dog.

He whimpered and thumped his tail.

“You’ve turned my hunting companion into a ladies’ lap dog,” Cormag told me.

“He just likes me better.”

“No doubt,” Cormag replied with a grin, his eyes flicking across the room. “The Carvetti are coming.”

I paused in my reach for a delicious-looking bite of honey-baked apple. Feeling annoyed at the interruption, I sat back in my seat and prepared myself as Venu and Alys approached.

“Queen Cartimandua, King Consort Cormag,” Venu said, bowing deeply.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Aedan and the other chieftains whispering with one another as they watched Venu.

“Merry met and blessed Samhain,” I told them.

“And to you, Queen Cartimandua, King Consort Cormag. We were honored to join you on the plain this year. All say the moonrise is without comparison, but it is one thing to hear of it and another to see. A far cry from the simple bonfires and druid chants in Luguvalium.”

I gave Venu a soft smile. “I am glad you are with us.”

“It is a new year. A new start in all things. Don’t you agree, my wife?” Venu asked Alys, taking her hand and placing a kiss thereon.

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