Page 44 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“It is not his place to forgive. It is yours—if you have the heart for it.”

“Oh, he willneverforgive me, nor I, him. It was you that I was speaking of. He will never forgive you.”

“Forgive me?”

Eddin nodded.

“Venu is alive and rules his people because of my grace,” I said, confused.

“As chieftain.”

“Yes. As chieftain. Better than a corpse, which was the alternative.”

“You still think too well of him, Cartimandua.”

“Perhaps.”

A boy returned a moment later with a tray on which he’d set pitchers of honeyed herbs for me and one full of ale for Eddin. Eddin poured me a steaming mug, then poured an ale for himself. Sighing contentedly, he eased back into his seat once more.

“Ah, I forgot,” Eddin said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a parcel and handed it to me. “I was passing through a market on my way here and spotted these. I remembered us eating them as children and that you loved them.”

I opened the parcel and looked inside. “Walnuts?”

Eddin nodded. “Shelled and roasted. I could smell them in the wind. There were more, but I lacked self-restraint. I hope you can forgive me.”

I chuckled. “You don’t know what a treasure these are. I have hunted all winter.”

Eddin smiled. “Then I am glad I brought them,” he said, leaning back again. “I am content behind the walls of my fort, but if there is anywhere else in this world that has ever felt like home, it is here in Rigodonum.”

“I would be glad to see you here more often,” I said, inhaling the scent of the walnuts.Aye, may Brigantia be thanked.Not waiting, I began eating them at once, savoring the elusive flavor.

“I would be glad to be here more often. I hoped to have you and Cormag at Barrow, but I suspect you will soon have your hands full.”

“More than.”

Eddin eyed me carefully. “Has Onnen arranged help for you, Carti? You are surrounded by plenty of blades here, but aside from your maid and Corva, you have no women. Seeing someone here to help you with the little ones would be good. A nursemaid or wet nurse. It will be a lot for one person—and a queen at that.”

I leaned forward and took his hand. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For caring. And for the walnuts.”

Eddin smiled at me, studying my face. He reached out and touched the small silver scar on my cheek. “Like a shooting star.”

When he met my gaze, I saw all at once that nothing had changed. He loved me as much now as he had the last time we had been in this room.

Eddin pulled back then rose, going to the map of the Brigantes lands on the wall.

“You forgot, I have my Roman,” I told Eddin.

“That is an interesting addition to your court.”

“I do not like being ignorant of Roman ways. He is helping…with flair.”

“Can he be trusted, Cartimandua?”

“There is a price on his head. Being here keeps him safe. So, yes.”

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