Page 111 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

My fears had come to pass. I had long worried that Lord Gregor was biding his time and that the southern Setantii were not as settled as they seemed. Now, with King Aengus behind them, the king would seek to annex Setantii lands.

“We must return to Rigodonum at once,” I said.

“My queen,” Brennan interjected.

“Cormag arrived in Rigodonum a mere hour before myself. I apprised him of the situation. He is already rallying the Brigantes,” Corva told me.

“Good. We must do the same here,” I said, turning to Aedan.

“My queen,” Brennan said again, but Aedan cut in.

“We must be careful with our Parisii border,” Aedan warned. “If Ruith learns there is trouble in the west, he may realize our men are distracted and take his revenge.”

I frowned. “Yes, you are right. We?—”

“Queen Cartimandua,” Chieftain Brennan said firmly. “My queen, forgive me, but there is urgent news from your eyes from Gaul.”

At that, everyone paused.

A cold feeling washed over me. “What is it?” I asked.

“King Verica and the heirs of King Aedd Mawr ride to the coast with Roman legions—thousandsof Roman soldiers—ready to make war. Along the shores in Gaul, ships wait to launch. The word is clear. They are coming.”

I stared at him.

“Like nothing the man had ever seen,” Brennan said, his eyes wide. “The messenger… He said Caligula’s forces looked like a paltry group of miscreants in comparison. Rome is coming at the back of two Celtic kings with more soldiers than we have trees, elephants, war machines… Rome has come to help retake the Atrebates and Trinovantes lands.”

“Rome does not help anyone but Rome,” Fabius, who appeared behind us, said.

“Fabius is right. They are coming for this island and all we have.”

“Cartimandua,” Aedan whispered.

My head began to ache and lights flashed before my eyes momentarily. I inhaled slowly, forcing the pain in my temples to be silent.

“We will ride north for Rigodonum and get this matter with the Setantii in hand once and for all.”

“And the Romans? What will we do?” Brennan asked.

“We will become the wall they cannot break. Leave it to me. As for Lord Gregor, I am in my trophy collecting season again, Chieftain Aedan. Let’s see how Lord Gregor looks hanging from the walls of Rigodonum.

“I am ready to oblige,” Aedan replied.

“Good. Let’s make ready.”

LeavingAedan and Brennan behind to ensure the border with the Parisii was secure, I rode north with Corva, Fabius, and my guard. The news that it was Lord Gregor who had been behind the assassination attempt unnerved me. The man had been plotting all this time, wheedling his way into Ystradwel’s broken heart, taking advantage of her mourning and illness to win her favor only to ready the ground for plowing. In killing me, he would have unsteadied the Brigantes, leaving us open to attack from King Aengus.

No doubt, Mael Muire would have moved to keep Cormag in power, but if I was dead, the pins would tumble. Venu and the Carvetti would rebel. Eddin and the Carvetti would soon be at war. Ruith and the Parisii would move on Brennan and Aedan. Lord Gregor was crafty. It had been a good plan. No wonder he had considered it. But the gods had saved me that day. Now, I needed to save Ystradwel.

But as we rode, my mind shifted away, not toward an impending war with the so-called king of the Northern Cornovii, but to Rome.

I reined in my horse beside Corva and Fabius who were talking, the Roman chiding her for her long absence.

“Am I interrupting?” I asked.

“Yes, please,” Corva replied.

Fabius gasped in mock offense.

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