Page 13 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Your people… It will not be an easy winter, but I do not wish to breed any more resentment than what is already in their hearts. Whatever you need, I will ensure you have it.”

“That is what I needed to hear from you, Carti, not from my queen.”

“Iambehind you,” I told him, giving him a soft smile. “I want to see you succeed.”

He looked at me for a long time, then said, “Behind me, but not beside me.”

“No.”

Venu shifted in his seat and then sat back. “How is your crow? He seems to have made himself comfortable here.”

Unconsciously, my hand drifted to my stomach. A protective urge welled up in me. As much as I cared for Venu, Cormag was my husband and the father of my unborn child. “He is doing very well.”

“I am glad to see my queen content.”

“Venu.”

“I will need your help with yourotherking. Eddin would see the Carvetti starve before he helps us through the winter. You must convince him to be more flexible.”

“I do not need Eddin’s help to care for my people. I will look after you.”

“Of course,” Venu said, then rose. “You are Queen of the Brigantes.”

“Venu—”

“I am glad to see you well, Cartimandua,” he said. Setting his cup aside, he rose. “You are beautiful as ever. And in your face, I see all my dreams turned to shadows, a life unlived. But I am grateful to still be alive to look upon you. Thank you for your promise of support. It means more to me than you can ever know,” he said, then turned and left the room.

After he left, I stared at Venu’s empty seat while I tried to harness everything that had just been said. Venu was hurting and had been humiliated. No wonder his love for me and anger at me warred within him.

I stroked my belly.

Venu was alive. He was with his people. I had done everything I could to protect the man I once loved. There was nothing more I could do.

Our time together was done.

Now, I had to think only of the future.

CHAPTER 5

Ileft the workroom and returned to my bedchamber only to find Nettle following me.

“And what are you up to?” I asked the cat, who merely mewed at me.

I was not surprised when I opened the door to find Verbia waiting inside. She was half-dozing in a chair, a bundle of knitting in her hands. The door did not wake her, but Nettle’s meow announcing our arrival did.

Verbia woke. Seeing me there, she rose.

“Verbia?”

She went to my bedside table and poured me a cup of a yellowish-colored liquid from an unfamiliar decanter.

I joined her.

She handed the cup to me.

I smelled the liquid, not recognizing the contents of the brew.

Verbia frowned at me, gesturing for me to drink.

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