Page 119 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“All well?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Backaches from bending,” she said with a laugh. “But I will be glad for tomatoes come summer,” she said, taking a long drink.

I gestured to Corva to remove the goods from my basket. Snatching one of the honey biscuits I’d brought, I handed it to Heather.

“Thank you,” she said, then ate happily.

I patted her little head and hugged her as she ate.

Greer smiled at her daughter. “Thank you, Queen Cartimandua. Is there any news from the west, my queen?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

Greer nodded. “All the women in the village are worried, but I am sure all is in hand. Priestess Onnen and the priestesses of Brigantia went along with the warriors. I saw them depart. It won’t be much of a celebration for Beltane this year. No men left to light fires in the fields…or keep company,” she said with a wink.

I chuckled. “Then let us hope our strong Brigantes men return long before the Beltane fires are lit.”

“I will toast to that,” Greer said, raising her cup.

“How do you fare. Truly?”

Greer smiled. “I am well, my queen,” she said, then told me about her daily life, her weaving and sewing, and her trade in the village. “Weeds or not, I get good crops of herbs, vegetables, and lots of eggs. People are happy to trade. We get on very comfortably, Queen Cartimandua, thanks to you.”

“It is a small gesture in light of all you did for me.”

Greer smiled softly. “May the princesses always be remembered,” she said softly, lifting her cup again. “I take wildflowers to their mound from time to time.”

“Thank you, Greer,” I said, giving her a soft smile.

She exhaled deeply. “Beltane is nearly here again, and you and King Consort Cormag are still young. I know it was a hardlabor, but Brigantia is giving,” she said, reaching out to take her child’s hand and place a kiss thereon.

I chuckled lightly but said nothing. The truth was that there had been no sign that I could carry a child again since the girls’ deaths. Though Cormag and I were an eager couple who were very much in love, no fruit ever came from our efforts. Perhaps the midwife had been right. I might not ever bear again, but I had not given up hope yet.

Corva and I finished our ales and then made ready to set off once more.

Greer took Heather from my arms and walked me to the door.

“I am glad to see you, Queen Cartimandua,” she told me, giving me a gentle smile and then taking my hand. “You are always welcome here. We hold their memories together.”

“Thank you, Greer,” I told her. I paused to give Heather one last kiss, making the little girl giggle. “Crumbs,” I said, wiping the biscuit crumbs from my lips.

Greer laughed.

With that, we returned to the fort.

As I went, I felt conflicting light and dark feelings. My heart swung from a terrible dread about the war for Setantii lands and the coming of Rome to something that felt a little like hope. Perhaps… Maybe there was a chance for Cormag and me to have more children. I could send to Mael Muire and ask her to send one of her women. Perhaps it had been the heartsickness of the loss of Regan and Aelith that had left me barren, a heaviness of spirit more than any physical ailment.

Smiling lightly at the thought, I found myself standing at the gates of the king’s house when I finally realized I had walked all that way in contemplative silence.

Corva had said nothing, but that was her way. She knew me well and was comfortable in silence.

We approached the door to the fort when I heard a commotion at the lower gate.

Looking back, I waited.

When they opened the gates, a fast rider rushed into the courtyard.

The Romans?

---