Page 126 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Conall joined us.

“My queen,” Ben said, bowing. “I’ve come with words from the chieftains. King Aengus is dead. The Setantii armies are defeated. We have won the battle, my queen.”

“And Lady Ystradwel? Lord Gregor?”

“Lord Gregor was killed in the fighting. But Chieftain Venutiux has taken the lady prisoner. They are on their way here.”

As I stood there, I felt my heart harden. “Good.”

“King Eddin and Queen Mael Muire accompany the army. They will be here soon.”

“Thank you, Ben. Please, go inside and take your rest.”

“I’ll make ready for the others,” Conall told me, then paused. “Queen Cartimandua, Ystradwel… What will you do?”

“I gave Ystradwel my trust once. I will not make the same mistake again. She will serve as a reminder to those who would betray me.”

Conall glanced at Corva, the pair sharing a look, then nodded. “My queen,” he replied, then hurried off.

“I will see to our crows,” Corva told me.

I went to the fort wall and climbed the ramparts. Looking down over the city, I willed my heart to be silent. Cormag was gone. I set my hand on my stomach, gently clutching the fabric of my gown. My children were gone. But the Brigantes remained, and right now, a force of thousands was washing onto our shores far to the south. Pretty liars that they were, the Romans wouldtalk with adders’ tongues. They would lie, and many would be deceived.

Not me.

My fingers gently touched my chest where the Cailleach had given me a heart of stone. My mind replayed the exchange below the fort. It didn’t matter what game the Cailleach was playing. In the end, I was queen. My people were all I had left. And I would die to protect them.

It wasdark when the warriors were spotted beyond the walls of Rigodonum. Mounting Branagán, I rode to the city gates to greet them. Along with me came a mob of people.

The chieftains rode at the head of the war band, Eddin and Mael Muire with them. Eddin looked war-weary. Mael Muire’s face betrayed nothing, but in her eyes, I saw deep sorrow.

But amongst them, there was one smiling face. Venu rode forward, a lead in his hand. At the end of it, with a rope tied around her neck, was Ystradwel.

When she saw me, her eyes grew wide.

“Queen Cartimandua,” Venu said in a loud voice. “Good people of Rigodonum. Tonight, I offer our queen a gift. Once a friend and companion to our queen, Lady Ystradwel—or shall we call her Queen Ystradwel of the now-defeated Northern Cornovii—betrayed our queen and her people. Leading the Setantii into open rebellion, aligning with rebels, and provoking war, the lady has shown her true heart—one of a deceiver, a manipulator, and one who has made false oaths. May the gods show her no mercy, nor should our queen.”

I stared at Ystradwel. She was bloodied and weary, a raw ring around her neck where the rope had rubbed. But my heart was not moved. My husband was a stiff corpse lying in the belly of my fort. That was her doing. And now, she would pay the price.

Venutiux dismounted. Yanking Ystradwel’s rope, he pulled her forward.

“Do you have anything to say to our queen?”

After a moment, Ystradwel lifted her gaze and looked at me. The person who met my gaze was one I had seen many times throughout my life. She was the frowning princess who dogged my steps, chastised my behavior, and found fault in every move I made. She was that girl, but something more, something darker. Ystradwel was a liar.

“Only that I die tonight, not as her handmaiden or chieftain, but Queen of the Setantii! I will die as I was always mean to live!” Ystradwel shouted, standing with her chin tipped up defiantly, her posture regal and erect.

That brought jeers and cries of fury from the crowd.

I stared at her for a moment, then smiled. “What Setantii?” I asked. “Your seat is burned to ash. Your warriors are defeated. Had you chosen peace, the Setantii would have lived and prospered. Butyourpride has cost your people everything,handmaiden. Now, there are no Setantii. No Setantii villages. No Setantii stronghold. The ancient fort of your father’s is ash and embers. Never again will the teal selkie banner fly—because ofyou.Youare the death of your people. The Setantii are done. Dust. Very soon, your people’s name will be forgotten, and there will only be Brigantes.”

Ystradwel stared daggers at me. When she moved to speak again, I gestured to Venu.

“Take her to the gate. She will dangle there like a funerary wreath in honor of King Consort Cormag. And there she will remain until the crows pick her bones clean, until thesummer sun bleaches them, until winter makes them fade, and forevermore until nature itself reclaims them. You wished to escape Rigodonum, Ystradwel. Now, you will become part of the fort for all eternity, unburied, unburned, unblessed, disgraced in death as you have disgraced yourself in life.”

At that, the crowd cheered.

Ystradwel’s expression faltered momentarily, realizing the terrible fate that awaited her. While it was common for rulers to give an enemy a proper burial, Ystradwel would receive no such favor from me. She would face a traitor’s death, cursing her in a manner that would prevent her entry to the Otherworld.

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