Page 30 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Despite his insistence that he was fine, his snowy pallor and sweating were enough for Arixus to determine that Cormag should go to bed at once. He gave him a tonic to counteract any contamination on the arrowhead, then sent Cormag to rest. Arixus offered to stay the night to watch, so Kamden gave him a room just down the hall from my own. Damhan and Brodi slept in chairs in the bedroom, unwilling to leave their prince. The men’s dogs also curled up at their feet.

I was relieved when Arixus’s tonic lulled Cormag to sleep.

Unable to rest, I watched Cormag, ensuring no fever came on. Thankfully, he was all right.

Conall provided reports throughout the night.

“Two Brigantes men—brothers—spotted the assailant in the crowd,” Conall told me. “They met with Corva. Apparently, they saw the first arrow fired. The man was hiding beside the well. They raced to stop him, but he shot the second arrow, hitting the king consort. He was about to get a third shot off when the men rushed him and knocked him down, but when the king consort was struck, the crowd panicked and the man escaped in the confusion. They last spotted him fleeing on horseback out the western road. Corva headed that way after him.”

“Were they hurt?”

“No.”

“Thank the twin goddesses. Have Kamden send them a case of mead in thanks. Any sign of Corva since?” I asked.

Conall shook his head. “Not yet. There is no telling when she will return. You must rest, my queen. It was a long day topped off with a hard ride and much distress. You must think of your little ones. The crows are here to watch over you and the prince,” he said, gesturing to Damhan and Brodi, “and their dogs,” he added with a smirk. Beef lay on his back, his tongue hanging from the side of his mouth. Scratch was in a similarly awkward position. But Fergus had crawled onto the bed beside Cormag.

“If there is any room for me,” I said, gesturing.

Conall chuckled.

“Very well, but you will wake me when there is any news. Promise?”

“Yes, my queen.”

At that, Conall departed. I fetched blankets from the wardrobe, which I draped on the sleeping Votadini, and then crawled beside my husband.

Cormag slept soundly, the light from the brazier making patterns of black and orange dance across his face.

I set my hand on my belly.

He had risked himself for me—for us.

I closed my eyes. Of all the ways my life could have gone, married to the Bastard Prince of the Votadini, who loved me enough to sacrifice himself to protect me, was the last thing I had expected.

But in that dark moment, when shadows came for me, I felt more loved than I had ever felt before in my life.

I slipped my hand into Cormag’s open palm, careful not to wake him, then drifted off to sleep.

When I wokethe following day, the sun had already risen. I was confused when I first woke up, but then I realized there were whispering voices outside the door. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Conall.

“Conall?” I asked.

“I am sorry to wake you, Cartimandua. Corva has returned and is below. She is asking for you to join her. She has something she wants you to see.”

“Carti?” Cormag whispered.

“I’m sorry, my love. Corva is here. I must go see her.”

“I will come. Help me up.”

“Cormag—”

“Help me, my blackthorn queen.”

I pulled on a heavy robe and went around the side of the bed, helping Cormag sit upright. I set my hand on his forehead. He had dark rings under his eyes and looked sleepy but had no fever.

“Let me get your cloak,” I told Cormag.

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