Page 42 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Coughing lightly, Eddin looked away, patting my hand. “And where is the king consort? I have a new horse. I wanted to hear what Cormag thought of the beast.”

“Away for a few days playing in the muck with Aedan. He will return soon.”

“Best be sooner than later from the looks of it, Queen Cartimandua,” one of Eddin’s chieftains told me.

“So everyone keeps telling me, but the priestess Onnen assures me I have until the next moon.”

“Babes have a mind of their own. And as I understand it, it is the sun and moon you carry, Queen Cartimandua,” the chieftain replied.

“That is how it feels,” I said, setting my hand on my stomach, feeling more than aware of the pressure on my groin. Was it worse than yesterday? Why did it feel worse?

With a yawn, Fabius entered the hall, looking about with curiosity. When he spied Eddin and me, he smiled.

I waved for him to join us.

“Eddin, may I introduce Fabius Tiberius, my tutor? Fabius, this is King Eddin of the Dardani.”

“Oh,” Fabius said, a smile warming his features. “Great king,” he said and bowed deeply. “It is an honor to meet you.”

Eddin eyed Fabius curiously. “Roman?”

“I am from the turquoise isle of Capri, great king. An actor by trade, a humble tutor by fate, and a friend to Queen Cartimandua by fortune. My queen, I must prepare some great entertainment for your guests. You did not tell me you would have visitors, you rascal.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Well, I must get to it at once. After morning meal, of course.”

“Of course,” I replied knowingly.

Fabius grinned at me, then went to the end of the table beside Brodi. He began loading up his plate while chattering away, making the Votadini warrior roll his eyes.

Eddin raised an eyebrow at me.

I merely winked at him in reply.

The conversation turned back to the Dardani, who talked of the ride through the mountains and their sighting of a massive stag not far from the borderlands with the Brigantes.

“He was a colossal beast,” Eddin told me. “With horns as wide as three men. I have never seen such a creature in all my life.”

“A king stag,” Brodi said, pausing to set down his mug. “He has awakened from his slumber and now seeks his bride.”

“Not unlike our king,” one of Eddin’s men said with a laugh. “We will have you married this year, King Eddin.”

The others chuckled, but Eddin gave a dismissive wave, not meeting my gaze. “I have no such interest.”

“You may not, but you best beware. As we speak, many mothers’ fingertips grow bloody, embroidering pretty gowns for their daughters to wear to the Beltane fires in the hopes of catching a king,” one of the men called.

Eddin chuckled. “I am sorry to disappoint them.”

“Will you leave us with no heir, King Eddin?” one man joked.

Eddin merely winked at him and then picked up his tankard.

“Queen Cartimandua will have no such questions in her tribe. Two at once. That is well-thought,” one Dardani man said.

“Tell that to my aching back,” I replied with a grin, my eyes drifting down the table to Fabius, who was looking from Eddin to me with a curious expression on his face. When he met my gaze, he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, then turned back to his meal.

Ignoring his look, I turned back to my plate.

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