Page 45 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Eddin nodded slowly, his eyes on the map. After a long pause, he said, “I have felt ill at ease all winter. I am no priest or druid, but I feel…something. Do you feel it too?”

I nodded. “Yes. That is why I have employed Fabius.”

“The warning from the Cailleach.”

“And more. I cannot see its shape, but I do feel it.”

Setting my drink and the walnuts aside, I rose and went to his side, gesturing to the map. “To the west, the Cornovii engage in civil war, King Ord and King Aengus vying for power. To my south, the Coritani seek a hand for Princess Melusine and, with it, an alliance. The Parisii prince grows sicker, having not risen from his bed all winter. The Northern Iceni brothers bicker with one another as the ancient king of the Greater Iceni grows increasingly frailer. The Catuvellauni have spent the winter whispering, their smithies burning bright as the sun as they plot the next stage of their war,” I said, gesturing to the map. “They have already begun to call in their retainers and will continue their push south and east.”

Eddin turned to me. “How do you know this?”

I smiled softly but didn’t answer.

Eddin’s gaze narrowed, and then he gave me a slick smile. “Do you have someone in my fort watching me, Queen Cartimandua?”

“Of course. I have watched you the closest, but only to ensure you eat and sleep properly. My spies are under the strictest orders to chide you mercilessly if you do not.”

“Carti,” Eddin said with a chuckle, then turned back to the map again. He shook his head. “The Catuvellauni are far to our south, but their actions… Verica and Aedd Mawr have fled south to Rome. Would the Romans even care about two deposed Celtic kings?”

“When Caesar was here, he declared many of the southern tribes were client kings of Rome. Regnenses, Cantiaci, Belgae, Iceni… So many of them swore to pay tax and tithe to Rome. I am very certain Rome has not forgotten.”

“That was so long ago.”

“An empire does not forget.” I exhaled deeply, but then a sharp pain pierced my back once more, rippling across my whole lower back and making my groin ache. This time, I called out against my will. “Aye, gods,” I said, grabbing Eddin’s arm.

And then, I felt it. Wetness crept down my leg.

“Carti?”

“Oh no,” I whispered, my eyes going wide. “Eddin…” I said with a gasp, my hand going to my groin. Sure enough, my waters dampened my gown.

Eddin took in the situation at once. “Hold on to me,” he said, taking my arm. “We must get you upstairs to your bedchamber. Boy!” he called.

My servant stuck his head inside. “King Eddin?”

“Queen Cartimandua is in labor. Fetch your housecarl.”

The young man stared at me a moment, then turned and ran.

“It seems I have arrived just in time,” Eddin said with a smile. “I will be the first to welcome the future kings or queens of the Brigantes.”

“Eddin,” I said, gripping him as the pain wracked me once more.

“Don’t worry, Carti. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

CHAPTER 13

What happened next felt like a whirlwind. Kamden sent a rider to Cormag while the others began preparing my chamber.

“Thank the goddesses I sent for Onnen this morning,” Hilda told me, arranging and then rearranging, my bedding for the hundredth time. “I could see they were coming, Queen Cartimandua. I told you. Nothing to do about it now but wait.”

But I could already feel that the wait would not be long. Within the hour, the pains I had been feeling in my lower back for days intensified to such an extreme degree I had difficulty maintaining my decorum.

“Carti,” Eddin said, watching me nervously as I paced, pausing only to gasp for air as the pain shook me.

I waved at him to be silent. “It’s all right. I just… I think taking the assassin’s arrow may have been less painful.”

Eddin went to the window, opened the shutters, closed them again, and reopened them again. Again and again, he fussed with the windows.

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