Page 47 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Corva?”

“No sign of her for weeks now.”

Eddin sighed. “When the midwife comes from the village, send her in at once.”

“Yes, King Eddin.”

“And send a boy to the kitchens. Ask them to brew up a tonic of raspberry leaf.”

“And bring my walnuts from my workroom,” I called.

“And bring the queen’s walnuts from her workroom,” Eddin added.

“Where did those come from?” Conall asked.

“Me,” Eddin said.

“Now, that is a miracle. She pined for them for months with none to be found. I’ll fetch them and a pitcher of ale for you and me,” Conall told Eddin.

“Excellent idea.”

With that, Eddin came back inside. I lay with my hand on my belly, my thoughts going to Cormag. What if he didn’t make it in time? What if something happened to me during the labor? He would not be here to see his children enter the world.

Eddin sat down beside me and rubbed my back.

“Sleep if you can, Carti. We are all watching over you. Cormag will be here soon. Rest now. You will need your strength later.”

I drifted off to sleep. As I did so, I sent my thoughts spiraling to Cormag.

Come, my crow. Fly home to me.

There wasa knock on the door sometime later. I woke to find Eddin ushering Hilda and the village midwife into the room. The woman, Violet, had tended me once when I had fallen from an ill-conceived climb up a willow tree that resulted in my arm in a sling. I remembered her bouncing golden curls, now dulled with age to pale yellow. Behind her came a teenage girl. I took her to be Violet’s apprentice.

“My queen,” she said, bowing deeply. “I apologize for the delay. Brigantia is calling all women this day, it seems. I have already delivered two since the sun rose.”

“If you are needed in the city, please do not hesitate to—” I began, but pain ripped through my body, making my back arch. “Aye, gods,” I said, clutching Eddin’s hand.

“I suspect I am needed here,” Violet replied with a grin.

“There is no sign of the priestesses of Brigantia,” Hilda said with a huff.

“I can tend to mother and babes well enough without them,” Violet said, waving dismissively. “Just like we tended that arm when you thought you were a squirrel instead of a princess. Do you remember that, my queen?”

“I do. And I remember you slipping me sweets while wrapping my arm. Any chance you have those with you today?”

At that, she laughed. “I’m afraid not, Queen Cartimandua. And it will do you no good in this instance. Well, we had best see to the situation,” she said, her gaze shifting briefly to Eddin.

Eddin squeezed my hand. “I will be outside if you need me.”

“Coward,” I told him, making him laugh.

“I’ll go see if there is any word of Cormag,” Eddin told me.

I nodded, trying to ignore the rippling pain once more.

“Coming fast upon you now, isn’t it?” Violet asked.

“Yes.”

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