Page 52 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Lady Verbia, forgive me, but Prince Cormag—” Eddin interjected.

“Regan and Aelith,” I said, feeling myself drift again. “Verbia is right. The princesses of the Brigantes…”

And then, everything went dark.

CHAPTER 14

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark and warm. My gaze shifted to the windows. Through the thin cracks, I could see it was night once more.

“Eddin?” I called softly.

“I’m here,” he replied, rising.

I realized he’d been sleeping in a chair beside my bed.

“Where are my girls?” I asked.

“Sleeping,” Eddin whispered, gesturing to the cradle close to my bed. Seated beside it was Verbia, her hand on the side of the cradle, her chin on her chest as she slept.

I looked around, confused. “What… What happened?”

“You fainted after the birth. It was… For a moment, we thought…” he said, his voice catching. He coughed lightly. “You lost so much blood. You must rest, Carti.”

“The children. They’ve had nothing,” I said, my hand dancing toward my aching breasts.

“The midwife sent for a wet nurse. She and Hilda had a terrible argument about it. Hilda tried to forbid it until Verbia silenced your maid.”

“Verbia?” I asked.

Eddin laughed lightly. “Still fire left in her. Everyone was ashen when she was done speaking. The woman, Greer, is resting in there,” he said, gesturing to the room just off my own where Ystradwel once resided. “She has been looking after the princesses.”

I smiled warmly at Verbia, my gaze shifting to my girls. “I barely saw them. Let me gaze on them,” I said, trying to shift my position in bed, but I felt too weak.

“You should not get up. I can bring them to you.”

I nodded.

Moving gently, Eddin lifted dark-haired Regan, who exhaled softly but did not wake. He carefully set her in my arms.

“Her hair is so dark,” I said in a whisper.

“Like yours…and Cormag’s. As Verbia no doubt knows, the name means queen.”

“As the elder sister, she will be my heir, even if she beat her sister to it by moments.” I stroked her soft hair and then kissed her head. “My sweet princess.”

Working quietly, Eddin lifted my younger child and brought her to me.

“Aelith,” I said, smiling as he set her in my other arm.

“Carti, you do not need to keep?—”

“Eddin, your mother was the essence of grace and beauty. Verbia is right to remember her,” I said, wondering what other motivations Verbia may have had in naming the princess after the late Dardani queen. “Sweet Aelith,” I said, looking at my small daughter. Her hair was so fair. “They are tiny.”

Eddin nodded, sitting on the bed beside me. “Violet said it was because they were two, and the birth came a bit early, but both are healthy and eating well,” he said, gently stroking Aelith’s hair.

A moment later, we heard a commotion in the hallway. There was the sound of voices and the ringing sound of gear. Eddin rose, his hand going to the sword on his belt.

“Eddin,” I whispered in terror, holding my girls closer.

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