Page 57 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Lady Ystradwel is to be thanked. They are beautiful,” I said with a polite smile. “Now tell me, Lord Gregor, given your close connections with the Cornovii, what news of their internal war? How has King Aengus fared since I last saw him?”

The man paused. Was he not expecting me to ask? Or was his hesitation something else?

“Aengus is still king of the Northern Cornovii, much like the Northern Iceni rule their tribe. To the south, King Ord finds himself further pulled into the Catuvellauni’s ambitions. Soon, Ord will find that waging war on two fronts is a risky business. Not all rulers are as successful as Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes. I suspect Aengus will soon wish to press his case south.”

In which case, he will call on us for help—thanks to Cam’s ill-conceived actions.

“Cam may have had old friends and obligations, but I am under no onus to pay Cam’s debts.”

“Ah,” Lord Gregor breathed. “You speak of Cam asking Aengus for help with the Carvetti.”

“Indeed.”

“And you are concerned Aengus will call upon the Brigantes to repay that favor.”

I gave the man a stiff smile. “Yes. And whenKingAengus comes calling, you will remind him that onlyIspeak for my people—not the Setantii’s chieftain nor her retainers.”

“And what will you say, Queen Cartimandua? Aengusdidprotect the Setantii shoreline during your war with the Carvetti.”

“That is betweenKingAengus and me.”

“Of course. My apologies.”

“Won’t you take your rest, Lord Gregor? My housecarl will see you settled for the night, and we can speak again at the evening meal,” I said, gesturing for Kamden to escort Lord Gregor from the room. “You can better acquaint me with your holdings. I see you do very well in trade,” I said, eyeing the pearl hanging from his ear and the others decorating his vest.

The man paused as if he was not expecting to be dismissed—nor my observations about his dress. “Of course. Thank you, Queen Cartimandua.”

I signaled to Kamden to show Lord Gregor out.

After he had gone, I rose and went to look at the chests.

Conall and Fabius joined me.

“Very pretty,” Conall said, eyeing the diadems.

I lifted one of the small crowns. It was a fine piece, lovely for a small princess.

“And what do we know about Lord Gregor?” I asked Conall.

“His loyalty to the Brigantes blows like the wind. He is more Setantii or Cornovii, but not, historically, Brigantes. Cam liked and trusted him, and your father kept his distance.”

“I do not like that Ystradwel sent him on her behalf.”

“Cam was always close to Lord Gregor. Lady Ystradwel would have known him in her youth and would have trusted him. Perhaps that is why she chose him over her other retainers to send with her news and her gifts.”

“He was not there when we fought the Carvetti.”

“No. He was not.”

I frowned. “And what do my crows say about Ystradwel? This is the first I am hearing of her ailment.”

“Nothing. Ystradwel has been seen in Bell’s Harbor but mainly keeps to her fort. There was no reason to suspect anything wrong. If the Setantii priestesses have been caring for her illness, it would have remained secret and gone undetected by observing eyes.”

I stared at the priceless diadems. As I did, my mind began to wander. Had the assault by Catell and Ystradwel’s ridding of their unborn child somehow harmed her? Was she unwell because of what had happened to her here?

“I need someone inside Setantii walls, someone to check on Ystradwel. I do not like Lord Gregor. His dress and manner tell me he is a rich man, although I have nothing in Brigantes coffers to show for it. I need one of my little crows to perch closer to the Setantii nest.”

“It is a hard life when we begin to mistrust our friends,” Conall said, lifting an eyebrow at me.

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