Page 59 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

“Heather is like her father,” Greer said, smiling at her daughter as she lay a sleeping Regan down by her sister. “He was a good-natured soul.”

I felt a twinge of guilt at the thought the man had died in my war, leaving the pair behind. “I am glad you are both here,” I told the Greer, who gave me a soft smile in return.

“Done,” Hilda declared, setting my diadem on my head.

“Well, now, let me see what trouble is afoot. Call if you need me,” I told Greer.

She nodded to me. “My queen.”

Earlier that night,I had apprised Eddin and Cormag about our visitor.

“I do not remember this man,” Cormag had said with a frown. “He was not there when we fought the Carvetti.”

“No. He was not,” I replied.

“And yet he is close to Ystradwel now?” Eddin asked with a frown. “I remember him only a little. What little I do recall, I always thought him a slick creature.”

“Do you fear Ystradwel’s rule is in danger?” Cormag asked.

“I don’t know this man nor his motivations. He claims Ystradwel trusts him and that he is friendly with so-called King Aengus. As for the rest… His manner and dress indicate he has great wealth, which he has kept to himself.”

“Yet his rumors about the Cornovii are true,” Cormag said.

I nodded. My spies had learned as much as Lord Gregor had shared. The true king of the Cornovii was being drawn into the wars of the south, led by the Catuvellauni.

“And thus, Cam’s noose around the Brigantes’ neck tightens,” I said with a frown.

“He will ask you to support King Aengus?” Eddin asked.

“In a way, he already has. I have made clear to him that I will not be drawn into the Cornovii’s civil war, no matter what Cam’s promises.”

“And here I thought it would be my northern Brigantes neighbor keeping me awake at night,” Eddin said, “and not the fair maiden to my south.”

“And is there news from your north?” I asked.

Eddin frowned. “Nothing, thus far, just many snarling retainers who do not like that we are Dardani once more.”

“Any news of the Carvetti chieftain himself?” I asked.

“It has been quiet this winter. My men have jested that…” Eddin paused and then looked from Cormag to me. “I should not say.”

“Say it,” I coaxed.

“It is unseemly.”

I laughed. “Now I want to hear all the more.”

Eddin chuckled lightly. “They say that Lady Alys escaped the winter without child, whereas the Brigantes managed two. There have been some bawdy comparisons about…virility.”

Cormag huffed.

I rolled my eyes but said nothing. I would not be so petty as to feel smug over my blessings from Brigantia when none had been granted to Alys and Venu. My spy at Alys’s side suggested that it was a tense marriage. The couple spent little time together. It came as no surprise to me that Alys was not with child. Her maid said Alys spent all winter planning a visit to her parents and had often suggested she would not return to the Carvetti seat.

“Virility or not, all that matters is if the Carvetti stay in line,” I finally replied. Although my heart pitied my old friend.

The great hallwas full of life and light. Musicians played, and a feast had been prepared. My voracious hunger had not left me with the arrival of the little ones. If anything, even with Greer’s help, I was constantly trying to keep pace with my girls’ hunger.

Lord Gregor seemed surprised to find Eddin in attendance. He took advantage of the situation by speaking with him throughout the dinner. At some point, I realized that Gregor knew the elder King Eddin and was reminiscing with Eddin about Eddin’s late father. With his easy manner, Eddin turned the conversation and managed to get the lord talking about his trade with Éire and his connections to the druids on Mona.

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