Page 60 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Swallowing my smirk, I turned to Cormag, who was looking at me with a light smile on his features.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Only that you are beautiful,” he said, then kissed my hand.

“While I appreciate the compliment, that is not the entire truth.”

“I see both your lovely face and the mind behind your sparkling eyes, which is hard at work. That pairing is your true beauty.”

I winked at him.

The night passed pleasantly enough, with Lord Gregor trading a few brief compliments about the bounty of the table and warmth of my hearth.

“I will be sorry to leave you in the morning,” he told me. “But I must report to Lady Ystradwel that you received her gifts. She was anxious to be the last of your chieftains to congratulate you. She worried it would look…well…” he said, then waved his hand in way of explanation.

“We know Ystradwel’s heart. She need not worry.”

“Yes. I am sure you’re right,” the man said with a smile, but I could not help but notice how the corners of his eyes crinkled.

What game was he playing at? Something told me I should have the kitchen poison his meal and be done with him. I hoped my sour mood was only a reflection of the fact that my breasts were aching and I was tired. And yet… I did not trust Lord Gregor. He would need to be watched.

A short time later, I bid Lord Gregor good night, then went to Eddin.

“I will retire now and check on the girls,” I told him.

“I am afraid I must make my plans to depart soon as well. I am for Mydils in the morning.”

“Mydils?”

Eddin nodded. “There is a shipmaker in Mydils who is Dardani. I find my ports stripped by Carvetti ambition. If I hope to revitalize my lands, I must rebuild my trading fleets and make for Wales and Éire, as Lord Gregor has done.”

“That certainly explains the number of silver buckles on his tunic.”

“He was eager to tell me about his good fortune. I am not the ruler of the Brigantes, but if I were, I would certainly like to look at what that wealth has bought and learn who may have boughthim.”

“My thoughts exactly. You will say goodbye before you go.”

“Of course. I must be sure to say farewell to the princesses,” he replied, “and to their mother,” he added softly. He turned then and called to Cormag, crossing the room to speak to my husband.

I watched as the pair talked. It warmed my heart to see them as friends. I wanted Eddin to be happy. Perhaps he could find a woman to love and have his own family. But even as I thought it, an ember of jealousy flickered to life in me. I worked quickly to squash it.

Fabius joined me. He sipped his ale and then said, “It must be hard for King Eddin.”

“What must be hard?”

“Seeing the woman he loves married to another. It is also hard for you, but you love your husband and are a loyal woman. Alas, great queen, fate does not always make things easy. Don’t I know it?”

I turned and looked at Fabius. “Are you astute, or am I so obvious?”

“It is my keen perception only, of course,” Fabius said. “Speaking of, you should probably have that smirking lord whatever murdered.”

“I thought so as well.”

“Good,” Fabius replied, then looked into his mug. “Which this aleis not. Really, Queen Cartimandua, you must buy some proper wine. Let me go and flirt with Elspeth. Maybe she’ll sneak me something better.”

“Leave my kitchen maids alone.”

“She started it,” Fabius told me with a wink, then departed.

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