Page 69 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

Lowering my voice, I said, “Rome marches to the shores of Gaul, its eyes set on our island. Our gods are the last defense before a sleeping south.”

“Rome,” Aedan whispered, aghast. “But what… What will the priestesses do? Surely, we must rally our forces and set off an alarm across this island?”

“Who do we awaken? The warring Catuvellauni? The defeated Atrebates? The bleeding Trinovantes? Only the Cantiaci and Regnenses are making ready—and the Regnenses are baking bread and readying ale. The rest of the south is sleeping.”

“Then we must?—”

“We must wait upon the priestesses and put our faith in the gods.”

“And if they fail?” Aedan asked.

I gave him a light smile. “I promise I will not tell Môd you suggested she might fail.”

Aedan sucked in his breath through his teeth. “Please don’t,” he said with a laugh, then nodded. “We will wait upon the gods, as you said, but I know you well enough to know that you have a plan in place if—if—something goes wrong.”

“I have already written the messages—or threats, depending. Corva carries them. They will be sent off at once if need be.”

Aedan smirked. “Of course you have, Queen Cartimandua. Of course you have.”

We entered the house, Aedan leading me to his dining hall. The place was warmly lit with a fire ring and braziers, which chased away the late evening chill. Servants hurried about busily preparing the table for us.

An attractive woman with long blonde hair pulled into a braid emerged from the kitchens to greet us.

“Queen Cartimandua,” she said, curtsying.

I narrowed my gaze as I studied her and then remembered. “Lady Amma,” I said with a smile. It had been years since I had seen Aedan’s elder sister. She was born to his father and his father’s first wife. She had married very young to an elder chieftain who had died early in their marriage, leaving the retainership to the lady and young Aerin.

“It is good to see you again, Queen Cartimandua. I was afraid you would not remember me.”

“It has been some time. I was, perhaps, only nine or so when I saw you last?”

Amma nodded. “Yes. I had come to Rigodonum with my father, who wanted Bellnorix’s permission for me to wed,” she said, then turned to her son, who joined her. She set her hand on the boy’s hair, smoothing it. “It has been many years since that day.”

I smiled from her to her son. “Aerin served us very well in the war against the Parisii. You should be very proud of your son.”

“I helped too,” Aedan added.

I laughed. “Here and there.”

Aedan laughed. “If you call helping rescue your majesty from kidnappershere and there.”

I patted Aedan’s cheek. “There’s always room for improvement.”

Amma laughed. “I am glad to see you give him no space to gloat. Otherwise, Aedan will chirp endlessly.”

I chuckled.

“Come, my queen, we have mulled cider to warm you, and the meal will be set directly,” Amma said, then turned to Corva, bowing deeply. “Priestess. You are all welcome in Isurium Brigantum.”

“Thank you, Lady Amma.”

Glad of the fire's warmth and tired from the long ride, I settled into a seat close to the fire. Soon, a whirlwind began around me as the meal was set, drinks were poured, and Conall and the rest of the guard rejoined us, along with Aedan’s household.

Those in Aedan’s household kept the conversation light, speaking of planting and the early spring rains. I did my best to listen, feeling weary from the long ride, when a piece of news caught my attention.

“It was going well until King Eddin bought half of this year’s foals at the market,” Aedan’s housecarl said with a laugh.

“King Eddin is trying to reseed his herds after years of Carvetti neglect. Of course he would select the best Brigantes horses,” Lady Amma said.

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