Page 88 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

The rest of the meal passed in idle conversation. When it was done, Lady Flora invited the ladies to join her for sweets, cardgames, and fidchell in the formal meeting chamber. Kamden—who had apparently arranged the respite—assisted her.

I gave the lady a grateful look, then turned back to the others, noting that Princess Alys had spoken a sharp word for her husband before leaving the room. The result left Venu frowning.

“May my son and I remain, Queen Cartimandua?” Lady Amma asked.

“Of course.”

“Planning to take my seat, Sister?” Aedan teased her. “You know, I’m not even thirty years old.”

“But you are reckless, while Aerin is careful,” she replied to her brother with a wink.

Aedan chuckled.

“Carti, should I—” Eddin began, but I motioned for him and Mael Muire to stay.

“I will have you both here,” I told him, then turned to Cormag, who nodded.

After the others had left the room, Mael Muire, with a serious expression, asked, “What has happened, Cartimandua?”

“Rome. Rome has happened. While the southern tribes bicker and fight, the Romans have marched to Gaul, built ships, and prepared to sail.”

At that, the others grew silent.

“They were led north by Emperor Caligula. He is a fierce soldier…and a madman. We must be thankful for his madness. Word has come from Gaul. The emperor has claimed his victory…over Ocean. His men attacked the waves themselves, filled their pockets with shells as spoils of war, and have begun their march back home.”

Mael Muire stared at me. “Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“They marched all the way to Gaul?” Eddin asked.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“But they did not launch? They are marching back?” Aedan asked.

“Yes.”

The chieftain narrowed his gaze at me. “When? How long ago did this happen?”

“Three days back.”

Putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Aedan stared at me. “Cartimandua…” he whispered.

I looked away.

“That is the word from our eyes in Gaul, delivered by a rider from Mydils,” Corva confirmed.

“Perhaps the druids infected his mind as they did to Caesar,” Chieftain Maelgwyn said.

“This was not the work of druids,” Aedan said, but I gave him a knowing look, silencing him.

“Then they have gone?” Amma asked. “It is certain, Queen Cartimandua?”

“They burned their boats as a sacrifice to their sea god, Neptune,” Corva said.

“Then let us thank Neptune for his help,” Chieftain Andoc added.

Mael Muire leaned forward. “You are right to be glad, Chieftain, but there is a larger concern here. The southern tribes… They have done nothing?”

---