Page 96 of Queen of the Hollow Hills

I stood in utter darkness, trying not to let fear wash over me.

Nettle trilled and then rubbed against my leg.

“Cartimandua, queen of the hollow hills, the caoineag calls. Do you hear her wail?” a voice whispered from the darkness.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice shaking.

“A season of change is upon you. And like a murder of crows, your eyes must look everywhere. Three battles come. Two, you must fight with ferocity and blood. One, you must use your wit, for in the face of a tidal wave, a sword brings you nothing.”

“What battles? With whom?”

“Cartimandua, queen of the mountains, queen of talon and bone, protect the people, the lands, the old things. Mother and shield before the old places, protect us.”

“I am no mother,” I whispered into the darkness. “The Cailleach has taken my children.”

“Mortal life is fleeting, great queen. But remember, you do not serve the sisters. You serve the land and the people. So serve, Cartimandua. Serve with mind and blood and fire. Three battles, great queen. The first is rising. Strike first, and you will succeed.”

“Where?”

“Look to your south. And send your crows flying, blackthorn queen. Because if you stay blind too long, the talons of eagles will come for your eyes.”

“Eagles?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

There was silence in the darkness.

“The last time I dealt with eagles, I lost what I loved most.”

“If you fail now, you could lose your whole world.”

“But the Romans… Caligula is dead. Claudius is bent on trade. I have heard nothing about?—”

“Your crows have been blinded, deceived, and murdered. See, Cartimandua. See or suffer.”

With that, their presence faded, and I felt I was alone again.

The flame of my torch flickered back to life.

I looked down at Nettle, the cat’s green eyes flickering in the torchlight.

“They sent you to fetch me, eh?”

The cat meowed back to me.

“And left Fergus cowering on the bed.”

Nettle licked her paw.

“Coming back? Apparently, I have work to do.”

The black cat flicked her tail at me, but rather than going back upstairs, she disappeared into the darkness.

I paused a moment, my heart slamming in my chest. Outside, the wind howled.

Rome…

Was it possible? Had I missed the signs, or had I simply stopped looking? I set my hand on my stomach. My daughters were gone. They had paid the ultimate price to keep Rome from these lands the last time. And despite mine and Cormag’s loving marriage, I had not conceived again.

Three wars.

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