Funeral on the River

Princess Cartimandua ("Carti") of the Brigantes tribe mourns her father, King Consort Volixus, as his body is ferried down the River Ure for burial. The tribe's matriarchal line is strong, but Volixus was the mind behind the throne, and his sudden, suspicious death leaves a power vacuum. Carti's mother, Queen Morfudd, is devastated and vulnerable. The funeral rites at the Three Sisters Henge draw all the northern tribes, including old rivals and potential allies. The air is thick with grief, suspicion, and the first hints of political intrigue, as whispers of poison and murder begin to circulate. Carti, already feeling the weight of leadership, senses that her world is about to change forever.

Shadows at the Henge

The funeral at the sacred henge is both a public display of mourning and a private reckoning. Carti recalls her grandfather's advice: a ruler must be as sharp as a sword and as thorny as a blackthorn. The henge, aligned with the stars and the goddesses Brigantia and the Cailleach, is a place of power and omens. As the tribes gather, old wounds between the Brigantes and their neighbors—the Votadini, Carvetti, and Parisii—are reopened. The Cailleach's priestess warns Carti and Morfudd to trust no one, for the king's death was no accident. The funeral becomes a stage for veiled threats, alliances, and the first moves in a deadly game.

Poisoned Legacy Revealed

The cause of Volixus's death is confirmed as poison, but the culprit is unknown. Carti and Morfudd are told to keep the truth secret to avoid appearing weak. The Votadini, known as the Crow People, are the obvious suspects, but the priestess Môd cautions that the answer may not be so simple. Carti's grief is compounded by the knowledge that her family is in danger, and that the killer may be among those paying their respects. The funeral games and feasts that follow are tinged with unease, as Carti begins to see every gesture and word as a potential clue—or threat.

Games of Grief and Power

The funeral games—horse races, archery, and duels—are both a tribute to Volixus and a battleground for the ambitions of the tribes. Carti is courted by suitors, including the charming Prince Venutiux of the Carvetti and the enigmatic Prince Cormag of the Votadini. Her cousin Cadoc, pushed by his father Gallmaul, also seeks her hand. The games are marred by cheating, jealousy, and political maneuvering. Carti's favor becomes a symbol of alliance, and her every choice is scrutinized. Amid the spectacle, Carti realizes that her personal desires are secondary to the needs of her people—and that love, loyalty, and power are dangerously intertwined.

Rivals and Suitors Gather

As the feasting continues, Carti is caught between her affection for Venutiux and the attention of Cormag. Venutiux's jealousy and the machinations of his father, King Cuneda, complicate matters. The Parisii and Votadini press their own agendas, while Carti's cousin Cadoc and his brother Catell become increasingly aggressive. Carti's maid Ystradwel, a former princess of a conquered tribe, is both a confidante and a reminder of the costs of power. The atmosphere is thick with rivalry, and Carti must navigate a web of alliances, betrayals, and hidden motives.

The Blackthorn's Warning

After a fainting spell, Carti is tended by Cormag and his mother, Queen Mael Muire, who treat a blackthorn barb in her foot—a symbol of the Cailleach and a warning of strife to come. The encounter is charged with both danger and intimacy. The Cailleach's presence is felt, and Carti is told to ready her sword and armor, for secrets and enemies surround her. The blackthorn becomes a recurring symbol of pain, resilience, and the dark magic that underpins the world. Carti is reminded that her path will be thorny, and that she must be both strong and cunning to survive.

False Faces, Hidden Daggers

The feasts and games are a mask for deeper currents of intrigue. Carti's mother, Morfudd, is courted by suitors and manipulated by her brother-in-law Gallmaul. The chieftains of the Brigantes are restless, and the subtribes eye the throne. Carti's old friend Eddin, now a hostage of the Carvetti, warns her to trust no one. The priestesses urge caution, and Carti begins to suspect that the real threat may come from within her own family. The blackthorn barb in her hand is a constant reminder of the pain and danger that lurk beneath the surface.

The Queen's Folly

In a shocking move, Morfudd weds Gallmaul, Volixus's brother, in a secret sunrise ceremony. The chieftains are outraged, and the alliance with the Carvetti is shattered. Gallmaul pushes for Carti to marry his son Cadoc, consolidating power within the Tectoverdi line. Carti is furious and betrayed, realizing that her mother's weakness and Gallmaul's ambition have destabilized the tribe. The priestesses warn Carti to resist, for darker forces are at work. The marriage sets off a chain reaction of rebellion, suspicion, and impending war.

The Crow Prince's Dance

As war looms, Carti finds herself drawn to Cormag, the Crow Prince. Their dance is both literal and metaphorical—a tentative step toward peace, but also a risk of betrayal. Cormag reveals his own secrets, including his mystical connection to the Cailleach. The two share a moment of vulnerability and trust, even as their tribes are on the brink of conflict. Carti must decide whether to follow her heart or her duty, knowing that either choice could have dire consequences.

Betrayal in the Bloodline

An attempt is made on Carti's life by an assassin wielding a Tectoverdi dagger. The attack is foiled by Cadoc and Catell, but suspicion falls on Ystradwel, who is forced to confess her involvement in delivering poisoned gloves—unwittingly used to kill Volixus. The true mastermind is revealed to be Gallmaul, who, with his sons, plotted to seize the throne through murder and forced marriages. The web of betrayal tightens, and Carti realizes that the greatest threat comes not from rival tribes, but from her own kin.

The Assassin in the Night

The failed assassination attempt leads to a reckoning. The priestess Môd helps Carti uncover the truth: Gallmaul and his sons, driven by jealousy and ambition, orchestrated Volixus's murder and sought to eliminate Carti. Ystradwel, a victim of coercion and abuse, is exonerated. The Cailleach's judgment is invoked, and Carti prepares to mete out justice. The cycle of violence and betrayal reaches its climax, as the old order is swept away.

Truth in the Hollow Hills

Guided by omens and the wisdom of the priestesses, Carti confronts the legacy of her ancestors and the power of the Cailleach. The little people of the hollow hills, ancient spirits of the land, aid her in finding the assassin's weapon and confirming the guilt of Gallmaul and his sons. Carti embraces her role as the Blackthorn Queen, ready to wield both sword and sorcery to protect her people. The time for vengeance and renewal has come.

The Cailleach's Judgment

In a dramatic confrontation, Carti and Ystradwel serve Gallmaul and his sons poisoned wine, mirroring the method used to kill Volixus. As they die, Carti confronts her mother, who, wracked with guilt and shame, drinks the poison herself. The old regime is purged in a single, bloody night. The Cailleach's justice is swift and merciless, and Carti is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered family and tribe.

The Fall of Gallmaul

With Gallmaul, Cadoc, and Catell dead, and Morfudd gone by her own hand, Carti is left as the sole heir and ruler of the Brigantes. The chieftains rally to her side, recognizing her strength and resolve. The tribe is fractured, but the path to healing and unity is open. Carti must now face external threats—the Parisii's attack on Mydils Fort, the shifting alliances of the Carvetti, and the ever-present danger of Roman invasion. The price of survival is high, but Carti is determined to pay it.

The Queen is Dead

Carti is crowned Queen of the Brigantes, with the blessing of the priestesses and the grudging respect of the chieftains. She moves quickly to secure her borders, sending envoys to the Votadini and preparing for war with the Parisii. The old order is gone, and Carti must forge a new path—one that balances tradition, magic, and the harsh realities of power. The lessons of the blackthorn—pain, resilience, and the necessity of thorns—are etched into her soul.

The Blackthorn Queen Rises

In the aftermath, Carti offers her hand in marriage to Cormag, uniting the Brigantes and Votadini and ending generations of bloodshed. Their union is both a personal and political triumph, but the future is uncertain. The Parisii and Carvetti threaten from the south, and the specter of Roman invasion looms ever larger. Carti, now the Blackthorn Queen, stands ready to defend her people with wit, magic, and steel. The story ends with hope, but also with the knowledge that every crown is a crown of thorns—and that the greatest dangers may yet lie ahead.

Characters

Cartimandua ("Carti")

Carti is the daughter of Queen Morfudd and the late King Consort Volixus, heir to the Brigantes. Intelligent, sharp-witted, and fiercely loyal, she is thrust into leadership by her father's murder. Carti's journey is one of grief, suspicion, and self-discovery. She is torn between personal desires (her love for Venutiux, her attraction to Cormag) and the demands of duty. Carti's psychological arc is defined by her struggle to trust, her resilience in the face of betrayal, and her embrace of the Cailleach's dark wisdom. By the end, she becomes a queen forged by pain, ready to wield both compassion and ruthlessness.

Queen Morfudd

Morfudd is Carti's mother, a queen by blood but not by temperament. She is loving but indecisive, easily manipulated by those around her—especially her brother-in-law Gallmaul. Morfudd's grief over Volixus's death leaves her vulnerable, and her hasty marriage to Gallmaul destabilizes the tribe. Her inability to see through deception and her desire for comfort lead to tragedy. In the end, wracked by guilt, she takes her own life, a victim of both her own flaws and the machinations of others.

Gallmaul

Gallmaul is Volixus's brother and the main antagonist. Driven by envy and a sense of inferiority, he orchestrates Volixus's murder and seeks to seize power through manipulation, forced marriages, and violence. Gallmaul is cunning but ultimately self-destructive, underestimating Carti and overreaching in his ambition. His psychological profile is marked by resentment, insecurity, and a willingness to betray even those closest to him. His downfall is both poetic and brutal.

Ystradwel

Ystradwel is Carti's maid and the former princess of the conquered Setantii. She is proud, bitter, and deeply conflicted—both a hostage and a potential ally. Ystradwel is coerced into Gallmaul's plot, delivering the poisoned gloves that kill Volixus, and suffers abuse at the hands of Catell. Her confession and role in Gallmaul's downfall are acts of both desperation and redemption. Ystradwel embodies the costs of conquest and the complexities of loyalty under duress.

Prince Cormag

Cormag is the prince of the Votadini, known as the Crow People. He is mysterious, stoic, and deeply connected to the Cailleach. Cormag's initial role as a potential enemy shifts as he aids Carti, both physically and emotionally. His own status as a "bastard" and child of prophecy mirrors Carti's outsider status. Their union is both a personal and political alliance, symbolizing the possibility of reconciliation and the power of shared pain.

Prince Venutiux

Venutiux is the second son of the Carvetti, Carti's childhood friend and first love. He is gallant, loyal, and genuinely cares for Carti, but is ultimately a pawn in his father's political games. Venutiux's jealousy and inability to act decisively lead to missed opportunities and heartbreak. His forced marriage to Princess Alys of the Parisii is a bitter blow to Carti, underscoring the personal costs of political maneuvering.

Catell and Cadoc

Catell and Cadoc are Gallmaul's sons, eager to advance their own power through violence and forced marriage. Catell is cruel and predatory, abusing Ystradwel and participating in the plot against Volixus. Cadoc is brutish and simple, seeking Carti's hand as a means to the throne. Both are ultimately destroyed by their own actions and the justice of the Cailleach.

Eddin (Vellocatux)

Eddin is Carti's childhood friend, now a hostage and servant to the Carvetti. He is loyal, perceptive, and deeply wounded by his own losses. Eddin serves as a confidant and conscience for Carti, warning her to trust no one. His unrequited love for Carti adds a layer of tragedy to his character, and his fate is a reminder of the collateral damage of power struggles.

High Priestess Môd

Môd is the high priestess of the Cailleach, the dark goddess of winter and death. She is wise, enigmatic, and unflinching in her pursuit of truth and justice. Môd guides Carti through the labyrinth of betrayal, offering both spiritual and practical counsel. Her allegiance is to the goddess and the tribe, not to any individual, and her actions are often inscrutable but ultimately just.

The Cailleach

The Cailleach is the patron goddess of the Brigantes, embodying winter, death, and transformation. She appears in visions and omens, guiding Carti and shaping the course of events. The Cailleach's lessons are harsh but necessary: pain is a teacher, and survival requires both thorns and wisdom. Her presence is a reminder that power is both a gift and a burden, and that every crown is a crown of blackthorn.

Plot Devices

Poison and the Blackthorn

The use of poison—both literal (the gloves, the wine) and symbolic (the blackthorn barb)—is central to the plot. Poison represents hidden danger, betrayal, and the insidious nature of ambition. The blackthorn, sacred to the Cailleach, is both a warning and a source of strength, teaching Carti that pain is inevitable but survivable. The recurring motif of thorns underscores the necessity of resilience and the costs of leadership.

Ritual, Magic, and Omens

The story is steeped in Celtic ritual, magic, and the presence of the goddesses. The funeral rites, the henge, the omens of the Cailleach, and the intervention of the little people of the hollow hills all serve to connect the personal and political struggles to a larger, mystical framework. Foreshadowing is achieved through dreams, visions, and the symbolism of the land and its creatures.

Political Intrigue and Forced Marriage

The threat and promise of marriage drive much of the action, with Carti's hand sought by rivals and allies alike. Forced marriage is used as a tool of control, while Carti's ultimate choice of Cormag is both a personal and political act of agency. The shifting alliances, betrayals, and negotiations mirror the larger struggle for power and survival.

Narrative Structure and Perspective

The story is told primarily from Carti's perspective, allowing for deep psychological insight and emotional resonance. The narrative structure moves from mourning and confusion to revelation and action, mirroring Carti's own journey from grief-stricken daughter to resolute queen. The pacing is driven by a series of escalating crises, each revealing new layers of betrayal and strength.

Analysis

The Blackthorn Queen is a richly woven historical fantasy that explores the costs and necessities of leadership, especially for women in a world defined by violence, magic, and shifting alliances. Through Cartimandua's journey, the novel interrogates the nature of trust, the inevitability of betrayal, and the ways in which pain—symbolized by the blackthorn—can be both a wound and a source of strength. The story is as much

Last updated: July 27, 2025