Page 103 of Boudicca

He cleared his throat and muttered, “And may the blessings of the earth be on you.”

“Have you broken your fast?” I asked as Rhan joined me at the table.

“Yes, earlier. Though I would not refuse a mug of the Mother of Twenty’s mulled mead.”

“Wulffaed?” I called.

The woman appeared as she always did—already prepared. She placed mugs before the three of us.

Addedomaros flashed a charming smile at Wulffaed as he lifted the mug to toast her. “Ah, Wulffaed, what can I do to lure you away from Queen Boudicca?”

Wulffaed snorted and fluttered her fingers at him in abegone with yougesture, though she also smiled and tossed back her silver hair. Addedomaros definitely had a charm about him. He was an imposing figure who enjoyed the company of women. I frequently overheard Wulffaed’s daughters gossiping about the endless stream of lovers going to and from the Trinovantes chief’s bed. Addedomaros reminded me too much of my father for me to view him in a sexual way, but there was no denying his charisma or power.

“So, what do we do?” Addedomaros asked as Cadoc and Abertha entered the cave. Since the spring, my lead warriors had made a habit of breaking their fasts with me—it was a habit I enjoyed.

I was watching for Maldwyn when Abertha sat beside Cadoc and said, “What do we do about what?”

Addedomaros sighed heavily. “About the snow on the horizon and the fact that our supply wagons have not yet arrived, of course.”

“What is it you would like to do?” I asked as Wulffaed reappeared with a pitcher of mead and a platter of grilled fish and freshly baked bread.

“Something! The snow is coming. What will we do if the pass closes before the supplies arrive and we’re trapped here for the winter?”

“We will tighten our rationing. We have stock we can slaughter, and the lake is filled with fish. I’ve already spoken with Maldwyn and he has begun to supplement the herd’s feed with heather and tree moss.” I shrugged, not sure why Addedomaros was so worried when the answer to his question was obvious. “We won’t be fat when we emerge in the spring, but we’ll be well rested and alive.”

Addedomaros took a long drink of mead and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Being trapped in this valley all winter feels like a prison.”

“Beingtrappedin this valley means safety and survival.” I stared down my nose at him. “But, mighty Trinovantes chief, you are welcome to leave thisprisonand spend the winter fleeing from the Romans as you freeze and starve.”

His eyes narrowed at me, and then he snorted and his laughter boomed. “I like your directness, Queen Boudicca.”

“That is fortunate, as I do not know any other way to be,” I said, which made him laugh some more.

“My queen!” Maldwyn rushed into the cave. “Wagons have been spotted!”

Even though I’d spoken with complete confidence to Addedomaros, I was flooded with relief. “That is excellent news, Maldwyn. I—”

Addedomaros stood, gulped the rest of his mead, and slammed the empty mug down on the stone-topped table. “Now, that is newsto brighten a miserable winter’s day! Let us go and greet them!” He nodded a quick bow to me and then strode from the cave, bellowing for Mailcun.

“Mama, he makes a lot of noise,” said Ceri.

“Aye, like the rooster who pecks around outside my cave and wakes me at dawn with his nonsense,” muttered Cadoc.

Abertha and Maldwyn chuckled as Rhan tried to cover her laughter. I touched Ceri’s cheek. “Yes, he does. But let’s not say that in front of him.”

“Oh, I know that, Mama. But I can say it in front ofus.”

“Always, my little dove.” I grinned at her. Then I turned my attention to my warriors. “Go ahead and greet the wagons. I will join you after I look more presentable. Our people just traveled the width of our country to reach us and they shouldn’t be greeted by a bedraggled queen.”

My lead warriors grabbed hunks of bread and wrapped the fish in them and then hurried from the cave, eager to get the wagons settled and our precious supplies stored properly.

I called for Phaedra to attend me and then motioned for Rhan to follow us into my bedchamber. While Phaedra undid my sleep-tousled braid and began working her way through my hair, I asked Rhan a question that had been weighting on my mind.

“Rhan, I am trying to understand your father, because it is to our benefit if the Trinovantes chief and I are of one mind, but it is difficult,” I said. “Do you have any advice on how to handle him?”

Rhan, sounding very much like her father, barked a laugh. “‘Difficult’ is an understatement. Do you not remember how he blustered and bellowed when we were girls?”

“I do, but we were rarely the recipients of his bellows and blusters.”