Page 104 of Boudicca

Rhan nodded. “Yes, they were usually reserved for his warriors and my half brothers. Though had he bellowed at Adminius occasionally, he might have grown into a more bearable man.”

“I’m just grateful your brother dislikes me enough to stay well away.”

“It is a blessing,” Phaedra muttered under her breath.

I turned to look at her. “Has Adminius bothered you?”

“No, but only because I belong to you.” Phaedra glanced at Rhan. “Forgive me for speaking so about your brother, but he is not liked.”

“There is no forgiveness required, Phaedra. Adminius has been tiresome and demanding his entire spoiled, cossetted life.”

“What has he done?” I asked Phaedra.

“He bullies the servants, and unhappy is the woman who catches his eye,” said Phaedra.

I turned around in my seat so that I could face Phaedra. “If he is abusing women, I want to know about it immediately.”

Phaedra sighed. “He stops short of physically forcing women to his bed, though often they do not feel as if they have any choice. He is the son of the Trinovantes chief.”

My face heated with anger. “I do not care whose son he is. Phaedra, spread the word. Queen Boudicca will protect anyone Adminius targets. All they need do is get word to me. If Addedomaros does not rein in that petulant man-child, I most certainly will.”

“As you ask, so will I do,” Phaedra said with a smile.

I turned around so she could finish dressing my hair and asked Rhan, “Why does your father bicker and bait me, and then seem pleased when I silence him?”

“Well, it has been a long time since I’ve lived with him, but I’ve observed two things. First, my father desires you.”

“What? No!”

Her lips quirked at the corners and mischief danced in her dark eyes. “Oh, I am sure of it. Add to his desire for you the fact thatno onespeaks to him the way you do, and it is little wonder he is obsessed. He loved my mother and was devastated by her death, but she was a timid woman whose soft voice soothed him rather than challenged him. You challenge him, and apparently he enjoys that.”

“Rhan, he reminds me ofmy father. I do not desire him. I will never desire him.”

Rhan nodded. “I believe everyone sees and understands that—everyone except my father.”

My mind was reeling. I was not an innocent maid, but I definitelyhad not expected to hear that the gruff Trinovantes chief who was often a thorn in my shoedesired me. “What do you advise?”

She shrugged. “Continue being yourself. If he is wise he will keep his desire to himself.”

I met her gaze and lifted a brow sardonically. “And how often is he wise about the women he desires?”

“Not often, but you are a powerful queen and his closest ally—not a young servant or the pretty daughter of a farmer. He is more old bull than rutting stag, and he is not stupid. He would have to be very sure of your response were he to approach you,” said Rhan.

I chewed my lip. I would be very sure not to do anything Addedomaros could interpret as an invitation or even an inclination to open my bed to him. Even so, I had done nothing to warrant his desire. It seemed that too often men who held power showed poor judgment when it came to their lust.

I sighed and spoke the truth. “I’ve given Addedomaros no reason to desire me—no reason to believe I want any relationship with him other than that of an allied queen and friend. What he fabricates in his mind is not my responsibility.”

“When he is embarrassed he becomes mean,” said Rhan.

“Don’t they all?” said Phaedra.

“Then Addedomaros should not put himself in an embarrassing position. I will not tread carefully around him. It is he who must manage his own emotions.” I dismissed the subject of Addedomaros’s lust with a wave of my hand. Phaedra finished braiding my hair and wrapped a fur-lined cloak around my shoulders. “Now, let us go meet our brave caravans and not worry overmuch about the desires of men.”

***

The line of caravans that stretched from the narrow entrance to our valley all the way to the last rise before it was a beautiful sight. Our people hovered about, anxious to greet family and friends. There was much laughter and many shouts of welcome. I was glad that most ofthe ground that surrounded the lake was gravelly. It helped considerably with the mud. I stood at the entrance to the valley and waved to each wagon, smiling and calling out personal greetings to familiar faces—until I caught sight of my lead farmer, Winifred, and her grim expression. Maldwyn and Cadoc escorted her to me.

Winifred’s knowledge of plants was vast. The Iceni depended upon her knowledge of crops. She set harvesting and planting dates and had a preternatural ability to make crops thrive. Farmers from neighboring tribes sought her out. I’d often come upon her in Tasceni surrounded by a group of men and women as she explained how to cure black spot or blight, and how to smoke insects from their fields.