Page 127 of Boudicca

The chiefs and Abertha followed me to my cave lodge. Rhan joined us, having seen the Brigantes messenger with Cadoc. As Wulffaed was pouring mead, Cadoc returned with Maldwyn, who had been with the herd when a fresh horse had been chosen for Deorwine.

“Do we follow him?” Cadoc repeated Abertha’s question with no preamble.

“Yes,” I said. “But stealthily. I want Cartimandua to think I believe her message to be genuine.” I drank deeply, clearing the dust from my throat. “Mailcun, we need the fleetest of the Trinovantes horses to follow Deorwine. See if he spoke the truth about with whom the queen travels, and then return here ahead of Cartimandua and report to us.”

“Aye,” Mailcun said. “That can be easily done.”

I motioned for one of Wulffaed’s daughters to take Mailcun’s order to the Trinovantes camp.

“I still believe it would be wise to kill her. Now,” said Leofric.

I nodded. “I understand that desire. Cartimandua has proven to be self-serving. I know that better than anyone here. My father was kinsman to her husband, Venutius. He disagreed with her about allying with the Romans and she divorced him, then commanded her guard to execute several members of his family.”

“Why even meet with her?” asked Comux.

“Because we need to know not just what she wants of us but how she knows we wintered here,” I said. “If she is the tip of the spear for the Roman legions, it will not matter whether I turn her away or not.The Romans already know our location.If I turn her away or kill her, it will not change what the Romans know, but it will ensure we have no more knowledge about them than we do at this moment.”

“I do not think we can trust her,” said Maldwyn.

“Aye,” the chiefs muttered.

“We aren’t trusting her. We’re listening to what she has to say.But we shall do more than that. Tomorrow at midday the practice field will be filled with our warriors training. Spread the word. We wear our battle finery.” My smile was filled with confidence. “Queen Cartimandua will witness for herself the might of our army.”

***

The warrior sent to follow Deorwine returned at first light after having ridden all night. He reported that Cartimandua was, indeed, only escorted by two dozen Queen’s Guard and her horse master. He even backtracked the queen’s trail and saw no sign of Rome or any other warriors.

When the sun was high overhead, the crowded training field rang with the sounds of blows and the thunder of chariots. Goats and pigs and cattle had been slaughtered and spitted so that enticing aromas wafted throughout the camp. Iceni, Dobunni, Trinovantes, and Catuvellauni wore their colors proudly when Queen Cartimandua, in an ornate chariot pulled by matching black stallions and driven by Deorwine, entered our valley with Cadoc escorting them within. Her Queen’s Guard followed, all mounted on black horses, as was tradition for Tribe Brigantes. They were a magnificent sight.

I waited at the mouth of my cave lodge wearing the Beltane dress my mother had embroidered for me. My hair was free and my torque was my only jewelry. Rhan stood beside me wearing the white robes Wulffaed had meticulously dyed and fashioned for her, proclaiming her station as high Druid for all to see. Under my direction, Wulffaed had staged the interior of the lodge carefully. My chair had been draped with fox pelts and elevated to become a throne. On either side of me, chairs had been situated. Mailcun, Leofric, and Comux sat to one side. On the other were chairs for Rhan, Cadoc, Maldwyn, and Abertha. Briallen would stand guard at my throne. The long table had been placed before my throne, so that Cartimandua, her horse master, and the leader of her guard could sit. The rest of her guard would remain outside.

As Cartimandua came into view, I was reminded of her beauty. Though she was far from young, the queen of the Brigantes was astriking woman. She wasn’t tall, but what she lacked in height she made up for in presence. I remembered her as foxlike. Her chin was pointed and her nose straight and strong. Her eyes were an unusual amber color. Her hair had been a unique mixture of blond and auburn but was now completely silver gray—a mane that spread out around her in a mass of thick curls held back by a gold coronet. Her face was painted in bold lines of black and white and brilliant yellow that met the black tattoos adorning her neck and chest. She wore a flame-colored dress. Its bodice was covered with a huge stag embroidered with white thread. Her torque was familiar. She’d been wearing it since I was a child—twisted gold that ended in antlers. Her arms were covered with gold bangles, and around her shapely waist there was a slender golden chain from which dangled a large pendant of a golden stag.

Deorwine helped her from the chariot. The leader of her Queen’s Guard dismounted and went to her side as she and Deorwine followed Cadoc to where I waited.

Cartimandua paused before me and bowed her head. “Queen Boudicca, it has been far too long since last we met.” Her distinctive voice, low and husky, evoked my childhood, when the queen would often come to our lodge for drinks and discussions about which horses my father would keep and which stallions would be bred to that season’s mares. I steeled myself against an unexpected wave of longing for my dead father.

I bowed in return. “Welcome to my winter lodge, Queen Cartimandua. Enter as an honored guest.”

But instead of coming into the lodge, Cartimandua’s sharp fox-colored gaze went to Rhan. “I see you have a Druid. I envy you. They are rare.”

“I am Rhan,thehigh Druid, Queen Cartimandua,” Rhan said, correcting her immediately.

The queen’s gaze traveled down Rhan’s white robes. “Yes, I can see that. It saddens me that Derwyn did not escape the massacre at Ynys Môn.”

Cadoc, who had already walked past me to take his seat, snorted,and I heard the low, disgruntled mutters of the chiefs who were already inside.

“Will you join me within?” I asked Cartimandua. “You must be hungry and thirsty after your long journey.”

“Indeed I am. But first, I brought you a gift.” She motioned over her shoulder at one of her guards. “Two barrels of fine Roman wine.” The guard led forward a black gelding who had barrels strapped on either side of his wide back.

“A generous gift,” I said as she followed me inside. Her Queen’s Guard also tried to enter, but Briallen stepped before them, spear blocking their way. When Cartimandua’s warriors began to protest, the queen looked back at them and smiled.

“Remain outside. There are thousands of Iceni all around us. If Queen Boudicca means me harm, the dozen of you will not stop them.” Still smiling, she returned her sharp gaze to me. “Shall we?”

I led her to the table and motioned for her to take the center seat. Deorwine and the leader of her Queen’s Guard sat on either side of her as I called to Wulffaed. “Queen Cartimandua has gifted us with two barrels of Roman wine. Have one brought within and served, and the other opened and served to her guard.”

Wulffaed frowned but did as I asked. I knew the wine had been a test. If I’d refused it, I would have insulted Cartimandua. If I’d accepted it but not served it, I would have appeared at best selfish and at worst needy. By serving it, especially to her guard, I demonstrated not just my generosity but also that I did notneedher wine.