Page 129 of Boudicca

“Exactly,” said Cartimandua. “What would the mighty Prasutagus have done had you betrayed him by inciting his warriors to rise against him?” She shrugged. “I cannot imagine he would have ignored such a slight.”

“Prasutagus was trustworthy and honorable,” said Cadoc. “You are neither.”

“Enough!” The room bristled at her tone. Cartimandua then continued as if they were cheering her on instead of wishing they could skewer her with their spears. “Yes, I have been close to the Romans for many years. Yes, I am ruthless. You should be grateful for both! Do any of you know how to lure the Fourteenth and Twentieth into a trap?” She leaned forward and pounded her fist on the table again. “No, I think not! But I do. I can serve you the two remaining Roman legions as if on a platter for Britain to feast.”

“If we destroy the Fourteenth and Twentieth, we end the Roman hold on us,” I said into the silence that met her words.

“Exactly! And after we have our country back, you and I candecidewho rules Britain.” Cartimandua’s eyes glinted as she smiled. “What say you, queen of the Iceni? Shall we ally and defeat Rome together?”

“What is it you propose?” I asked.

***

Cartimandua outlined her plan while we ate and drank well into the evening, and then Cadoc escorted the queen and her company to an opulent tent hastily erected by the lake. After she was tucked away for the night, my war council gathered in my lodge.

“Her plan is sound,” said Cadoc.

Leofric stood, knocking back his chair. He paced in front of my throne in agitation. “She cannot be trusted!”

“Not completely true,” said Mailcun. “I would not trust a rutting stag, but I know what he wants and how he plans to get it, and I can use that knowledge to track and kill him.”

I tried unsuccessfully to suppress a bubble of laughter. “Are you comparing Cartimandua to a rutting stag?”

“Aye, he is!” said Leofric, who’d stopped pacing to stare at Mailcun.

“He isn’t wrong,” said Cadoc. “We know what Cartimandua wants, and what we can trust is that she will do anything to get it.”

Maldwyn nodded. “We don’t need to trust her, at least not beyond luring the Romans into our trap. After that we part ways and she will, once again, be our enemy.”

“And she will not have the backing of Rome.” Leofric’s reddened face was slowly returning to a normal hue. “Which means the Catuvellauni will defeat her.”

Mailcun spoke up. “Aye, with the aid of Tribe Trinovantes. And we will retake our royal home of Camulodunum.”

“Aye,” Leofric said.

“So it is decided. Cartimandua expects my answer tomorrow when we break our fast.” I turned to Rhan, who was seated at my side. “I am inclined to agree to her plan, but not without the approval of Andraste.”

“At dawn Andraste will hear your petition,” said Rhan.

Rhan had spoken little during the evening, but had watched and listened. “What say you of Cartimandua’s plan, High Druid?”

“I agree that it is sound,” answered Rhan. “What she proposes is logical. But being allied with Queen Cartimandua is like being in bed with a viper. She will eventually strike, and her bite will be deadly.”

“That is exactly why Andraste will decide whether we ally with her or not,” I said.

It wasn’t that I trusted Cartimandua. I did not. What I trusted was her need to survive and thrive. Rome had proven too difficult for her to manipulate. She couldn’t control them, which meant allying with them no longer added to her power. When they no longer servedher, she would turn on them without a moment’s hesitation, as she had done with her husband’s family. Rome no longer served Queen Cartimandua, and that should benefit us all.

***

The morning dawned cold as winter, but the sky was cloudless and the sun promised warmth. I tucked my fur-lined cloak more closely around me as Cadoc and my lead warriors followed me from my lodge. Rhan had left my bed while it was still dark, saying that she would cleanse herself and leave offerings to Andraste before she chose a hare.

It was so early that the camp was just beginning to stir and I was surprised to see Cartimandua, her shield, and her Queen’s Guard standing outside their tent. The queen approached me, followed by her people.

“I assumed you would petition Andraste early,” said Cartimandua. “May my escort and I join you?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I always petition Andraste publicly. Anyone in my camp may join me.”

“Anyone?” Cartimandua sucked air through her teeth. “That is mostgenerous.”