Page 142 of Boudicca

I slid from Tân’s back and went to my knees before her. Behind me I heard my daughters and Briallen dismount. Then they were beside me, also on their knees. Even the two wolves went to their bellies.

With my head bowed I said, “Blessed Brigantia, I greet you and thank you for guiding us through Annwn.”

“You may rise, children,” said the goddess. Her voice was the forest—rustling leaves and birdsong.

We stood and stared at the goddess. She was magnificent and wild—a blazing brand, a proud stag, a musical stream cascading to a waterfall crescendo.

“Andraste’s Boudicca, daughter of my beloved Arianell, you did me a kindness in Camulodunum. For that I thank you.”

“I was glad to end Rome’s desecration of your shrine,” I said.

She nodded, her massive antlers casting pointed shadows around her like dark blades. “Yes, would that all of my children were as faithful. Cartimandua, queen of my Brigantes, will pay for today’s betrayal.”

I had no words and could only bow my head.

“Now you must leave the protection of Annwn. Go north to Caledonia. There you will be out of reach of your enemies.”

Shock jolted through me. Caledonia? The Highlands were days,weeks,away, and the route passed through almost a dozen different tribal territories. A wave of nausea washed over me and I staggered.

The goddess’s strong hand caught my elbow, steadying me. “Your Queen’s Guard knows the way to the realm of Beira, winter queen and mother of gods. Mighty Beira will succor you. You can do this, Andraste’s Victory. And you will not be unprotected along the way. Seek the sign of the stag. There you will be safe. Seek the sign of Andraste’s raven or hare. There you will be safe.”

“But what of Andraste?” I blurted, feeling the absence of my goddess deep in my spirit. “Is she not here? Will she not speak to me?”Or is she too disappointed in me to show herself?

Brigantia touched my cheek gently. Her smile was so like my mother’s that it made my breath catch. “I am here in Andraste’s stead. She is with the Iceni in that valley of death, embracing each of her children as their spirit leaves their body. She is their comfort and their guide. They will feast with her this very night.”

A ragged breath escaped me and I had to clench my hands into fists, digging my fingernails into my palms, to keep from keening my despair.

“Boudicca.” The goddess took my face between her hands. “Know that you are being watched, and that goddesses never forget those they have chosen as their own.” Brigantia kissed my forehead.

There was another blaze of light and the goddess was replaced by the white stag. He met my gaze, dipped his velvet muzzle, and then raced away. The air around us rippled, and with the sound of a sigh Annwn closed the veil between worlds, leaving us to peer around in confusion. It was late in the evening and I had no idea where we were,but as I studied the empty countryside I knew we were nowhere near the valley of death.

“We have to keep moving,” I told my exhausted daughters.

Ceri nodded and patted her wolf’s head. “To Caledonia, like the goddess said.”

“Yes, little dove. North to Caledonia.” I met Briallen’s gaze. “We’ll ride until there is no more light.”

Briallen nodded. “We will because we must.” My Queen’s Guard met my gaze as she eerily echoed the words we’d spoken to each other that terrible day in Tasceni when our world had forever changed.

“Yes,” I whispered brokenly. “We will because we must.”

“Do not worry. As the goddess said, I know the way, my queen,” added Briallen.

My hands shook as I pulled the torque from my neck. “Don’t call me that. It isn’t safe. When the Romans don’t find my body they will come looking. And I am queen no more as my people are no more.”

Ceri’s hand slipped into mine. “You are my queen, Mama.”

Enfys nodded. “And mine.”

Briallen said, “As long as I breathe you will be my queen.” She bowed low to me. “But to keep us safe I’ll be calling you Herself.”

Again, I had no words. I could only nod as I went to the full saddlebags Rhan had packed and strapped on Tân, opened a bulging bag, and slipped the torque within before closing it securely. We remounted. My last warrior took the lead and turned us north, urging our weary horses into a ground-eating trot as my daughters and I followed.

Chapter XLV

Just before twilight we approached a wide, murky river and I knew where we were. I’d crossed the river Mersey during my wedding procession from Isurium to Tasceni and easily recognized the river as the boundary between the Cornovii and Brigantes tribes. This time my crossing was so different from the first that it didn’t feel real. In truth, since we had left the valley behind nothing felt real. We did not ferry the wide river. We avoided all settlements, and as the sun sank toward the horizon to our left, we held tightly to our horses and swam the river, grateful that the bank was neither steep nor so muddy that our horses were bogged down.

Shivering, we continued northward. Briallen and I were searching for a spot to camp—somewhere within a sheltering grove where we could huddle for warmth, as lighting a fire in the territory of the queen who had betrayed us would not be wise—when Ceri called to me.