Page 38 of Boudicca

“Let us proceed as if Tribe Trinovantes will not ally with us. The Iceni are strong. Even alone we will fulfill Andraste’s curse, but to do so we must be subtle. The procurator explained his plans clearly as he invaded Tasceni. He will not return to our lands until harvest, when he intends to collect Rome’s taxes.” I turned my head so that I could meet Cadoc’s sharp gaze. “If we do not call his attention to us, we have time to ready ourselves and bring our vengeance to him at Camulodunum. We will burn that Roman city to the ground with him in it. Catus Decianus will never defile Tasceni again.”

The warriors who filled the lodge murmured agreement, and Cadoc nodded. “If we gather the Iceni, we can destroy Camulodunum, though the Romans will surely respond by bringing their legions against us. We will not easily hold the city, my queen.”

I sneered. “I have no need to hold Roman ashes and ruins.”

Cadoc bared his teeth in a feral grin. “Again, I agree with your wisdom. I advise alerting all Iceni blacksmiths so that quietly, in each of our villages, they immediately begin forging spears and swords, arrows and shields.”

Maldwyn spoke up. “My queen, it would be wise to command the making of new chariots.”

Abertha leaned forward so that she could meet my gaze. “The weapons could be stockpiled within the barrows. The Romans do not go there.”

“The new chariots can be hidden in the forest surrounding the barrows,” added Maldwyn. “Romans rarely stray far from their roads.”

“Send runners to every village commanding it.” I shifted my attention to the two Druids beside me. “Derwyn, I planned to ask your permission to allow Rhan to remain here to serve as seer to the Iceni when you leave.” I paused and smiled into his wise eyes. “But it seems you answered my request before I could make it of you.”

He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “Last night Andraste sent a raven to my dreams. The bird spoke Rhan’s name before it flew to perch upon the roof of your lodge. It seems the goddess agreed with your request, and as I am here to serve the gods, I must also agree.”

My gaze returned to my people. “Then let it be known henceforth Rhan is seer to Tribe Iceni.”

“Let it be known!” the warriors shouted.

I turned to Rhan, and even though it had been many years since we had been inseparable, I read her face as if we had only parted yesterday. “Has Andraste sent you an omen to interpret, Seer Rhan?” I asked.

“She has, Queen Boudicca,” she replied formally. “At dawn, as I walked from the tents of the Druids through Tasceni to the lodge, every hen in the village suddenly ran past me, toward the fields.” Rhan did not raise her voice and the lodge went absolutely still as the Iceni listened, spellbound, to their newly appointed seer. “Their behavior was so odd that I followed. They appeared to be in a trancelike state, though when they reached the fields they ravenously attacked the young crops as if they were starving. When I drew near they turned as one to look at me and then they were released from their frenzy, ruffled their feathers, and trotted sedately past me to return to their roosts.”

“How do you interpret this omen, Seer Rhan?” asked Derwyn.

“Andraste used the hens to send sign that the Iceni must prepare now to feed an army this winter,” said Rhan firmly.

I shivered at her words. For a moment my confidence faltered. Feeding my army—I should have thought of it! Then I stopped that mental admonishment.I am but one person. I cannot possibly know everything. I will not be a queen driven by pride rather than wisdom. There is no shame in seeking and taking advice from my seer, my council, my goddess.I nodded respectfully to Rhan. “Then we will make it so. Pick every orchard bare. Harvest our crops early. Send word to all Iceni hunters to smoke venison and boar now, as if winter and not summer were upon us. Fatten our goats and cows. Cast our nets into our bountifulrivers and fill barrels with salted fish. The Iceni will be strong and ready for war.”

“Let it be known!” my people shouted.

“I will send out riders on our swiftest horses,” said Maldwyn.

“As you do so, tell them to also speak this command from their queen,” I said. “‘Come to me, mighty warriors of the Iceni. Come to me and together we will serve the vengeance of Andraste to the Romans.’”

“As you ask, so will I do,” said Maldwyn, his eyes glittering with excitement.

Chapter XV

The change that came over Tasceni began that day. Grief and defeat were replaced by determination and action. I ate the midday meal outside the lodge on tables I’d ordered placed along the main thoroughfare of the village so that the people could be fed quickly as they took short breaks from repairing the damage left by the Romans. There was a sense of excited anticipation that permeated Tasceni. Pens were rebuilt. The blackened thatched roofs of huts were replaced. The ruins of the stable were demolished and a new, simple structure was begun closer to the corrals. Throughout it all, the sounds of our blacksmith and his apprentices forging weapons rang like the knell of victory bells.

I ate with my people and then visited the huts where our wounded had been housed to recover and was gratified to learn that the Druid healers believed they would all survive.

The only dark spot on the day was that my daughters did not leave the lodge. Adara remained with them as they soaked their battered bodies in healing herbs while Briallen stood guard—and then, drugged by the healer’s tea, they returned to my mother’s bedchamber to sleep.

Adara found me as I emerged from the last of the huts housing our wounded. “Queen Boudicca, Derwyn has announced that we leave on the morrow. With your permission I will ask to remain so that I may continue to oversee the recovery of your daughters and the rest of the wounded Iceni.”

I nodded. “Yes, you have my permission and my gratitude.”

Adara easily read my expression. She patted my arm in a maternal gesture that had my stomach clenching with longing for my mother.“Your children will recover.” Her voice was as gentle as her touch. “Be patient. Give them time.”

“I will, and I—” My words were interrupted as my attention was drawn to the main road that fed into Tasceni from the forest. Along with me, villagers turned toward the sound of approaching carts. Warriors pushed forward toward me, and within several heartbeats I was surrounded by my guard.

My body went very still. Terror speared through me as I had a visceral memory of the Romans descending upon Tasceni. Panic narrowed my vision. I would have swayed and perhaps even stumbled and fallen had Rhan’s warm hand not gripped my elbow, steadying me.

“Breathe,” she whispered.