Page 42 of Boudicca

“We came as soon as we heard the Romans had attacked Tasceni,” said Ealhhere.

From behind Ealhhere the driver of the chariot shouted, “We did not wait for your call, my queen. We came!”

“Aye!” shouted the other warriors together. And then they spoke the words that would become our war song.

“We heard what the Romans did,” another warrior said.

“And we came!” shouted the rider on the horse beside him.

“Aye, we came!” repeated Ealhhere.

My heart thrilled at their cries. I stepped forward and put a hand on Ealhhere’s shoulder. “May Andraste bless you.”

Ealhhere’s smile blazed. “Is it true then? Have you declared war on the Romans?”

“I have,” I said.

The warriors behind him loosed the Iceni war cry, which my village answered. Cadoc strode up to us. Eyes sparkling, the old warrior greeted Ealhhere fondly. “I should have known you would be the first to come.” Then he tilted his head and studied the sweat-lathered horses. “But our riders have just reached Durobrav. How do you know Queen Boudicca called for you?”

I took up the words to the song that would sustain us. “They did not wait for our riders to relay my call. They came.”

Cadoc clapped the tall horseman on the back as his gaze found mine. “Aye, well, the call of Victory is impossible to ignore.”

Wulffaed was suddenly there at my side. “Shall I bring the warriors food, my queen?”

“Yes, and prepare more. A great deal more food.” My voice was filled with pride. “These warriors are only the first of many.”

Chapter XVI

As would become habit for me, I woke the next morning at first light. Phaedra dressed me in my best riding leathers. Derwyn and his Druids would inter the remains of my mother and our people today. When I painted my face that morning I did so with white paste to honor the Iceni who had so recently crossed over to Annwn. That morning I had Phaedra wrap my hair back loosely in long hemp yarn that had been dyed white by the same lime paste our cavalry and charioteers used to dye their hair. My first order of business was to have Briallen alert my guard that they would be escorting the remains of our people to the Chief’s Barrow and that I commanded they dress and paint themselves as if for battle. I would do this one last thing to honor my mother and those who had died so bravely with her.

Wulffaed had mugs of steaming tea and plates of fresh bannock ready, as well as strips of pork sizzling with newly gathered eggs. She ran my lodge with an ease and efficiency that was solace to my battered home and heart. Ashlynn and Ravenna, two of Wulffaed’s granddaughters, gregarious girls in their late teens, had attached themselves to my daughters. They’d taken to sleeping on pallets at the foot of their bed, and they coaxed the girls with smiles and a lightness of spirit that spoke to Enfys and Ceri. The girls left their bedchamber to join me near the hearth. They still moved stiffly, but they cast fewer furtive looks around the lodge, and when my guard opened the wide front doors to allow Cadoc, Abertha, and Maldwyn to enter, my daughters did not bolt at the sight of the two male warriors, though Briallen did move from the doorway to stand close to the girls.

“My queen,” Cadoc said. “More warriors arrived with the rising of the sun.”

“From Durobrav?” I asked.

“There and from several other villages between here and Durobrav,” said Cadoc.

“We counted almost one hundred warriors—all cavalry,” said Maldwyn, my young horse master, with a smile.

“We should discuss how we will house them,” said Abertha as she snagged some bannock from the mound Wulffaed had placed on the long table beside the main hearth of the lodge.

I motioned for the other two warriors to join Abertha in breaking their fast, which they eagerly did as I thought about the dilemma of housing warriors.

“Aye,” said Cadoc around a mouthful of pork and egg. “And there will be many more than this hundred. These came without being called. In the next fortnight we will be flooded by Iceni eager for Roman blood.” He swallowed, and his gaze met mine. “When do you plan to attack Camulodunum?”

“Not until we are fully armed and my three lead warriors say we are ready,” I answered with no hesitation.

“To prepare fully will take months. The gathered warriors will get restless,” said Abertha.

“Then the three of you will keep them so busy training that they will be too exhausted to be restless,” I said. “I will not rush this attack. Our numbers must swell so high that there will be no question that we can overpower the Roman stronghold. We have one opportunity to strike while Rome is still congratulating itself for having taught the barbarian queen a lesson.”

Cadoc nodded. “After Camulodunum they will know all too well that the barbarians have come for them.”

“How do we keep them from knowing until then?” Maldwyn asked.

The words came to me so easily that I knew Andraste had placed them there years before. It was her preparation of me in those years when Prasutagus valued his Victory enough to keep me close to his side. My voice was calm and sure from listening and learning at the side of a warrior chief blessed by a warrior goddess.