Page 52 of Boudicca

“And trained,” added Maldwyn.

I considered as I chewed a bite of bannock. “It is wise. Cadoc, you, Abertha, and Maldwyn will judge their readiness. When you believe a group of warriors is prepared, they should return to their villages until they are called for in the fall.”

“May I speak, my queen?” asked Rhan.

“Freely,” I told her.

“Perhaps one warrior chosen from each group should remain in Tasceni. Then when it is time to take our vengeance to the Romans, those warriors will return to their villages to recall their people to us, ready for battle.”

“Yes. That idea has merit. This”—I swept my hand before me, taking in each of my advisors—“is how I shall begin each day. Cadoc, I will need updates on our numbers. Abertha, you will advise me on our armament and food stocks. Maldwyn, you are in charge of my training. Rhan, keep me advised of Andraste’s signs and omens.” I looked from one to another as I continued. “Always speak truth to me. There must be no dissent among us if we are to gain victory against Rome. You see”—I leaned forward—“Rome believes we are so barbaric, so ignorant, that we cannot unite and become the single-minded, living weapon we must be to defeat them.”

“Rome is wrong,” said Cadoc.

“Aye,” said Abertha.

“They do not know us,” added Maldwyn.

“They believe our passion and pride are weaknesses,” said Rhan.

“They are not,” I said firmly. “Andthatis a lesson I look forward to teaching Catus Decianus in exchange for the failed one he attempted to teach me.”

My warriors pounded the table with their fists in agreement.

***

That day a pattern was set that we followed like a wagon wheel in a grooved path. My warriors, my seer, and I met every morning just after dawn. As more and more Iceni flooded into the village, my lead warriors set up a training and armament system where each groupof new volunteers was evaluated, drilled, and armed. When Cadoc, Abertha, and Maldwyn were in agreement that the group was ready, they were sent back to their village after choosing one warrior to remain in Tasceni—a warrior they would watch for when the call came to return.

I drilled with Maldwyn on the open field, surrounded by my people. The sounds of warriors training beside me became music for my spirit and I realized quite soon that though my anger simmered and waited to boil, I was also content, even happy. Tasceni was filled with faith—in me, in our righteous cause, and in our goddess. We were of a single mind, and within that mind the wordvictoryechoed over and over.

***

“Good morn! Training today will beinteresting, my queen.” Cadoc had a glint in his eyes that bespoke mischief as he broke his fast.

It was the tenth morning since we’d begun my daily training ritual, and over a steaming mug of morning herbs, Maldwyn had just informed me that this was the day I finally graduated from battling unmoving straw targets to real warriors. I glanced from my horse master to Cadoc, and then from Abertha to Rhan. I looked forward to our dawn meal, where I began each day learning how the pulse of the Iceni beat. We’d grown accustomed to one another. I knew them so much better already. Cadoc loved to jest and his bawdy sense of humor often had me laughing during drills. Abertha’s wits were incredibly sharp. When there was a problem on the training field, it was to her I looked for the solution. Maldwyn was quiet and rather shy, but he observed everything and seemed to remember even the slightest detail from the training field. We’d become so at ease in one another’s company that they were comfortable jesting with me—and at that moment the four of them were grinning at me as if I had just missed one of their jests.

“What?” My gaze returned to the old shield. “Do you not think I’m ready to take on warriors instead of straw men?”

“Oh, that is not it at all,” said Cadoc quickly, a grin still lifting his lips.

When he didn’t elaborate, I looked to Maldwyn, who moved his shoulders restlessly. “There was a downpour last night.”

I frowned at him. “Yes. What does that have to do with our training today? The rain ended before dawn. The sky is clear.”

Cadoc chuckled as Maldwyn answered me. “The sky is clear, but the field will be soaked and slick.”

“It has been unusually dry lately,” said Abertha after she’d swallowed a hunk of cheese. “You haven’t trained in the rain.”

“Or in its aftermath,” added Cadoc.

My gaze found Rhan, who was trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “Should I be worried?”

“Absolutely,” Rhan said as my lead warriors snorted laughter.

“Mama?” Ceri asked.

I turned as my daughters approached the table with Briallen shadowing them. Their wolf pups were growing remarkably fast and were fat and gregarious. They trotted after the girls, waddling like toddlers.

“Yes, little dove?”