Page 54 of Boudicca

I will be Victory for them.My gaze swept the field, taking in the hundreds, thousands, of Iceni who crowded in and around it.For all of them.

I shrieked our war cry again and the chariot shot forward. This run my spear glanced off Abertha’s shield and a cheer went up from the warriors who had paused their own drills to watch. I almost struck the shield of the next warrior in line, too, but our chariot hit a patch of particularly slick mud and standing water and slid to the side, causing me to overthrow.

This time when Cadoc’s spear thumped my shield I did not lose my balance and saw the old warrior’s eyes widen before he nodded his approval.

“Again!” I shouted.

On and on we drilled. I was used to the effort. Every evening my body was less stiff and sore. Every morning I moved with more grace and strength; I needed both that day.

As we rearmed before the sixth run, Maldwyn said, “Cadoc is leaning away from you and dropping his shield after he throws his spear. Anticipate that lean. Instead of hurling your spear at him this time, change your grip and strike him with it as we pass.”

“With the tip?” I didn’t think I could get past Cadoc’s guard, but if I did, surely I could harm the old shield.

“No, flip your spear and strike him with the blunt end as if you were a girl again practicing with a wooden weapon.”

I grinned. “I will never let him forget it if I do hit him.”

Maldwyn laughed. “It would be a fine thing to witness.”

The last chariot that charged against me held Cadoc. I was so focused on him that my showing against the other five chariots was weak. And then the old shield was racing toward us. I quickly changed my grip on the spear so that I could strike with the blunt end of it. As we neared one another Cadoc hurled his spear at me. It glanced off my shield, and then he did exactly as Maldwyn had said he would—Cadoc dropped his shield and leaned to the side.

With a movement I will forever take pride in, I shifted my stance and smacked the back of the old shield’s shoulder with the bluntedwooden end so hard that it made a slapping sound that carried above the pounding of our horses’ hooves. The watching warriors cheered and I grinned.

But my pride was short-lived. As I tried to shift my weight back and regain my balance after the unconventional thrust, the chariot skidded awkwardly to the side and I was airborne.

Maldwyn had drilled me over and over on how to fall from a chariot, and I tucked my shoulder. Something sharp hit my forehead as I rolled across the muddy field. I’d lost my shield, but my spear was still in my hand as I came out of the roll sitting in the middle of a shallow, sticky puddle. My heart pounded in my ears and adrenaline rushed through my body. I could see Maldwyn struggling to keep the chariot upright as he wheeled the horses around to come back to me, but Cadoc was faster. He abandoned his chariot, and with a speed that belied his size and age, the shield sprinted to me, face white and grim.

“My queen!” he shouted as he reached me. “Are you—”

Fast as a viper, I struck. Using a move Cadoc himself had taught me, I hooked my leg around the back of his right ankle and flipped him off his feet so that he crashed into the mud beside me, landing flat on his broad backside.

In absolute silence I got to my feet, wiping a sleeve across my forehead, surprised to see a streak of blood come with the mud. I stood over Cadoc, looking down my nose at him, before I reached out and offered him my hand. With a booming laugh, Cadoc took it, stood, and then, with a flourish, he bowed to me.

The Iceni exploded with cheers and shouts ofVictory. Grinning, I turned to face the side of the field nearest to me. Standing among my people was a tall man swathed in a red cloak, flanked by warriors wearing the same Trinovantes red.

Chief Addedomaros strode across the field to me, flanked by his shield, Mailcun, and a young man I recognized as his son, Adminius. Behind them red-cloaked warriors formed a blood river flowing down the road into Tasceni. Their numbers were so vast I could not see the end of them.

Addedomaros halted before me and bowed his head slightly.His gaze swept my body and I lifted my chin, proud of the blood that ran down my face and mixed with mud and sweat. I placed the butt of my spear into the mud and returned his gaze. I did not speak first, nor did I look away. I was queen here, and he had come to me.

Addedomaros nodded, and when he spoke his deep voice carried across the newly silent field. “Queen Boudicca, Tribe Trinovantes has come. We wish to ally ourselves with the Iceni.”

I was compelled to speak one word, and that word rang in the air around me. “Why?”

“The Romans were not sated by their attack on Tasceni. They have been raiding Trinovantes villages that border the sea, stealing away my people to be their slaves. I understand now that wemustwar against the Romans because we cannot continue to stand by idly and do nothing while Rome preys upon us.” The chief echoed the words I’d spoken to him so many days before. “If we do not try, we are already gone. Tribe Trinovantes will not become Roman!” His people shouted in agreement. Addedomaros raised his hand and they quieted. “Will you accept us? Shall we fight the invaders at your side, mighty Victory?”

I bared my teeth in a feral grin and lifted my spear. “Yes!”

Behind me Cadoc began the chant. “Bou-dic-ca! Bou-dic-ca!”

Breathing heavily, Maldwyn and Abertha sprinted up. Lifting their spears, they joined the shield’s chant. “Bou-dic-ca! Bou-dic-ca!”

And then the Iceni and the Trinovantes joined them, shouting“Bou-dic-ca! Bou-dic-ca! Bou-dic-ca! Bou-dic-ca!”until the leaves on Grandmother Oak shivered with the sound of my name and Andraste’s raven callingkraa-kraavictoriously into the morning sky.

Part II

Fall/Winter 60 CE

Chapter XXI