Page 56 of Boudicca

“Butmyarrow was the first to strike him.” Ceri mimicked her sister’s stance, refusing to back down.

I felt dizzy with relief that my girls were safe and was grateful Rhan spoke so I could breathe deeply and attempt to quiet my thundering heart.

“A boar? That is quite the accomplishment.” Rhan reached down and ruffled Sunne’s ears as the big male wolf’s tongue lolled.

I fixed a smile on my face. “Where is this boar?”

Enfys pointed behind them into the forest. “Back there, but not very far. We gutted it, but it’s so heavy that Briallen sent us to get help to drag it back to Tasceni.”

“Oh, Mama!” Ceri bounced up and down on her tiptoes. “I cannot wait for Wulffaed to make us her wild boar pie.”

“It is delicious, little dove,” I said. “Hurry now, though. You don’t want to leave Briallen alone in the forest defending your prize.”

“Bears have begun gorging for the winter, and it would be a bad omen should brave Briallen be forced to kill one as it prepares for its slumber,” Rhan added.

“Why would that be a bad omen?” Enfys asked, the somberness that had usurped her previously gregarious nature settling back around her like a cloak. “Bear pelts are very warm to sleep on.”

“Because if it is a female bear there is a good chance she will be pregnant,” explained Rhan.

“Oh, I understand,” said Enfys thoughtfully. “That would offend the goddesses.”

“It would,” agreed Rhan. “Best do as the queen says and hurry. Cadoc is still on the training field. He will help you.”

Ceri turned to Enfys. “Cadoc is big enough to carry the boar himself!” And the girls were off, running past us with their wolves keeping pace beside them.

I staggered the rest of the way to Andraste’s shrine and leaned against it. Grasping her feet with hands that trembled, I bowed my head and whispered a prayer of gratitude that it had been boar blood and not human blood spattered on my daughters.

“More deep breaths,” Rhan said from beside me as she gently rubbed my back. “Your girls are safe.”

Breathing shakily, I lifted my head. “After they were attacked I often wondered if they would ever recover.”

“I know.” Rhan’s hand rested on my shoulder.

“They did recover. They’ve even grown strong and confident again.”

“But the blood took you back to that day,” Rhan finished when I could not.

“Yes.” I whispered the word. “I cannot let them see it, but yes. I don’t think time will ever fix that. I don’t think I’ll ever not see their bloody, violated bodies in my nightmares.”

Rhan’s pressure on my shoulder forced me to face her. “This is your sign.”

“My sign?”

Rhan nodded. “Andraste will give you a more public sign. She will show the Iceni when it is time to take their vengeance to the Romans at Camulodunum, but what just happened was your goddess speaking to you privately, reminding you, rekindling within you the anger that has waned these past six months.”

I shook my head as I felt that anger stir. “I haven’t forgotten that we were attacked.”

“No, of course not.” Rhan paused, and when she continued her voice was gentle with understanding. “But you have found happiness again, and happiness cools anger and stagnates vengeance.”

I looked up at the face of the goddess—serene yet fierce, strong yet motherly—and I knew deep within me Rhan spoke the truth. “So Andraste reminded me of my duty.”

“No! You have not forgotten your duty. The Iceni and Trinovantes know that. But what just took your breath, tightened your stomach, and drained the blood from your face is something you must remember and carry into battle with you,” said Rhan. “You seek vengeance. Not just for your daughters’ violation, but for the violation of all Britons.”

I nodded. “I will not forget again.”

“Oh, you might,” said my friend. “And if you do, the goddess will remind you.”

I said nothing as Rhan’s words shivered through my body.