Page 57 of Boudicca

We were polishing Andraste’s idol when Cadoc and Maldwyn galloped past us with Ceri and Enfys riding double with them, holding on tightly to the warriors. The young wolves ran beside the horses as the girls whooped the Iceni war cry and Cadoc and Maldwyn waved at us and grinned. I was fiercely proud of my girls. Once they’d started training with Cadoc and Briallen, their confidencehad begun to return. As their bodies strengthened and their skills improved, my girls had been reborn. They’d shed childhood like a stifling chrysalis they’d been forced to battle their way through. Today they were strong and sure of themselves, but they could have easily never recovered. They could have closed down, refused to fight to heal, and rejected a future where the possibility of more brutality waited just around the next bend in the forest, unseen but lurking.

Andraste was right. It was time to bring vengeance to the Romans.

“I will tell Cadoc to gather our people at the field before we go in for the evening meal,” I said.

“I will be there—as will the goddess.”

My gaze went to Rhan. She and I had climbed up on the flat stone slab on which the statue of Andraste rested. We’d brought clean hemp clothes with which to rub the wax into the statue, but our hands were slippery and Rhan had a smear of wax on her cheek. She looked up at me from the goddess’s shoulder.

“What? There is nothing to be nervous about. Andraste has been waiting for this day—as have the Iceni,” she said.

“I’m not nervous. I trust her. I trust you. I was just thinking how grateful I am that you are here with me,” I said.

Her dark eyes lit with pleasure and she flashed me the impish grin that hadn’t changed since our childhood. “I am happy to serve the Iceni queen.”

“No.” I spoke softly and her hands stilled as she listened. I hadn’t meant to say these things to her. I’d only recently come to understand the truth I was putting into words, but as I continued to speak I felt the rightness of sharing them with Rhan. “This isn’t the queen of the Iceni being grateful for her seer, though she is. Rhan, before you came to Tasceni I didn’t often think of friendship, if at all. I’ve realized that is because before his death Prasutagus had been my friend, and his presence in my life was so large, so overshadowing, that he eclipsed everyone else.

“When he died I gravitated to my mother. Arianell’s dedication tomy daughters, my people, and me was enough that I did not understand that except for her I had no true friends.” Rhan tried to speak but I raised my hand. “I need to say this. Arianell filled the space left by Prasutagus’s absence. She was more than mother. She was friend and confidant. I had my daughters, of course, and my people looked to me for guidance and stability. But except for Arianell, I had no one.

“The day Mother was killed, it seemed something within me died with her—something that had been wounded with the death of Prasutagus.” I reached across the statue of Andraste to take Rhan’s hand. It was smooth and slick with wax but warm and familiar, and she wove her fingers with mine. “Having you here healed that which I thought had died within me. You are more than friend. You forged a path that led me to open myself to others. Today I can say that Cadoc, Abertha, Maldwyn, Wulffaed, and Briallen are truly my friends. Because of you I am rich with those who return not just my trust but myfriendship, and that is a gift few chiefs or queens can boast of.” I bowed to her. “Thank you.”

When I raised my head, Rhan’s eyes were bright with tears that tracked down her flushed cheeks. “I did not know until I arrived in Tasceni how very much I had missed you. Boudicca, I will be content if I can spend my life at your side.” Then she squeezed my hand before she let it loose to wipe at her cheeks.

Then I asked a question that had been niggling at my mind for the past several months. Rhan was beautiful and wise and, of course, a respected seer. During the past many months of daily training, the warriors had become so accustomed to my presence that they spoke freely around me, and I’d overheard several of them, men and women, comment on Rhan’s beauty and exceptional grace. Though my friend was kind to all of the Iceni, she didn’t appear to favor one over others, and my curiosity had finally become unbearable. “Will you not choose a mate? Will you not marry?”

Her gaze avoided mine as she returned to rubbing wax into the goddess’s shoulder. “I will not marry.”

“Marriage wouldn’t change your standing,” I said. “Even Derwynmarried.” The high Druid’s wife had died in childbirth many years ago. I had not known her, but Arianell had told me that he had been devoted to her.

“Yes, I know.”

Then another thought came to me and I added hastily, “I’ve seen one of Wulffaed’s daughters watching you. What’s her name...” I hesitated, thinking.

“Lianne,” Rhan said, still without looking at me.

“Yes, that’s it. Lianne with the honey-colored hair. She’s lovely and clearly she’s interested in—”

“Boudicca, forgive me, but I do not want to talk about it.”

“There is nothing to forgive. We won’t speak of it until you’re ready. If you are ever ready,” I added hastily before I returned to polishing the statue. Rhan spoke with such finality that any further questions on the subject died in my throat.

***

The shadows of the watching trees were lengthening into dusk when I strode onto the training field. I’d grown to love the feel of its hard-packed soil under my feet as much as I loved the changes daily training had forged in my body. After six months, my strength and balance complemented my height and speed. The curves of my body were no longer soft, but instead long, lean, flexible muscle. My spear arm threw true. There were no chariot teams who could best Maldwyn and me on the field. After the rainy day when I’d fallen from the cart, Abertha had drilled me over and over with a short sword until even Maldwyn, who was the most overprotective of my lead warriors, agreed that he was no longer fearful that I couldn’t protect myself on foot in the middle of a battle.

Just days before, I’d overheard Cadoc bragging that the queen of the Iceni moved with such graceful strength that even he envied me. I let the words of the mighty shield propel me forward to the middle of the crowded training field. The tribe packed the area. They parted eagerly, murmuring fond greetings as I passed. I’d become more thantheir queen or figurehead. I’d become one of them, and my pride in that would stay with me until breath no longer filled my body.

In the center of the field was a large circle that was clear of the press of people. I stopped there, gazing around at the warriors who were so familiar and so dear to me. Addedomaros and the Trinovantes shield, Mailcun, stood across from me beside Cadoc, Abertha, and Maldwyn. I noted several scarlet cloaks scattered among the woad blue of the Iceni. That pleased me.

Briallen stood between my girls, their half-grown wolves at their sides. Though the Iceni pressed around them, Enfys and Ceri appeared as calm as their pups.

I did not see Rhan but knew she had to be close.

“Iceni seer, come forth!” I shouted.

To my right the warriors rippled and parted enough to allow Rhan through. She carried an elaborately stamped bronze pitcher and a woven reed cage that held one of the sacred hares that were raised in a hut behind my lodge, bred for their color, size, and temperament. This creature was large—much bigger than a wild hare. Except for the woad-colored crescent painted on the creature’s chest, its coat was white and gleamed with health.

Rhan’s entrance was dramatic. She hummed a hauntingly melodic song as she circled me thrice before she stopped in front of me, put the cage at my feet, and, still holding the bronze pitcher, turned to face the raptly watching crowd.