Page 66 of Boudicca

I looked at Maldwyn and shook my head slightly. “But you had never seen the procurator. How did you recognize him?”

Maldwyn took a long pull from the wineskin and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He tossed the skin to Cadoc and then stared into the fire as he answered. “It was Brigantia. She sent a ray of sun to strike Decianus’s arm at the exact moment I glanced his way. It set your torque aflame. I knew then who he must be.”

“I did not intend to put us in danger. I am sorry.” I turned my gaze to the crackling fire. “I do not know what I thought I could do. It was such a shock—so unexpected—to see him. Decianus.” My lip lifted and I sneered his name. “I was taken back to that day and I had to do something.”

“You thought to kill Decianus,” said Cadoc. “And you would have killed him—slit his throat like the animal he is. You probably would also have killed Paulinus, as neither man would have expected the attack.”

“But then I would have been cut down. Killed,” I said.

“No,” said Cadoc. “Not unless you fought so fiercely you forced them to kill you to contain you.”

“Which is what our queen would have done.” Pride filled Maldwyn’s voice as he turned his gaze from the fire to catch mine. “I know how swift and strong and brave you are. Had you attacked Decianus, you would be feasting in Annwn with Andraste this very night. And we would have joined you.”

Cadoc nodded. “Aye. Gladly.”

I sighed. “And then Addedomaros would have attempted to lead the Iceni and the Trinovantes against the Romans.”

Cadoc shrugged his wide shoulders. “Mayhap our people would have followed him, but only long enough to burn Camulodunum to avenge you. After that they would not follow the Trinovantes chief.”

“No, they would not,” I said. “And burning Camulodunum is only the first step in what must be done.”

“Then it is good that you chose to let us guide you out of the city,” said Maldwyn. “As no one but Boudicca, queen of the Iceni, Andraste’s Victory, can unite Iceni and Trinovantes.”

“And others as well,” added Cadoc. “We haven’t spoken of what else we learned. The Catuvellauni are well and truly weary of Rome.They have increased the taxes so that many farmers worry how they will make it through the winter. And, of course, there is the fact that farmland has been taken from the Catuvellauni and given to Roman soldiers. That has angered them even more than the taxes. Also I saw tribesmen today, slaves to the Romans, whose bodies bore the symbols of Dobunni, Atrebates, and even the western Silures tribes.”

“Rome believes if they enslave enough of us we will bow to them. Instead what they do is surround themselves with their enemies,” I said grimly.

Maldwyn nodded. “I heard talk from soldiers at the wine stall. The Twentieth and Fourteenth legions are leaving the city. Soon.”

“Paulinus is leading them to Ynys Môn to attack the Druids,” I said.

“We must warn Derwyn,” said Cadoc.

“The reason Derwyn was so eager to leave Tasceni after interring our elders in the Chief’s Barrow is that he’d been sent a dream wherein the sacred oaks keened,” I said. “He has already been warned, but I will send a rider to the isle as soon as we reach Tasceni so he knows Paulinus is on the march.”

“So Camulodunum will be left unguarded except for the old soldiers who have retired there?” asked Cadoc.

“Yes, and the centuria that attacked Tasceni.” Anger warmed my body more than the food and drink. “Paulinus suspects the Trinovantes and our people are arming against Rome. He warned Decianus to call for the Ninth Legion to protect the city. Decianus, fool that he is, made it clear he would only need the centuria he used in the spring to teach mea lesson.”I repeated the distasteful words.

“This is what Andraste planned all along,” said Maldwyn.

“Yes,” I said.

Cadoc stretched and yawned. “Maldwyn, take the first watch. I’ll take the second.”

“Done,” Maldwyn said.

Cadoc rolled himself into the thick pelt he’d packed as bedding, but before he slept, his gaze found mine across the fire. “I am glad we live to bring war to the Romans, but it would have been glorious tofight to the death by your side today, my queen.” His smile flashed white in the light and then he pulled the pelt over his head, yawned mightily again, and remarkably quickly his snores were echoing from within the bedroll.

I smiled at the large mound that was the old shield. “He can sleep anywhere.”

Maldwyn laughed softly. “It is a gift.” He sat closer to me than Cadoc, and as he leaned forward to feed more branches into the fire he glanced over his shoulder. “My queen, you should sleep. I will keep watch.”

I sighed. “I don’t think I can.”

Maldwyn sat back, propping himself against a moss-covered boulder. “It was difficult for you to see Decianus.”

“It was.”