Page 69 of Boudicca

“And women,” Rhan added.

“Yes. There are countrymenand womenof ours who have chosen Romans and their way of life. That will also be their choice of death.” I leaned forward, looking into Rhan’s dark eyes. “True Britons will leave Camulodunum before our army arrives.”

Rhan nodded. “Yes. I dreamed of it.”

“Tell me,” I said.

“Last night I dreamed a white stag left Camulodunum and behind him were does and fawns and other stags, all following him from the city to disappear into the forest.”

“Brigantia!” My hands gripped the mug as I recounted for Rhan my experience at the goddess’s desecrated shrine and what I’d heard from the people. I did not tell her of my words to Minerva. I do not know why, only that they clogged my throat and would not come out.

“You will fulfill Andraste’s curse. Brigantia will be there, too. I thought it was because she also wants vengeance for those, like your mother, who are her children and who were slain by Romans,” said Rhan. “But now I know it is even more than that. The desecration of her shrine is unforgivable. Use her fire. Make it rain the wrath of Brigantia as you bring the spear of Andraste to Camulodunum.”

“Yes, I will.” I yawned then and placed my empty mug on the table beside my bed. “It is good to be home, even though it will only be for five more days.”

Rhan stood to leave but I reached out and took her hand.

“Would you stay with me tonight?”

Her smile softened her face, and in the dim candlelight she looked like a girl again as she curled beside me on the bed so that we faced one another.

“He will never hurt you or your girls again,” Rhan said quietly.

“I know, but seeing him—hearing him.” I shivered. “It is as if his shade followed me from the city and even here it shadows me with the darkness of that day.”

“Tomorrow we will leave libations at Andraste’s shrine. The goddess will not allow his shade to haunt you,” said Rhan firmly. “And tonight I will be here.”

“Thank you,” I whispered to her. “It is good to be home,” I said sleepily as I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes. As she had when we were children whispering our dreams to each other, my friend’s hand stroked my hair. I was replete and relaxed; my breath deepened. “Rhan?” At the edge of dreams I whispered the word as a question.

“I am here. I will always be here.”

“You have seen the battle?” I don’t think I would have asked had I not been in that mystical place between awake and asleep.

Her hand did not stop stroking my hair. “Parts of it. Yes.”

“Do I die?”

“No.” She spoke the word quickly, with no hesitation.

“That is good.” And then I knew nothing more until dawn.

Chapter XXV

In the morning I walked through Tasceni again. The village was a beehive of activity. Caravans were being carefully packed. Smoking meat had the cool air redolent with savory smells. The sound of blacksmith bellows and hammers echoed throughout the camp and the surrounding forest. My daughters and their wolves walked beside me, greeting our tribesmen and -women with a poise far beyond their years. We made our way through Tasceni to the stables and corrals, filled to overflowing with horses. Maldwyn appeared to be everywhere at once—supervising the final touches on the last of the chariots to be completed, checking the soundness of one pair after another of our horses, and being sure enough feed was packed into the cavalry caravans. When he caught sight of the girls and me, he wiped his hands on his woad-blue tunic and hurried to us.

“My queen.” He bowed and smiled. “And queen’s daughters. I have something for the three of you.”

“Oooh!” Ceri clapped her hands. “More wolf pups?”

Maldwyn laughed. “No, I’m afraid two wolf pups is my limit.” Then he jogged to the nearby tack building and disappeared within. When he reappeared he carried three bronze helmets. He handed me the largest of the three. It was much like the bronze helmet I’d worn daily since spring, but this one had thick spikes of sorrel horsehair decorating the top of it, culminating in a thick red horse tail that was almost as long as my own hair.

I touched the bristles appreciatively. “This is the same color as Tân’s mane and tail.”

“It should be. I cut and combed it from Tân. I thought you would like her close, even though Ennis and Finley will be pulling your chariot into battle,” said Maldwyn.

I met his eyes. “I would, indeed.”

His cheeks flushed with pleasure and he turned to the girls, handing each of them a smaller version of my helmet, complete with Tân’s magnificent red mane.