Page 78 of Boudicca

“Through my blood and with my goddess-blessed breath, I have cursed you unto death!”My words spread around us, falling among the piles of newly dead—a promise fulfilled. “Now we can go to the caravans.”

“As you ask, so will I do,” said Maldwyn, and we rejoined our victorious warriors.

***

We gave the burning city a wide berth, circling around it. Camulodunum lit the night. Screams and cries echoed on the fire-heated wind, riding the breath of it to us, though they faded as the fire continued to feed, devouring life as it consumed the city.

As we crossed to the first of the caravans, I saw Rhan. She stood alone as close to the burning city as she could get. I touched Maldwyn’s arm. “Let me off here. I’ll join you at the healers’ tent.”

I walked to Rhan, who did not look at me as I approached. When I reached her side she still seemed not to see me. Her dark eyes were fixed on the city. In them I watched the golden flames dance. Gently, I touched her arm. “Rhan?”

A shiver passed through her body and she drew a gasping breath, as if she’d only just then remembered she needed to breathe. She turned her head to look at me. “You’re bleeding.”

I glanced down. I was filthy. I couldn’t tell what was blood or dirt or sweat. I didn’t think any of the blood was mine, and then the light of the blazing city made the liquid line on my arm glisten and I remembered. I touched the wound and flinched. It hadn’t hurt until then, but as feeling returned to my body, so too did pain. “Most of it isn’t mine,” I said. “And what is isn’t bad.” I looked up and met her gaze. “Why are you out here?”

“I can feel them.”

I was suddenly cold. “Them?”

She nodded and her gaze returned to the burning city. “The Roman shades. They speak to me.”

“What do they say?” I asked.

“Many of them are lost. That is why I am here.” Her eyes snapped back to mine. “You freed Brigantia?”

“Yes. And told Minerva to return to her own land—her own people.”

Rhan released a long sigh. “Good. I will guide the shades to her—to Minerva. That is why I must hold vigil here tonight. We do not want the shades of Roman soldiers haunting our lands.”

I shivered, not exactly from fear but more from the eerie feeling it gave me to know the spirits of men I’d killed might be hovering close by. “Would you like me to stay with you?”

“This is not something my queen nor my friend can help me with. This is a task a Druid must do alone.” She cocked her head to the side in that birdlike way she had. “And you must rejoin the living while I deal with the dead.”

Her words confused me.Rejointhe living? I was alive. What could she mean? “But, I...” My words faded as her sharp gaze held mine, and I saw more than I wanted to know within their depths.

“When you finally feel it, know that you will survive it. You will be changed, but you will survive.”

My gaze skittered away from hers. I did not want to think too much, nor feel too much. I wanted to be Victory for a little while longer.

“Go, my queen, my friend. I have everything I need here, andsoon you will have everything you need, too.” Before her gaze left mine I was sure I saw a deep sadness in her eyes. Then she faced the city and raised her arms, opening them wide as if to embrace the flames. Rhan was gone from me then. This was not my childhood friend. She was not even the Iceni seer. This Rhan was a Druid ovate, powerful, magickal, wondrous, and strange.

I turned and followed a far tamer light to our caravans.

***

There were five caravans at the edge of the tree line facing the burning city. Fires had been lit and litters holding wounded warriors spread around the wagons, though far fewer of our people were injured than I’d expected. A large surgical tent had been erected in the center of the stretchers and I ducked within.

“Mama! Mama!” My daughters rushed to me. For an instant I almost turned away, not wanting them to see me covered in battle gore, but that was the response of a weakling and not a queen. So I hugged them tightly, ignoring the pain in my arm. Even their wolves pressed against me, licking me and wriggling with happiness.

When the girls stepped back I saw that they, too, were blood spattered. Pride filled me. They had been tending the worst of the wounded, as should the daughters of a warrior queen.

“Mama, you’re bleeding.” Ceri pointed at my arm.

Enfys squinted at the bloody line. “It doesn’t look too serious, though.”

“My queen!” Phaedra rushed up. Her overdress was as blood spattered as my daughters’ tunics. I was glad to see her. She had aided my mother often in the preparation of tinctures and salves. She would be excellent help to our Druid healer, Adara. “Come, I will dress that wound.”

I waved her away. “In a moment. Is Abertha here?”