Page 96 of Boudicca

“I am well, Phaedra. Ready my battle clothes. We ride for Verulamium shortly.” Then I pulled Rhan into a hug. “Thank you for sending them for me. It would have been a long, cold walk back by myself.”

She returned the hug. “Just before dawn I came to check on you, and when Phaedra said you had been gone all night Andrastewhispered that your warriors should go into the forest after you. I knew the goddess would return you to us but thought it would be a quicker return with your warriors.”

“You were right.” I squeezed her tightly again and stepped out of her arms to face Addedomaros. “I will be ready to break camp as soon as I dress and eat. I shall be quick.”

His brow furrowed as his eyes scanned my body, taking in my dirty, ripped nightdress and lingering on the high slit exposing my legs, before his gaze met mine. I held his steadily, lifted one brow, and said nothing.

“What has happened, Queen Boudicca?” he finally asked.

“I crossed into Annwn,” I said.

His eyes widened and then he threw back his head and laughed. “By the gods, of course you did!”

His laughter suddenly reminded me of my good-humored father and I couldn’t stop myself from joining him.

Grinning widely, he said, “So you saw Andraste?”

“I did not see her, but the goddess spoke to me.”

“What is it she said?” he prompted when I said no more.

“To trust her.”

“Is that all?” Addedomaros asked.

“That is all she said to me, but the goddess led me to discover that Paulinus and his legions will not trouble us at Verulamium. They are licking their wounds and not yet recovered from what they did to Ynys Môn.” My gaze shifted to meet Rhan’s. “Our Druids care for us, even after their deaths.”

Addedomaros’s laughter boomed again. “Queen Boudicca, being your ally has proven to be very interesting.”

“Is that good or bad?” I asked with a smile.

“Both.” He chuckled, and as he turned away he shouted, “Onward to victory at Verulamium!”

Chapter XXXI

We marched boldly along the Roman road that stretched wide and straight from Londinium to Verulamium. The day was cold and the sky was low and gray, heavy with rain clouds that, with the frigid wind, I had no doubt could easily become ice or snow. It was the eve of Samhain. In Tasceni we would have built large bonfires surrounding the village and feasted, setting extra places at our tables for those who had crossed over into Annwn and would be hovering near as the veil between worlds thinned.

This Samhain, Roman farms and the Roman-occupied city would serve as our bonfires.

We approached the city as the afternoon sun settled into evening, though the slate sky hardly showed any change as day turned toward night. Only very sparse woods surrounded Verulamium. The fertile land had been cultivated and farmland stretched to the horizon. I nodded as we passed farms with roundhouses and shrines to Epona and Brigantia, Cernunnos, and Maponos. They remained untouched and silent, while farms built of stone with courtyards dedicated to Minerva, Apollo, Claudius, and the like were set aflame and looted. I glimpsed Adminius pulling a Roman from an outbuilding and shouting triumphantly as he ran him through with a spear.

When we reached Verulamium there were soldiers spread out between the deep ditch and bank defense system and the city proper. Roman cavalry waited behind them with foot soldiers. In front of the ditch was an army of Britons. It shook me to see them. I counted the Dobunni green and Atrebates black and silver among the earthen cloaks of the Catuvellauni, and my stomach tightened. The words I’d hurled at Adminius came back to me as I stared at tribesmen and-women who were willing to take up arms against us as we fought to expel tyrants from our lands.

“Should I signal the archers to make ready?” asked Cadoc.

As always, my shield’s chariot was poised on one side of me, with Abertha’s on the other. Briallen and my guard formed a line directly behind me. Next came the rest of our chariots, hundreds strong, and then our mighty cavalry. The Britons who stood between the Romans and our army were many, but they were no match for the combined strength of Iceni and Trinovantes. I was loath to give the command that would rain arrows down on them.

Addedomaros galloped up from his place at the head of the cavalry. Mailcun was with him. I assumed Adminius was still burning and looting Roman farms and was glad of his absence.

“What is it we wait for?” asked the Trinovantes chief.

Before I could answer there was a stirring behind me and Rhan rushed up. “Queen Boudicca, do not fire on the Britons.” She paused, panting as she caught her breath. “Andraste has sent sign. I was making my way to Wulffaed’s caravan to be with Enfys and Ceri and I met Paice and her hounds.”

I nodded. Paice was well-known to me as Tasceni’s best hunter. Her pack of huge shaggy hounds was especially good at tracking and cornering boar.

“As I approached, her two largest hounds, the big mated pair with coats black like the wings of a raven, stared at me. Then, as I watched, they turned on Paice, growling and snapping.”

“Those hounds are devoted to Paice,” said Maldwyn. “They would never turn on her.”