Boudicca

Chapter XXXVIII

When everyone except my lead warriors and Rhan had left the lodge, Cadoc broke the silence. “That Trinovantes pup needs to

be muzzled.”

Briallen’s lip lifted in disgust. “The mead. Adminius was mad with it, but ’tis no excuse for his behavior.”

“He wasn’t drunk,” I said.

“Boudicca is correct,” said Rhan.

“Aye,” agreed Cadoc. “I watched him, too. He drank almost nothing.” The shield went to where Adminius had been sitting and

squatted, touching the ground beneath the table. He snorted. “This is where his drink went.” He stood and pointed to the slick

surface of the table. “And here.”

“He pretended to be drunk in case Boudicca turned his proposal down,” said Maldwyn, his voice tight with anger. “Tomorrow

he can say it was the drink that caused him to speak out.”

“How could he have believed that there was any chance that I would accept him?” I said.

“You were kind to him yesterday.” Rhan sounded weary. “Today you showed him compassion and respect.”

“I didn’t show him respect! I showed Addedomaros and Tribe Trinovantes respect!” Anger lifted my voice. “And I was kind to him because I know

what it is to lose a father.”

“To a man like Adminius, everything is always about him,” said Briallen, who still sat beside Rhan. “He would believe any

woman who showed him kindness also lusted for him.”

“Then he is a fool,” I said.

“Yes,” said his sister. “Which is why only one of the tribe’s lead warriors put forward his name for the torque.”

“Mailcun,” said Briallen.

Rhan raised one brow. “Yes.”

I looked at the leader of my Queen’s Guard. “Why would Mailcun want Adminius to wear the torque?”

“Because it is what Addedomaros wanted, and Mailcun is loyal to his chief even after his death,” said Briallen.

“The others will not choose him,” said Maldwyn. “There was more talk today. No one trusts Adminius.”

“He has proven himself unfit to lead over and over, beginning when he was just a boy,” said Rhan. “Tomorrow after we break

our fast I will join the lead warriors of the Trinovantes as they choose another for their chief.”

“Will it be you?” I asked. My stomach tightened at the thought and I reminded myself that I would lose Rhan eventually. Should

we be victorious against the Romans, she would return to Ynys M?n to rebuild the isle of the Druids. But were she queen of

the Trinovantes, Rhan would be closer to Tasceni, and that would actually make seeing her easier.

“No,” Rhan said firmly. “I have made it clear to the Trinovantes lead warriors that my life’s path has already been chosen.

I am a Druid—now high Druid; I cannot also be a queen.”

“How much of a problem will Adminius be when another wears the Trinovantes torque?” I asked, more thinking aloud than looking

for an answer.

Abertha shook her head. “We cannot know for sure what he will do. What we do know is that he will not be able to fracture

Tribe Trinovantes as the Catuvellauni did when royal brothers disagreed over how to deal with the Romans.”

“True,” said Maldwyn. “Adminius doesn’t have enough support to split the tribe.”

Cadoc snorted. “That pup has no support. Once the new chief is chosen, Mailcun will swear fealty to him.”

“So we watch Adminius and be sure we limit whatever damage he tries to do,” I said. “Briallen, tomorrow have my guard take

turns shadowing him, but do not make it obvious.”

“Aye, my queen,” said the warrior, who bowed before she left the lodge.

“We will all be watchful,” said Cadoc. “Though there is little he can do except to continue to make a fool of himself. Good

night, Queen Boudicca.”

“Rest well, my queen,” said Abertha.

“May the blessings of the earth be on you,” said Maldwyn. He paused, and when I only smiled and wished him a good night, he

nodded to Rhan and left.

“I should go, too,” said Rhan as she stood.

I took her hand in mine. “Please stay.”

***

I sent Phaedra to bed. Rhan and I helped each other undress and then we snuggled together under the thick pelts, sharing our

body heat against the frigid night. As had been her habit when we were girls, Rhan smoothed my hair while we talked, and the

stress of the evening was washed away by her touch.

“I still do not understand how Adminius thought making such a public offer of marriage to me would help him,” I said. “He

is arrogant and foolish, but he had to have at least considered that I might turn him down.”

“He is arrogant and foolish, but Adminius is not stupid,” said Rhan. “Had your refusal not been so emphatic, he could have

dangled the possibility of joining the Iceni and Trinovantes as incentive for his lead warriors to offer him the torque. It

is probable that several of them would look favorably on joining the tribes.”

“Which means they would look favorably on Adminius.” I sighed. “But I said no. Emphatically. And now he can say he was drunk

and grieving and not himself.”

“Exactly. Though he may try to coax you into a union again.”

“No. He will not wear the torque. That means he is simply a young Trinovantes warrior who will not be invited to any war council. After tomorrow there will be no reason for him to have access to me.” I touched her face. “It is you who must be careful. He cannot take out his anger on me and he is no match for any lead warrior. He may target you.”

“Do not fret, Boudicca. I am the high Druid and well protected.” Rhan leaned into me. The stones clattered as her hair formed

a curtain around us while she took her time exploring my mouth.

I loved her taste and touch. The passion I felt for Rhan began deep within my spirit, and when I thought of it I realized

that it had always been there, first in the form of friendship, and now so much more. Soon we were glad of the cold night

as the heat between us slicked our naked bodies and we laughed as we kicked the thick pelts from us. Her softness and heat

had me gasping as waves of pleasure built and crested, and then built again.

“You sly whore! Now I know why you rejected me!”

Shock jolted through me at the sound of Adminius’s voice. I turned to shield Rhan’s naked body as I faced him. “Get out of

my lodge. Now.”

Though the only light in my bedchamber was from a single candle, I could see Adminius clearly. His face was scarlet and his

lips were drawn back, exposing his teeth in a snarl. “Everyone will know that you fuck my sister and the two of you conspire

to steal the torque from me! But you won’t get away with it!” He moved more quickly than I expected, closing the short distance

to my bed. He grabbed my arm, jerking me toward him.

I used the momentum to fly into him. Unbalanced, he stumbled backward, and I easily broke his grip. I lunged past him to the

wooden chest that sat at the foot of my bed, wrenched it open, and pulled out the Roman dagger I kept there—the dagger with

which I had already ended one traitor’s life. My rage boiled over and I was on him. He lurched away from me and drew a dagger

from the sheath he wore around his waist. Adminius jabbed it at me, but he was no Cadoc or Maldwyn or Abertha or Briallen.

I easily sidestepped and sliced his bicep. He let out a shriek and dropped the dagger. Naked, I drove him from my bedchamber

out into the lodge, where the fire burned low, sending ghostly shadows against the tapestries that covered the curved walls.

“You bitch! You cut me!”

With a well-practiced motion I tossed my dagger from my right hand to my left. From a nearby table I grabbed a heavy iron

candleholder and hit him across the face with it. He cried out and fell to his knees, pressing a hand against the bloody gash

in his cheek. I fisted his hair, pulled back his head, and placed the sharp point of my dagger against his throat.

“Do. Not. Speak,” I commanded. “Phaedra!”

Phaedra was rubbing sleep from her eyes as she parted the blanket that served as door to her small bedchamber. And then she

froze in shock.

“Get Cadoc.”

“Yes, my queen!” Phaedra ran from the lodge.

“Cadoc is not my chief,” sneered Adminius.

I pressed the dagger against his neck until it wept a single drop of blood. “I told you not to speak.”

A cloak was placed around my bare shoulders and Rhan, fully dressed, moved to stand beside me. She looked down at her brother,

who glared up at her with narrowed, hate-filled eyes.

“You would do well to remember that you no longer have Father to hide behind.” Rhan’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Adminius started to speak, but the pressure from my knife silenced him.

Cadoc burst into the cave lodge, his sword drawn, and skidded to a halt to stare. “What in all the gods is this?” he sputtered.

“I need your sword,” I told Cadoc.

My shield did not hesitate. He strode to me and gave me his sword, which I rested in the center of Adminius’s chest before

taking the dagger from his throat.

I straightened and tossed back my hair. “There. Now I don’t have to bend over. Wake Mailcun and the Trinovantes lead warriors.

Get them here. Call for Comux and Leofric, as well as my lead warriors. What happens next will be witnessed by all.”

“As you ask, so will I do, my queen,” said Cadoc. But before he left he jerked his chin at Adminius and added, “Shall I bind

him first?”

“No,” I said without looking at Adminius. “If he tries to run I will hamstring him.”

“She already cut my arm and my face,” Adminius squeaked, trying not to move his throat as his eyes beseeched Cadoc.

“Be glad I haven’t slit your throat,” I told him. “Yet.”

Cadoc bowed to me before he jogged from the lodge.

When he was gone, Adminius seemed to deflate. “What now?” he asked me.

“Now you wait. Silently,” I said. Phaedra reentered the lodge. “Phaedra, Rhan and I would like mugs of Wulffaed’s mead.”

“Yes, my queen. Shall I bring you your clothes, too?”

Though the night was frigid, rage warmed me. Naked, I’d bested this warrior easily, and that is something my army would know,

would sing of proudly. I met her eyes and smiled fiercely. “No.”

***

It didn’t take long for the lead warriors and chiefs to arrive. They poured into the lodge, silent and wide-eyed. I stood

in the center of the room. With one hand I held Cadoc’s sword against Adminius’s chest. With the other I held a mug of mead,

which I drained before I tossed the cup to Phaedra. Rhan sat at the table, which wasn’t far from me.

Mailcun stepped forward and was instantly shadowed by Cadoc and Maldwyn, whose blue eyes were bright with rage. Briallen and

Abertha followed closely behind. No one else approached me.

Mailcun stopped before the still-kneeling Adminius and me. He bowed to me. “Queen Boudicca, what has happened here?”

I lifted my chin and met the loyal shield’s gaze steadily. “Adminius broke into my bedchamber. He threatened me. He threatened

the high Druid. He put his hands on me and meant me harm. As you can see, he was not successful.”

“Mailcun! They are lovers. My sister and the queen. I caught them. They’ve been plotting all along to take the torque from

me so my sister ”—he spoke the words like they tasted foul—“will be named chief in my place!”

Mailcun blew out a long breath before he lifted his gaze from Adminius to me. “Are you wounded, Queen Boudicca?”

“He does not have the skill to best me,” I said.

“You bitch! I should—” Adminius began to hiss at me, but Mailcun struck him across the mouth with the back of his hand, causing

blood to well on his bottom lip.

“Enough.” Mailcun did not raise his voice, but the command carried the weight of decades of leadership. “You have long been

a fool, Adminius. Who the queen takes to her bed is no concern of yours. And the high Druid, your sister, has refused to even

be considered for the torque—though I can tell you if she agreed to wear it I would gladly follow her.”

“But I—”

“Be silent!” Mailcun said before looking to me again. “What would you do with him, Queen of the Iceni?”

“I would like to know what the chief of the Trinovantes would do with him,” I said.

“We have no chief. Not yet,” said Mailcun.

I looked past him to the Trinovantes lead warriors, who stood silently, frowning at Adminius. “What say you? Who will wear

your torque?”

Ackley, spear master of Tribe Trinovantes, stepped forward. “I say Mailcun should wear the torque.”

Mailcun’s body jerked, and he turned so that he could face the warriors. He opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, but I placed

a hand on his arm and he pressed his lips together.

Next Miburga, the brilliant horse master of the Trinovantes, stepped up beside Ackley. Miburga’s mane of sliver-streaked auburn

hair hung wild and long to her waist. She was a tall, lean woman who had for two decades led the breeding program that created

the swiftest horses in Britain. Her choice was as important as the high Druid’s to her tribe. She spoke without even glancing

at Adminius.

“I say Mailcun should wear the torque.”

Adminius made a sputtering sound, but I pressed the tip of the sword more firmly to his chest and turned my gaze to Rhan. “What say you, high Druid? Do you support the choice of Tribe Trinovantes in naming Mailcun their chief?”

Rhan stood. She walked to Mailcun, opened her hands, palms up, and closed her eyes. Immediately from somewhere outside came

the piercing call of a stallion. It echoed against the curved, tapestry-covered walls around us so that it seemed the horse

stood beside Mailcun.

Rhan opened her eyes and smiled. “I do, as does Epona.”

“The goddess has spoken!” said Miburga. “Mailcun will forever be known as chief of Tribe Trinovantes!”

“Aye!” shouted the warriors.

“What is it you would do with your tribesman?” I asked Mailcun.

Mailcun stared down at Adminius and blew out another long breath before he spoke. “Because of my love for your father, I will

not kill you. Nor can I pass that task to any of our people.”

Adminius’s shoulders sagged in relief.

“Miburga, ready one horse. Fill its packs with supplies.”

“As you ask, so will I do,” said the Trinovantes horse master.

“Adminius, you are sentenced to banishment,” continued Mailcun. “From this day forth you may not enter any lands held by Tribe

Trinovantes. If you do I will not allow the love I had for your father to stay my hand. I will kill you myself.”

“But it’s the middle of winter. Being sent out there means death!” Adminius sounded like a child arguing with his elders.

“Then that will be the will of the gods.” Mailcun turned to me. “I shall take him from you now, Queen Boudicca.”

I nodded and stepped back. Mailcun grabbed Adminius’s arm and jerked him to his feet. The newly made chief bowed his head

to me. “I apologize for the insult a Trinovantes tribesman committed against you this night.”

I bowed my head in return. “The insult was not of your making. You have nothing to apologize for.”

His voice deepened with sadness. “I do, though it is far too late to fix a lifetime of looking the other way.” Mailcun shook his head as if to rid himself of the past. “Will you join me in seeing the banishment fulfilled, queen of the Iceni?”

“When?” I asked.

Mailcun’s gaze went to the opening of the cave. The sky was just beginning to lighten with the gray of morning. “As soon as

Miburga can ready a horse.”

“Then yes, I will join you,” I said.

***

The sun had just lifted above the snowy tree line when the solemn group of Trinovantes warriors approached the one entrance

to our valley. Rhan and I, with my shield and lead warriors, had already arrived. We waited by the valley pass, which through

a lot of daily work from all of the tribes had been kept clear enough of the seemingly never-ending snow that one horse could

fit through it at a time. The only cleared path from our valley swept around the forest edge and then wound down to the peat

bog, so that our supply of wood and peat would not be cut off. Past that, the world was a wall of white.

There was one horse in the Trinovantes procession. It was loaded with packs and was led by a stony-faced Miburga.

“I feel sorry for the horse,” muttered Cadoc. Maldwyn grunted in agreement.

Mailcun, whose new torque glittered around his thick neck in the weak morning light, walked between the horse and Adminius,

followed by his Chief’s Guard. Adminius wore layers of woolen clothes and had a thick fur-lined cloak fastened tightly around

his shoulders. The cut on his cheek blazed scarlet against the sallowness of his face. I’d expected him to beg, or at the

very least argue angrily with Mailcun, but Adminius had set his jaw. His lips were pressed together and his eyes were bright

with rage. As they approached, every member of Tribe Trinovantes turned his or her back to Adminius, silently showing that

he was dead to them and they supported their new chief.

The group reached us and halted. Adminius mounted without help.

“Adminius, son of Addedomaros, you are hereby banished from Tribe Trinovantes. Should you be found in our lands, your life will be forfeit.” Mailcun’s deep voice rang with authority.

Adminius didn’t so much as look at him. He clucked to the horse, who sloughed through the snowy pass. We watched him follow

the cleared path. I wondered what would happen to him and thought what a waste it was that his life should come to this. He

had just reached the spot in the cleared path where it dipped down and out of sight when he pulled the horse to a halt and

then reined it to face us. He glared back at us, meeting my gaze.

“You will be sorry!” Adminius shouted. He spat into the snow, whirled the horse around, and dug his heels into its flanks

so that it galloped off.

“A petulant child to the end,” said Cadoc.

“Aye,” agreed Maldwyn.

My sword master shook her head as she turned away. “The winter will end him, and I say good riddance.”

Rhan said nothing. She stared out at the path long after her brother had disappeared from sight, her expression stony and

dry-eyed.