by Beth Webb
The demon’s presence swelled. But you will love power – once you have tasted it.
Tegen stepped back and her foot kicked the statue’s foot. Of course! she thought. The walking doll, the mud soldiers by the river! I know what to do. It’s as clear as day! I’ll contain the demon. This’ll be the most dangerous spell I’ll ever make. If only I could be certain that the Goddess is real and will help me. If she exists, then maybe she will help. But faith in goodness is all I’ve got. That will have to do.
‘Very well!’ she said aloud. ‘I’ll do some imagining and I’ll use some power. I’m going to make you a body – one that contains you and your chaos!’
The shimmering shape divided, whirled like autumn leaves and scattered. Was it afraid?
Not stopping to wonder, Tegen took a roof tile and scraped ashes and blood-soaked dirt into a large heap. But the clumps fell apart; it was too wet to use. She ran to the western gate where the fire had not scorched the heath. There she gathered heathers and bracken, withies and hazel switches and brought them back. Ignoring hunger, cold and wet, she worked long into the evening; twisting and weaving a life-size figure of a man around a spine of charcoaled wood.
As she worked, Tegen uttered every entwining, enclosing and capturing spell she knew. Finally she daubed muddy, bloodied ashes into the gaps and smoothed the sooty paste into skin.
This was a golem: the creature that had haunted her dreams.
It had ears and eyes, but no mouth. It was animate, but forbidden speech or independent thought so it could never rule itself. To ensure it couldn’t make or handle weapons, she gave it only a plate-like hand. To slow any escape, its feet were mere lumps.
In her mind she saw it standing, walking and silently obeying her every word.
I’ll force the demon to inhabit it, she thought. I’ll know where it is and what it’s doing at all times. I am its creator. It must obey me. The demon will be caged. It will do no more evil.
Lastly, she plucked a hair from her own head and pressed it into the mud where a heart would have been. ‘You are carrying all the anger and hatred of this war,’ she whispered. ‘But you will obey me and only me. Remember that.’
The rain, torrential now, hissed and spat against the creature’s skin. Tegen stood back, wiped the water from her eyes and smiled at her work.
What are you doing? nagged the voice in her head.
‘Don’t you know?’ she replied.
You have made me a body – if I step inside, you will never control me. A body without animal frailty is exactly what I crave.
‘Then you won’t object to stepping inside?’ Tegen spread her hands and gave a mock bow.
Not at all.
There was a rush of wind and a swirl of mist …
The golem twitched, and moved.
‘Are you comfortable?’ Tegen enquired sweetly, weaving a locking spell with her hands.
The creature twisted its head but no sound came, either in Tegen’s mind, or from the golem itself. Only its eyes glowed with crimson fury.
Excellent, Tegen thought. With swift dancing steps she span a deosil circle around her creation. ‘Hold fast! By the power of life and death, I command that you be my slave and obedient servant forever.’
The golem glared at Tegen, unable to protest.
‘Stand,’ she said. Struggling awkwardly, it clambered to its feet.
‘Now walk.’ Shuffling on legs of slightly uneven length, the creature obeyed.
‘Stop!’ It stopped.
‘Bow to your mistress!’ It bowed.
As it moved, red-hot gleams of fire sizzled through its cracked skin, but it didn’t disintegrate. It was truly alive, standing at about Tegen’s own height.
Her smiled broadened. At last, she thought, I have used my powers properly. I can keep my enemy where I can see it. It’ll do nothing without my knowledge. When this hideous time is over I shall take it back to the Winter Seas and turn it to eternal stone, deep in the caves it came from.
‘Follow!’ she ordered.
As Tegen and the golem approached the camp, warriors gathered, spears at the ready. Most made the sign against the evil eye, some ran screaming, all held their breath in dread.
The creature sloshed awkwardly through the mud, its sooty skin steaming in the rain.
Tegen pointed to a rock. ‘Sit!’ she commanded. ‘Wait. Do not move. If you see anyone attacking this camp, wave your arms to the guard. Do you understand?’
The golem nodded slowly, then sat, staring into the evening sky.
Weaving one last spell of binding, Tegen strode away.
The crowds fell back, eyes and mouths wide in awe.
Tegen’s heart sank at their terror. She would have to earn their trust all over again. Now they’d see her as a weaver of dark spells. Owein was right; she could be naïve at times. She should at least have warned the guards that this creature was coming.
But now she needed food, then sleep. Tegen beckoned to the nearest guard. ‘Call me if you’re worried, but it’ll do nothing until I say. You’re all quite safe.’
Owein pushed through the throng. ‘Tegen!’ he called urgently. ‘What’s happening? Are you all right?’
‘Come and eat with me and I’ll tell you.’ She took his arm and led the way to Boudica’s feasting tent. Rain thundered on the awning as she chose a bench as far away as possible from the queen. Sabrina spotted them, and with her mead horn in one hand and a half a leg of pork in the other, she sat beside them.
As soon as they were all seated with bread and meat, Tegen began. ‘As you know, when I first became the Star Dancer, a demon was released from the funeral caves near my home. I thought I’d put it back, but it followed me. It was the power that Admidios served.’
‘And his ghastly raven?’ Owein asked. ‘That was demonic if anything was.’
Tegen shook her head. ‘No, that was an old witch called Derowen – reincarnated, to help Admidios ensnare me.’
Sabrina looked puzzled, ‘I thought humans only came back as humans?’
‘They do normally,’ Tegen replied. ‘But with this particular demon, anything’s possible. I suspect Derowen had been his slave for many years, so he controlled her rebirth. In raven form it was easy for her to follow me. Anyway, as I travelled to Ériu and Mona, I was followed the whole time – usually by a sort of fog. I often heard sniffing, as if something was tracking me.’ She shuddered at the memory. ‘Once it took the body of a wounded bear. That was horrible. Dear Epona saved me from it, twice.’
‘But what’s this got to do with that hideous thing just outside our camp?’ Owein interrupted.
‘Because I’m still being followed. That demon wants me, but I don’t know why. An old woman once prophesied that it’d come after me “because it didn’t make sense”.’
Sabrina choked on her ale. ‘What a useless sort of a prophecy!’
‘It seemed so at the time, but now I’m beginning to understand.’
‘How do you mean?’ Owein asked.
Tegen lowered her voice. ‘Nothing to do with this demon makes any sense: its essence is chaos. It doesn’t seem to be on any side. I’m sure it’s driving Boudica as much as Suetonius … It’s relishing the mayhem. But at the same time it’s after me. I’m scared Owein. I don’t like being pursued by an unseen enemy, so I made a golem out of the blood and ashes of Camulodunum and commanded the demon to enter it. Now it’s trapped – not all of it of course, a spirit like that can’t ever be totally contained – but it’s diminished and I now know where it is and what it’s up to. There’s an old saying, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” and that’s just what I’m doing!’
Just then, Boudica stood and banged loudly on the table with a spoon. She flung her arm towards Tegen and bellowed, ‘I have news! Our noble druid has captured a monster. Let’s all go and look at it!’
The feasting tent fell silent. All eyes were on Tegen.
She rose to her feet. ‘Very well,’ she replied. She h
ad hoped to wait until morning when the creature would not glow so fiercely. She pushed back her stool and led Boudica and her retinue outside.
In the darkness beyond the camp, sat the black shape of the golem, outlined in flickering fire.
‘Torches!’ Boudica bellowed as she strode right up to it.
‘Don’t look into its eyes,’ Tegen warned. ‘Although it obeys me, it’s still dangerous.’
Boudica strode around it twice. ‘What is it?’ She asked.
‘A golem. It’s made from the mud and ashes of Camulodunum. It will walk with your warriors and strike fear into your enemies.’
Boudica whistled. ‘They’ll run like children! Is it safe?’
‘In my hands, yes – and if it’s treated with respect.’
‘What if you die?’
‘It will do nothing for ever.’
The queen nodded, satisfied.
Just as she turned to go, Tegen noticed that the golem inclined its head slightly in Boudica’s direction. That tiny action sent a chill into Tegen’s heart. Had she imagined it, or had she missed a part of the spell?
Shadows of Beyond
Tegen was roused early to attend Boudica’s war council. The queen looked exhausted but elated as she spoke.
Sabrina poked Tegen in the ribs and whispered, ‘She sat up all night next to your thing. I think she’s in love!’
‘Let’s pray to every god that she’s not!’ Tegen replied.
‘Are you two listening?’ The queen roared. ‘As I was saying, with the golem at our head, we’ll march to the Roman trading post of Londinium. That’s south west of here and very near to our settlement of Lundein on the river Tamesis. The town is small, but our spies say there are warehouses stacked full of grain, wool and metal.’
She opened her arms. ‘And it’s British wool and grain – so we shall take it back!’
The gathering cheered heartily. Generosity kept the tribes faithful. Boudica raised her hand for silence. ‘Now, gather round this sand map and learn it with me.
‘This pebble north of the river is Londinium. It was built to handle reinforcements as well as goods, so once it’s smashed, Suetonius and his men will be cut off.’
Addedomaros laid down several twigs, spreading out from Londinium like wheel spokes. ‘These show the roads they have built, making Londinium the hub for the whole land.’
Boudica pointed to one that ran northeast. ‘This leads to Deva, where Suetonius will be gathering his troops for retaliation. But we also can use these roads to our advantage. From Londinium, warriors can wade across the Tamesis and go south, ambushing the roads that lead to their Isca Dumnoniorum and Isca Silurium in the west. That’ll cut off any legions attempting to join Suetonius.’
‘Brilliant! Caught in their own net!’ Venutius punched the air. ‘We have them!’
Boudica smiled as her chieftains applauded loudly. ‘Camulodunum was the head of Rome’s monster. Now, to make sure it’s dead, we need to hack off its arms, legs – and balls, if it has any!’
The tent erupted into yells and whistles.
Boudica gestured towards Tegen. ‘And now we have our own magnificent monster on our side, this war is won! We merely have to dismember the Roman corpse. Now, we set off in one hand span of the sun. You are dismissed.’
Sabrina and Tegen exchanged worried glances.
‘She’s too confident,’ Tegen whispered. ‘She hasn’t even let me explain properly about the golem.’
‘But it can’t move without your command, so what’s the problem?’ Sabrina asked, bemused.
Tegen rubbed the scar on her finger. ‘I don’t know,’ she replied. ‘It’s just a feeling.’
Before noon, the carts and waggons were packed and the trek towards Londinium began, but even slower than before because of all the extra loot.
Tegen was edgy. Early one morning, she took Sabrina aside. ‘I have been weaving magic to ensure victory in Londinium, but I sense something is unravelling my magic as fast as I make it. Can we hurry up? I have this strong feeling that Suetonius is going to be ready for us.’
Sabrina laughed. ‘We’re quite safe. The only way anyone could be there before us would be riding non-stop. And armies – even Roman ones – can’t travel that fast. I was with Suetonius’s men for long enough to know how they move. Even if he rode like a demon through the mountains and picked up fresh troops at Deva, we’ll still arrive in Londinium first.’
Sabrina took Tegen’s arm. ‘Now, stop worrying. Will your golem walk with us? We ought to give him a name.’
‘It’ll walk, but absolutely no names.’ Tegen scowled. ‘It must remain what it is: twigs, ash and mud. Nothing more. You mustn’t tell it your name either.’
Sabrina’s eyes widened in dismay, ‘But why? He’s magnificent!’
‘Because he is an it. Mud, ashes and fire. Names mean building a relationship with it, and that’s dangerous. Just believe me, please! Now, Boudica’s already left, and I want to keep up with her. Are you riding with me?’
‘I want to be near your creature, it’s the finest warrior I’ve ever seen – real or magical.’
Tegen sighed as she led Epona towards where the golem sat, staring towards the ruin of Camulodunum. Standing before it, Tegen raised her hands. ‘Up!’ she commanded.
The creature obeyed.
Sabrina walked around the figure, admiring every aspect of its physique. ‘Can I train it to fight?’ she asked.
Tegen shook her head. ‘No. It’s like wildfire; it could turn on us. I’ll make it walk with you into battle. As Boudica says, with any luck the Romans will just drop their swords and run.’
‘But we don’t want them to flee, we want to kill them and grind their bones into the mud …’ Sabrina licked her lips. ‘There wasn’t any real fighting last time. To be honest, it wasn’t that much fun.’
‘Tough,’ Tegen replied tersely. Then she turned to the golem. ‘We’re moving on today. You will walk with us. You will keep me in sight at all times.’
The golem stared at her.
Tegen mounted Epona. ‘I’ll see you this evening, Sabrina.’ Then kicking her mare into a trot, she led the golem along the road.
Horses reared and fretted as they passed, carts gave way and warriors pushed their families behind them. But they all watched the creature’s every step with fear and fascination.
Tegen found Boudica waiting in her chariot.
The queen pointed her whip along the Roman road. ‘We’ll travel more quickly this way than on the old tracks. We’ll put some of our best warriors at the rear, so any pursuing troops will get a nasty surprise. Tegen, you and your creature must stay at the front to ward off evil and to show the world we mean business.’
Once more, a look seemed to pass between Boudica and the golem.
I don’t like this – it’s almost as if they recognise each other! Tegen thought. I must watch out, or Boudica will try giving it orders.
But something else gnawed at Tegen’s mind as her creation lumbered along the road: its cracking, smouldering skin dripped charcoal with each step, yet she was certain it was growing.
Later that morning, Owein sought Sabrina out. She was easy to find, riding high on her war chariot, her dark hair streaming in the wind. ‘Want a ride?’ she asked, offering him a hand up. Owein tied Heather’s reign to the horses’ harness and clambered up beside his foster sister. ‘I need to talk to you,’ he said. ‘About Tegen’s golem.’
Sabrina smiled warmly. ‘Magnificent, isn’t it? I just wish I could find a live warrior like him – I might just be tempted to fall in love!’ She glanced at Owein, her dark eyes twinkling.
But he wasn’t amused. ‘I’m worried,’ he said. ‘Something’s wrong. I don’t think Tegen knows what she’s made – not really.’
‘How do you mean?’
Owein shrugged then grabbed the sides of the chariot as the wheels hit a bump in the road. ‘I’m not much good at magic as you know, but that thing’s incredibly powerful, and Teg
en isn’t well – vicious enough to control it.’
‘I’ll take it on any day!’ Sabrina laughed.
Owein’s eyes remained cold.
‘You mean it, don’t you,’ she asked nervously. ‘You’re really worried?’
‘I am,’ he replied. ‘But we’ll just have to see what happens.’
Smirking broadly, Boudica drove her chariot behind the golem. That hideous soothsayer had been right about Tegen – this Star Dancer or whatever she called herself had incredible powers. The defeat of Camulodunum had been so easy, and no booby traps, just a couple of hundred soldiers who didn’t stand a chance, a few pot-bellied old men and a handful of women and farmers. The British slaves had been freed, and the Roman whores and bastards all sacrificed to Andraste.
She liked that touch, what a magnificent offering to the Goddess of War! Now Andraste owed her a favour. She had to bless the rest of the campaign. But why had the old soothsayer warned her not to trust the girl? It didn’t make sense. This latest ploy – this animated thing was brilliant! And what perfect justice: from Camulodunum’s ashes, a supernatural fighting machine to make more ashes! And her chieftains approved too. They were totally united for once.
Boudica admitted to herself that even she would be unable to raise a spear at something that had so blatantly come from the Shadows of Beyond. Surely those eyes of fire were gateways to Tir na nÓg? Anyone who saw it would be terrified.
And it was strange, thought the queen, but there was something familiar about the creature, although she’d swear on any oath she had never seen such a thing before.
Suetonius Paulinus, the Governor of Britain was worried too. He was laid up in the barracks at Deva with vomiting and diarrhoea he could not get rid of. The doctors had prescribed potions and poultices, even leeches, but to no avail. He was getting worse, not better – and he needed to get on the road.
Shivering and sweating, Suetonius yelled for more blankets as he rolled off his mattress and laid his hot head on the cool floor. Images of a girl with long dark hair and green, green eyes slipped through his feverish mind.
