by Beth Webb
Hoods were pulled back from the prisoner’s faces.
Owein went pale and swallowed hard.
Tegen gasped. ‘Claudia? Ula?’
The Necklace of Hair
Sabrina drew her dagger and pointed it at Boudica.
Guards stepped forward to disarm her, but the queen raised her hand.
‘She won’t harm me,’ she sneered. ‘She needs me to get her own kingdom back.’
Sabrina kept her blade drawn but lowered it. ‘Don’t be so sure, lady! I prize loyalty and honesty above being a queen – something you know nothing about, it seems.’
Boudica’s nostrils flared. ‘I can have you killed at any moment.’
‘And you think I can’t do the same?’ Sabrina responded, with her gappy smile.
Rolling her eyes, Boudica glowered at Tegen. ‘This is all beside the point. This so-called druid is not putting all her magic at my disposal, which she swore she would do. A soothsayer came to see me before she arrived. He told me not to trust her. After my initial misgivings, I thought he was mistaken – her powers achieved two easy victories. But now I know better. This female …’ Here she kicked Claudia who tried to head-butt her back, ‘was the Roman Tegen was seen consorting with on the road to Lindum. Now I discover that Tegen’s “friend” is married to her.’
‘She’s Gaulish,’ Tegen put in quickly. ‘Raised by Romans, it’s not her fault.’
Claudia’s eyes opened wide in silent thanks.
Boudica snorted. ‘Who knows what tales a whore will use to get into my camp to spy?’ She swung her vicious gaze on Owein. ‘And where, Owein ap Caractacus, king of the Catuvellauni, did you spring from? You were thought to have died in the fires of Sinodun a year ago. You must hve been playing at being Roman to get yourself a Roman slut!’ Boudica ground her teeth as she paced the tent.
At last she stood before Tegen, nose to nose. ‘If you won’t give me the golem, then these women die. Here and now. You choose. What’s it to be?’
‘It’s not as simple as that, I can’t just give …’
Boudica raised one finger and a guard pressed the tip of his knife under Claudia’s chin. A trickle of blood appeared. She whimpered and screwed her eyes shut.
‘So, to whom does the golem belong?’ the queen demanded.
Tegen worried at the scar on her finger. I’ll tell the truth, she decided. Maybe that’ll scare her. She took a deep breath. ‘The golem is much more than just fire and charcoal. It has a demon in it. If it’s anyone’s, it belongs to Gwynn ap Nudd, lord of the Otherworld.’
‘Aah …’ Boudica sat back on the sofa and put her feet up. ‘Even better. If I have death on my side, who can stand against me?’
Tegen ignored her question. ‘And if you don’t let all of us go unharmed, then I won’t curse your next town and I’ll no longer stand at your side.’ She glanced across at Owein, ‘and neither will any other druid. I will see to it.’
Boudica laughed and emptied her drinking horn. ‘So what? When I have the golem, I’ll rule everything. Anyway, druids are dispensable.’ She clicked her fingers once more, and out of the shadows at the back of the tent drifted a grey figure.
Aodh.
Tegen hissed between her teeth. She should have seen this coming. ‘Give me a short time with my golem,’ she said, ‘I will have to raise strong magic to communicate with it. But in the end, I cannot promise whom it will choose to obey.’
Boudica dismissed them with a flick of her ring-laden fingers. ‘Very well, but Aodh will go with you, just in case of any errors. If he’s not satisfied, then when you return, Owein’s women will die.’
Tegen stormed out of the tent and down the slope to where the golem sat, unsleeping, staring at the smouldering remains of Londinium. Sabrina strode beside her, and Owein hobbled behind as fast as he could.
‘What are you going to do?’ Sabrina asked.
Tegen looked up at the stars, it was a bright night and the Watching Woman sparkled almost overhead. She stood still. ‘I have an idea. Is that ghastly man following us?
Sabrina looked around. ‘I can’t see him.’
‘Good. Distract him if he comes, will you? A sword thrust in the throat will do nicely, if you can get that near.’
Glancing back at the stars for comfort, Tegen walked over to her creature. ‘Stand,’ she commanded.
It obeyed, towering taller and stronger than before – but clumsier too.
‘Owein, I need you,’ Tegen called out.
‘How can I help?’ He came to her side.
‘I know you don’t enjoy magic,’ she began, ‘but you do understand things most people miss. Why is the golem growing, and why is it so clumsy? Is it feeding on Boudica’s anger? Any thoughts?’
‘I agree with your idea about it being pulled in several directions at once,’ Owein replied. ‘It’s got too many masters.’
Tegen nodded. ‘And you’ve noticed it seems to have some sort of link with the queen?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’
‘We must find what that connection is and break it. We must search the golem – it must be wearing a trinket or something personal of hers.’
Owein shook his head. ‘Can you make a light? It’s too dark to see.’
Pulling a dead branch from a woodpile, Tegen commanded it to burn and held it high.
Together they walked around the golem. ‘It’s no good,’ Owein said at last, ’it’s all charcoal and fire to me.’
‘You’re right,’ Tegen agreed. Then she called out, ‘Sabrina? Is there any sign of Aodh?’
A raised sword glinted in the firelight. ‘Not yet,’ she replied.
‘He’s somewhere close by,’ Tegen murmured. ‘The back of my neck is prickling.’ She took Owein’s torch and stared into the flames. ‘Show me where Aodh is,’ she commanded.
The fire spat. A grey cloak flickered in the darkness.
Tegen span around. ‘There!’ she yelled.
Sabrina leapt towards him, sword in hand.
‘Karshta-bahona!’ Aodh screeched, flinging blue sparks from his fingertips.
Sabrina yelped, staggering back.
Tegen threw a spirit-shield over her. ‘Fiend!’ she yelled, blasting orange flames.
Aodh slunk aside, a shadow amongst shadows. ‘You want to play games?’ he sneered. ‘How about – a little contest? You and me. And the prize will be … the golem.’
Sabrina was back on her feet. ‘Don’t Tegen! Aodh’s blood is mine!’
‘Catch me first,’ Aodh laughed, from behind her.
‘Catch me first,’ Aodh laughed, from the trees beyond the camp.
‘Catch me first,’ Aodh laughed, from inside the golem.
‘Catch me first … Catch me first … Catch … me … first …’ Endless voices jeered from every direction. In the darkness, twenty or thirty Aodhs were closing in on Sabrina and her friends, eyes glinting, skeletal hands outstretched. The darkness beyond was filled with a thousand more.
Wide-eyed, Sabrina swung her sword in a full circle. ‘Coward!’ she yelled. ‘Stop playing tricks. Fight like a man.’
Grabbing her torch, Tegen nodded to Owein. The three stood back to back, facing the tightening circle of eerie figures.
Suddenly, Sabrina lunged, piercing one of the Aodhs in his heart.
He shivered into mist. Two more shades took his place.
On all sides, the Aodhs pressed closer.
Again and again Sabrina’s sword hacked and swiped. ‘Some help would be nice,’ she called out.
‘The real one’s between you and the golem,’ Tegen shouted back. ‘Watch his feet.’
Sabrina swung to where Tegen was waving her torch.
Only one of the wraiths cast a shadow on the grass.
Sabrina sprang forward, but stumbled amongst the tangle of avatars.
The spell-caster slid away, his fellows swirling after him.
‘No!’ Owein yelled, hurling his crutch like a javelin. It cracked on the man’s skull.
Aodh howled and stumbled against the golem.
The air filled with the stench of singeing flesh and hair. One by one, the other Aodhs snuffed out like embers.
With a whoop of glee, Sabrina drew her dagger and sliced Aodh’s throat.
Blood spurted and gurgled, pooling in the mud.
Grabbing the brand, Owein limped across to Aodh’s lifeless form. Between the corpse’s fingers was a razor-sharp dagger.
‘I don’t like the way things are going,’ Owein said quietly.
‘Neither do I,’ Sabrina answered. Then she gave a loud whistle. After a few heartbeats, two Dobunni warriors ran to her side.
Sabrina kicked Aodh’s corpse. ‘This demon tried to murder our beloved druid who’s brought us so many glorious victories! Throw him in the river.’
The men grasped the body. Aodh’s head fell back, his eyes staring blankly up at Tegen as he was hauled away.
Sabrina cleaned her knife on the grass and slipped it back in its scabbard. ‘What’re we going to say to Boudica?’
‘I’ll think of something,’ Owein replied, ‘although I don’t think Boudica will believe whatever we say.’
Tegen stood in front of her golem. Pulling herself upright, she spoke to it: ‘Did Boudica give you something to keep?’
The creature nodded.
‘Give it to me.’
With its flat hand it reached to its neck, broke what looked like a string, and handed it to Tegen. She examined it in the torchlight. ‘It’s a necklace of plaited hair,’ she said. ‘Probably Boudica’s. It’s not enough to control it completely, but it would make it confused and hesitant.’
‘Treacherous witch!’ Sabrina shook her head. ‘But what do we do now? Owein’s woman will die if Boudica doesn’t get her way.’
Tegen beckoned Owein and Sabrina closer and whispered, ‘Firstly we need a new hair necklace so Boudica doesn’t notice hers is missing. Mine is too short, Sabrina’s is too dark. It’s a shame you cut your hair Owein, it was almost the same colour as the queen’s.’
He laughed. ‘I know you’ll think me vain – but I did keep a plait, just to remind me of who I really was – in case I became too Roman.’
‘Can you get it?’
Owein nodded and left.
Tegen turned to Sabrina. ‘Tell Boudica I’m preparing spells to transfer some power to her. Explain it’s going to be a slow process, but by dawn, she will be able to give her first command … But not until Claudia and Ula stand at my side, alive and well.’
When Tegen was alone, she looked up at her creature. ‘It will be light very soon. When the sun has risen completely, queen Boudica will give you orders. You may obey three of her commands and three only. Do you understand?’
The golem nodded. Crackling fire glimmered beneath its charcoal. The demon understood. And it was pleased.
By nightfall of the next day, the tall woman with the big voice would be the one doing the obeying.
A Deal is Struck
When Owein returned with a handful of long red hair, Tegen plaited a new necklace, then made the golem bow low so she could replace it. ‘You must never reveal that this is not the queen’s hair, do you understand?’
The golem raised its head then with glowing eyes it spoke, very clearly into Tegen’s mind. You made me, it jeered, so remember, everything I do, whoever gives the order, will be your fault. Shouldn’t you destroy me now?
‘You can speak?’ Goose pimples prickled Tegen’s back.
Only those who love me can hear me.
‘Who are you talking to?’ Owein asked.
Tegen flapped her hand at him. ‘Ssh!’
Turning to the golem, she searched his face for signs of a mouth. There were none.
‘When did you learn to speak?’ she demanded.
I always could, but chose not to, it replied. I wanted you to think you were in control. Now you’re in a fine mess – what are you going to do? Isn’t it time you begged for my help? So many innocent people are suffering …’
‘Who are you?’
You know perfectly well.
‘No I don’t!’ Panic rose in Tegen’s throat.
I am you. I’m not you. I am everyone you’ve ever hated and every one you’ve ever hurt …’
‘You’re not making any sense!’
I never do. That’s the point. Remember?
Owein stood beside her. ‘What’s happening?’ he whispered.
‘It can talk into my mind,’ she replied softly, not taking her eyes off it. ‘I … I have no control. It’s beyond me!’
The golem threw back its head and its body shook, racked with silent laughter.
At that moment Sabrina returned, closely followed by Boudica. A little way behind, Claudia and Ula stood with their hands still tied and gags in their mouths.
‘Where is Aodh?’ the queen demanded.
‘He died,’ Owein replied.
The queen just shrugged. ‘Stupid man. Still, it doesn’t matter. The creature will make me all-powerful. I don’t need witches or druids.’
Tegen narrowed her eyes and considered Boudica carefully. So, she’s been conversing with the golem? How long? Since I brought it into camp? That would explain the looks and small bows. I wish I’d never made this thing. It seemed a good idea at the time.
‘Give me the women,’ Tegen demanded.
Boudica crossed her arms. ‘When my first command is obeyed, they’re all yours.’ Claudia wept into her gag, but Ula’s eyes widened and she shook her head frantically.
Ignoring them, Tegen replied coolly, ‘Magic takes time, especially complicated spells like these, but I will begin.’
As she spoke, Tegen stroked the stone egg in her pouch. Although she felt no spark of power, it gave her courage.
‘Very well,’ the queen replied, ‘bring me food and ale, I’m hungry!’ Servants bustled about fetching a chair, a table and food. Boudica made herself comfortable and ate as she admired her latest spoil of war: the golem.
Tegen busied herself with binding spells and incantations; by the time she had finished, the camp was flooding with early sunlight.
Praying her own hair was still in place where the creature’s heart should be, Tegen stood before the queen. ‘My lady, the golem is yours until sunset, but it will only obey three commands. You may try more, but I have no idea whether it will obey – or turn on you, so make your choices wisely!’
Boudica walked around her prize, admiring its grey, cracked skin, its burning red eyes and smoking veins.
Just then, a small puppy ran past and Boudica pointed. ‘Kill it!’
Without hesitation, the golem grabbed the little brown and white bundle and squeezed it. With a flick, it shook the slimy corpse onto the grass. The golem’s hands sizzled with the puppy’s blood.
‘That leaves two commands, my lady,’ Tegen said quietly. Then she nodded to Sabrina who stepped up to the hostages and cut their bindings.
Claudia fell whimpering into Ula’s arms and Owein led them both away.
Tegen turned her back on the camp and strode towards the ruin of Lundinium and the silvery river. She wished she had time to listen to its song and learn its wisdom; but that would have to be another day.
Sabrina walked at Tegen’s side. ‘You took a risk letting Boudica loose with that thing – she could command it to kill you.’
Tegen shrugged. ‘I don’t think so. She says she doesn’t need me, but when she discovers it really will only obey her three times, she’ll want me back. Furthermore, Owein has a small power over it now with his hair around its neck.’
‘Won’t it just do what it wants anyway?’
‘I don’t think it can – not completely. But with any luck I’ll have destroyed it before things go too far.’
‘But how? I watched it in battle, and swords and spears go right through it.’
Tegen sighed. ‘I’m not sure … I’ve got to work something out today, before she demands more power.’
They turned at the soun
d of clattering hoof-beats. Owein was galloping his pony as fast as her short legs would go. He slowed as he came alongside. ‘I’ve hidden the girls with the Dobunni as you suggested, Sabrina.’
‘Good, they should be safe for a while. With any luck, Boudica’s got other things on her mind.’
Tegen looked back at the camp. The giant figure of the golem was sitting exactly as they had left it.
‘I hope Boudica chooses sensible commands,’ Owein muttered.
Tegen smiled. ‘Well, actually, I’m rather hoping that they aren’t. The nature of the demon is that nothing about it makes sense. With any luck, things’ll go badly wrong and she’ll be only too pleased to give it back to me.’
Suddenly an awful thought struck her. ‘Oh, Owein, I’m so sorry. You gave your hair to the creature, I’d been thinking you could give it orders if anything happened to me, or maybe together we could rein it back, but what if it uses your hair to hurt you?’
Owein laughed. ‘Actually, the same thought struck me. In the end I raided the tail of a rather elderly roan mare pulling a baggage waggon. If the demon tries to reverse the spell, it’ll mean pots and pans everywhere. Nothing worse!’
‘You’re so clever! Well done!’ Tegen hugged him. ‘I did think the hair felt rather coarse, but I didn’t like to say anything.’
The three friends walked on. ‘We’ve lost Boudica’s trust,’ Sabrina said at last.
‘I’m not sure we ever really had it,’ Tegen replied. ‘She said a soothsayer warned her about me, and we’ve never seen eye to eye about anything. But I can’t leave – I have to perform the Star Dancer’s duty to Britain. I must stick to my part of the bargain. However, today I need somewhere with trees and some sense of peace so I can think.’
Owein pointed to a low, chalky hill with a few round houses huddled near the water’s edge. It was only a short walk across the marshes. ‘That’s Lundein, the old settlement. I’ve heard it’s deserted.’
‘Let’s try it,’ Tegen said. ‘Will you two come? I’d be glad of protection, Sabrina. I don’t quite trust Boudica not to send prowlers around, and Owein, if Claudia doesn’t need you I’d be grateful for your advice.’
