The Warrior and the Druidess

by Cornelia Amiri

  “They will want to trade her, to hold her as hostage for ransom,” Gethin said as his cloak flapped against him in the wind and tiny white flakes sprinkled his long hair and mustache.

  “What will they want in return?” Huctia asked as she gazed with an empty expression at the night sky and the icy bits of snow falling down.

  “What they came for and didn’t get.” Brude inhaled slowly. “Our cattle.” He flew through the village and stormed into his father’s wheelhouse. Some of his men had come first and were sitting by the chief’s bedside speaking to him.

  Sitting up in bed, Calach called out to Brude, “The brutes took the druidess?”

  “Yes, I am going to take our best men and ride after them.”

  Calach grunted. “Is that noise the wind?”

  “Yes.” Brude shrugged. “It’s wailing and an early snow flurry has begun but I care not of that. We have to save Tanwen.”

  “You won’t help the druidess by riding through a snow storm and endangering our best men and yourself, my only heir.” The chief rose and poured a cup of mead. “Nectan won’t harm her. He took her to guarantee that he’ll get the cattle he wants.”

  “What if he deems the granddaughter of Boudica is a better prize than our cattle?”

  “If you mean he keeps her and weds her, I ken you would pleased. You don’t wish to marry her.”

  “I never said that.” Brude shook his head.

  “Yes, you did.” Calach bobbed his head. “Many times.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Tanwen is my betrothed. We must save her.” Energy pulsed through Brude. He had to find Tanwen now. He didn’t have time to discuss all this with his father.

  “Betrothal?”

  “Yes, I agreed to wed her at Samhain in two moons.” Brude had come to care about her. He couldn’t say it now, but he loved her. He gazed intently into his father’s eyes. “I need to bring her back.”

  “Wait until morning, my son.”

  “I must ride now. What if they harm her?” Brude had to get out of here, leap on his horse, ride hard and fast, and bring Tanwen back.

  “I do not think they will, son. But if they do, you will war with the Smertae.” Calach leaned back.

  “If he dares to touch her, I swear, I’ll chop off Nectan’s head with my sword, dip it in cedar oil and tie it around my horse’s neck.”

  “You must do what you must do.” Calach swallowed a swig of ale.

  Brude stormed out of the wheelhouse and stamped off to the stables. After mounting his horse he dug his heels into its flanks and rode at a hard gallop in the snow storm. His head spun with thoughts. Boudica, sent her granddaughter into my keeping, and I let the Smears steal away with her. But I’ll have her home soon. Home? I mean here. Her home is here, isn’t it? After all she is going to be my wife. He felt a tinge of pride at the thought.

  The wind pulled at him and flakes of icy snow bit into his skin, but he drove on barely noticing it. He finally realized that he no longer heard his men yelling behind him and that he was rode too fast and too recklessly for them to keep up. He realized he now rode alone.

  * * * * *

  Tanwen’s insides turned somersaults from hanging upside down for the hard ride. Once the horse came to a stop, she was pulled off and set on her feet. They untied the cloak they’d draped over her head and yanked it off.

  Now she could see the man that took her. Tanwen glared at Nectan. Words exploded from her boiling rage. “You dare to harm a druid. I will see you destroyed for this.”

  “I have brought no harm to you, Bright One. I spirited you away on my finest horse and offer you my own wheelhouse for your stay with us. You will be afforded full hospitality, every courtesy due a sacred oak seer.”

  “You grabbed me and terrified me by flinging a cloth over my head and tying it, binding my hands and throwing me over the horse like I was nothing more than a leather skin of ale. Then, riding at a hard, reckless pace, you endangered me. I see no good in that.” Tanwen crossed her arms over her chest. “Why do you hold me hostage?”

  “I will answer that.” Nectan nodded. “But first the laws of hospitality demand that I offer you food and drink.” He motioned to her to sit down and a woman handed her a cup of ale as another served her a plate of boiled pork.

  Her stomach craved food and her jittery nerves cried out for ale. She gulped down the heady brew and bit into the thick, juicy meat. As her hunger faded and her stomach felt heavy, she sat her ale cup down and gazed at Nectan. “Why did you steal me away? What do you want with me?"

  “The raid was cut to an end before I could take any of the herd, therefore I hold your freedom as the price of the cattle we need.”

  “Are you addled? You bring the wrath of the gods down on your tribe for holding a druid captive.”

  “No, I will not let my people starve.” He lifted his chin and met her gaze straight on. “Our crops failed and the few cattle we have are scrawny. We need meat for the winter. The gods will not wrong me for doing what I must to save my tribe.”

  She tossed her head. “You fool! Why did you not speak to me or Lossio?” She slid both hands onto her hips. “As druids, we would have had Chief Calach and the other tribes share food with you. We want unity with all the tribes so we can stop the Romans. They would have freely given your people meat and any other food that could be spared.”

  “I am a Smertae Warrior Chief. I do not beg druids for favors when I can see a way to give my tribe what it needs myself.”

  Tanwen sighed. She’d been taken hostage by a man with sparse reasoning abilities. Yes, he was a chief, but she was a druid, and he would listen to her. “Free me now, and give me your best horse to ride back to the Caledonia village, or I will release the wrath of the gods on you. Your crops will fail and your cattle will be scrawny for the next ten by ten turns of the years. Release me now, and save your people from extinction.”

  “Enough of this talk, Bright One.” Though he steeled his fear, Tanwen could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He walked out of his wheelhouse into the snow, hastily leaving her with the women.

  The next day, giving in to the anxiety that had built up in her through the restless night, she jumped up from her pallet and dressed. Her muscles were tight with tension, driving her to find a way to escape back to the Caledonii village. She could conjure an invisibility spell but the Smertae druid or druidess would be able to still find her. After a lot of thought on the matter, she ordered one of the women to take her to see Nectan.

  She called out to him as she entered the wheelhouse. “Chief, I would speak to you.”

  As he sat in front of a hearth fire, he gestured to her to come over. “Come, Druidess sit with me.”

  She walked up to him but did not sit down. “You're mad to keep a druid hostage.” Glaring at him, she thought he would undo all she had worked for. If he demanded the Caledonii cattle for her return, these two tribes would battle each other and the Romans would win as a result. “What has your own druid told you about this foolishness?”

  “He doesn't have to feed the tribe. My people do not blame the druids, they blame the gods, and they blame their chief.” He slapped his palm to his chest. “Me.”

  She gazed firmly into his eyes with all the power she could muster and thickened her voice so it resounded like an echo. “Release me or I shall banish you and your tribe from all rites and rituals, all feast and god days.”

  “Druidess, I give you my own house to show my hospitality to you, yet you leave it to wander the village seeking me out to harangue me. Your threats have no sway over me. I have a duty to feed my people by what means I can.”

  “How will holding me hostage feed your tribe?” She flamed with anger.

  “Calach will pay for you in cattle,” Nectan said.

  Tanwen flung her arm toward him as if she would hit him. “No, he will not. I am not Caledonii. He cares naught for me."

  Nectar shook his head. “Druidess, all know you are betrothed to Calach’s son, Brude.�
�

  “Brude has never agreed to the betrothal. He wants to be rid of me. They will not come for me, I tell you the truth. A druid cannot lie.”

  Nectan’s forehead furrowed as if he was finally listening to her.“This is my village. I will find a place here where you cannot bother me.” He turned and stormed out of the wheelhouse. She followed and, at that moment, they both turned their heads toward the galloping horse fast approaching.

  * * * * *

  Having ridden hard into Smertae territory, Brude leapt off his horse with his spear raised high, ready to battle. Tanwen stood near Nectan. It looked like they were walking somewhere. Brude closed his eyes for moment and exhaled. She is alive and safe. Thank the gods.

  The chief pointed at Brude as he told Tanwen, “It is as I said, Calach’s son has come for you.”

  “He does not want me. He is here only to show he is the better man,” she said, but her mood seemed suddenly buoyant, and her eyes shined with joy for a brief moment.

  “Is that true Brude? Have you come only to show me that I cannot take a hostage from your tribe?” Nectan’s eyebrows arched.

  Brude couldn’t take his eyes off Tanwen. He thought of nothing but her, even in the presence of the Smertae chief. He ran to her, grabbed her by her shoulders and jerked her to him. He pressed his lips upon hers in a hungry, devouring kiss. Her warm, wet lips were as sweet and heady as heather ale.

  “I have come to take you home,” Brude rasped.

  As he clung to her she said, “You do not want to marry me.”

  “Not true. I did not want to, but I have changed my mind. I need you.” He gazed deep into her eyes and saw the bright flare of desire.

  “Ah, good,” the Smertae chief said. “For twenty head of cattle, you can have her.”

  “You cannot hold a druid against her will. Release her now.” Brude kept his grip tight on Tanwen. If he had to kill the chief and every warrior of the Smertae tribe, then so be it. He was not going to leave without her.

  Tanwen gazed deep into Brude’s eyes. “He needed cattle. The tribe’s crops failed. That is why he took me,” she said in a calm, gentle tone.

  Brude looked Nectan in the eye. “I will give you nothing. Let her go now.”

  “I can go when I wish, but they need cattle.” Tanwen raised her voice.

  “Listen to the druid.” Nectan grinned.

  Brude squeezed his hand into a tight fist, drew back his arm and rammed his iron hard hand into the chief’s face, slamming his nose. “You are not smiling now,” Brude said as he gazed at the scowling Smertae and the red blood trickling down from his nose to his lips.

  Nectan stood, a tower of tight muscles and male fury. He drew his hand back then pounded his fist into Brude’s jaw. “I am now,” Nectan said.

  Tanwen yelled, “I call for peace. As a druid, I demand you stop fighting. We will never be able to band together as one army against Agricola unless you make peace.”

  The two men stopped fighting but kept their gaze on each other.

  “I will give you nothing.” Brude rubbed his jaw.

  “We cannot battle each other.” Tanwen shook her hand at him. “All tribes need to band together to fight the Romans.” She dropped her arms to her sides and lowered her voice. “The Smertae are warriors. They raid. It is in their nature. We need wild warriors like them to conquer the Romans. Their crops failed. They need food or they won’t be able to fight against Rome. Give them the cattle they need.”

  Brude wheeled around, facing her. “I rode all this way to rescue you and you but scold me.”

  She let out a long sigh. “I was rescuing myself when you rode up. You do not care about me, so why pretend?”

  “I do care, and I want you home. We will marry soon.”

  She took a quick, sharp breath. “When did you decide this?”

  “When the Smertae took you from me.”

  Tanwen’s eyes grew wide. “The goddess had intervened,” she said under her breath. “Very well, then. I am ready to return to the Caledonii village.”

  “I’ll ride with you to bring the cattle back,” Nectan said.

  “Let’s be off,” Brude said. He would deal with the Smertae chief later. For now, he wanted Tanwen back home with him, where she belonged.

  He vaulted on his horse and reached down his hand to lift her in front of him. Her smooth back molded into his chest. The heat of her body pressed into his nearly unmanned him. He let out a gasp of breath. With his arm wrapped about her tiny waist, he rode pillion with her at a leisurely gait, taking pleasure in the warmth of her body pressed against his. The Smertae chief had the good sense to ride far behind to give them privacy.

  She tilted her head back and gazed into Brude’s eyes. “I am surprised you came for me at all. You have made no secret that you do not want this marriage.”

  “You are wrong. Or I was wrong. Tanwen, daughter of Wena, granddaughter of Boudica, will you marry me?”

  Her whole face spread into a wide, open smile. “Yes, I will wed you and fight at your side when the Romans come.” An excited light shone vividly in her eyes. “You will father my children. Down the line of our children’s children, our descendants, a chief named Arthur and a druid called Merlin, will help the people revive our Celtic ways and worship the Celtic gods.”

  “Our descendants.”

  “Yes, so Boudica said.”

  He reined the horse to a halt, cupped Tanwen’s dainty chin and turned her toward him. He captured her lips with his and sipped from the sweetness of her mouth.

  The gentle kiss grew fierce. She twisted her mouth against his with intense passion. His warm, thrusting tongue plundered the depths of her mouth. His sex swelled and throbbed. Her warm lips burned his mouth. His heart hammered. He wanted to take her then and there. He didn’t even care if Nectan watched.

  If not for her, he would have killed Nectan. The daft chief had taken his woman. Brude would marry her, and no one could claim that she was not his. It had nothing to do with Boudica, it had to do with his need for Tanwen. He would never let anyone take her from him again.

  He burned so badly for her, his erection ached. He didn’t know how he would make it back to the village. His desire for her spread through him as he sipped from the sweetness of her lips. He plunged his tongue into the warm depths of her mouth. He darted his tongue repeatedly inside her. Her soft mewing and moans drove him mad. He didn’t know how he managed to pull his lips away from hers, but he did. He couldn’t look at her. Every pore in his body pulsed with need to meld together with her. To bring her to the brink of passion. He wanted her to pant and scream for him. He wanted them to explode together, entwined in a trembling spasm of frenzy.

  He had to get her back to the village first. He jerked his face forward and dug his heels into his steed. At a hard, swift gallop they rode back to the Caledonii village at a dirt-kicking pace, while Nectan kept his distance at the rear. When Brude was halfway home, two Caledonii warriors galloped up to him. He jerked the reins and pulled his horse to a halt.

  “We were coming to join you, now that the snow has stopped and we can see to ride.” Talorcan flashed a wide grin and reined his horse in.

  “Well done. You saved the druidess.” Drest drew his horse in beside Brude’s.

  “I did not need saving. But yes, he did come for me,” Tanwen corrected them.

  “That’s a matter of opinion.” Brude grinned wryly. “But I am bringing her back to the village.”

  Talorcan pointed down the road. “Do you know Nectan is following you?”

  “He is not following us, he‘s riding with us,” Tanwen said. “He’s agreed to ally with the Caledonii and the other northern tribes to fight the Romans.”

  Brude winked at his friends. “Why don’t you two ride back there and accompany our new friend.” He wrapped his arm tighter around Tanwen. “The druidess and I lead the way home.”

  With a big smile on his face Drest nodded his head. “Yes, let’s do that.”

  “We’l
l ride with Nectan while you and the druidess discuss important matters about the tribe.” Talorcan chuckled.

  As they rode off toward the Smertae chief, Tanwen asked Brude, “What did you need to say to me that you didn’t want them to hear?”

  “Oh, nothing.” He brushed his fingers against her breasts. “He didn’t think he would make it back to the village. His groin was throbbing and on fire. He needed relief. He needed her, and it had to be now.

  She slapped his hands away from her breasts.

  “Ouch, Tannin.”

  “This is not the place. We will speak alone—after Nectan gets his cattle.”

  Suddenly, his mind turned to a more serious thought. “He didn’t harm you, did he?”

  “No. He treated me with utmost respect. He even gave me his round house to say in while I was at the village.”

  “Nectan is lucky he’s not dead, stealing our druidess.” Taking my woman.

  “He only did it to help his people”

  “So he says.” With her smooth back molding itself against his chest, his heart thudded. He breathed in her intoxicating scent. His groin lit on fire. His arm locked around her waist. He goaded his horse into an even faster gait.

  Nectan and Brude’s men picked up their pace and closed the distance as Brude rode pillion with Tanwen into the village. Everyone quit what they were doing and headed toward the chief’s house to welcome the druidess. Brude spotted Calach standing outside and reined his horse to a stop in front of his father.

  Brude glanced at the crowd that had gathered around them. “I have brought your druidess back unharmed.” He eased off his horse. “The Smertae gave Tanwen full hospitality.”

  Still mounted, Tanwen waved at the crowd and they cheered. The tribe turned their eyes upon Nectan, who drew his horse in behind Brude’s. He ignored the mummers of the crowd as if he didn’t care and sat aplomb in the saddle.

  Brude spread out his arms. “People of the Caledonii, to show true friendship to the Smertae, we will share our cattle with them.” The crowd began to mummer dissent, but Brude raised his voice. “The Smertae’s crops failed, and they need meat to survive the winter. So we shall share our wealth with them as allies do, as befits the hospitality of the Caledonii.”