Queen of Ash and Iron by Melanie Karsak EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
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- Authors: Melanie Karsak
- Language: English
- Genre: Celtic History
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Rise…
Rise…
Rise…
Silver moonbeams reflected on the leaves of the oak trees as we raced
down the woodland path from Venta toward Oak Throne. Druda was
galloping so quickly that his hoofbeats sounded like a beating heart as they
briefly touched the forest floor.
I tried to quiet the myriad of voices screaming in my head.
Caturix was dead.
Bran was in danger.
Aulus was gone.
And Scapula had sacked Stonea.
Everything that happened next—every word, every step—had to be
taken with precision, or the Northern Iceni were doomed. If I could get to
Bran before the Romans, there was a chance. What I would do, what I
would say, I didn’t know. I only hoped the doubt Aulus had placed in
Scapula’s mind held some weight. If I could convince the new Roman
governor that my eldest brother had acted alone, maybe, just maybe, I could
save my people.
Prasutagus had listened to Melusine’s story wide-eyed before turning to
me.
“We must go. Scapula will raze Oak Throne if we don’t stop him,” he
told me.
I shook my head. “I must go. You must stay in Venta and keep our
daughters and the Greater Iceni safe. Because of Caturix, we are all in
danger. But Aulus assured me he did what he could to ensure Scapula knew
that you and I were with Rome. Now, I must hope Bran and I can do the
same.”
“But, Boudica,” Prasutagus had protested. “What if something happens
to you? What if these Romans do not believe you?”
“That’s where I come in,” Pix said as she sharpened her knife. “Ye don’t
need to worry, Strawberry King. No one will touch Boudica as long as I’m
breathing.”
Prasutagus frowned.
“I must go. And quickly. Stonea, Frog’s Hollow, Holk Fort, and all the
others… I must stop the Romans before more damage is done.”
Reluctantly, Prasutagus nodded and called at once for a party to ride
with me.
“Galvyn,” he told the housecarl, “sound an alarm across the city.
Institute a curfew and rally the guard. Put Venta on alert. I want extra
guards on the king’s house.”
“My king,” Galvyn replied, then turned to attend to it.
Prasutagus came to me, gently stroking my hair. “Boudica… Ride
safely. May Epona give Druda wings, and may Andraste guard you well.”
“And you, Husband. May all the gods watch over you and our little
ones,” I told him, then headed out.
Mere hours later, after a hard ride, the torches burning on the walls of
Oak Throne finally came into view.
The city was safe—for now.
But it was quiet.
Too quiet.
I could feel fear emanating from the place. Word must have reached
them.
We rode hard, approaching the walled edifice. The gates were closed
and manned. As we approached, I heard a call go through the city that
riders had been seen.
Shortly after that, more men appeared.
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