Queen of Oak: A Novel of Boudica (The Celtic Rebels Series Book 1) by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clockpunk Press
Published: 2021-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

Weeks passed. And with them, I found myself feeling dull and lifeless. I took Brenna to see Ula. Even though Ula complained endlessly about it, she endeavored, all the same, to teach my sister what she knew about song magic, while nagging me to listen to the Ogham.

I tried but heard nothing.

Whatever I was supposed to hear was not speaking to me.

Instead, my worried heart faced the south.

Caratacus.

Would my father really wed me off to that ambitious king? I had never seen the man. I knew little of him. What I did know was that he was a fighter. He and his brother were dominating their way south. What would I do with a ruthless creature like that?

The thought filled me with despair.

Soon, Samhain approached. A week before the festival, Lynet arrived at Oak Throne. I was busy sparring with Bran and the others when she joined us.

Leaving my spear aside, I went to her.

“Lynet,” I called. “And Mountain,” I added, pausing to give Gaheris’s horse a pat. “Well met. Both of you.”

Mountain nosed my chin and gave my hair a whiff in greeting.

“I missed you too, old friend,” I said, stroking his nose.

“Well met, Boudica,” Lynet said. She slipped off the horse then embraced me. “It is good to see you.”

“Is everything all right?”

Lynet nodded. “I just need to talk over some issues of the winter stores with your father. And I wanted to ask you to come to Frog’s Hollow for the Samhain rites. Dôn and the priestesses will join us. We thought, given what we have all lost this year, it would also be good for you to come.”

I nodded, feeling a lump rise in my throat. “I’ll be there.”

“Good. You can stay with me.”

“Thank you. How is Tristan? The other children?”

“He’s very well. They all are. But they miss you. We all do.”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to come, I just…”

I didn’t know what else to say. The truth was, the idea of going to Frog’s Hollow had been too painful. There was nowhere in that place that didn’t remind me of what I had lost.

Lynet lifted the frog pendant on my chest. She studied it, a sad smile on her features. “I understand, but it’s still your place. Remember that.”

I nodded.

“Lynet, he is ready for you,” Balfor called.

Lynet winked at me before following Balfor inside.

A few moments later, Brenna appeared, her lyre case in her hands.

“I saw Lynet,” she told me brightly.

I nodded.

“I’m going to see Ula now. Want to come?”

I shook my head. “Maybe later.”

Brenna laughed. “All right. She’s easier on me when you’re there to mistreat instead. Oh well,” she said, then headed off.

I took Mountain’s reins. “Come on, old friend. Let me find you something to eat. Druda will be glad to see you,” I told him, then led the horse across the square to the corral, tying him near the water trough. I whistled for Druda, who appeared a moment later. When he spotted Mountain, he ran across the green to meet him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.