61 ad, Autumn, Caledonii Territory,

Free Britain

Lord Rhys, the elder of the two heirs to the throne of the Caledonian Federation, raised his weary head. He had been at training all morning, and was exhausted. But the wind had whispered in his ear, urging him to look up.

There, on the crest of the hill, silhouetted against the setting sun, stood two young girls. They were thin and filthy, but the sun caught the sheen of golden torques around their necks, the glistening of golden rings in their hair.

Caught for a brief moment, the young Lord Rhys merely stared until one of the girls collapsed. With a shout, he rose to his feet and ran, fast as his long legs could carry him. His shout of surprise alerted the other men in the training fields, and they too began to run.

The first to crest the hill, Rhys stood before the girls, breathing hard. The girl on the ground, hair straight and the colour of flame, did not seem to realize he was there. The standing girl, however, did, and her pale dun eyes met his defiantly, as if demanding he kneel.

"What creatures have blown in, then?" Rhys's trainer, and father's shield-bearer, demanded. "Who are you, and what do you mean by so boldly entering lands that are not yours?"

The girl with the savage eyes turned to Geraint, and Rhys noted the broad man flinch back slightly.

"Sanctuary," the girl croaked through cracked lips. "I demand sanctuary."

"Oh, demand, is it?" Geraint snapped. "On what authority?"

The girl held out a clenched fist, and unfurled it, revealing a golden ring with a red stone. Carved in that stone, visible only because the sun now shone through it, was a hare.

"Andrasta's mark," one of the men breathed. "There's only one who would carry that mark."

"She's dead," Geraint said.

"I am Mederei," the girl declared, her voice gaining strength. "Daughter of Boudicca, Queen of the Magni Ceni. I demand sanctuary."

The short speech took all her strength, and she swayed. Rhys dove forward, catching her as she fell, starvation and exhaustion robbing her of consciousness.

Geraint turned to one of the men. "Fetch the druid, Alwyn. Cadeyrn, send word to Lord Brennus."

"What are we going to do?" Rhys asked, looking down at the gaunt girl in his arms.

"These are Boudicca's daughters, my Lord," Geraint murmured. "We will give them sanctuary."