Bodicea stared at the doctor. "But they aren't merely legends. Not any more than the stories about my war against the Romans."

"The question," Tamara said, "is what is Wild Edric doing running about Herefordshire with his men? Why has he been seen so often of late in Blackbriar? And perhaps more importantly, why is his wife not with him?"

The carriage began to slow. In the driver's seat, Farris could be heard to call a gentle whoa to the horses. William frowned and glanced out the window, just as his travelling companions did. They had long since left the forest behind and now the moonlight illuminated the village around them, the shops and dwellings and the Inn that was set off to their right, lamplight in the windows. Though the night darkened the sign in front of it, William knew this must be the Rose and Thorn, the Inn where Doctor Nichols had arranged for their lodgings while they were here.