‘But I...’
‘Yes you can. You must, in fact. There’s nothing you and Lovernios can do any more. Hag knows you’ve both done enough already.’
‘What about...?’
‘Maeve’ll stay with me.’ Maeve nodded, already keen to do as Sucellus was instructing her to do and smiling benevolently upon her mother. Boudicca felt as if she was being dismissed. Sucellus continued to speak. ‘You two must go, as we agreed, Lovernios. You know what you must do, and I know what I must do. I’ll buy you long enough to get to the forests. You can use the Pathways again, now they’re safe. Find Artio, or let Her find you; She’ll see you safe to the Black Lake.’
Lovernios nodded tersely and grabbed Boudicca’s upper arm. She struggled but his grip hurt where his long Bard’s fingernails, grown for harp plucking, dug into
