Chapter Three.
Britannia is enjoying the greatest period of peace and prosperity it has ever known. But Queen Boudica has a premonition it is coming to an end. Some of the men of the town of Segontium are out prospecting for water, with the intention of drilling a well. They have settled on a spot and are diligently digging away when one of them notices something that shines.. All work stops as they inspect their find.
“That’s gold,” cries one of them. They chuckle and resume their work. Within minutes, they hit another large deposit. As they expand their dig, they find to their amazement that the whole area is a gold mine.
“We better get Queen Boudica here,” cries one of them.
Within the hour, the queen and her army confidants stand at the mine site. “Gentlemen, you’ll be well rewarded for your efforts,” muses the queen. She turns to Caractacus, her military advisor and says, “Lets put a twenty-four-hour guard around this site.” Then she turns to the locals, “Do you gentlemen want to work on this site, full time? You’ll be well paid."
“Ya, that would be great, dear queen,” is the common refrain.
She gives each a hug and kiss. “Let's go.”
When the queen returns to her temple, she calls a war counsel, which includes the priests and priestesses.
“People, we made a major gold find today. That’s the good news. The bad news is that once the Romans find out, it will be war until they occupy the site. I want the army and navy put on high alert. Lhiannon, take your ladies and keep track of the Romans, and keep me posted.”
“Hadron, take a ship and go across to the Celts. Cynric, you take a ship and go up to the Picts in Celedonia and warn our friends of the impending danger and tell them to get here as soon as possible. Clotinus, you see about getting provisions to feed the five thousand. The Celts would eat the horse between the shafts.”
“Dear queen, don’t you think you're overreacting?" says Bandeigid.
“I’m surrounded by a bunch of bloody fools. Shut up and listen,” cries Boudica.
All heads lower and silence permeates the room.
“This is war and we must prepare for it. Now, all of you go about your respective duties.”
With that, everyone disperses.
True to form, the Romans get wind of the Druids' good fortune and cast a jaundiced eye on the mine. To add insult to injury, Emperor Nero becomes aware of the property, salivates at the mouth while excessively rubbing his hands and muses that here is the answer to all his problems. The empire is being challenged at every quarter. Some of the legions are going unpaid. Here is a gift from the gods. Nero sends a message to Prefectus Castrorum of Britannia, "Occupy the mine at all costs, but I can’t send reinforcements."
Queen Boudica learns of the edict from Rome via Gaius, and Rigana knows that her worst fears are confirmed. Now to endure the crucible of war.
As the team works the mine, they realize that this is a major find, as there is gold everywhere. They are taking it away by the cartload every day. Also, the nation learns to its chagrin that the Romans want the mine at all costs. This is war.
