Conn went and informed everyone what was happening. Both Jofrid and Aisly had regained composure, but she was still crying. She hugged Conn and kissed him – perhaps a little too erotically for the occasion. Tearing herself apart, she thanked him.
‘I had no idea what I was missing – what my ancestor gave up when she betrayed her vows. I now truly understand her sacrifice.’ She hugged him again, and whispered in his ear. ‘I’ll thank you again …tonight … as many ways as you want.’
It was not long before the Folgere walked in, led by a woman in a brown travel cloak. Behind her walked half a dozen girls, ranging in ages, dressed in black. The immediate response for Conn was that the hum in his head stopped – there was only silence – but peaceful silence. It was calming and serene. He knew though that if he opened up the doorway in his mind, he would be able to speak with Lilith – but he wasn’t going to.
As they entered the cavern, they stopped to remove their cloaks. The Folgere at the lead was suddenly basked in a silver glow, her aura seemed to seep out of her body, and flicker wildly. Although her skin was a light brown, her hair was light red and she was indescribably beautiful. She was no Priecuman. Her gown was sheer white. The females behind him were the same – just dressed in gold. They were all very naked under their gowns.
Behind Conn, he heard Aisly gasp – ‘Lilith.’ And as the awareness came to the room they all fell to their knees in homage. All except Conn, he didn’t feel the need to bow to Gyden. He simply bowed his head as a sign of respect.
Lilith smiled at him as she walked towards him, her aura reaching out and tickling over his body. ‘Greetings, defender of Trokia, Eaorl of Kuita and restorer of Cirices.’ She looked to the others; ‘Greetings my children – Wealdend of Trokia and Aebeling of Kania.’ Her aura flickered around the room, touching everyone. ‘And to those that would call you Feorhhyrde – I welcome you as well.’
Conn decided to speak. ‘Welcome Lilith. I must say I’m surprised to see you. And I mean “see” you.’
She shrugged. ‘You close your mind to me – what else could I do?’
As he listened to her speak, Conn felt an odd sensation; he could sense the gold necklace that he wore around his neck; the necklace that symbolized the gold bands from Halla’s wrists that he was given after he defeated Halla. It now seemed heavy and warm. He casually fingered the necklace.
‘But I am not here just because you are rude to me. You have reopened the Cirice, and for that I give you thanks.’
‘It seemed the right thing to do, and ...’ Conn started to say.
Lilith interrupted. ‘You also speak too much. I have brought you Folgere to serve at the Cirice, if you are willing to have them worship here.’
‘Yes, they may.’ Conn answered.
Behind him Aisly cried out. Now she had the full experience. The voice of the Gyden was now in her head. Without Folgere, the Cirice had no voice. It would take her days to get used to it; though a couple of nights with the Folgere would help her cope – if she survived the ecstatic experience.
Lilith then walked towards Aisly, ‘It is good that link between us has been restored.’ Lilith’s aura flickered over the Wealdend, and she calmed; though tears streamed down her face.
When she stood in front of Esras, she asked him to kneel and she dropped a necklace over his neck. He staggered as the stone touched his skin and he fought to maintain composure. Two Folgere, young and lustful, came over and help him stand; their full bodies pressed against his. Conn could only imagine what his body was feeling. ‘I return this to you and the house of Kania – it was destroyed by one of your ancestors when they decided to break their vows to me and make them instead to one of my sisters’. She was matter of factual with her description of events. ‘Do you accept it back?’
Esras had tears flowing down his face. ‘I do…’
He aura flicked over his body and she smiled, turned and walked towards the doorway; Folgere helping her into her cloak. ‘Thank you, Feorhhyrde’ she concluded, ‘an unusual title for a Priecuman; but there is so much unusual about you.’ She shook her head, a look of puzzlement clear to all. ‘I have done my work here, so I will take my leave. It takes much effort to stay here’. She turned to go.
A thought suddenly occurred to him. ‘Gyden, I have a question and a request.’
She turned and looked at him in bemusement. ‘You ask too many questions as well. Curiosity can be dangerous. And how is it that I can help you, Feorhhyrde?’
‘My question – how are you able to be here?’
She looked bemused at his impertinence. ‘Here? This place is very old – it has powers that have been lost by all the other Cirice. It is connected to the source of us all – and one of only two place left – so it is special. There is no other way to explain it so that you can understand. Your request?’
Conn wanted to say ‘try me’ but decided against it. Instead he reached for the gold chain around his neck. Behind him he heard a gasp from Halla. ‘I would like you to return this to who it once belonged.’
Lilith’s aura flickered forward until it made contact with the chain. She smiled ruefully. ‘It belongs to someone who broke her vows; why should I return it to her?’
‘Because she was not the cause of the problem; she was used by others – namely your sister as you call her. We all make mistakes and she has already paid a high enough price’. Lilith looked at him for moments.
‘It disturbs me that I cannot read your mind – it disturbs me also that you can shut me out so easily.’ She paused, then suddenly ‘Yes, I will do as you ask, but only because you ask it, Feorhhyrde’. Behind her, the Folgere were also surprised.
‘Bring the child forward – I cannot see her.’ Lilith requested and Halla walked towards her, tears streaming down her face. ‘Have her kneel before you and break the chain and wrap half around each wrist’, she ordered. ‘This is usually done by my Folgere, but as the owner of the chain, and the girl, is you, you will do it. I hope you are strong enough. Now hold your hands over the chains on her wrists. Let go when I say.’
As Conn completed the task, gripped Halla’s wrists, he waited. Lilith’s aura then wrapped itself around Conn and Halla’s hands; changing temperature from cool to hot and then cool. Tears continued to stream down Halla’s face, and down her cheeks. After a moment, Lilith instructed him to let go, and as he did Halla cried out and fell to the ground. She was sobbing now. Lilith’s aura reached out and caressed her. She calmed.
The Gyden then spoke; ‘Halla, I see you again. Welcome home, child, I have missed you.’
Conn helped Halla stand. And Lilith’s aura caressed her body. Lilith looked surprised. ‘You are with child – but your child is a boy. How very strange. Never has a male been born to the house of Valkeri. I wonder what need his father has for a boy from the house of Ilissus.’ She looked curiously at Conn as she said this, and her aura flickered around the room until it had passed over Aisly, Jofrid, Fiona and Halla again. ‘How every strange that all of you are from the house of Ilissus…’
Halla, still in tears, looked at her bracelets, and gasped. Instead of yellow gold, they were pure white gold.
Lilith followed her eyes, and she shrugged. ‘Another strange deed of your doing, Feorhhyrde’. She looked at Conn. ‘You gave back me the Cirice, I gave you the Folgere.’ Lilith said. ‘You have now given me back something of great value; three of my children. I cannot give you anything of equal value, but I must give you something. Would you like one of my Folgere’ she waved at the girls behind her, ‘as theow? Take your pick.’
Something that Conn had never considered before suddenly popped up in his mind. ‘No, nothing like that. But I’d like to know where Tabiti’s heart-stone is.’ It was the last one.
Conn had extensive experience in surprising Healdend, but limited experience in surprising Gyden, and Lilith was definitely surprised. So much so that she actually dimmed. ‘That is a strange request, Feorhhyrde, and I hope you know what the consequences
of knowing are. Remember my warning about curiosity.’ She paused for moments. ‘There is great danger in searching for it.’
‘I understand.’ Her answer confirmed that it hadn’t been destroyed.
‘Very well, I will tell you when you need to know. Goodbye Feorhhyrde, I would say that I had hoped to understand you more now than before, but I don’t. Events continue to surprise me, and I’m almost too old for surprises. I will of course meet you again when you fornicate with my Folgere. Remember to spend your time equally amongst them; it will not do to make them jealous.’
With one last look of bemusement at Conn, she turned, and walked out the tunnel; the Folgere bowed low as she passed, and then burst into tears as she disappeared out of the archway.
After a while, they collected themselves, and exited the Cirice. Conn had one of his staff escort the Folgere, after they had recovered, to their renovated quarters. They each kissed him before they left. After watching them leave, he turned back to see Halla standing in front of him. She was still crying and he drew her in and held her close.
All she said was ‘Why?’
‘Because I had to try. I’m going to miss you, Halla, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, because it means that you must leave me. But you did say that I couldn’t… so you were wrong there – and I couldn’t have our children born knowing that I didn’t try to free you when I had the one chance to do so.’ He kissed her forehead as she bawled. ‘And we have a son. Now that is something else to consider.’
Behind Halla, Conn could see Jofrid and all the Valkeri that had arrived and were standing in a group; they were all crying.
Conn separated himself from Halla and indicated to them. ‘Your other family is waiting for you. And your mother needs you – you should go to her as soon as you can.’ Torn, she pulled away, and went to them. She joined in their tears, as she was the next Aebeling, and she was going home. Jofrid, whose position she had just reclaimed, didn’t seem upset at all.
He walked past Derryth, who was also crying.
‘What are you crying for?’ Conn asked. He looked up, and then noted that everyone else was crying too.
‘It is not every day that you see a Gyden.’
‘I need coffee’, Conn said, ‘Gyden, I’d like a double espresso! All this emotion is getting to me.’
‘Coffee is a very good idea.’ Derryth walked with him, wiping his eyes. ‘Did you notice that Lilith says all the same things about you that I do? I knew I was right.’
Conn laughed. ‘Oh, shut up.’
Chapter 10
Jofrid prepared to depart as soon as they could – Sibbe would want to see her daughter and grandchildren, and Conn farewelled them on the dock. Jofrid hugged him first and then Halla—it took her some time to let him go.
Conn gave her a final kiss. ‘It is all good – I’ll see you again soon.’
‘But it will never be the same again, will it?’
‘I never say never.’
Halla had one last thing to do before she left.
She brought over the tall Valkeri that Conn had imagined naked in the Cirice, and introduced her. ‘This is Torunn – I am leaving her with you.’
Conn was surprised. ‘Why exactly… unless…’
Halla looked scornfully at him. ‘No, you cannot fornicate with her – until her mission is over. I don’t know when that will be. You need a bodyguard.’
‘Hey – what about me?’ Derryth was not amused in a Derryth kind of way.
‘You get distracted – and sometimes have to leave. The Eaorl needs someone who is always around. Anyway, I insist – please let me do this.’
Conn conceded and Torunn stayed at his side as the small ship headed out to sea. After the vessel left, the three of them headed back to the donjon; a magnificent building that had just had the final renovations completed – all they had to add were fireplaces, chimneys, sewerage and running water; things that didn’t exist when it was constructed. Inside in the great hall, they joined in a feast that lasted two days. Aisly showed her appreciation ‘several times’, as did the Folgere, before the Wealdend and the Aebeling finally returned home.
Some weeks later, Conn stood at the docks as the latest topsail schooner glided into the harbor; spotted earlier that morning, it was returning from Trokia. Njil was the captain of the vessel and his men skilfully eased it in and secured it to the dock. Immediately men started to unload cargo. Njil came to see him as soon as he was able.
‘Good to see you back in one piece, Njil; how was the trip?’ They walked back to the donjon where Derryth was waiting for them.
‘Excellent, Eaorl, she sails like a dream – there is not a thing on the water that can touch her. And the harbors are good. Abrecan was happy with what we delivered; and we fully loaded now – and we will reload with salted fish and stone for Kania. The Aebeling of Kania has a sudden desire to build a stone castle.’
The trading network that Conn was continuing to develop was extensive; his and other ships carried grains, meats, glassware, leather products, hides, marble, oils, perfumes, dye, silk, timber, wine, lead, wool, textiles, pottery, papyrus, honey, hemp, linen, fish, timber, metals, horses, salt, precious stones, fruits (dates, figs, citrus, bananas), herbs, spices, amber, wax, pitch, cotton, cheeses to and from all the harbors in eastern Meshech – and now also Gatina. From the harbors extensive horse or mule trains distributed or collected the goods from the Eaorldoms. Trade also went into Rakia via Jory and his clandestine network. Nearly every single item was either transported by Conn’s ships, taxed via his harbors, sold via his agents or stores or financed and insured by the MFIC. Conn had emulated the zaibatsu concept very successfully, if surreptitiously. Only very few people knew the extent of his reach and every new demesne extended his production capacity. However, he had ensured that by paying tax and excise duties, and spending large amounts on infrastructure such as roads and harbors, every demesne and every Eaorl profited. He just profited more.
‘There is a slight change of plan – I have another ship coming to collect your cargo.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘Gatinak.’
‘Gatinak?’ This was almost yelled out by two different people – Derryth and Fiona. Njil and Conn looked at them both.
Derryth was excited. ‘Finally – we get to do something – if I have one more tankard of beer, I’ll never want another – and that cannot be a good thing.’
Fiona was shocked. Conn hadn’t mentioned it. ‘Why are we going to Gatinak? You are not the most popular person in Gatinak…’
‘The Thane demesne of Gambi. I’d like to go and have a look at it ... and see if your cousin is doing a good job?’
Given the politics of the situation, Conn had asked Fiona to nominate a Reeve for the demesne and she has selected a relative from her mother’s side of the family – the Himera family – Eion il Himera. Fiona’s mother’s brother was Dominic, the current Eaorl of Himera.
‘Are you sure that is all – nothing is every that simple with you?’
Derryth agreed. ‘True, he can be very devious and cunning.’
Njil watched the banter with a smile and turned back to Conn.
‘When do we leave?’
‘As soon as the cargo is transferred. A week at most. And Derryth – you don’t get to come with me – just yet. I need you to do something else first. I have a ship ready to take you to Dor with your horses.’
Derryth shrugged. ‘I don’t mind – at least I’m doing something.’
With instructions in hand, Njil prepared for the voyage and within the week he was ready. Conn stood on the deck with Fiona and Torunn and waved at those that were there to see them go – which wasn’t many. Derryth had left the day before; his new Harbor Master – one of his Silekians trained in Atrak – was there to take care of things until his return.
Njil was giving instructions as the vessel glided its way out of the harbour and into the open sea.
‘First stop Cyme?’
he asked.
‘First stop Cyme, then Trokiak and then Gatinak.’
As he sat on the deck of the schooner, Conn was reminded of the summer he spent on almost an exact replica of this ship, sailing the Atlantic, another sea a long way away. It too was made by hand; it was his prototype for this very vessel.
In under two days they were in Cyme; pigeon post had told him that Sibbe had passed and that Halla was now Aebeling. She had arrived in time to see her mother. It was one season since he had seen Halla and she already looked different – being Aebeling had taken away the embarrassment of being a Theow. That being said, she didn’t look any older.
It was after dinner and there was a pleasant but serious discussion about which of them would fornicate with Conn first that night. To Jofrid’s chagrin Halla was pulling rank. Conn interrupted.
‘I have another request.’
They shook their heads. ‘No, we cannot – we are cousins – we can’t both share a bed with you.’
‘I have a friend that I can bring, though.’ Jofrid offered. ‘You would enjoy her – I know I do…’
‘Not that – as appealing as that is for me – I would like Jofrid to move to Kadash.’
Halla looked at Jofrid. She was surprised. ‘Kadash – why do you want me to move to Kadash?’
‘I want you to govern the demesne for our daughter – she is to be the heir.’
The six sisters were playing on the floor together. Conn picked up Jofrid’s eldest – by five minutes – Fidelma. She giggled as she cuddled into her father.
‘I will be nominating Fidelma as my heir to Kuita – I’m going to get it renamed the Earldom of Kadash when I visit Trokia next week. I think her mother should be there to guide her along the way. I will have you officially nominated as Regent should something happen to me.’
The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) Page 13