The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2)

by Michael O'Neill

  Fionn continued to enjoy poor health for some time after that as well. He also started to make a serious money selling food smuggled from Gatina. It was such a lucrative business that by the time the goods passed through several middlemen, any connection to him was lost.

  With Eion, and a hundred Lykians, in charge of Eriak (and Tissa), Conn returned to Gambi with Ailbe while Devnet returned to Gatinak. They were both there when Fiona safely delivered her second set of twins. Happy in her new home, and more than happy not to have Conn back in her bed, he took Granuaile and Torunn and joined Njil on his voyage back to Kadash.

  Njil had just arrived with a full cargo of food and a squad of Valkeri who would be nursemaids to Conn’s children from this moment on. The Ancuman would not be kidnapping any of his daughters.

  They were sitting for dinner in the hall, and Fiona asked him how Allowena had taken his decision. He immediately appeared miffed.

  ‘Well, I had it sorted – I was going to refuse Eoryssa as a bedda, but a day after I returned to Kadash, Jofrid calls me to see her and tells me that the Eaorldom’s name has been formally changed to Kadash, and a new Barony of Kuita had been created, and that she has decided that she is going to grant me the position of Baron of Kuita as reward for my service! I didn’t even know what a Baron is – but suddenly I was one.’

  ‘Congratulations. What is the problem?’

  ‘I’m blaming the Eaorl’ He pointed to Conn. ‘I have been undermined, I could no longer refuse to accept Eoryssa – as Baron I have all this land and I even have a comfortable stone donjon. Allowena was happy, Eoryssa was happy, the Eaorl of Menia was happy – all my plans came unstuck… and it’s his fault.’ He pointed to Conn again.

  Conn chimed in. ‘Did you really think that you were going to say no to Allowena?’

  He seemed sure. ‘I was – I was going to blame you – and say that you forbade it because I didn’t have an appropriate position… given that she is an Eaorl’s daughter.’

  ‘The Eaorl of Menia could have done that… anyway it’s a good thing you didn’t do that…’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘She’d have gone over my head and spoken to Caewyn. Trust me, you don’t want that. No one says no to Caewyn.’

  They arrived in Cyme by early spring – it had been a fairly slow trip home. They first had to drop in and see how work was progressing in Oxmon. Conn had commissioned his engineers and stonemasons to create the first star-fort in Meshech. Conn stayed several weeks to finalize the designs before proceeding to Trokia. Oxmon would take twenty years to complete, but it would be impenetrable by any known artillery at that time. Oxmon had an incredibly large amount of stone and the Lykian stonemasons who had recently arrived to start work were already making good headway. Construction soaked up all unemployment in the western part of Gatina, and employment income developed retail demand for goods that his merchants sold in the existing harbors in Mazra. Another win-win situation. The Eaorl of Mazra was also happy as his town and income doubled in a very short time.

  The trip from Oxmon was fine sailing despite the lateness of the year; and Conn enjoyed the opportunity to hoist the sails and wind the ropes under Njil. Back in Trokia, Conn met Aisly’s latest child – another daughter. The elder pair were now two; black haired, blue eyed and beautiful, they appeared to be running roughshod over the donjon – but at least they had a squad of Valkeri to keep them under guard.

  Aisly was not so convinced she needed them.

  Conn agreed. ‘I’m not convinced either – but there are more and more people travelling from one demesne to another, and it is harder to tell friend from foe. As they say, prevention is better than the cure.’

  Conn told the Wealdend of all his activities in Gatina and how he had proven, as he as expected, that Rakians were behind the war and the Gatinans had been duped. He mentioned his new Eaorldom and bedda. She was no longer surprised at his achievements.

  ‘The Healdend will be happy to see the last of you. So your next task is the Cirice of Inanna. I presume that is easy – you just need to go to Silekia.’

  ‘Were it that simple. It is not in Silekia. I have a communication from the Wealdend. It seems that the first place the Sythans landed was not in Silekia – it was in fact in a place now called Ilissus.’

  Aisly looked at him strangely. ‘My ancestor was from Ilissus – she was actually a Folgere who was captured by pirates. Isn’t that a coincidence… and Ilissus is in Rakian held territory isn’t it – the Eaorl of Soloes?’

  ‘It is – and the Rakians know that – they have it under guard. Makes it harder than it should be. Oh, and you are not the only one connected to Ilissus –it is the ancestral home of all my bedda.’

  ‘Even Granuaile? A girl that you rescued from Ancuman in the middle of the ocean is from the same house as me? That is almost impossible to believe!’

  ‘Impossible but true. I had it checked.’

  ‘Did you ask the Wealdend of Silekia about the heart-stone? Does she know you have it?’

  ‘I did – and she doesn’t know because I haven’t told her. She still thinks that it is in Silekia somewhere – she is looking for it. It was moved from the original Cirice and kept for safekeeping on Inanna’s instructions.’

  “And someone stole it from Silekia and took it to Piada.’

  ‘I don’t know how yet. Speaking of Cirice, do you have one here yet?’

  ‘We do – it has ten Folgere.’

  ‘How are you finding them?’

  ‘Insatiable. Their lust knows no bounds. I am thankful that I am female and not male – a male without self-control could be dead from exhaustion by now.’

  ‘Consider poor Ailbe and Devnet…’

  Conn had yet to fully understand the purpose of the Gyden – curious also was their desire for carnal pleasure – which they couldn’t experience firsthand anymore but they could through the bodies of their Folgere to whom the worshippers made their devotions. Despite sexual pleasure, Conn was unsure what the worshippers were getting in return. Nearly every question he asked was not answered.

  ‘And from here you go to Kadash for the winter?’

  ‘Yes, and then Cyme in spring.’ Conn explained that he had kidnapped the cousin of Rakia’s Healdend because she was a spy.

  ‘Kidnapped? You kidnapped her and took her to Cyme where she has been a prisoner for almost two years. How are you going to talk your way out of that one?’

  ‘All is fair in love and war …besides, what is Rakia going to do? It they declared war on me, it would solve all my problems.’

  From Trokia, Conn travelled to Kadash to spend the winter. There was little to be gained by travelling to Cyme before spring. Jofrid was pleased to see him and `she was settling into her new job as Reeve. Soon after they arrived, Granuaile had her babies, which was another reason not to travel. Jofrid, was not as pleased when he did leave as she was pregnant again. Conn was sure it was her fault – after all she did invite him into her rooms – at night – and was naked at the time. It would have been impolite to refuse.

  In the keep, Conn had felt Lilith fill his mind; she seemed pleased with his actions in Gatina – she felt the return of her sister. He admonished her for not telling him about the other Gyden or the Ancuman.

  ‘I know of no others and it is not for us to tell – if you don’t know the answer, then you didn’t ask the right question…’

  ‘Why then did it try to kill me’, Conn reminded her.

  ‘If that is true, I have no answer – but that is most unusual – self-preservation is not something that is of concern... and time is of no consequence ... what does it matter if it is one of your lifetimes or a hundred?’

  By the time he had arrived in Cyme, Torunn had determined that she was also pregnant; despite being in the home of her Gyden, it hadn’t protected her –Lilith must have decided that Torunn was not to accompany Conn on his next adventure. Conn assumed that Halla would not be impressed. She wasn’t.

  Chapter 15


  ‘No more – if I send any more of my Valkeri with you, the entire island will have you as the father of their children. We need to keep our fathers varied – so you are on your own. Derryth with have to look after you. Where is he anyway?

  ‘He is in Halani. I’m meeting him in Atrak next spring.’

  ‘What are you going to do there?’

  ‘Not sure yet.’

  They had docked in Cyme earlier that morning; it was early spring and Conn had Njil drop him off on his way to Menia with a cargo of shipbuilding timber from Kadash. He was to return to collect Conn in a few weeks.

  As he walked from the dock to the donjon, Conn noticed all the changes that Halla had introduced to Cyme; she had dramatically reinforced the defences of the castle, and it was now as impregnable a stone fortress on top of a mountain as could be found. The island had lots of stone so all that had to be done was cut and carry – and the new masonry skills meant that the Valkeri looked even stronger – working with stone was physical work. They were also lusty – they made all sort of rude suggestions as he walked up to the donjon. He almost felt insulted that he could be treated purely as an object of sexual gratification, and he was going to stop and remonstrate with them but he had Torunn and Granuaile with him so he thought it inappropriate.

  As he entered the renovated hall, he saw three blue eyed children waiting with their mother; Ewan was one year old, while Tulia and Sigrid were just two. Halla welcomed him with a hug and a kiss, and then handed him Ewan.

  ‘You have no idea how much extra work a boy child is. He gets into everything. We are constantly looking for him. It is no wonder we gave up having them a hundred years ago.’

  It was after this that he introduced Granuaile and mentioned Torunn’s predicament, that he was reprimanded by Halla. After she calmed down, she mentioned Fainche.

  ‘Shall I send for her? She is in the library – she does indeed have a devotion to scholarly works, and she is very fond of your codex.’

  ‘Let’s. I’m looking forward to this…’

  It didn’t take long for the tall elegant woman to arrive; obviously Ratakian with Ancuman ancestry as her skin was quite tanned, she was dressed in all black – modest despite the form fitting bustier. She had a very disdainful look on her face – and she brought with her the Ancuman Gyden as Conn felt her maleficence at the edge of his mind. Strangely the Gyden with Fainche was nothing like the one with Alric and the others – “it” was here but “it” didn’t see with Fainche’s eyes, or feel her thoughts. Conn could only assume she didn’t know she carried the Ancuman Gyden with her.

  Halla introduced Conn to her as she arrived.

  She bowed to Halla and then addressed Conn. ‘So you are the one that is responsible for my kidnapping and imprisonment!’

  ‘Indeed I am – I trust you haven’t been mistreated?’

  Fainche hadn’t expected such a blunt response. ‘Umm, no, I have not been mistreated – in fact I have been treated extremely well – but then I have known cousin Halla since she was a small girl. But I was still illegally kidnapped and I have been held against my will for almost two years. It is an injustice and you will be brought to account…’

  Conn was curious. ‘Really? By who exactly?’ When she paused, unable to answer he continued. ‘Seriously, who is going to attempt to charge me for the offense? If you go to Ailbe and ask for his assistance, he will simply charge you with treason. If you go to Fallon, he will probably put you in prison as well. He thinks you are dead and that you are the cause of all the problems he is having at the moment. If you turn up alive, he will be convinced, and you will have a lot to answer for.’

  Fainche was dumbstruck by the accusations. She sat down, and Conn observed her fiddling with a black gem on the necklace around her neck. It seemed to give her comfort. ‘I do not understand what you are saying.’

  ‘Let me explain then.’ Conn then proceeded to tell her every event and trial that led to the expulsion of Miach and all Rakians from Gatina. ‘So, you will understand why you might not be welcome in Gatina.’

  She was angry. ‘It was all your fault – if you had not interfered. Everything would have gone to plan.’

  ‘No, it’s Alric’s fault. He knew after his time in Moetia that there was a probability I would intervene – but he chose to ignore the warning. And it is the fault of the Ancuman friends that Alric likes to keep.’

  She said nothing for a while. “I don’t know of what you speak.’

  ‘I had a little run in with a couple of his friends recently – a tall and beautiful woman, obviously a Folctoga; she had a young man at her side. They were very skilled.’

  She responded involuntarily. ‘Fara and Anup….’ She looked at him strangely. ‘How would you come into contact with them – they don’t leave Rakiak.’ She stopped quickly, realizing she was giving stuff away.

  ‘Oh, I went to them. I visited an ancient site in Mylae to retrieve something left behind… they asked me not so nicely not to.’

  ‘People tend to do what she says. I bet she’s disappointed that you got away alive – I certainly am.’ She was smiling until she saw Conn shaking his head sadly. ‘You didn’t… you couldn’t have… that’s not possible. I bet it wasn’t in a man to man contest – you killed her like a coward didn’t you.’ She was visibly upset.

  ‘I hate to disappoint you – and I don’t mean to boast – but it was two against one and I was the one.’ As she almost burst into tears Conn almost felt guilty making her upset; but he got over it.

  She regained her composure. ‘So what happens to me now?’

  ‘You can leave whenever you want. Nothing I can do to you is going to be worse that what will happen to you in Rakia. As for how you get there – that is a little bit more problematic. Rakia is now cut off from all other demesne in Meshech.’

  ‘So I’m still a prisoner….’

  ‘Think it of being in exile – here at least you are safe.’

  Disappointed, she stood to leave. She then turned around and faced Conn. ‘So how did Ailbe find out?’

  ‘Your report – the one in your trunk. We found and decoded it, and I gave it to Ailbe. He asked a few question, and soon everyone was very eager to give up others so that they could save their own hides.’

  ‘What you say is impossible. There is no way you could open the trunk… ’

  ‘I’m happy to demonstrate if you don’t believe me.

  She ignored the offer. ‘And why did you kidnap me? No-one knew me for what I was ….?’

  Conn answered truthfully. ‘Never assume that what you think to be the truth is actually the truth. A fatal mistake. I have my sources. As for the kidnapping, you would have gone back to Rakia knowing about the Ancuman ship that I had captured – I didn’t want you telling Alric about it.’

  ‘But the ship I was travelling on – the Captain knew as well…’

  ‘His ship had a little accident – it took him and his crew some months to get home – by which time, the ship was no longer news of the day. I think you know that you knew a lot of other information as well. Alric, came looking for you in Gatina, you know, after you disappeared. It was him that mentioned the trunk. He was obviously concerned about you, which of course intrigues me. What do you know?’

  Fainche looked at Conn with distain. ‘Nothing that I’m going to tell you, Eaorl.’ With that she turned on her heels and went to walk out of the hall. She stopped again.

  ‘Did Fara die well?

  ‘As well as dying can be done well, I guess. It wasn’t gruesome. She died like a wiga.’

  She wiped tears from her eyes. ‘Why were you there – you said you went to collect something, Eaorl; you certainly risked a lot to get it.’

  ‘Tabiti’s heart-stone.’

  She scoffed. ‘I thought you were lying before – now I know you are. I was told that … stone … is hidden forever.’

  ‘Someone is telling you tales, Fainche; did I not mention that the Cirice has been restored. There ar
e Folgere back in Gatina.’

  She shouted at him now. ‘You LIE, Eaorl – no one can enter the Cirice at Gatina – it is cursed.’

  ‘Well, it was.’ He shrugged. ‘I guess you could say that I un-cursed it. Remember what I said about the truth.’

  In an example of childish frustration, she harrumphed and stormed out of the room.

  Conn looked at Halla. ‘I bet she’s been fun to have around.

  Halla shrugged. ‘It has not been all bad. I have known her a long time -- she took me under her wing when I was first in Rakia – and she taught me lots of things.’ She smiled deviously, ‘If you come to my room tonight, I might show you one of two of them. But this time I am the master and she is the servant. Do you intend to leave her here?’

  ‘I don’t know where else she can go…. did she give you the necklace? The one with the black stone that I … destroyed.’

  Her hand went involuntarily to her chest. There was no necklace anymore – just large breasts. ‘She did… it was a special gift when I left to come back here. How did you know?’

  ‘It is a haligdom – they have to be accepted with love or they don’t work – it couldn’t have been a random gift.’

  Conn spent a week in Cyme before his planned return to Kadash. Njil was returning from Moesiak and was to collect him. He took the time to play with his children or wander the harbor village, and be impressed with how much things had changed. As he wandered around the harbor, he found himself in front of a small shop; not one that he had seen before – it used to be a bakery but didn’t seem to be selling anything anymore. He entered.

  There was an old lady sitting on a stool, spinning wool; which was curious in itself.

  ‘Can I help you, Eaorl?’

  Conn was no longer surprised when people recognized him. He was pretty ‘famous’ after all.

  ‘No … just curious as I hadn’t seen this old shop before. Goodbye then.’ As he started to leave, she spoke again.

  ‘I hear that you are leaving for Kadash soon.’