She went white as a ghost. ‘About twenty I think – he has a lot of bedda; eight in total.’
Fainche laughed, she had joined them for lunch. ‘She thinks eight is a lot!’
Lile was not amused. ‘My father is a great Healdend and father to many. Eight is a great number.’
Fainche decided not to comment further, as Conn looked disapprovingly at her, shaking his head. He looked at Yngvi and addressed the next question to him.
‘To me this document when signed by the Ancuman is a death sentence for each and every one of the Healdend’s children and grandchildren as soon as Lile has a child. Do you deny that possibility, Yngvi?’
‘Yes, I deny that. It was there just in case something happened to his sons and their sons – they are at war after all.’
‘And why then five hundred wiga within three years and another five hundred in three years after that? Surely Kishdah could send the wiga now?’ He didn’t expect Yngvi to answer that question so looked at Lile’s advisors.
Tuathal responded. ‘I believe that they are currently planning to put down a rebellion within their demesne, and will have wiga available after that time – and the rest after they have consolidated their hold over the rebellion.’
‘Did they say where the rebellion was?’
‘No, Eaorl, I do not know. It was never mentioned to me.’
Conn smiled. ‘Well, I know where. Here. As soon as they have finished with us; they are going to start on you. This should be fun.’
They sent Yngvi back to his cell and the Sythans away as well; while Conn discussed the events with his advisors. They needed a new plan; on top of the plan that was about to unfold.
The next day, Conn had Alfvir brought to the training area.
‘You sent for me, Eaorl,’ he snarled.
‘I did. I hear that you have been doing a lot of practise during your time in the sun. My wiga speak highly of your skills.’
He bowed. ‘I have always been considered one of the best.’
‘Good, good. Then I guess it is time to test your skills again. I have a proposal. I have captured one of your ships, and I’m accepting it as your ransom…’
‘An Axum ships – that is not possible!’
‘You insist on saying that.’ Conn signalled and the guards brought out the crew of the cog – along with Yngvi.
When they saw who it was, the Ancuman immediately fell to their knees and bowed respectfully to the Aebeling. The guards dragged them up and sat them on seats overlooked the training arena. Conn addressed Alfvir. ‘Do you recognize them?’
‘Yes, Yngvi is one of my father’s trusted advisors. He has been on a mission …’ He stopped; regretting having opening his mouth.
‘That’s all right; I know about the mission. Anyway, I have the boat and the gold – and the girl! So I’m going to let you go – I’m keeping the girl though. Some time ago I managed to capture another of your ships off the coast of Gatina – it was much smaller than this one, so I’m going to swap.’
‘You have the girl? But my brother’s plans…’ As he asked he looked at Yngvi who nodded in agreement with Conn. ‘You’re letting me go?’
‘Yes, I am. You leave within the week. The only question is if you have the big boat or the small boat.’ Conn tossed him his broadsword and his armour. ‘If you defeat me – or kill me – you get the big boat. If you don’t, you get the small boat. That is my deal.’
Alfvir strapped on his armour. ‘I guess that I will have to take the big boat then.’
An hour later, Alfvir was struggling to stand; exhausted and battered, he tried one last time to sever Conn’s head with the broadsword but failed yet again; this time looking in shock as the side of Conn’s sword hit him in the side of the head and he fell to his knees, and then his face; semi unconscious.
Conn concluded the exercise with a suggestion. ‘I guess it’s the small boat.’
Conn signalled to the Ancuman to come and take their prince away; retrieving his sword as a trophy. In a few days, the other cog would arrive and when food supplies had been transferred from the bigger vessel to the small, they would be allowed to leave.
The Sythans were also watching the demonstration; suitably impressed, Tuathal asked why he didn’t kill him when he had the chance if they were his enemy.
‘You don’t learn much from dead people. He didn’t know it but he taught me everything he knew – every technique that he was ever taught. I will now teach the wiga who will go into battle against the Ancuman in about ten years. Less of us will die; more of them – always my preferred outcome.’
He walked them to the donjon. ‘Have some lunch – I will be back soon; I’m just going to wash off the mud and dust. I have a proposal for you.’
Conn returned a short while later in the main hall and joined them to eat. They watched him silently as he collected his meal and sat down beside Lile. ‘So tell me again of this war you are fighting.’
Lile began. ‘Our land, as great as it is, has been the home to four different groups of people since memory. We live in the north and we are known as the Sythans – the entire land is known as Sytha. To our south are the Cimmerians; east are the Pontians, while the Samarians and Bactrians live to the west. Also to our east in the mountains live the traitorous Twacuman.’
She said this last bit without delight—almost with resentment. Conn remembered that she had not met any of the Halani since she had been here. Derryth was due any day. It should be an interesting meeting.
‘You don’t like the Twacuman?’
She shook her head; ‘No, the Twacuman have betrayed us. Once they were our allies but they have sided with the Pontians against us.’
Conn was surprised. ‘They fight with the Pontians?’
‘No; they do not fight but they let the Pontians ride through their forest and attack the settlements in the Mark of Rila. Our forces cannot follow them so they attack without reprisal.’
‘Mark of Rila? Is it not an Eaorldom?’
Turlough shook his head. ‘We have Eaorldoms and Marks – the Marks are on the border.’
Conn nodded his understanding. He had heard of a similar system before. ‘So is Rila unable to defend its people?’
Lile looked to Turlough, the bocere, who answered for her. ‘Rila is a long way from Sytha. The town is based around a harbor and around the harbor is a lot of rich farming land – some of the best in Sytha. Because it is so far away, it is impossible to defend as it joins the great forest. All attempts to protect the people have failed so they have left and moved to the town of Sytha and its walls. Without the farms, the people cannot eat so they have moved to other parts of the Sytha. Rila is almost deserted now.’
‘The Marquis?’ Conn presumed that would be the title of the owner.
‘The last Marquis died in battle – his heirs declined to accept the challenge and forfeited the demesne.’
Conn sat and contemplated the situation. It was strange and deserved further consideration.
‘Why do you war against the Pontians?’
Lile answered this time. ‘Over land – what else do men fight over? A hundred years ago a war was fought that ended in a treaty that gave us a large tract of land to our north – the high plains that separate the two lands. About seventy years later, the Pontians have decided that they will not accept the treaty anymore and have taken the land back. Without notice, they attacked our settlements; evicted all our farmers and destroyed the Cirices. We have been fighting ever since to regain that piece of land back.’
Conn was confused. ‘So how does that tie in with the Twacuman?’
‘As Turlough said, the land in Rila is very rich and prosperous – now it is deserted and unproductive because of the attacks of the Pontians. Not only did it feed the people of Rila but also the people of the other parts of Sytha as well. Rila is much missed and it is the Twacuman who have allowed this to happen.’
Conn smiled; ‘The Pontians are obviously very well advised. You mention
ed that you had lost contact with the Samarians. When did that happen?’
Turlough responded. ‘It must be over a hundred year since they visited...’
‘Would that be about the same time as the Pontians attacked the highlands?’
‘About the same, yes…’
‘It does seems that you have some serious problems. It may be that I can help.’
‘My father was interested in all options – which is why we had the treaty with the Ancuman.’
‘Have the Ancuman always been welcome in Sytha?’
Turlough answered for them. ‘No – eight hundred years ago they were banished. It is only the last hundred years or so that we have seen their return.’
As Conn contemplated all this information, they sat and ate. Later Wuffa returned to the table and handed Conn a parchment, which he passed to Turlough. As he read the document, the surprise on his face was noticeable. Conn commenced the discussion by stating the obvious.
‘Lile, let me tell you something about Meshech. Do you know of someone called Osstan?’
The Sythans were shocked at the mention of his name. Conn continued. ‘From your expression, I can see that you do. Well, my daughters over there are descendants – in fact everyone one in this room is a descendant. Nearly everyone in Meshech is your kin.’
Lile was speechless. ‘So this is where Osstan went when he left Sytha. We have great poems about him – and how he left on fifty ships and disappeared never to be seen again.’ She looked at Conn intently. ‘Are you kin as well?
‘No, but I have been able to help the Silekians – as the Sytha are called here in Meshech, and I will do what I can to help you as well.’
She looked at Turlough. ‘So what are you proposing?’
‘I have given Turlough a document for a treaty between your father and myself that would achieve the same outcome as the one with the Axum; just not as generous to me. I will return half the gold that he offered the Ancuman, and will send three companies of archers and two companies of cavalry – I assume that horses can be sourced in Sytha – to your father within the three months, and at least another five hundred cavalry – within a year after the agreement. In exchange I will accept your sacrifice to be bedda and that Eaorldom that is deserted – what was the name of it again?’
Turlough replied, confused. ‘Rila?’
‘Yes, Rila…’
‘Why Rila? I said that it has been almost deserted for years. It has no value.’
Conn shrugged. ‘Did you not say that it has a good harbour? I like good harbours.’
Lile was stunned. ‘What you offer is much greater than what you get in return. I don’t understand – though my father would be mad not to agree.’
‘I hope he feels that way. I will arrange for a ship to take Tuathal and Turlough back to Sytha to get his approval. It will leave in a few days – I would like your assistance at choosing a cargo that would generate some income for the captain and crew. It has one of my best Captains in charge.’
Turlough said he would be delighted to help. He even helpfully suggested wine.
Conn changed the subject, ‘Tuathal, while we wait, I’m going for a trip to inspect my fyrd at training. I will be away for five days. I would welcome your opinion, if you would care to travel with me.’
Tuathal said that he would be honoured, and as they walked out Tuathal asked about the size of his Fyrd. He was astounded at the answer.
‘Three thousand! That’s extraordinary. How can anyone afford to maintain such a number?’
‘With lots of clever accounting, I can assure you.’
By the time Conn and Tuathal had returned from Azaba, the smaller cog was in harbor and ready to leave. Eggar was also ready to depart with Tuathal and Turlough, and they farewelled them first
It seems that the voyage should take no more than three to four weeks each way – it took nearly six weeks for the Ancuman boat, and given that his boat was sleeker and faster, it would be quicker – the only problem was that they didn’t really know where they were going. Conn expected the vessel back with ten weeks. They had taken copies of all maps and notes that the Ancuman had in their ship and Eggar had determined he couldn’t miss Sytha – it was after all very big.
The seaworthiness of the schooner was second to none, Conn also sent a company of archers for security, and a boat full of cargo to make the trip profitable. They had rations on board for a six months. Conn wished him well and waved them off. Wuffa was there to act on his behalf; Conn wished he was going instead.
A day later, they farewelled the Ancuman, releasing the chains on Alfvir as they let him on to the ship. He still had a few defiant words as he sailed away.
‘Next time, Eaorl, the result will be different! You will wish that you killed me when you had the chance.’
‘For better or worse, Alfvir, this time I have left you alive. Next time, we shall see. Bon voyage.’
Everything had been transferred from the bigger boat to the smaller. Nothing was missing except the gold – not a single map.
Fainche stood with Conn as the vessel sailed out of sight. Despite the fact that Fainche was a regular visitor to his room at night – she would come and then leave after her needs were sated, she was still somewhat hostile. It seemed that she hated herself for visiting him but couldn’t help herself. Conn was happy to be of assistance. He wasn’t selfish like that.
‘I don’t understand you Eaorl – I don’t know why you left him alive either. Nothing good can come of it to my thinking.’
Conn looked at her and smiled. ‘Fainche, we shall see. Killing people is not always the answer.’
Chapter 20
With the river finally safe to cross, Conn’s fyrd heading down the mountainside into Silekia, and gathered on the other side. It took a day to get everyone across but there was no resistance – they were certainly seen – but their scouts ran into a scouting party of Conn’s and surrendered before dying. The sheer scale of the invading force would have put off anyone looking.
Conn then led a fyrd of five companies of Sagittari towards Tegeste – it would take several days but he didn’t expect to meet anyone along the way – they knew better than to take Conn’s wiga on in open combat. The defenders would be confident behind their walls – which, even for him, could take a lot of time to break down, and he didn’t have the time. The Ancuman who had built the walls so many years before had done a thorough job. Conn rode alongside Derryth, and behind him were the young Eaorls about to be reunited with their demesne – Eirnin of Tegeste, Uileog of Azali, and Godfred il Jader. Alduni had to stay in Atrak as he was still too young. He was not happy.
It had been a memorable day a week earlier when Derryth had arrived with two hundred Twacuman cavalry. Lile and Fainche were visiting Azaba with his daughters and standing with Conn in the bailey of the barracks when the troop rode in on Elfina – the Twacuman were riding the overo again.
As Derryth dismounted from the horses, his girls rushed him, almost knocking him off his feet in hugs. Lile, on the other hand, rushed to hide behind Conn. Derryth finally disengaged himself from the kids and walked towards Conn. He stopped to stare.
‘Conn, why is that girl hiding behind you?’ He asked as he and Conn then embraced.
Derryth then looked her up and down. ‘In fact who is she? I have never seen her before and I never forget a face.’
Conn did the introductions.
‘Well, you don’t see one of those every day – a real Sythan.’ Derryth added. ‘Does she speak?’
Conn nodded. ‘Hardly stops. Just very nervous of Twacuman.’ Conn explained the whole story,
Derryth was put out. ‘Whenever I go away something really interesting happens. I don’t think I’m going to go away any more. As for being traitors, that is not in our nature. Something very wrong must have happened.’
‘I agree – something for another day.’
Lile finally decided that he weren’t dangerous after all and walked out into the open
– she was after all the daughter of a Healdend and a Folgere.
Derryth held out his hand. ‘Welcome to Meshech, Lile il Sytha. Any friend of the Feorhhyrde is a friend of mine.’
Lile shook Derryth’s hand, and then looked at Conn. She spoke feebly. ‘Did he call you Feorhhyrde?’
Conn nodded.
Derryth looked at him curiously. ‘Did you not think to tell her that?’
‘Hadn’t even occurred to me. Why?’
‘She will know about the medallion because it came from Sytha where it had a long history. It was given to Osstan when he came to Meshech.’
Conn was bemused. ‘And you didn’t think to tell me that?’
Derryth shook his head deadpanned. ‘I didn’t know you wanted to know and you didn’t ask.’
‘I didn’t ask! No one gave me a history lesson when Caewyn gave it to me did they? She just put it over my neck.’ Conn paused. ‘Let me think now; I wear a medallion from Sytha some thousand year old, and the daughter of the Sythan Healdend just drops in on my doorstep after, what, six hundred years. Does anyone see a pattern in all of this?’
Derryth shook his head. ‘Only that you are very, very lucky. Conn, she doesn’t look well.’
Lile finally succumbed to her shock and fainted. It had all been too much for her. Luckily she fell into Conn’s arms and he carried her back into the donjon. Some smelling salts and she should be back on her feet in no time. Unfortunately she didn’t get to spend much time with Derryth as the girls returned to Atrak soon after. Fainche also returned; she had asked if she could remain with Njil on the schooner rather than staying in Atrak. Conn agreed as Lile was doing the same.
Conn had expected Elva to come with Derryth, but Derryth told him that she had to do something for Caewyn. They both knew that it didn’t pay to argue with Caewyn. He hadn’t expected the two hundred wiga that did arrive with Derryth.
‘Caewyn said that she promised you a fyrd when you needed one – she thinks you need one now. And don’t look at me like that – I just do what I’m told.’
The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) Page 27