The Aebeling

by O'Neill, Michael

  Conn sighed. ‘OK. I can do that. But Ana isn’t the reason I came here. There is a Rakian in the Keep – and I think he is going to visit here tonight – over the back wall. Why would he do that?’

  Morna’s face lost color. ‘There can only be one reason – to destroy the Haligdom; and to destroy her connection with us.’ Morna started to cry as she headed to Badb’s altar. ‘It is almost unheard of anyone attacking a Cirice like that. If the Haligdom is destroyed, then the Folgere here will lose our link to Badb; the Cirice here will be destroyed.’ As she was about to fall to the ground in tears, Conn scooped her up and held her. Ana rubbed her hair.

  ‘Don’t worry Morna, I won’t let that happen. I’ll come back later; don’t worry. It will all end all right.’ Morna wiped her tears from her eyes and she kissed Ana again.

  ‘Goodbye’ she said, ‘your father will take care of you.’ She kissed Conn as well, ‘later then. Everything I have and love is now in your hands.’

  Conn hurried back to the Inn, and with Ana as his guide it was an easier trip – but she was only two – but having a Gyden in your head does make you more mature than most. When he walked in, Allowena was sitting with Devlin. Devlin jumped up and was about to speak when he saw Ana. His mouth closed and he stood silent. Allowena was never short of words.

  ‘Are you collecting street children now?’

  ‘Not quite; this is Ana. She is your sister.’ He looked at Devlin, who looked at him curiously, ‘Long story – best for another day.’ Ana turned her arms out to Allowena, who collected her in a big hug. ‘She has been playing in the dirt - can you give her a bath. You might have to send out for some clothes.’

  He then spoke to the child. ‘Ana, This is Allowena; she is your sister and she will take care of you; Okay?’ I have some chores to do before the feast. Now where is Daray?’

  Neither was sure but hadn’t seen him since the choosing in the keep. Conn shook his head. ‘I think I need a new apprentice. Daray will be useless now – he will be an Aebeling tomorrow anyway. Devlin, do you know where Arlen might be found? Can you fetch him for me? And you wanted to speak to me?’

  Devlin indicated that it could wait, so was sent on two chores, one to find Arlen and to find the tailor’s shop. Allowena had him trained well already. While they waited, Conn first organized his wiga to be armed and ready and he then showered and returned downstairs to wait. Devlin returned with clothes and a bemused Arlen at the same time.

  ‘Thane, you asked for me?’ Arlen appeared a little put out that he had been summoned to see Conn, but Devlin had apparently given him no choice.

  ‘I did Arlen, please sit down. Would you be interested in being my Folctoga?’

  Arlen didn’t know what to say; it wasn’t what he had expected at all. ‘What about Devlin?’

  ‘Devlin has other tasks – like an Eaorldom to govern. I also have another duty that I have in mind for him. But you are the second son, you can join the Healdend’s fryd as a wiga – or you can join with me. I have lots of adventures – the first one will be …’ Conn thought that now was a good time to be honest and open, ‘a war.’

  ‘A war?’ Arlen’s response surprised Conn. ‘Will it be a little one or a big one?’

  Conn laughed. ‘It’s with Gatina and the Rakians so I think it will be fairly big - and dangerous. Lives will be lost. And riches made.’

  ‘With Gatina you say. Sounds like fun. But I don’t understand; Thane, why me? I haven’t actually been very polite to you these weeks?’

  ‘But all the time you played fair; and you lost with grace. No one can ask for more.’

  Arlen thought for a minute or two. ‘I don’t know how I can refuse. I will of course check with my father and the Healdend. So when do I start?’

  ‘Tonight.’

  ‘Tonight! What do we have to do tonight?’

  ‘We have to put a stop to the Rakian’s little plans.’

  Arlen smiled. ‘That I’m very happy to do for free – oh, will we miss the feast?’

  ‘No, but we will have to leave when he leaves. We need to have him in sight at all times.’

  ‘With your leave then, Thane, I will go and prepare. I will be waiting at the keep.’

  When Arlen had left, Conn noticed that Devlin was getting nervous again. He also saw Allowena out of the corner of his eye playing with Ana, and watching Devlin.

  ‘You are far too nervous, Devlin, you need to take some deep breaths and come out with it. What do you want to ask?’ As if Conn didn’t already know.

  Still nervous, Devlin started. ‘Thane, I would like to offer you a gift, with the expectation that by accepting the gift, you will approve me as a suitor to your daughter, Allowena.’ It was the standard customary phrase, and he had much greater difficulty doing it this time than when he courted a Healdend’s daughter! With that, he passed an ancient scroll; taking it from the wrappings, Conn was surprised.

  ‘Do you know what this is?’

  ‘It is an old scroll that had been in my family for generations. We have no real understanding of it, nor any use, but I know you have an interest in such things. I think it is what you were looking for – old maps.’

  Conn laughed. ‘Indeed it is. I thank you for the gift, it is a treasure. You of course have my permission to be a suitor to Allowena.’ Conn reached out to Devlin and put his hand on his shoulder. ‘You could have given me a kitchen spoon – provided that it was clean, and I would have given you my permission.’

  Given that Devlin was an Eaorl and Conn only a Thane, it would have been appropriate for some negotiation about the size of the dowry that Conn would have to pay – but given that he appeared to be wealthier than everyone else, Devlin declined to mention it. He did, however, exit his seat and go to speak to Allowena, and after he spoke, she jumped up and down in excitement. Conn shook his head in amusement and when he looked down, there was Ana, with her hands up and ready to be picked up. She looked completely different.

  ‘Wow; you clean up well. I wonder what kind of excitement you’re going to create. First there was me and now there is you.’ Conn asked rhetorically as the small child looked at him with intent. They had found some clothes for her and she looked a picture; her brown hair was now shiny, and her skin a light tan – but her eyes were blue, just like her father. It was a stark contrast.

  CHAPTER 20

  As Conn left for the keep at dusk, a wiga arrived to advise him that the Rakian vessel had left the dock and was now anchored out at sea. It had left without Alric and a dozen Rakian wiga who were in a Tavern at the docks.

  ‘Are they armed?’

  ‘Not that we have seen; Thane, but we think they have weapons hidden somewhere.’

  ‘How are they getting back on to the boat?’

  ‘They have three rowing boats tied to the dock.’

  Instead of in the morning, it would seem that Alric intended to leave tonight, and it was much easier to maneuver a small rowing boat in the dark than a large cog. Conn sent the wiga with a note to Eggar, who had arrived in port with the schooner that morning. He was to seize the Rakian vessel, and try not to kill anyone – unless absolutely necessary.

  When Conn finally arrived at the keep, he walked in carrying Ana, with Devlin and Allowena trailing along behind him. The little girl’s eyes shone in amazement as she looked around the huge room with the hundreds of people, and she ducked her head back into Conn’s neck. They joined Arlen, who stood with Cliona’s mother Doneele.

  She was very surprised to see Ana.

  ‘Thane, normally it takes nine months to have a child and years to get one this age – how is it that you have managed to do so in a day?’

  ‘It is a long story; Doneele, it seems that a past indiscretion had caught up with me. This is my daughter Ana.’ The little girl peered out from under Conn’s jacket.

  ‘She is beautiful. How many children do you have?’

  ‘Anna would make it twelve – eleven girls. The eldest is five.’ He changed the subject. ‘A
re you happy with Daray?’

  ‘Yes I am; and she will be happy with him; but nothing is as we had thought it would be. And I was just congratulating Arlen on his appointment as your Folctoga – it seems that good fortune smiles on those that are in your favor.’ She stood and pulled Conn away from the table; leant forward and spoke quietly, ‘Talking about children, I hear you have been making fun with the Healdend’s sister.’

  Conn was a little embarrassed that it had got out but couldn’t lie. ‘That is true.’

  ‘Did you know she thinks she is with child?’

  Conn stopped smiling. ‘No, I didn’t. She hasn’t told me yet.’

  ‘I think she just found out, and she is of course very excited. She might now have an heir for the Eaorldom.’

  ‘She might not be so excited when she finds that they are twins.’

  ‘Twins?’

  Conn nodded. ‘Most of my children come in pairs. Except, it seems, for Ana and Jowan.

  ‘Is there something special about their mothers?’

  Conn decided that discretion was appropriate here. ‘Well, Ana’s mother is a Folgere.’

  Doneele stood with her mouth open. ‘So this is Morna’s child! Well, that explains a lot – you are the father; I heard that she had a daughter – which surprised everyone. Driscol is going to be most amused.’ She smiled wickedly, knowing that he wasn’t really going to be that amused.

  She bid him adieu and Conn watched her move back to the Healdend’s table, where Alric sat talking to the Aebeling Bran.

  Allowena rescued Ana from him; and took her to meet Cliona and Daray. Daray came over with a big smile on his face. He remembered Moana. He also congratulated Arlen on his appointment. Conn explained his fear about Alric, and what was happening in the harbor.

  ‘I don’t suppose you need my help?’ he asked wishfully. ‘I would love to see the conceited fool’s face when his plans come unstuck.’

  ‘I think you have other things to do – much more enjoyable. As for Alric, I’ve an idea of what he has in mind, but not yet how he plans to achieve it.’

  The wedding feast soon got under way, and the Healdend had lashed out on the best food and alcohol – surprisingly which a lot of sourced from Lykia – and Hama. The Healdend commented on that fact as he shared a bottle of the best available with Conn. Later he called the host to order; and called forward a Folgere from the Cirice – it wasn’t Moana – who went and stood in front of the dais. She called forward Daray and Cliona, and then held the right hand of Daray and the left hand of Cliona, and performed the bedda ceremony. Short and simple.

  As soon as the ceremony was over, Arlen appeared at his side.

  ‘Alric has left.’ he reported.

  They exited the hall in as dignified manner as possible, to the horses that were waiting outside. If Alric was going over the wall, they needed to get to the Cirice as soon as possible without following him, and in through the front door, where they would not be expected.

  The Cirice proved not near as hard to find as usual. They dismounted close by and travelled the last stage cautiously on foot. His Silekians were waited for him. Conn asked for a report.

  ‘Six men have gone inside – a dozen are standing guard on the outside of the Cirice – at all the gates.’

  ‘Can we get to them without making noise?’

  The Wiga shook his head.

  ‘Then we will have to take them out.’ On that signal twenty men stepped out of shadows and fired arrows at the Rakians. The dozen men fell almost simultaneously – crumpling to the ground with arrows in their chests and throats. They didn’t know what hit them.

  With the Rakians dealt with, six wiga and Arlen accompanied him down an alley to the side of the Cirice. He lifted Arlen to see over the side wall and with an all clear, Arlen helped him over. Soon everyone was inside, and he sent Arlen and the wiga to the back of the Cirice while he entered the cella of the Cirice through the side door.

  Conn had yet to work out how a Gyden protected her Cirice but there seemed to be ways around that protection, because when he opened his mind to Badb, she was becoming very concerned, and then she disappeared – and the roar in his head that he first heard in Lykiak returned.

  He arrived just in time to see what Alric had done; and it was accompanied by a different external noise; the wailing of women in the buildings around the Cirice; the Folgere had lost their connection to Badb.

  Conn could see why. Alric stood beside a contraption that he had set up to destroy the stone in the Gyden’s hand. As he could touch it touch it himself, he had set up an elongated force and motion contraption to destroy the gem – which he saw was now shattered in pieces on the ground. His task complete, he was about to leave when Conn stepped out of the shadows.

  ‘Well, well, well. I was wondering why you were here; and now I know.’

  Alric spun to the voice. ‘You! You are interfering again! Well, you are too late this time – it has been done. And there is nothing you can do about it.’

  ‘But you will have paid a high price for it, Aebeling il Rakia, will it be worth the sacrifice?’ Conn pulled his sword and the Katana was invisible in the moonlight; the black steel like a shadow. ‘The task your Ancuman friends have sent you on.’

  The voice in the stone that hung around Alric’s neck was contemptuous – in its success.

  Alric laughed; ‘I don’t have to fight you, Feorrancund, you will let me go or a Folgere will die.’ He called out to his men, who it seemed was supposed to be holding a Folgere at knife point, but Arlen turned up instead, with the Folgere at his side – it was Moana.

  ‘You called, Rakian.’

  Alric snarled, drew his sword, and leapt for Conn – who parried. They parted and Alric tried again and again, without success.

  ‘I think you should give up now,’ Conn suggested, hardly breathing, ‘before you actually hurt yourself with exhaustion – I’m not going to kill you, as I’d rather leave you alive. And it is not possible for you to kill me as you are simply just not good enough. Oh – and your ship – it will have been boarded by now.’ They parried a few more times, ‘and your men outside are all dead – so what do you say – giving up is still your best option. If you insist on dying as well, all your men will be hung – and I’m sure that I will be able to have the Healdend support – as I will the Aebeling’s – to invade Rakia. Do you really want your father to try and defend Rakia when you have half your good men in Gatina?’

  Alric finally arrived at the same conclusion – even the stone around his neck seemed undecided on what he should do. It seemed cautious of the idea of Conn invading Rakia – it had simply not occurred that he might consider that. Alric also knew that he wasn’t going to beat Conn in swordplay, and with his escape route closed, he really had run out of choices. He withdrew and flipped his sword over; handing it over to Conn. Arlen came out and quickly bound Alric’s arms. Moana was sitting in a corner weeping.

  ‘All this crying is wearing me out’, Conn declared. ‘I guess we should stop it.’

  ‘You can’t stop it.’ Alric exclaimed, ‘I’ve destroyed the Haligdom and the link is broken. Badb is no longer in touch with the Moetians. One more infantile Gyden is gone.’

  ‘That’s a silly thing to say; I’ll just put the stone back.’ Conn walked over to the idol with the outstretched hand, opened his mind to the noise and asked the Gyden to give him the gem.

  Through it all, she must have heard him, because as they watched, the broken half that remained embedded in the granite rose from the stone and toppled on to the ground. Conn reached into his pouch, selecting a new perfect gemstone and showed it to Alric. ‘This is a replacement,’ he explained.

  He placed it back in Badb’s hand – and he could have sworn he saw her eyes move and her breasts quiver as the stone, the gem and their hands met. He shut his mind to her as he let go of the gemstone. He wasn’t fond of the pure adrenalin and hormonal rush—he suspected that it could be life threatening – it had taken him m
inutes to recover when he experienced it in Lykiak.

  Alric was astounded. ‘You can’t do that; only a consecrated Folgere or a Gyden themselves can do that. You just CAN’T do that...’ He shouted the last sentence as the gem was absorbed into the stone hand and the Folgere suddenly stop crying; and the room fill with a blue glow. His face was totally confused. ‘I just don’t understand…’

  Conn could also hear what the voice in Alric’s head was feeling too – not only that of defeat, but also confusion and pure unadulterated hatred caused by frustration. Conn was definitely not on her Christmas card list.

  Then Conn did something none of them was expecting. Conn walked to the next stone idol – Inanna – reached into his pouch again and withdrew a green gemstone; which he placed on her outstretched hand, where it was quickly absorbed. The room now had a green and blue glow. He went to Tabiti next, placed a red sapphire on her hand, and finally to Lilith, handing over a gold stone. By this time the room was aglow with energy; all four colors pulsating. However, he only sensed the presence of Badb. She was much, much, stronger and her color much more vibrant. The damaged stone had definitely limited her powers. Folgere streamed into to the room and stood amazed, tears streaming down their faces. Never in their lifetimes had the four gemstones been alive in this Cirice.

  Defeated and despondent, Alric could only ask; ‘Why did you do that? Why all four?’

  ‘For entirely the opposite reason to you – it seems that you want to allow only one Gyden to speak. I, on the other hand, want to return balance – and it seems to me that all four create balance. I’m sure your Gyden is disappointed in your failure.’

  Conn could tell she was, and his ability to annoy her was really satisfying. Just how far can you push a Gyden before you are in mortal peril?

  Arlen took Alric and the surviving Rakian wiga to the harbor. Conn would meet them there. Moana came and kissed him, thanking him, and making him promise to return later that night. Some of the Folgere wanted to make an offering to the Badb, and they needed Conn – badly! He promised to return.