The Aebeling

by O'Neill, Michael

  Back in Menia, Conn’s cartographer brought him a map that he had been working on – it contained the information from Ciarrai’s map as well as all the other maps that he had found in libraries. They showed it to Ciarrai together.

  The Eaorl looked at the new map blankly. ‘I don’t understand? What does this all mean?’

  ‘It means that your map has provided a potential long term answer to the pirate problem. Your map showed all the safe passages through the reefs and shoals of the coastline off ancient Kadash. A little more work by my schooners and we’ll know exactly how to get to Kuita.’

  ‘What use is that?’

  ‘None that I know of – yet – but one never knows when one needs to invade Kuita. If we do have a need, we now have a way.’

  In the days and weeks that followed, the cotlif was further transformed; drainage had been the first task and the streets were mostly dry and no longer stank; and around the keep pavers were being laid. Most buildings were being reroofed and rendered while others were being pulled down and replaced. The harbor had a new dock that could easily cater for Conn’s ships, and stores were being filled with stock for sale; the “Meshech Insurance and Finance Company” has even set up shop and was providing loans to the merchants.

  With a happy Allowena and a clean cotlif, the bedda ceremony was finally completed and the new couple were finally able to share a bed in the new ‘Georgian’ house that Conn had constructed especially for them within the palisades; while the entire cotlif, and the many visitors, celebrated long into the night with the free Lycian ale and cider.

  A few days later Arlen, Devlin and Allowena joined Eggar on the schooner on his trip to Atrak. Arlen was especially excited to have the opportunity. Conn stayed in Menia, and took the opportunity to purchase land from the Eaorl – he wanted to purchase a few thousand acres from him but ended up becoming a Thane with twenty thousand and a several hundred vassals. Conn wanted to grow crops that he had been unable to grow successfully in Lykia – in particular sugar cane, cotton and pineapples. The more humid and semi tropical climate in Media would suit them admirably. After extensive negotiation with the Eaorl asking for less and Conn offering to pay more, he finally agreed to become the Thane of Samal – on the condition that Allowena be allowed to be the Burhgerefa.

  When she found out, she was delighted, as she started to worry that some of the freedom she had gained over the last few years might be eaten away by her new situation. The bedda of future or current Eaorls didn’t seem to do a lot. Ciarrai was also starting to feel a little out of control in his own domain – even more so when his son returned from his visit to Atrak. As well as men and supplies, the schooner escorted three large fishing boats into the harbor. They were some of the boats that Conn had ‘rescued’ from Pelva, and Conn explained what he had in mind to Ciarrai as they watched the impressive vessels try up on the docks.

  ‘So you are – what was the term you used – leasing these to me?’

  ‘Indeed; they are big enough to fish these oceans and get the catch into Moetiak quickly. When you have built your own, these will return to Atrak.’

  ‘Again; an offer I can ill afford to refuse; so thank you.’ Ciarrai then complained to Conn. ‘So many changes in such a short time – and now Devlin is full of new ideas from his visit to Atrak. I may as well retire – these young people just want to do everything their own way. I should go and live in my house in Moetiak – except that the Healdend will probably want me to visit him every day – and that can be very trying.’

  That reminded Conn. ‘Aerlene tells me that your ancestors were once Healdend.’

  Ciarrai shook his head. ‘Never Healdend – they were just Aebeling, a long time ago.’

  ‘At the time of the last Casere?’

  Ciarrai nodded again.

  ‘So what happened?’

  ‘I believe that in 562 when the Goibniu relinquished the position of Casere and became the Healdend of Silekia, my ancestor Ciarrai – I am the third – had a daughter of Goibniu as bedda, and was the heir of the Aebeling of Moetia. During the rebellion of 561, he refused to participate, and after the Casere resigned, and everyone became Healdends, including his father, he chose to relinquish his claim to the title, and it passed to his cousin, the Eaorl of Menia. Menia had been influential in convincing his uncle, the Aebeling, to support the rebellion – against his cousin’s wishes, so they arranged to swapped titles – and we have been Eaorls here ever since.’

  ‘A poisoned chalice…’

  ‘So he seemed to have believed.’

  Over the next weeks, more vessels arrived with people and tools to commence construction on the dockyard, and then to commence construction of ships. Most of this new expertise came from Trokia. It just so happened that the current shipyards were in Ridlah – right in the path of the invading Gatinans. Abrekan was more than happy to send his kinsmen, workers, and their families to Menia to build the shipyard as events in Trokia were not improving. With timbers cutters already at work cutting timber and carting the logs to the river where the current would deliver them to the new water powered sawmills, it would not be long before the first of many schooners would make their way out of the specially designed dry dock.

  With Allowena settled, Conn thought it time for him to return to Moetiak with Aerlene. Saying goodbye to the girl who had been glued to his side for almost seven years was not going to be easy, and they had a very tearful last night together. Even Conn cried.

  Between her tears, she thanked him. ‘I don’t know what to say. Because of you I will be the bedda to an Eaorl and perhaps the mother of another – me, the orphaned daughter of a common merchant.’

  Conn wiped the tears off her face. ‘There is nothing common about you – if nothing else, remember that you are the granddaughter of an Eaorl – and your uncle and cousins belong to one of the richest and most powerful merchant families in Meshech. I’m not that poor myself.’

  She laughed in her tears, and he held her tight. He didn’t know if or when he would see her again.

  As they prepared to leave, Arlen, still green from his trip to Atrak, refused to accompany them – instead he would return by road with the horses. He was a fair weather sailor. The trip by sea would save a week and, Conn hoped, be easier for one in Aerlene’s condition.

  Conn had clearly forgotten the local version of the Yiddish expression – men plan and Gyden laugh.

  CHAPTER 22

  Despite the fact that it should have been ideal sailing weather from Menia to Moetiak, it simply wasn’t. Not only was it unseasonably atrocious, but the promised westerly winds turned into easterlies and travelling by sail proved almost impossible as soon as they escaped the protection of the bay and were in open waters.

  ‘We can’t keep fighting these waves, Thane, even this boat will break up if we are not careful.’ Eggar had to yell over the roaring seas and the sound of waves crashing over the boat.

  Conn agreed. ‘Let’s try and go around it – head north-west.’

  As tough as she was, Aerlene, the increasingly visibly pregnant Eaorl of Susa was now greatly regretted her decision to travel by ship; she found every excuse to blame Conn for his lack of judgment in letting her go. Pregnancy and sea sickness did not combine to create a sense of humor, and after two days in the boat, Aerlene was begging to get off.

  As luck would have it, at sunrise on the third day the storm abated, and land was spotted to the east.

  Conn looked curiously at Eggar.

  ‘That must be Cyme – we are a long way north.’

  ‘Indeed we are. Best that we make land though – Aerlene will kill us if we suggest turning west. Have you been here?’

  ‘No – none of our ships have yet. They are very particular about who can land here – and we have yet to get approval. I did write and ask but have yet to receive a reply. And remember men are not allowed to travel anywhere except in the harbor.’

  Ciarrai had told him that the island was once home to pirates and no
w home to female wiga who killed all the pirates and took over – and now hired themselves out as body guards. Conn could hardly wait to meet them.

  They made a smooth trip into the main port; even though it was tiny. There was a single long dock with a number of buildings behind it; Inns and warehouses. It was not intended to be inviting. A dozen vessels were anchored off shore or unloading at the docks. The one yard schooner only just fitted.

  As they alighted, an official ‘unwelcoming’ welcome party waited for them; six women, heavily armed with swords and bow, and a smaller official looking middle aged lady. Her dress was not wiga clothing so he assumed she was administration. The wiga were of course all women, and very attractive ones – young, fit, and they looked highly trained. Their clothing left little to the imagination.

  ‘Who are you and why are you here?’ she demanded briskly. ‘Your ship doesn’t show the colors of anyone we have approved to land here.’

  Affronted, Conn asked the same question.

  She did not expect that and did a goldfish motion with her mouth. She tried to regain control of her mouth and started again. ‘I … I asked your name and your business.’

  Conn was starting to enjoy himself. ‘Again, who are you to be asking me questions? Identify yourself and we can start again. You could be under arrest, rather than under escort. Who exactly ARE you?’

  Fish-face was becoming bright red. She almost yelled ‘I am Gudrun, Portgerefa of Cyme. Answer the question... PLEASE!’

  Ignoring her again, Conn addressed the wiga who stood behind her. It had been a hard trip. This was the most fun he’d had in days.

  ‘Is that true?’

  When they nodded, he looked at the smaller woman, who was finding it very hard to maintain her composure. ‘Very well, Portgerefa, my name is Conn il Taransay, Thane of Atrak in Lykia. I have been washing around the bathtub of an ocean you have out there for nearly three days and have sought respite here in Cyme.’ He pointed to Aerlene. ‘This is Aerlene, Eaorl of Susa, and sister of the Healdend of Moetia. Does that answer your question?’ Conn softened his tone, ‘I mean, if only I’d known who you were, I would have answered promptly.’

  Gudrun was furious, she could barely contain herself, but given the situation she instructed one of the girls to inform the Keep and she ran off. Conn sensed that whatever she wanted to do and say was now tempered by the presence of Aerlene.

  As they waited, Conn suddenly felt the presence of a Gyden lurking in the back of his head, and it wasn’t Badb or the Gyden who took care of Alric il Rakia and the Ancuman. This was a new one – and it also wasn’t the one without a name that seemed to ‘infest’ the Cotlif of Moetiak. He could only presume that it was Lilith, the Gyden of the people of Trokia and Cyme. He found it surprising that she was here as it was her Cirice that was ‘missing’.

  Nonetheless he opened his mind to her, and told her to stop poking around places she wasn’t invited. Startled, she retreated. Conn still thought it interesting that you could startle a Gyden but there it was. She withdrew for a while before returning. It was clear she was surprised that Conn could feel her presence, and this time she tried in stealth, but Conn told her that wasn’t working either. She withdrew again but still lingered on the periphery, confused, which Conn thought, was a good state for a Gyden. So where was the Cirice?

  Gudrun was telling them that they could stay overnight and pointed out an Inn in the Port area, which Conn could see was walled off from the main town. Before she could finish, the runner returned and whispered in the Portgerefa’s ear. She looked shocked, and she turned at bowed bowed to Aerlene.

  ‘The Aebeling requests that Aerlene il Moetia and the “Thane” be her guests in the Keep.’ She looked pointedly at Conn; ‘Of course your ‘men’ need to stay in the Inn’. With that she stormed off, directing the wiga to stay and guide them to the Keep.

  Conn grabbed a couple of bags and followed the ‘girls’. Walking at his side, Aerlene commented, ‘Did you have to do that? It wasn’t very nice.’

  ‘In my defense, she was rude first.’

  They started the walk up the hill to the keep. It was an ancient outpost and the ‘escorts’ entertained them with its history. The Burh was built on the side of a hill; and it must have been an Ancuman port as the roads and the palisades were built from stone. The Priecuman had built timber longhouses, and surrounded them with timber palisades, but underneath it was all stone, evidenced by the odd stone corner tower.

  Arlene was fairly exhausted when she arrived; it had been a hard few days for her.

  As they got to the largest longhouse, they found a few wiga on guard, and they entered into the smoky interior. Conn coughed; he still hated smoke. Inside tables were filled with females; wiga and their staff – and other that were clearly theow. He was definitely the only man there. At the end of the longhouse was a large throne like wooden chair, lots of tables and long benches, and as they got closer they found a middle aged woman waiting for them. She looked very fit, extremely attractive and dressed in fine clothing – what there was of it.

  Conn and Aerlene bowed in acknowledgment and respect. The official called out their names, his last, and introduced the Aebeling, her name being Sibbe. She spoke to Aerlene.

  ‘Welcome to the House of the Cyme, Aerlene il Moetia. Whilst we do not get many visitors from Moetia, your house has always been held in esteem. I will look forward to having a conversation with you later this evening at the feast.’ She then turned towards Conn. ‘Conn il Atrak – and Hama, I believe. You have a reputation that spreads like a warm breeze on a winter’s day; there is not a place our girls go that someone hasn’t a tale to tell of you – and I have to be honest, there are many places where you are not very popular. And I hear that your yellow flagged trading ships are everywhere.’

  Conn bowed again. ‘I am flattered, Aebeling, I can only hope that all the stories are not positive to my reputation – but I am flattered that there are places where my name is not revered – it means that I must be doing something right.’

  Sibbe laughed at this, and continued with her conversation. ‘I hope that you too will be our guest tonight. It is not often that a male is a guest in our Keep, but it seems that our Gyden is disposed to allowing your attendance.’ She seemed confused by the situation as well, and Conn could feel the Gyden reassuring her. She continued. ‘Pray tell how you managed to end up here.’

  Conn relayed his tale of leaving the harbor of Menia to go to Moetiak, and that the weather was impossible so after three days they ended up here.

  ‘Certainly the weather has been unusual – but not over land. Just in the ocean. Many ships also have found it difficult to traverse the seas these last few days, and I understand now why I have had reports of the increased amounts of ships travelling to Menia – and I presume that you are also responsible for the problems that the Kuitans are having?’

  ‘Kuitans? Do you mean the pirates? Do you mean that someone is sinking their ships?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Yes, that would be me. I’m surprised that you have heard.’

  She smiled a thin smile. ‘They trade with us on a small port on the west. They have been complaining about the situation. It is hard not to laugh.’

  ‘They will be doing a lot of complaining if they keep attacking my ships. Perhaps you can pass that on. Please tell them that if any of my ships is attacked, I will sink every one of their ships I see – it is time that they find a new line of work.’

  She laughed, ‘I’ll pass it on. They were confused why you weren’t doing that already.’

  Conn was about to ask another question when a tall women with long black hair strode into the hall and marched towards the throne. Graceful arms, long legs, and ample bosom bursting from a leather bodice that was clearly a size too small; she was as fine a creature as Conn had seen. It suddenly occurred to him that he had seen her before. He also sensed an extra voice that followed her in – the very same that Alric had. What was ‘it’ doing here?


  Strangely Lilith didn’t seem to know that the voice was there – though she did sort of connect with the girl – but it seemed a weak connection. Sibbe and Lilith had a strong link in comparison.

  The new arrival hadn’t noticed him when she arrived. She bowed to her mother and Sibbe introduced her to Aerlene and then him: ‘Conn il Atrak, my eldest daughter Halla.’

  As she turned to greet Conn, there was first obvious surprise of seeing a male in the keep, then recognition spread over her face; quickly followed by anger, and before the Aebeling had time to react, she yelled ‘You … you will regret the day you saw me...’.

  She drew her sword and leapt at Conn in a single motion. Conn had stood to greet her and he threw his weight backwards over the couch, tipping it and himself over; providing himself with a moment to recover as Halla leapt the couch. Conn rolled and drew his sword in a fraction of a second and the girl’s sword made contact with the katana; the sound of steel on steel reverberating throughout the keep.

  Sibbe, having had the time to react now, demanded that her daughter sheath her sword, and only when confronted by her mother’s guard, did she desist. She was still furious however. Sibbe was remonstrating with her daughter; furious that she would unsheathe her sword in the keep; and to attack a guest of the Keep was unforgivable. She demanded that she apologize.

  It was like the girl was not in control of herself; she was taking in deep breaths.

  ‘I refuse. I will not give this …’ she looked him up and down in distaste, ‘feorrancund the satisfaction of my apology. I demand an honor bout!’