‘What of Kadash – is it around here?’
She shook her head. ‘Kadash? I remember hearing that name...’ She stopped to contemplate for a moment. ‘Do you remember me saying that we were guards to the Rakians until we were replaced?’
Conn nodded.
‘There was an overlap when we served beside them – and I remember seeing an Ancuman map that had Cyme and a lot of other names familiar to me written on it – but the shape of the lands looked nothing like today – everything seemed much closer together. I remember seeing a city named Kadash – I noticed it because it was close to Cyme.’
‘How old was the map?’
‘Very – I was told that it was before the last flooding – and if so Kadash, must be under forty feet of water now because it was between Cyme and Trokia.’
Disappointed as he was, Conn was curious. ‘How did you manage to see the map?’
She smiled a sad smile. ‘I was young and adventurous – and a certain Ancuman Folctoga was magnificent. The only problem is that Ancuman like their intercourse rough – they prefer to take with force rather than have what is offered freely. If you can act like a violated virgin seven days a week, you do well. As I said, I was young and adventurous, and he was very beautiful, but I had to stop because I was finding it hard to explain why I covered in bruises.’
‘Are the women the same?’
‘Not always – they are extremely docile and compliant with their men – I suspect it is to punish them – but same as the men with women. They generally prefer women to men. Consequently, the Ancuman had an insatiable need and desire for theow –both for the bed – and also the field. The Ancuman don’t like to work in fields or workshops. Very nearly every Ancuman is either wiga or breeding wiga.’
They even discussed Halla. Sibbe said that she really did not understand why it happened. Conn told her of meeting her in Tegeste – naked. He asked her why she was there.
Sibbe took a deep breath. ‘Halla has always found some pleasure in visiting Rakia – her father is an Eaorl of Rakia – but not that we usually have attachment to our fathers – mostly we don’t know who they are. She was also purchasing theow.
‘In Tegeste? Most of those theow are stolen from the domains of Silekia…’
She shook her head defiantly. ‘We never buy illegal theow; only those with the proper papers. Most domains have a supply, and we buy all the girls that we can.’
Every Valkeri had a girlfriend on hand and most appeared to be theow, as were most of the servants. Conn wondered if it was only him that saw the irony in that situation.
Later, as he was finally leaving to get some sleep, Sibbe asked him to take care of her daughter; she would be missed.
At sea the conditions were now perfect, and they were soon on a fast course to Moetiak. Aerlene was able to stay below and rest, why Conn trained Halla on how to sail a schooner. Talented and interested, her progress was handicapped by the fact that she was still very sore and weak from the beating she had received. Conn didn’t push her.
They arrived six days overdue to find an anxious Arlen waiting for them on the docks; he had beaten them home by two days, and unable to explain their absence, spent his time avoiding the Healdend by hiding at the docks. Soon after their arrival, he happily escorted his cousin to the keep, while Conn took Halla with him to the Inn. Arlen was also to request an audience with the Healdend for the afternoon. There was much to report.
Several hours later, changed and rested, the three of them arrived at the appointed time in the keep. As they walked in, Ana ran to her father and he picked her up and hugged her. She giggled hysterically as he tickled her. Aerlene, who was waiting for them by the door, explained to the stunned Halla that the black haired but blue eyed beauty was Conn’s daughter – and one of twelve. While they had been away, Ana had been staying with Driscol’s family.
As they continued up the hall, Conn could see a strange look growing on Driscol’s face as he watched Halla walk toward him. He acknowledged their arrival as they bowed. Obviously Aerlene didn’t tell him about Halla. She whispered that she didn’t know how.
‘Thane, welcome back. I hear you have had an eventful journey, and I see you have a new travelling companion.’
Driscol then addressed Halla.
‘Halla il Cyme, it is a long time since you graced the halls of Moetia. Last time was with your mother the Aebeling, I think, about ten years ago. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?’
Halla looked at Conn before speaking, and then held up her arms that were denuded of the gold bracelets that defined a Valkeri. Driscol was visibly surprised. Halla spoke in the silence.
‘Healdend, I thank you for the welcome. This time, I do not travel as a representative of my mother, but as theow to the Thane.’
Startled, Driscol looked back at Conn and bade them all sit at a table, which he joined. Halla didn’t sit; she stood as appropriate for a theow. Driscol requested wine – lots of it, and quickly and sighed as he spoke to Halla.
‘Is it not true that the only way that a Valkeri can become theow is in combat?’
She nodded.
‘So the Thane defeated you in hand to hand combat?’
She nodded again.
Driscol looked at Conn. ‘Ok, tell me the story. This I’ve got to hear.’
‘It’s a long one,’ Conn offered.
‘I’ll make the time. You also have to tell me about everything you are doing in Menia. I hear that your ships have been attacking pirate vessels.’
‘I hope they have learnt their lesson by now and stop attacking my ships.’
An hour later, as they finished their supper of bread, cheese (Haran cheese, Conn noted) and beer, Driscol was almost speechless.
‘In summary, for some reason you believe that you ended up in Cyme as a result of some exceptionally bad and unseasonal weather, and end up defeating one of the Valkeri in combat! And you think it was deliberate? That sounds so ridiculous, it is almost plausible.’ He shook his head. ‘You are a very strange man, Conn il Taransay. No offense meant of course.’
Conn bowed slightly. ‘None taken’.
‘And you think one of the Gyden were behind this?’
‘I have no idea – but I can’t find an alternative reason.’ He didn’t say that it was neither Lilith nor Badb nor the mysterious Gyden in the Keep as the Healdend didn’t know he could talk to them.
As they spoke Ana came over and sat on the Healdend’s lap. She peered up into his eyes and giggled. He gave her a hug. ‘Oh, and we have another problem. This one is even more very serious than unknown Gyden messing with us –because it affects me directly. My family will hate me if I allow you to take Ana away; they had become very attached to her. As you know, children have always been rare in our family, and she is a constant companion to my grandson. Indeed, he has recovered much since Ana arrived.’
Bran’s eldest son was sickly, and even though Conn had discussed his case with the court Medic, he was unable to offer much advice – though he did give them tonics and potions to try. There was a mild improvement. It seemed more a malaise more than an illness.
‘Whatever Ana and Badb want is fine by me. Ana?’ As he asked he opened up his mind to Badb, who was most annoyed at being shut out, but felt her approval for the arrangement. What still vexed her most was that someone could shut her out.
Ana spoke also, ‘I’ll stay.’
‘Then that is settled.’ Conn had grown attached to his daughter but knew that this was the best arrangement. He changed the subject,
‘Have you inspected my Fyrd?’
Driscol looked at Bran who had joined them and who answered. ‘I have just returned; they are already a formidable force. We are indebted to your guidance, Thane; our wiga will be stronger with the skills that they have learnt’.
‘They certainly seem to be growing in number,’ Driscol added. ‘I’m overlooking the number of Moetians who have joined.’
Conn smiled; indeed over five hun
dred Moetians had signed up. Arlen would five companies to command. ‘It is well if your wiga never need those skills – but I fear that it will be inevitable. Whatever the Ancuman have planned; this is just the beginning.’
‘I hope you are wrong. Have you heard from Trokia?’ Driscol had deliberately not communicated with the Wealdend of Trokia as he didn’t want to become involved.
‘I have – Abrekan has been able to get an audience with the Wealdend and is now able to get information first hand. I am advised that the Gatinans have stopped at the border, so it seems unlikely that they will invade this year – but next spring almost ten thousand Gatinans will march into Trokia if the wergild is not paid.’
‘How many do you have?’
‘Five hundred bowmen are already on their way to Trokia to help fortify the walls; I will march with over two thousand.’
‘What about Kania?’
Conn acknowledged that this was an issue yet to be dealt with, but had a plan. ‘I would like to send an envoy to Kanian, and ask the Aebeling if I can make my way through his domain. Do you have someone that you can lend?’
The Healdend thought and then nodded. ‘One of my officials has a mother who is from Kania; her family is closely connected to the court. I will send for him. He is not one of my best officials, I might add.’
Halla had been standing silently all this time – indeed she has spoken little since leaving Cyme. She suddenly chose to say something.
‘Healdend, might I speak as to the nature of Kaniak?’
Driscol nodded.
‘I have spent a lot of time there; the Healdend keeps a Valkeri bodyguard as he is paranoid about assassination. I think that you will find him unmoved to any request for access. He seems to hate everyone – including the Moetians and Trokians, but especially the Silekians. His mother is of Rakia and he spent much of his youth there.’
Driscol laughed. ‘Gorman is a pretentious upstart – he hates us because we won’t acknowledge that he can call himself a Healdend. Kania is an Aebeling domain like Lykia – and Rakia for that matter.’
‘Why does he fear assassination?’ Conn asked.
‘Some years ago there was a falling out between the Healdend … Aebeling Gorman and his uncle Esras. I believe it had to do with the daughter and heiress of the Eaorl of Dor, who chose Esras as bedda over the Aebeling. It is rumored that the Aebeling was somehow implicated in the girl’s death some time later, because soon after her death, Esras fled to the hills of Shekem in Kania – his mother was the daughter of the Eaorl of Shekem and their lands are mountainous and it is impossible to find anyone there. I’ve even looked.’
‘Is he trying to stage a coup?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t think so – but the Cotlif is constantly flooded with rumours that Esras has assassins trying to murder the Aebeling; hence the body guards.’
‘Have there been any battles?’
She smiled. ‘Not many – Gorman did send a Fyrd of Kanian Wiga to find and kill him, but the whole company of fifty men simply disappeared. So all men either died or changed sides. He then sent a small Fyrd of Rakians – and they definitely all died. Their bodies were found in a pile.’
Conn was intrigued. ‘Perhaps that it something we can use against him if we have to.’
They spent the rest of the evening discussing the work that was being undertaken in Menia – already one of the new fishing boats had arrived in Moetiak to sell its catch.
Driscol was disturbed. ‘So Menia will be rich again soon – and Susa is getting richer. I’m starting to feel surrounded. Are you sure you aren’t planning a coup yourself?’
‘Your position is safe. And are you not profiting from the new business activity.’ He had not right to complain – the treasury of Moetiak was the healthiest it had ever been.
‘Still…’ They were interrupted by the arrival of the official.
With Driscol’s forbearance, Conn informed him of what was required of him. Driscol had a document prepared with a formal request for access, which was sealed and then handed to him. Conn also arranged for three hundred gold Ryals to be delivered to his boat as a gift to be presented to Gorman as compensation for any inconvenience – a significant amount of money.
As they returned to the Inn, Conn noticed that Halla was still in considerable pain as she walked – whilst her bruises were almost gone, obviously the injuries below had yet to repair themselves fully. She followed him upstairs to the bedrooms on the second floor of the Inn. As he was about to enter his room he looked back as she struggled with the door handle.
‘How is your shoulder?’
‘My shoulder – I don’t understand…’
‘You seem to be carrying it strangely... and you struggled with the door.’
She shrugged. ‘It is fine. It is getting better every day.’’
‘Not quickly enough. Come into my room.’
Conn saw the immediate flash of defiance in her eyes; followed by resignation. She found the position of theow a great struggle – something Conn appreciated.
After she followed him inside, he instructed her to stand still as he Conn investigated her body – as well as being a trained paramedic, he had spent considerable time studying physiotherapy. Conn knew he had caused her no serious trauma – but her muscles were still tormented and most ligaments and joints had been stretched.
He went to his bag and removed oils that he carried with him.
‘Take off your clothes and lie on the bed on your stomach.’
Her eyes flared in disobedience again but just as quickly cooled, and she did as she was told. Naked and lying on her stomach, she was surprised to find herself being covered with oil. Conn then used his training to massage the stiffness and pain from her body and to manipulate every joint back into position. He later asked her to roll over and offered her a towel to cover herself as he worked – though it was hardly big enough to provide even much cover for her large breasts.
She declined. ‘Thank you – but I have no place to be modest. My body is yours to use – if and when you desire. I am theow.’
‘So you said – but I am not going to force myself upon you.’
‘You will not be forcing yourself on me. I am theow. It is my duty to provide you with sexual comfort.’
‘Still sounds like uninvited attention to me.’
‘Oh, all right then,’ she exclaimed sharply, ‘I invite you to use my body – if that makes you feel better.’
Strangely, it did.
The official left the next day on one of the Healdend’s vessels as Conn didn’t want to risk one of his being “confiscated”. With an expected return after two weeks, Conn spent his time waiting in the cotlif reading the newly completed codices in the library, working with the craeftiga or spending time with Ana and her tutors.
Occasionally he visited the Folgere, and had just returned from a visit to the Cirice when he was met by a miffed Halla at the Inn’s doorway. He was starting to sense that she resented his visits to the Folgere.
‘The Healdend is here to see you’ she said abruptly.
‘Really? Do we know why?’
‘It is not for me to ask and he didn’t say.’
He went inside the Inn and found an amused Healdend with a table full of food.
‘You have so many different foods on offer here that I thought I’d try the lot. Anyway, the ship has returned early, and you are not going to like what you hear. He can tell you what he told me.’ The Healdend nodded in the direction of one of his staff sitting on a neighboring table. It was not the Envoy but his deputy – a very nervous Sighard.
He very quickly summarised his report – Envoy Oswyn had been murdered.
‘That I didn’t expect.’ Conn was genuinely surprised. ‘Tell me what happened.’
‘Thane, when we arrived in Rakia, Envoy Oswyn determined that he would go on ahead and make himself known at the court. He left with representatives of the Portgerefa and a small guard, as is acceptable, and made hi
s way to the Keep. I followed on behind, after I had made arrangements at the inn for the crew. When I got there, a feast was in progress and Oswyn was deep in conversation with the Aebeling – as to what I have no knowledge. I was left at another table.’
‘Certainly not what we expected him to do.’
Sighard agreed. ‘As the night went on, Oswyn celebrated with the Aebeling and after the feast, I escorted him to the Inn. I settled him into his room and retired. He was quite drunk. At dawn when I went to wake the Envoy, he was not in his room and the bed had not been slept in – but the window was open.’
‘He snuck out in the middle of the night?’ Conn asked rhetorically.
‘Thane, it would appear so. I arranged for a search party from the Inn and went directly to the Keep. When I got there, the Bailiff took me to a room where I was shown the Envoy’s body. He must have been dead for several hours. The Bailiff informed me that his body had been found in a back street, and it had just been brought to the Keep.’
‘How did he die?’
‘A knife wound to the chest. When I met with the Aebeling, his advisors informed us that Envoy Oswyn had been found in a part of town that is somewhat lawless. He assumed that Oswyn’s fate was of his own doing – he was going somewhere he shouldn’t have.’
Driscol was still outraged; ‘They expect us to believe that Oswyn did this – on his first day in the Cotlif, go wandering the streets in the middle of the night and accidently got himself murdered! That someone tried to rob him?’
‘Yes, Healdend; that is what they suggested; and when our Folctoga requested to talk to his Bailiff and to investigate further, the request was declined.’ Sighard paused. ‘We were also unable to deliver the document to the Aebeling as Oswyn had insisted in keeping it in his possession, and it could not be found in his room. He had asked for it especially before he went to bed.’
Conn postulated. ‘So the question is why did he leave the room with the scroll – was it taken from him after he met someone outside and murdered or was he kidnapped with the scroll and then murdered. I assume you were unable to find answer to any of those questions?’
The Aebeling Page 37