The Aebeling (27 page)

He nodded. ‘I’m beginning to feel like a chess piece’, and he described the game to her, ‘But I’m not sure if I’m playing or being played. It would be good to know – and if I’m being played, by whom?’

Elva laughed, ‘One of the problems with Priecuman is that they think they can control their destiny; but a leaf does not control where the wind blows it. Twacuman know that all you can do is try to find a soft place to land. Come; let us retire to intercourse; that will ease our thoughts for this night at least. Just for you, I’m going to take off all my clothes.’

Conn had heard a lot worse ideas in his life.

The next morning Conn ate breakfast with Derryth and his father the Wothbora.

‘I think the Rakian are responsible for the loss of contact between Halani and Piada’, Conn suggested, ‘I’ve been told that the practise of enslaving Twacuman is only a couple of hundred years old – before that it was not considered acceptable.

Hanavan agreed. ‘It is true that the Casere would never have allowed such a thing to happen – but after the last Casere died, there was no one to stop such things.’

‘And the Ancuman – could they be involved?’

They both looked at him in surprise.

‘Ancuman – there are no Ancuman in Meshech.’

“I don’t think that is true anymore. I think there are Ancuman in Rakia.’ Conn told them him what he heard said by the slaver in Tegeste. Those Priecuman knew who the Ancuman were. It was strange that Oisin hadn’t mentioned it either.

The Wothbora nodded. ‘That would explain much – the Ancuman have always kept us as theow – and they especially like female Twacuman.’

Conn continued with his questioning. ‘And your ancestors have given you nothing to guide you through this problem?’

The Wordloga smiled; ‘Not really – but I do recall something my father said his grandfather told him.’

He paused and Conn waited with anticipation but the Wordloga looked at Derryth who answered.

‘He said ‘When the time comes when things are not as they should be, look to what was old as it will be new again.’

After a few moments Conn shook his head. ‘Doesn’t really mean a lot does it?’

The Wordloga concurred. ‘I guess such things are not supposed to be too clear. It is said that Gyden cannot determine the future, but they can guide it – and we are told that it was said by a Gyden to my ancestor – but they like to have their fun. But you’, and he pointed to Conn’s medallion, ‘wear something that is old – as is your ability to understand the language of the Twacuman. It is possible to see the words in those things. And if the Ancuman are back, that is as it was before as well – perhaps our destiny is to be theow again.’

‘Not when I’m around.’ Conn added defiantly.

The Wordloga smiled ruefully. ‘Even you have your limits, Feorhhyrde, one against so many. It took the Casere three generations to expel the Ancuman the last time – and at the loss of thousands of lives. Our people can ill afford to have so many die again.’

Later, Conn and Oisin sat in counsel with Brina and the Elders; they considered in full the ramifications of Oisin’s arrival, and whether they would send riders south. Conn advised against it, the only safe way was by boat and that was not possible at this time. Oisin agreed.

‘There is something else,’ Brina added as Conn was about to leave. ‘The wordloga tells me that Daray had the blood of the Twacuman in his veins.’

Oisin nodded. ‘Yes I agree; I suspect that he in a descendant of my house. One of the granddaughters of Ingeulfur became bedda to the Eaorl of Gelah in Silekia. That line obviously has descendants around the Priecuman nations.’

‘So all of you descend from Sherric and Alffasta?’

They nodded.

‘Elva doesn’t have Priecuman blood, does she? That could be reason why she was able to have Jowan…’

Brina shook her head. ‘No, she doesn’t – there must be another reason. The line of those with Priecuman blood is almost finished – Caewyn is the last on my line and Oisin the last of her line. Obviously there are also some that have Twacuman blood who are descendant of Sherric and Alffasta. It is interesting that one such descendant is in your care. I don’t know if it has meaning or not.’

Days later when he readied to leave, he stood before Brina and Oisin. Conn smiled at the Aebeling.

‘Brina, is there nothing else you haven’t told me?’

She laughed. ‘No, I think all our secrets are out in the open now. Not that they were secrets. Just answers to questions you didn’t ask.’

‘That doesn’t fill me with confidence.’

As he turned to go, Oisin came forward and hugged him. ‘Thank you’ was all she said, but her smile said everything else.

Elva and Derryth left them at the border of Halani, and they travelled first to Tabae where Conn joined the Eaorl on his annual pilgrimage to Lykiak. He travelled alone this time – Allowena was still in Atrak with Sileas, and Daray was sent direct to Abela to re-join the cavalry.

In the Cotlif, Conn and Octa whet their separate ways, until a page came and found him with Osdred in the modernized and revitalized river docks. Conn followed with the boy back to the keep, and as he walked, he had the feeling that he was being watched, but was unable to see his pursuer. Thinking it must have been his imagination, he continued his journey. Inside Octa looked up as he arrived.

‘Have you heard?’

‘Heard what exactly?’ Conn liked to have the news before everyone else, so it immediately annoyed him that he didn’t know.

‘About Silekia – the Healdend of Silekia has been assassinated. We just received a message from Sabatah. It happened six weeks ago.’

‘Do we know where and how?’ Conn didn’t have a functioning pigeon post with Silekiak yet.

‘In Silekia – apparently he was patrolling behind the wall near Gelah. His fyrd were all killed.’

‘Did they name the killers?’ Conn asked; though he had some ideas already.

‘No – they don’t know.’

‘I think I do.’

Octa shook his head. ‘No, the Rakians would never be so foolish….and why would they send assassins to murder a neighboring Healdend? It could result in war.’

‘The assassins weren’t Rakians.’

‘Who then?’ Octa was confused.

‘Who could they send that wouldn’t end in war?’ Conn asked rhetorically, ‘who gives them plausible deniability...’

‘I don’t know what you mean…’

Conn made his suggestion.

‘Ancuman! Ancuman assassinated the Silekian Healdend? I didn’t even know that there were any Ancuman in Meshech. They were expelled hundreds of years ago. Why would you even think that?’

The Twacuman weren’t the only ones surprised with the news. ‘When I was in Tegeste…’

Octa interrupted. ‘You were in Tegeste? I don’t believe that you mentioned that when you told me about the rescue of Bettia and the Twacuman girl.’

‘I may have overlooked it.’ Conn gave him to full version of events. He had left a fair bit out before.

Octa was dumbfounded. ‘You in fact left quite a lot out. So, let me get this right – after you had entered Tegeste like a thief in the night to rob a Rakian slaver of his prize – and Ryals – you happened to overhear that the Ancuman in Rakia were always in the market for Twacuman girls. You also didn’t mention that you killed over fifty Rakian wiga.’

‘That was their silly own fault; they attacked me first. Anyway, that is the only plausible explanation. Ancuman went by boat into Silekia and waited until they assassinated the Healdend. Rakian hands would have been clean – if it hadn’t worked. But it did, so no one is to know.’

Octa said that he would discuss it with the Witan in the morning. Conn suggested sending military aid – but, without an Aebeling, there was little Lykia would do. He was already sending supplies to keep them fed and resourced by they were prisoners behind their walls. It was not satisfactory. As for leadership, Conn knew that the last one standing was the daughter of the last Healdend; he wondered what would happen if they killed her as well.

Still uneasy about the earlier incident, Conn decided to go for a walk. He was curious to see if there was still someone watching him. Conn wandering through the market place; now fully paved and drained, looking at the many products for sale that had been produced by his “factories”. It didn’t take long before he knew that he was correct. The person was remarkably good as it took Conn a long time to drop the tail and then discover the follower.

When finally the roles were reversed, Conn finally identified his opponent; and was surprisingly to learn that it was a young woman; small framed and well hidden in a long black cloak, her hair and face hidden in the shadows of the cowl.

It took a while for her to realize that he was gone, and she decided to leave her hiding place; this time he followed her, and to his further surprise she headed for the Cirice. The exterior walls had wooden doors and locks – personally built by him. It didn’t stop her though – after making sure that no one saw her, she walked up to the door, pushed it open and walked in. When Conn did the same, it wouldn’t open, so he had to retrieve the key from his pouch and open the door. He closed and locked it silently behind him.

No one had been in the enclosure since it had been restored the previous year. Conn didn’t know where the girl had gone but decided to try the Cirice first. As he got closer, he could hear a voice; there must be more than one.

He walked into the building and looked around the corner into the Cella – she was definitely a young woman – she had taken off her cloak and was dressed in a light blue Chiton styled gown; sheer and form fitting, and it the blue light it was almost transparent. Even from a distance he could see that this was no girl. She was facing the naked statue of Babh; the light blue haze filling the room from the gem in her hand. It flared suddenly and the woman spun around, looking in Conn’s direction.

‘Who’s there – and what are you doing here uninvited?’ The voice wasn’t frightened. It was forthright and demanding. Conn stepped forward. She looked surprised. ‘You! How did you get in here? No one can enter a Cirice without permission…’

Conn held up the key. ‘I have this … does that make a difference?’ He stepped forward into the room, closing the gap between him and the woman. ‘Beside, I was responsible for this place…’

She bowed ever so slightly. ‘We are grateful for your assistance. We didn’t understand how a Priecuman could replace the haligdom –but you are not a normal Priecuman are you?’

‘I think I’m normal. So who are you and why were you following me?’

It took a moment before she answered.

‘My name is Morna, and I am one of Badb’s Folgere. I have been sent by Badb to visit the Cirice and see why it was open again – and to see what kind of person was able to do it unaided by Folgere.’

‘Where did you come from?’ Conn asked.

‘I serve in the Cirice in Moetiak. I arrived in the dark last night.’

‘And you slept here?’

‘Yes; it has been most comfortable. Thank you again.’

‘I don’t understand why you have been hiding in the shadows – you could have come to see me at the Inn.’

She shook her head. ‘No, I have come in secret. The Folgere can only come here if there is an Aebeling, and there is no Aebeling yet. Are you going to report me to the Metgiend?’

Conn shook his head and smiled. ‘No, your secret is safe with me. So what have you learnt?’

‘I have discovered that Lykia has a Thane who is not Lykian – not even a Meshechian. He is spoken of in respect and awe – and not a little fear and awe, and seems to be involved in some way in nearly everything around the cotlif.’ She looked up and down at him. ‘All very curious.’

Conn contemplated her curiosity and decided that there was nothing to be gained in explaining more. He had his own questions. ‘What can you tell me about your Gyden? All I know is their names and that there are four.’

When he first arrived in Lykiak, the Cirice provided him with an annoying ring in his head. With the replacement of the Haligdom, that went to a heavy silence. Today it was completely different. It was like there was a third person in the room just out of sight.

She looked confused. ‘Do you not have Gyden in your homeland?’

Conn shook his head ‘Not ones like these…’

‘How very sad for you. To be so close to the Gyden is one of life’s greatest joys. I felt honored to be chosen as a Folgere. Here in the Cirice, I can feel her, talk to her, she is my friend, my lover, and guide. She sustains me.’

The feeling that someone else was there bothered Conn and he suddenly remembered a game his mother and he used to play – where she would pretend to read his mind; telling him to stop her from doing so. Sometimes she would congratulate him and tell him how well he was doing and that she couldn’t read his mind any more. But it was just a game. Nonetheless, Conn concentrated and searched for the thing she told him that allowed him to open and shut his mind – whatever that meant. He remembered doing it to stop him mind exploding with adrenalin when he replaced the Haligdom.

Reopening the door, he immediately felt the presence of something in his mind – followed by another flush of adrenalin. The rush made him shut it down again. He shook his head to clear it – and saw the shock on the woman’s face.

Her response was sharp. ‘Can you feel Badb in your mind?’

‘I felt something – was it Badb??’

She ignored his question; a look of confusion of her face. ‘Babh asks why you prevent her from looking into your mind.’

Conn released the gate again and prepared, he felt the presence of a Gyden for the first time. The first thing she did was to admonish him.

The voice rattled around his head, asking rhetorical questions. ‘Who are you? You are not one of mine and yet I can sense you. I don’t recognize you, but there is something strangely familiar about you.’

Conn was a little shocked. Having someone speak in his head was not something he was used to – so he shut her out again.

Moana admonished him. ‘Babh doesn’t like people shutting her out.’

‘Probably because it doesn’t happen very often – but I’m not so fond of people in my head either. Gyden don’t talk much in Taransay.’ He opened up his mind again and let her explore. He told her to be respectful and he sensed her annoyance and surprise at being told what to do, but after a few moments, there was a change in attitude from the Gyden; it had changed from curiosity to pure lust – mixed with curiosity.