The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (28 page)

‘This is Kalinda. She has felt the calling. She will need you later.’

Conn refocused on the knoll rather than imagining the young woman naked. ‘What’s with the knoll?

‘We have to go up there but we can’t. What is to be done?’

Conn then tried to ride up the hill but the stallion balked, so he dismounted and walked up. He had to fight hard to block out the guardstone as it pulsated its hate. The trees were old and the timber strong. Conn knew that he would never be able to cut down the tress while maintaining the mind block. It would take him years. He needed another way – and fire and explosions wouldn’t work.

He went back to the folgere and promised that he would fix the problem tomorrow but they didn’t want to leave. He had to induce them by promising to visit them that night.

‘Both of us?’

‘Both of you.’

‘Very well, we will return with you. But don’t break your promise.’

When Conn returned to the castle, he sent servants in search of a dozen oxen and extra-long ropes and chains. Then he waited, investigating the castle and its libraries and putting the terrors into all the servants. He also decided that he should speak with the ‘captives’ – the bedda of the former Aebeling – as well as the bedda of the Bretwalda at supper. The former Aebeling had three bedda – all of Axum – and it would seem four daughters. No sons. That made life easier.

He found them after supper; they were gathered in the kitchen eating. The stood respectfully as he arrived. Steinvi was sitting with them. Conn had also asked Farrun to bring Vilotta and Arna. He then did the introduction of his side.

One of the sisters responded. ‘I shall introduce everyone. I am Asvi il Jamut, the fifth bedda of the Bretwalda of Kishdah. These are Borgsyn’s three bedda – my elder sister Vila il Jamut, Kolata il Siri, and Ketilerna il Sepinu.’

‘I understand that Arna is your niece?’ Conn asked – directing the question as generally as possible.

Asvi answered the question. ‘Indeed, she is. The Folctoga was known to us as Farrun il Kinjan when he was posted to my father’s demesne of Jamut. It was quite a scandal when he eloped with my sister to Mende – deserting his duty – and stealing a bedda. Both are capital punishments.’ She walked over asked if she could hold the child. ‘She’s beautiful – just like my sweet sister.’

Conn looked at Farrun with confusion. ‘I will send a dowry payment to your father if he is still not at ease.’

‘There is no need – the Folctoga send it himself – as well as the fine for desertion of duty. My father has no outstanding claims on him. In fact, he still thinks quite highly of him.’ She took the child back to her sister and after a time returned her to Vilotta. Steinvi coaxed her over to sit with her.

The sisters Asvi and Vila were truly beautiful, even dressed in the function daily linen lehenga and choli style blouses. Conn had little difficulty in just observing them.

Asvi asked what he had planned for her and her child.

‘So are you going to ransom me and my daughter? The bedda are of course at your disposal.’

‘I wasn’t going to ransom you.’

‘Probably just as well; the Bretwalda will not pay. The Bretwalda has so many children he values none much – and certainly none of the females. The Aebeling cares more but not enough to stop a war – I’m sure you understand that the Bretwalda depends on this war. You would have better luck with my father.’

‘I will not bother your father on these matters. As for the Bretwalda, soon he will not be able to use that title – already he cannot claim control over anything other than Axum and Nobatia – and in a lunar there will only be Axum, as there will be a Healdend in Nobatia as well.’

Asvi was confused. ‘I do not understand what has happened over the last few lunars. I was told that we had an unusually serious problem with pirates and we were unable to leave as we had intended, but I did not know that Kishdah had been invaded – accept of course for the last few days.’

‘Let me tell you my last two years.’ Conn explained what had happened since he arrived in Saba – it took some time, and they drank wine and ate as they talked.

‘Extraordinary; and you have killed all those folgere… simply because they stole your daughter … and this war here is because you want to rid Axum of their folgere? That seems excessive.’

‘I hold their practises in contempt and their beliefs to be misguided. No folgere will do that to my daughters or daughters of my daughters ever.’

Asvi smiled at him. ‘Anyway, what you are saying is that you yourself are fast becoming the Bretwalda of all the Priecuman, Twacuman and Ancuman nations. Or perhaps you will call yourself Casere like in Sytha and Meshech, and they have always been bothersome creatures. You have more in common with the Bretwalda than you appreciate.’

Steinvi interrupted. ‘So my brother is in this place called Meshech while you are here? And I presume that you will go back to … do what it is that you do.’

‘After I have been to Nobatia… yes, I will return to Meshech.’

‘And you will be victorious?’

‘I do not know – but I expect so. Defending is always easier than attacking, and losing is never a good option.’

‘My brother is not going to surrender – you do know that. One of you will have to die.’

‘You are very old for someone your age.’

‘And if my father dies in battle, what then, what do you…’ she stopped and looked at the door, and she yelled out ‘Vigbert! Come in here…’ She looked at Conn. ‘He keeps avoiding me… it is so annoying!’

Vigbert came in, with a sheepish smile on his face.

Steinvi looked at her mother. ‘This is Vigbert – he was wearing the sign of Geirfrith on his … tabard thingy. He apparently is descended from Geirfrith in the male line.’

Asvi looked closely at the young man. ‘I heard rumours from my servants that the sign of Geirfrith was seen on the battlefield. My father descends from Geirfrith as well – from his daughter. Whose son are you?’

‘Dagarr il Axum.’

‘Dagarr… Dagarr – yes, I remember him – he was sent to Sytha as the entire house of Geirfrith is inevitably sent, in the hope that they die or not come back. He came back a wealthy merchant seaman – and he renounced his sword, I understand. I believe that he is now in Volci – the house of his mother. How long is it since you have seen your father?’

‘Eight years, I think. I know very little of my Axum kin.’

‘I see. I will tell you about them. You must spend an hour with me every day so that I inform you.’

‘And with me too.’ This was the first time anyone else had spoken other than Asvi. It was Kolata il Siri. ‘My father’s house is also of Geirfrith in the male line – the only one that is still a Jarl. My ancestor saved the Bretwalda’s life and he had to reward him – despite who he was. Sadly, the demesne has been diminishing in size ever since – any reason and the Bretwalda would take it away from him altogether. I fear for him now that the sign of Geirfrith has been seen.’

‘I would be honoured.’ He bowed and tried to back out of the room while the conversation moved away from him.

‘I’ve got it!’ Steinvi stood up, exclaiming loudly. She was still clutching Arna. ‘I know what it is that you are trying to do.’ She looked accusingly at Conn.

‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’

‘You want to replace my father with Vigbert.’

Conn tried to look surprised. ‘That hadn’t occurred to me.’

‘Liar!’ As soon as she said it she stopped; she clenched and closed her eyes as if waiting to be slapped. Nothing happened. She peeped through her eyes to see Conn looking at her strangely.

‘And why do you think I’m lying?’ he asked without temper.

She breathed in and out before she continued. ‘Because nothing so obvious would escape you – you seem fairly bright.’

Derryth laughed in the background.

‘Thank you, I think.’

‘And now I’m your captive, you are thinking…’ she stopped and looked shocked at the realization, and looked around the room. Vigbert had almost made it out the room. ‘Vigbert, come back here!’ She watched him come back in the room and then addressed Conn again. ‘You are thinking that if you give me to him,’ she pointed to Vigbert, who was still trying to escape, ‘as bedda, you can unite Axum after my father’s and brother’s demise. That is just too devious.’ She sat down and pouted, and then looked at Vigbert. ‘Don’t even try to leave – I’m not finished with you.’

Vigbert gave up, collected a mug of ale, and sat on a bench. Arna, to Steinvi annoyance, wriggled from her clutches, and ran over and jumped on his lap, giving him a big hug.

Conn looked at Derryth and Farrun. He shrugged. ‘That is actually a very good plan. I wish I’d thought of it. I’ll give it some consideration.’

Steinvi was sulking now. ‘Now you are being unkind. I thought you were kind.’

Conn smiled at her and she shrugged and looked away, her hands folded around her chest. Conn stood. ‘Ladies, as for your future, I will do whatever you want. Asvi, if you wish to return to Axum, you can come with me to Nobatia and I’ll arrange a ship from there to Volci or Jamut. We have sufficient Axum men to provide you with a crew. It is late – tomorrow I have to battle a Gyden and repair a Cirice. It’s going to be a very big day. Good night.’

‘All in a day’s work around here.’ Derryth added as he followed Conn out. As they left the room he asked Conn, ‘Tell me again why we need ropes and chains and oxen for? I get so easily confused.’

~oo0oo~

Conn’s night wasn’t finished – he had made promises and he sought out the two folgere. They were in a room they shared – which contained a bed they shared – a large one. Conn knocked on the door and he heard ‘Come in, Marquis – you are late. We started without you.’

‘Great.’

An hour or so later he returned to his room. Outside sat one of his Twacuman guards and an Axum servant. The guard pointed to the girl. ‘She has a message for you.’

She stood and bowed. ‘My mistress Vila has requested that you come to her rooms.’

‘Now? It is very late…’

‘Now, if you would be so kind…’

It seemed strange that the widow of the Aebeling of Alwa would want to see him so late, but he followed anyway. She was still in her former quarters on the top level, a maze of rooms reserved for the Aebeling and his bedda. The servant asked Conn to wait, and she went in. She returned, opened the door for him, and went outside.

Inside, the room was lit by far too few candles. He overcame his urge to reach for a switch. As his eyes acclimatized, he saw that the widow stand and come towards him. She was now dressed only in a shawl, and fully dressed, she was gorgeous. With so little on, she even improved.

She stood a yard from him before she spoke. ‘You know that bedda are always part of the booty of the vanquisher.’ She dropped her shawl, and she was now naked. ‘It seems that you are a man who will not take his spoils by force, so I am inviting you into my bed.’

Conn didn’t need a second invitation.

~oo0oo~

The next morning, surprisingly energetic, he ate a hearty breakfast as everyone reported on the progress of their tasks. Everyone one of his children had their skills, in which they were trained and that they used to effect change in some area. Steinvi sat and watched as objectives were issued and tasks determined.

As he was preparing to leave, Steinvi asked. ‘How come I don’t have a task?’

‘Do you have a skill or a knowledge that you can share with others?’

‘Not that I know of. Perhaps I can learn one?’

‘Perhaps. Why don’t you go with Vigbert today as he goes around the town?’ Conn stopped as Vigbert choked on his soup – miso soup, which he ate with rice and grilled fish. ‘His task is to learn as much as he can about anything and everything – ask a few questions and do a lot of listening. And write me a report. Can you do that?’

‘That doesn’t seem too hard. Anyway, if Vigbert can do it – I can.’

~o00o~

By the time Conn arrived at the bottom of the knoll, a hundred men and a dozen oxen were waiting. He spent some time in getting them organized into a proper tandem team and he then pulled a rope up the hill and looped it around the base of a tree that sat on the edge of the solid clump. The guardstone that occupied the knoll was curious but had yet to attack. It would soon, and he prepared himself for the onslaught.

Back down the hill he joined up the rope to the team and the Ox Master was given instructions to commence pulling. As soon as the tension hit the rope, he could feel the guardstone stir – but everyone was too far away to feel it – except the horses. They neighed and carried on. Conn ordered them to be taken further away. The oxen continued to pull and the tree slowly toppled; it did not rely on deep roots to stay where it was – that was its weakness. Out of the ground, the oxen pulled it down the hill to the bottom – its long branches breaking and snapping as it came away from the hilltop. As soon as it hit the bottom, axemen went to work; Conn had over a dozen waiting, and they were to create a pyre of the wood and burn it all. It was all tainted.

Conn returned up the hill with the rope to attack the next tree. A gaping hole had been created and there were surprising few trees – just a lot of intertwining branches. This time the guardstone knew what he wanted and attacked over and over again. The next tree fell, and the next, and by the fourth time, Conn could see the structure. One more tree and he would be able to enter the stone building. It was very similar to the Cirice in Meshech and Sytha – but unlike any other in Kishdah. He wondered what that meant.