The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (46 page)

The altar was a large slab of marble with four legs – carved images of a naked Gyden on the relief carvings that adorned all sides. In the centre of the surface of the altar was an oval cutting – a space for the haligdom. Amid the chanting and as it increased in fervour and intensity, Conn unceremoniously placed the back stone in the cavity. Almost instantaneously the stone drew it in, like a suction, until it was totally imbedded into the marble. As it did, a band of grey smoke rose from the stone and flew around the room to intertwine itself between the folgere, and to extinguish all lamps in the room. In furious rapture each of the folgere cried out in ecstasy as the smoke glided over their naked bodies until it completed the circle and returned to the stone. It then shone a white glow, filling the room with enough light to replace the need of the lamps.

When Conn returned to the hall below, Derryth asked how it went.

‘Well enough. They are all happy. I have no love for Ashtoreth so all of this is still very strange for me.’

The next day, the folgere all stood in attendance as Vigbert was formally crowned as Healdend; Disetha placed a gold Torc around his neck in a very similar ceremony to all those that he had previously seen. The ceremony was followed by a feast that lasted for two days – whatever their affiliations, they were all happy to get rid of the male folgere – and the herd of girls running around gaily with their necklaces and black gowns didn’t seem as near as malicious.

‘They may seem not’, Conn advised Vigbert, ‘but only because their victims are willing. The problem for the male folgere was that the victims were not. They are still folgere.’

The Witan convened soon after the ceremony to determine the division of the ‘spoils’. Conn attended for the first day to keep things measured. On the first day, there were many Geirfrith who urged Vigbert to remove the Farstein from all their demesnes. The more vocal received a visit by Conn late at night with Derryth, who explained how he thought that any lobbying of the Healdend was an unhealthy idea. The Witan was thus surprisingly cordial – with a lot of people surprisingly agreeing with the decisions of the Healdend.

That being said, they were people lobbying everywhere. Steinvi lobbied Conn and Vigbert on behalf of her half-brother; Farolfur’s only surviving grandson, and they managed to find a Jarl demesne for him.

Lucky for them, the Healdend had as part of his demesne, the lands of a many Jarls who had lost everything by disagreeing with the Bretwalda. Traitors were easy to find if you look hard enough. Farolfur had been Jarl of seven different demesnes and with the recent vacancies, there was plenty to go around.

Conn took none himself – thought he ensured that Asvi had Hazor confirmed upon her. Dagarr didn’t want a demesne so Conn arranged that he take Asvi as his bedda. She may be pregnant because it had taken more than a few days to “give” her away.

Dagarr was also appointed Vigbert heir for the intermediate period anyway, as Vigbert had yet to have a child with Steinvi, though the young girl seems to think that she was with child. She was delighted when Disetha confirmed it.

As for the rest on Conn’s possible spoils as victor, he took little. He really had no need anymore – though he did raid the libraries of the capital and send copies – or originals – to Aeaea. He promised to return them after they had been copied. As for the dozen plus bedda that he inherited, he released with dowries. Conn was not even interested to “sampling” them before doing so. He had Halla.

With the departure of all of the wiga from the Southern isles and their Healdends, Conn prepared to leave. It had been hard saying farewell to them all. When Farrun left, he asked that she take Tihild with him. He explained to her that he was going to go back to Aeaea, and that she should stay with her brother. She was sad but happy to do that.

Farrun understood as Conn saw him board the schooner to return to Nobatia. Conn had given him one.

‘You will not be back, will you?’

‘I very much doubt it. Take care of your sister for me. I’m sorry that I have not been a good father to either of you, and you certainly don’t need me to interfere anymore. I think I’ve done enough damage; even if it is for the right reasons.’

Farrun hugged him. ‘Farewell father.’ It was the first time he had ever acknowledged him as such.

Conn’s voice broke just a little. ‘Farewell son.’

His own departure was more emotional. Disetha cried. Steinvi bawled. Vigbert wiped tears from his eyes but tried to stay stoic. He was Healdend.

The young girl struggled to speak as Conn wiped the tears from her face. ‘Even though you are a very strange man, I’m going to miss you’.

Chapter 22
The Chancellor of Aeaea

They arrived back in Aeaea as summer ended, twenty-six years after his arrival in Meshech, and it was days before he ventured out of the castle. He felt tired, and of all his bedda, Halla was the last one standing. He stroked her hair as they lay naked on his bead.

She looked at him, concerned. ‘You don’t seem yourself anymore.’

‘I’m fine. Just tired.’

‘Have you finished the writing you started – what did you call it? A journal?

Conn decided to complete his history of everything – he had been working it every year since he arrived, every winter, and he had kept the pages secretly hidden in Kadash. It had been reunited with him in Aeaea, and he wanted it up to date. He wanted to called it “To There and Back Again”, but decided that was a bit clichéd.

‘I have – and Njil is leaving today. I’m going to miss him.’

Sir Njil had reloaded and was headed back to Kadash. The previous day, he had informed Conn of his plans.

~oo0oo~

‘Conn, I think it is time I retired for a while. I’m getting too old for all of this traveling.’

‘You and me both, old friend. If you do come back this way, this is where I’ll be.’

Njil nodded. ‘I doubt that I will … but thank you… for everything.’ His words started to fail him.

Conn hugged him. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you. We both know that. I couldn’t have done it without so many people. Farewell old friend.’

With Njil gone, Conn arranged a meeting. He told everyone of his plans for Aeaea – that it would independent of everywhere –with the title of Chancellor. It was a new title but it reflected what he wanted to Aeaea – a centre of learning for all of the tribes. He had already made plans for his teachers from Atrak to move to Aeaea. With twenty years of experience, they were suited to create something special in Aeaea.

He proposed a Witan of Elders from the nine clans and Chancellor. He told everyone that he wasn’t going to be the Chancellor. They didn’t seem surprised. Instead he was.

‘Of course.’ Caewyn nodded. ‘Jowan is perfect for the role.’

‘Jowan? I thought it should be you.’

She shook her head. ‘No, he is the logical Chancellor – we Twacuman are not so inclined for fancy titles – I don’t even know what that one means. But you want this as a place for all the tribes – and he is already two of them. He is of the future. I am of the past.’

Conn nodded. ‘I understand. So Jowan will be Chancellor.’

She shook her head. ‘He is also the Aebeling of Piada – so you need to swap the demesne so all his people can come here to support him.’

‘The Twacuman in Piada don’t want to stay there? It is their home.’

‘No, it is time Piada went back to the Priecuman. Most of our people will come here, and we will send some of our girls to Iladion as bedda. All nine tribes will be reunited.’

The Witan agreed whole heartedly to the exchange and he and Jowan symbolical handed over title and responsibility to each other’s demesne. That being completed, Allynne, Wothbora of Piada, stood and addressed the Witan. She was one of many from Piada who had travelled with Caewyn.

‘I would like to remind you all of an old story because today we can see an end and a beginning.’ She turned at faced Conn, as he sat in the circle. ‘It is the story of our three tribes. Many life cycles ago, the Twacuman lived together on a great land. They lived and served the Gyden who we now call Asherah. All was well until the skies went black and the oceans rose. The land changed – what was once a big land became many lands. This was the first flooding. In time the Gyden sent her children over the oceans to find new homes as theirs became over crowded. Our ancestors prospered in these new lands but the Gyden was unhappy as she could not lead her children everywhere so she became three – she joined with man and had twin daughters. Their names became Ishtar and Ashtoreth here. One of her daughters however did not do everything their mother expected. In Kishdah, Ashtoreth created a new tribe, the Ancuman and this tribe flourished under her care, and they soon dominated and enslaved the Twacuman, with whom they could not create children. Asherah was not happy with what Ashtoreth had done so she created another tribe – the Priecuman – as one that rise to protect the Twacuman. She made them the responsibility of Ishtar. However, after another great shaking of the earth, the great ice mountains of the north turned to water and flooded the lands of all the tribes. They became smaller and some disappeared or became separated by vast distances. This was the second flooding. With the years of flooding, darkness filled the skies and many people, including many of the Twacuman, perished. Many of those that survived did so because they found new homes across the seas, in a place that we call Sytha. It was the Priecuman who went in search of new lands while the Ancuman and Twacuman stayed – the Ancuman now had individual lands instead of one great land, and the Ancuman clans appeared. The Twacuman were only to be found on Aeaea or Neritum. Many cycles after this time, the Ancuman sailed the oceans again and arrived here in Aeaea – where they enslaved all the inhabitants and moved them to Kishdah – and later to Neritum, where thy tried to do that same. Warned, many Twacuman made a journey over the seas themselves and found Meshech. It was a hazardous journey they did it because their Gyden asked them to do, and she led them.’

She stood and moved around the room looking and smiling at all those that were not Twacuman. She continued her story. ‘They went to continue to search for peace. After this time, the Ancuman found their way to Sytha where they found Priecuman for the first times, and sought to enslave them. They are not the same as Twacuman and they resisted – and ultimately their plans were thwarted by the rise of a great warrior who became known as the Casere. After the Ancuman were defeated, they returned home, and before long there was more flooding and the skies darkened for many cycles and again many died and much land was lost. When the Ancuman finally sailed again they found Meshech and sought to enslave its people. A great leader of the Twacuman, Kolmar of Halani, leaves Meshech and finds Sytha and the Iladions and recruits an army of Priecuman. These Priecuman, under the leadership of Osstan the second Casere, move to Meshech, leaving his kin and his homeland behind, and his descendants are able to expel the Ancuman from Meshech. A peace of sorts is created but this is followed by more darkening of the skies and raising of the oceans, and Meshech is soon invaded by more tribes of Priecuman from the west who are in search of a home. Despite their defeats, The Ancuman have started to understand their Priecuman foe better – for they are more like them than they expected – power, glory, wealth, and fornication. Desire is their greatest weakness. United, the Priecuman are stronger than the Ancuman, but divided they are their own enemies, so for the next three hundred cycles, peace between the tribes has been thwarted by the Ancuman playing to their weakness. It is only with the return of another great hero’ she smiled at Conn, ‘that we have finally seen all three tribes united in peace, and we have seen the return of our home to us.’

‘Peace is an illusion.’ Conn warned.

Alans was standing behind Jowan in the circle. ‘Yes, that is true. However, the greatest guardian of peace are your children, and as the Chancellor who rules at the crossroads of all the tribes, we need to do something about Jowan and his present state of matrimony.’

Conn looked at Jowan and Jowan looked back. ‘I have no idea.’

Caewyn joined the conversation. ‘As Chancellor, we feel it fitting that he have bedda from all the three tribes.’

‘That might be harder than it sounds.’ Conn offered. ‘I don’t think that we can entice anything other than Ancuman theow to be his bedda and you know my position on that…’

‘I’ll do it.’ Everyone looked to the voice from the side of the room. It was Vila’s daughter Fareitha. He had forgotten about her. When they had returned to Aeaea at the beginning of spring, she had requested to stay with Beowen and Caewyn instead of going to Axum. Strangely her mother had agreed. He understood why now.

Fareitha walked forward and gave her age – she had just turned seventeen – and name and ancestry. She said that she would be happy to become Jowan’s bedda from the Ancuman nations. ‘My father is dead and I have no dowry as is demanded to be bedda, so I offer myself as theow – but willingly.’

Conn stood. ‘Fareitha – that will not be necessary. I will act as your father in these negotiations and will provide your dowry.’

Caewyn nodded and looked to Jowan. ‘Do you accept her offer to be your bedda?’

Jowan stood. ‘I am overwhelmed with the generosity of her sacrifice and accept her offer.’ He bowed at her and she bowed back.

The Witan had little time to digest this turn of events before another came forward. It was Kalwitha. She had remained as the medic caring for Jowan’s children.

She stood and spoke. ‘I offer to be his bedda from the Priecuman nations. I too am seventeen, but I a duty bound cadet in the Meshechian fyrd.’ She gave her history and ancestry, a mixture of merchant stock and the Eaorl Parlan of Gozan in Lykia.

Conn stood. ‘Kalwitha, I can release you of your pledge.’

The offer was also accepted by Jowan.

Caewyn continued. ‘As for the bedda from the Twacuman, destiny has provided Jowan with a wet-nurse for his daughters. The custom is that the wet-nurse shall become bedda if she is of suitable standing, age and temperament. Karalyn il Neritum is widowed with her own child, and she is but thirty. She has standing and age. Jowan, do you find her of suitable temperament? Will you continue your relationship with her?’

He stood. ‘I do – and I am grateful for her sacrifice so far. It has been much to ask – rearing three children.’

As he sat, Conn looked curiously at him. ‘Continue? Have you already…’

He almost blushed. ‘She is always around – and has been very obliging… and when she says “Are you sure that there is nothing else I can do for you?” – what could I do? I’m half you – I’m weak…’

‘Don’t blame me – I’m a model of restraint and self-control…’

‘Remind me how many siblings I have again? I’d say that you are more an example of a lack of self-control.’

Later that evening they formalized Jowan’s relationship with Karalyn il Neritum, while Derryth negotiate Fareitha’s dowry, and being the lousy negotiator he was, gave away a whole Thane field in Axum – which Conn didn’t even have yet, but could easily procure.

Derryth did an equally poor job negotiating a dowry for Kalwitha – he gave away an entire Earldom in Silekia – a new one, Piada.

Conn admonished him. ‘I have no idea why I get you to do these things. You are bad at it. You are supposed to look after my interests.’

Derryth feigned shock. ‘Your interests? Really – I thought it was their interests I was looking after… you could have made that clear to me before you asked me to negotiate for you. Besides, you know I don’t have any ryals sense.’

‘That is true. I haven’t seen you pay for anything in years!’

~oo0oo~

A lunar later, Caewyn came searching for Conn in the castle. She found him sitting with Halla in the library.

‘Come, I’ve organized a boat.’

‘To do what?’ Conn asked.

‘To visit some friends. It is time.’

Conn looked around the room. ‘I still have so much to do here…’

She shook her head. ‘You have done much more that it is possible to even understand. Anything else can wait. Unfortunately, this cannot.’

They followed her down to the docks, and on to a small boat. On board already were several people – Beowen, Jowan, and Derryth, as well as a Twacuman crew. It quickly eased its way out of the harbour and then headed to the island of Hamazi. At the port they were met by Aga, who waited with horses, and they made their way up the mountain as they had done one time previous. When they went as far as they could on horseback, they climbed the rest of the way on foot, until they were all standing on the ledge that overlooked the entire island.

Halla looked at the view behind them. Hamazi was the highest point in Aeaea.

‘Such a spectacular view.’

Conn drew her to him and hugged her. He didn’t say anything.

‘What’s the matter? You are scaring me.’ She looked at Caewyn but Caewyn just smiled back.

‘Nothing – wait until you see the view inside.’

Conn led, going down on hands and knees to climb from the ledge into the chamber inside; the circular cavern inside the top of a mountain. Inside Halla was stunned. The walls were in full glow from the reflected light, the faint relief sculptures that covered half the walls.

‘What is this place?’

‘This is the birthplace of the Gyden,’ Beowen explained. ‘And it is so much better since Ashtoreth has returned to her real self. It is also the only place that all of them are ever together.’

Beowen then turned to Conn. ‘You know what to do.’ It wasn’t a question.

Conn nodded and removed the diamond from his pouch. He showed it to Derryth. ‘This is the one I had and it is the very same as the one we saw in Axum. The reason that it dissolved as soon as I touched it was because I already had it. It couldn’t be in two places at the same time.’

‘You had it? Why would you have Ishtar’s haligdom?’