The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) (14 page)

Something that Conn had never considered before suddenly popped up in his mind. ‘No, nothing like that. But I’d like to know where Tabiti’s heart-stone is.’ It was the last one.

Conn had extensive experience in surprising Healdend, but limited experience in surprising Gyden, and Lilith was definitely surprised. So much so that she actually dimmed. ‘That is a strange request, Feorhhyrde, and I hope you know what the consequences of knowing are. Remember my warning about curiosity.’ She paused for moments. ‘There is great danger in searching for it.’

‘I understand.’ Her answer confirmed that it hadn’t been destroyed.

‘Very well, I will tell you when you need to know. Goodbye Feorhhyrde, I would say that I had hoped to understand you more now than before, but I don’t. Events continue to surprise me, and I’m almost too old for surprises. I will of course meet you again when you fornicate with my Folgere. Remember to spend your time equally amongst them; it will not do to make them jealous.’

With one last look of bemusement at Conn, she turned, and walked out the tunnel; the Folgere bowed low as she passed, and then burst into tears as she disappeared out of the archway.

After a while, they collected themselves, and exited the Cirice. Conn had one of his staff escort the Folgere, after they had recovered, to their renovated quarters. They each kissed him before they left. After watching them leave, he turned back to see Halla standing in front of him. She was still crying and he drew her in and held her close.

All she said was ‘Why?’

‘Because I had to try. I’m going to miss you, Halla, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, because it means that you must leave me. But you did say that I couldn’t… so you were wrong there – and I couldn’t have our children born knowing that I didn’t try to free you when I had the one chance to do so.’ He kissed her forehead as she bawled. ‘And we have a son. Now that is something else to consider.’

Behind Halla, Conn could see Jofrid and all the Valkeri that had arrived and were standing in a group; they were all crying.

Conn separated himself from Halla and indicated to them. ‘Your other family is waiting for you. And your mother needs you – you should go to her as soon as you can.’ Torn, she pulled away, and went to them. She joined in their tears, as she was the next Aebeling, and she was going home. Jofrid, whose position she had just reclaimed, didn’t seem upset at all.

He walked past Derryth, who was also crying.

‘What are you crying for?’ Conn asked. He looked up, and then noted that everyone else was crying too.

‘It is not every day that you see a Gyden.’

‘I need coffee’, Conn said, ‘Gyden, I’d like a double espresso! All this emotion is getting to me.’

‘Coffee is a very good idea.’ Derryth walked with him, wiping his eyes. ‘Did you notice that Lilith says all the same things about you that I do? I knew I was right.’

Conn laughed. ‘Oh, shut up.’

Jofrid prepared to depart as soon as they could – Sibbe would want to see her daughter and grandchildren, and Conn farewelled them on the dock. Jofrid hugged him first and then Halla—it took her some time to let him go.

Conn gave her a final kiss. ‘It is all good – I’ll see you again soon.’

‘But it will never be the same again, will it?’

‘I never say never.’

Halla had one last thing to do before she left.

She brought over the tall Valkeri that Conn had imagined naked in the Cirice, and introduced her. ‘This is Torunn – I am leaving her with you.’

Conn was surprised. ‘Why exactly… unless…’

Halla looked scornfully at him. ‘No, you cannot fornicate with her – until her mission is over. I don’t know when that will be. You need a bodyguard.’

‘Hey – what about me?’ Derryth was not amused in a Derryth kind of way.

‘You get distracted – and sometimes have to leave. The Eaorl needs someone who is always around. Anyway, I insist – please let me do this.’

Conn conceded and Torunn stayed at his side as the small ship headed out to sea. After the vessel left, the three of them headed back to the donjon; a magnificent building that had just had the final renovations completed – all they had to add were fireplaces, chimneys, sewerage and running water; things that didn’t exist when it was constructed. Inside in the great hall, they joined in a feast that lasted two days. Aisly showed her appreciation ‘several times’, as did the Folgere, before the Wealdend and the Aebeling finally returned home.

Some weeks later, Conn stood at the docks as the latest topsail schooner glided into the harbor; spotted earlier that morning, it was returning from Trokia. Njil was the captain of the vessel and his men skilfully eased it in and secured it to the dock. Immediately men started to unload cargo. Njil came to see him as soon as he was able.

‘Good to see you back in one piece, Njil; how was the trip?’ They walked back to the donjon where Derryth was waiting for them.

‘Excellent, Eaorl, she sails like a dream – there is not a thing on the water that can touch her. And the harbors are good. Abrecan was happy with what we delivered; and we fully loaded now – and we will reload with salted fish and stone for Kania. The Aebeling of Kania has a sudden desire to build a stone castle.’

The trading network that Conn was continuing to develop was extensive; his and other ships carried grains, meats, glassware, leather products, hides, marble, oils, perfumes, dye, silk, timber, wine, lead, wool, textiles, pottery, papyrus, honey, hemp, linen, fish, timber, metals, horses, salt, precious stones, fruits (dates, figs, citrus, bananas), herbs, spices, amber, wax, pitch, cotton, cheeses to and from all the harbors in eastern Meshech – and now also Gatina. From the harbors extensive horse or mule trains distributed or collected the goods from the Eaorldoms. Trade also went into Rakia via Jory and his clandestine network. Nearly every single item was either transported by Conn’s ships, taxed via his harbors, sold via his agents or stores or financed and insured by the MFIC. Conn had emulated the zaibatsu concept very successfully, if surreptitiously. Only very few people knew the extent of his reach and every new demesne extended his production capacity. However, he had ensured that by paying tax and excise duties, and spending large amounts on infrastructure such as roads and harbors, every demesne and every Eaorl profited. He just profited more.

‘There is a slight change of plan – I have another ship coming to collect your cargo.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘Gatinak.’

‘Gatinak?’ This was almost yelled out by two different people – Derryth and Fiona. Njil and Conn looked at them both.

Derryth was excited. ‘Finally – we get to do something – if I have one more tankard of beer, I’ll never want another – and that cannot be a good thing.’

Fiona was shocked. Conn hadn’t mentioned it. ‘Why are we going to Gatinak? You are not the most popular person in Gatinak…’

‘The Thane demesne of Gambi. I’d like to go and have a look at it ... and see if your cousin is doing a good job?’

Given the politics of the situation, Conn had asked Fiona to nominate a Reeve for the demesne and she has selected a relative from her mother’s side of the family – the Himera family – Eion il Himera. Fiona’s mother’s brother was Dominic, the current Eaorl of Himera.

‘Are you sure that is all – nothing is every that simple with you?’

Derryth agreed. ‘True, he can be very devious and cunning.’

Njil watched the banter with a smile and turned back to Conn.

‘When do we leave?’

‘As soon as the cargo is transferred. A week at most. And Derryth – you don’t get to come with me – just yet. I need you to do something else first. I have a ship ready to take you to Dor with your horses.’

Derryth shrugged. ‘I don’t mind – at least I’m doing something.’

With instructions in hand, Njil prepared for the voyage and within the week he was ready. Conn stood on the deck with Fiona and Torunn and waved at those that were there to see them go – which wasn’t many. Derryth had left the day before; his new Harbor Master – one of his Silekians trained in Atrak – was there to take care of things until his return.

Njil was giving instructions as the vessel glided its way out of the harbour and into the open sea.

‘First stop Cyme?’ he asked.

‘First stop Cyme, then Trokiak and then Gatinak.’

As he sat on the deck of the schooner, Conn was reminded of the summer he spent on almost an exact replica of this ship, sailing the Atlantic, another sea a long way away. It too was made by hand; it was his prototype for this very vessel.

In under two days they were in Cyme; pigeon post had told him that Sibbe had passed and that Halla was now Aebeling. She had arrived in time to see her mother. It was one season since he had seen Halla and she already looked different – being Aebeling had taken away the embarrassment of being a Theow. That being said, she didn’t look any older.

It was after dinner and there was a pleasant but serious discussion about which of them would fornicate with Conn first that night. To Jofrid’s chagrin Halla was pulling rank. Conn interrupted.

‘I have another request.’

They shook their heads. ‘No, we cannot – we are cousins – we can’t both share a bed with you.’

‘I have a friend that I can bring, though.’ Jofrid offered. ‘You would enjoy her – I know I do…’

‘Not that – as appealing as that is for me – I would like Jofrid to move to Kadash.’

Halla looked at Jofrid. She was surprised. ‘Kadash – why do you want me to move to Kadash?’

‘I want you to govern the demesne for our daughter – she is to be the heir.’

The six sisters were playing on the floor together. Conn picked up Jofrid’s eldest – by five minutes – Fidelma. She giggled as she cuddled into her father.

‘I will be nominating Fidelma as my heir to Kuita – I’m going to get it renamed the Earldom of Kadash when I visit Trokia next week. I think her mother should be there to guide her along the way. I will have you officially nominated as Regent should something happen to me.’

The cousins looked at each other. ‘Won’t that make me a vow breaker?’

‘Hardly, I will be paying for a company of Valkeri to help you guard my town. Just business.’

When Conn left the next morning, everyone was happy – in more ways than one. Jofrid, as happy as she was to have Halla back as Aebeling, couldn’t always hide her disappointment about no longer being the Aebeling; now she could move on. Conn was happy too, when Jofrid visited him later in the evening, she took her friend with her.

In Trokiak, Aisly was not as happy as she could have been – she was pregnant again but that is what you get if you want to show your appreciation the way she insisted on showing it. Having your first real connection to your Gyden also makes you throw caution to the wind. Still, she was assured by Lilith that it wasn’t twins, so that was something at least.

As well as attending meetings of the Witan, Conn had a meeting planned with the Master of the Books – Immin, the Chief Librarian, and he found him with a collection of ancient scrolls on his desk – as well as a few new codex.

He stood and bowed in respect. ‘Ah, Eaorl, thank you for coming – you could of sent for me…’

‘I was wondering how the transcribing was going?’ Conn was paying for the copying of all scrolls into codex in Trokia as well.

Immin showed him around for some time—dozens of bocere were hard at work coping from scrolls to the codex, and doing it three times so that there were several copies of each. One was being sent to the castle at Atrak, where Conn’s own bocere were creating the largest library in Meshech. It already had a copy of every known work in Lycia, and was part the way though the scrolls in the libraries of Moesia and Silekia.

Later Conn joined Immin back at his desk. The librarian busily searched his desk for documents. ‘Now, you wanted to know about the events that led to the Aebelings becoming Healdends, during the War of Liberation, as it is sometimes called?’

Conn nodded. ‘I do – I know that in 562 there was a rebellion – the Aebelings of Trokia, Moetia and Gatina threatened to go to war against the Casere Goibniu. I also know that Goibniu resigned as Casere and they all went away happy. I don’t know why – or how – or where.’

‘Well, your query became very interesting because not long after we started looking we found an ancient scroll – it is called the “The Confession of Leachlainn”.

‘Wasn’t Leachlainn part of the rebellion – is it not a strange title? Wasn’t he considered a hero?’

‘By all except himself it seems. Let me read it to you.’ Immin opened the scroll part the way through. It was old and damaged in places. It was not before time that it was being copied. He started reading.

‘My people, there will never be a true account of the sad events that led to the creation of the four current demesne in Meshech. Others will write only of the triumph of the three Aebelings against a despotic Casere; of the triumph of men of virtue over a man of greed – but it cannot be farther from the truth. The new Healdend will write how they were gallant and virtuous in the face of deceit and ambition. But history is written by those that can. None will write of the betrayal by many against one; about the false voice that drove sane men to do the unthinkable and how fair counsel was ignored to the peril of an entire people. None will write of the torment felt by many when the false voice was discovered. None will celebrate the true sacrifice of one to save not just his but all people of Meshech. None will condemn me for my blind ambition and betrayal of these same people. Nowhere will it be written that our actions caused the demise of all Meshech; that good counsel was ignored by all except the Casere who sacrificed himself so that fateful day will be put off and that Meshech may rise again. What was done, can’t be undone. I have no choice but write a true history, so that I may find peace, but it has eluded me. I die a condemned man for my part in the destruction of my people because …

Immin stopped reading and looked to Conn; ‘That is all that we have been able to save. The rest is dust. Without your request, this scroll would never have been discovered. I have been in this library for thirty years and I have never seen it before.’

‘Well, it kind of stops at the most important part, which is kind of annoying…is there much more on these events?’

Immin fumbled for another book; it was a new codex. On the cover was the title “The Glorious History of Trokia”.

‘We have just finished this volume. It contradicts itself many times, but it has some good information.’ Immin scanned through the pages. ‘Here – it says that Aebelings of Trokia, Rakia and Moetia met with the Casere in the grounds of the Donjon in Mylae.’ He looked at Conn curiously, ‘I have not heard of a Great Donjon in Mylae.’

Conn agreed. ‘Neither have I. Wasn’t Mylae part of Silekia?’

‘Indeed it was – in fact four Ratakian Eaorldoms – Lipara, Mylae, Soloes, and Ilissus – were part of the Silekia until the Rakian- Silekian War of 633.The Eaorl of Rakia was wealthy and powerful enough to convince his brother Eaorls to join him in his invasion of Silekia.’ Immin scanned pages. ‘It says he had a Fyrd of a thousand mercenaries from Kishdah.’ He went through more pages. ‘I don’t even know where Kishdah is…’

‘They are Ancuman – Kishdah is their home.’ Conn had heard the term twice before – once from Elddis and once from Sibbe. ‘But that is sixty years later – how is that connected to 562?’

‘It makes sense to me now – the Eaorl of Rakia was Ancuman – or at least the first Eaorl was.’

Conn knew that there was Ancuman blood throughout the Noble families of Meshech – in fact most of the problems were linked to Ancuman involvement. Given that they were expelled by Sherric in the 360s, they were somehow back in the 560s. Someone had decided not to learn from history.

‘How did he get to be an Eaorl?’

‘I know that – it says here that “
The Aebeling of Gatina was steadfast in his refusal to accept the demands of the Casere and together with his Kishdah counsel he promised rebellion and called his Eaorls to arms. Only the actions of Trokia achieved resolution without the shedding of blood. The Gatinan counsel was rewarded with the new Eaorldom of Rakia and a daughter of Gatina for his efforts”.
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