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

‘My grandfather died quite young, as did his father and his father before him – to the reign of Faolan. Faolan had two sons who survived him – the eldest was Earpwald – who died without children soon after he became Healdend, and his younger brother Egan then became Healdend. Egan died when my ancestor was five.’

Ana returned to Conn while Driscol got up now and walked around, collecting wine before sitting beside Conn and Derryth. ‘I mentioned that Faolan had journals that mentioned the visits of those of Halani. I recall that they also mentioned visits from Piada. He wrote that they were seafarers, and they visited all the Meshech, trading goods. There is much written about a visit – it was the last time anyone from Piada ever visited Moetia.’

‘Did something happen?’

Driscol nodded. ‘Yes – I recall that one of the Twacuman died here. A girl, I believe, who it is written was so beautiful that wherever she walked, men would follow; who would talk, and all would listen.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘My ancestor was quite eloquent in his description of her.’

Conn asked if he knew what the cause of her death was.

Driscol shook his heath. ‘Some accident I believe – but I know that a wergild was paid – a large one – so I can only assume that the accident was caused by one of the family.’ He looked to Derryth sharply. ‘And you say there is a curse?’

‘Not so much a curse; more of a warning that a reckoning needs to happen. What is obvious is that the wergild did not satisfy the debt – and there must have been dishonesty in the remorse shown.’

‘So the matter is not settled?’

Derryth considered the matter. ‘No, and for the shame to be transferred to your line then your ancestor must have shared in the guilt, and so it remains in your house.’

‘Derryth, if there is a matter to be settled – I do not know how to pay the price as I …’ Driscol paused and stood abruptly. ‘My father spoke of a jewel box – he said that it was his father’s and his father before him. He would not allow anyone to touch it – I think I only saw it once as a child and then discovered it again after I became Healdend. It had been hidden away.’ Driscol sent one of the servants for the box, and they waited for his return.

It didn’t take long for the box to return; it was in a much larger box. Driscol opened the box, removed the smaller item and handed it to Derryth. The box was beautifully handcrafted and ornate; about ten inches by five. Derryth opened the lid and peered inside – the box was empty.

‘There is nothing there – when I found it, it was the same. The box itself would appear to be made by Priecuman craeftiga – not Twacuman. I don’t even know if it is relevant.’

Ana, who was sitting on Conn’s lap again, whispered in his ear. ‘Badb says it’s in the box.’

Conn told him and Driscol picked up the box in frustration, ‘But the box is empty!’ He shook the box but there was no sound.

Conn asked to hold the box and when he held it he noticed that it didn’t balance properly, so he tried to find a centre of gravity for the box. Satisfied, he handed it back. ‘The box is uneven – one end is heavier than the other – there must be a secret compartment.’

Driscol picked up a dagger and used it to pry open the base, but there was no false bottom. What was unusual about the box was that the ends were much thicker than the sides. It was now obvious that a compartment had to be in each of the heavily adorned and carved ends.

Conn collected the box again and studied it closely. ‘There must be a hidden trap somewhere; maybe a tiny spring that keeps it closed.’

Ana was looking with him; she pointed. ‘There – there is a small hole there.’

Conn had one of the staff fetch a bamboo needle and handing the box back, Driscol used it to push into the hole. Almost instantaneously, the two ends flicked open – revealing two compartments – one at each end. Inside each was an object wrapped in cloth. Driscol relieved each object and opened one up, and then the other.

Everyone sat in silence as they looked. One was a blue haligdom; long and thin. The other was a medallion – one just like the one carried by Driscol.

Derryth broke the silence. ‘Well, that is not something you see every day.’

When Conn first arrived in Moetiak, he sensed Badb strongly as it was her demesne – but he also sensed a second “voice in head” – one he felt but she didn’t know he was listening. He had no idea who it was. He did now.

It was one of the most beautiful stones that they had ever seen; it was so perfect.

‘I think I know what this stone is,’ Conn offered, ‘It is a haligdom – from the Cirice in Silekia. It is not just any haligdom– I think it is the heart-stone – the one that belongs to Inanna.’

Driscol was astounded. ‘Why would a Gyden’s heart-stone be here?’

‘No idea. But remember that of the four main Cirices in Meshech only one is complete – here in Moetiak. The Cirice in Gatina was closed soon after the fall of the Casere and the heart-stone supposedly destroyed, while the Cirice in Trokia disappeared, and the Cirice in Silekia was simply abandoned – and no one knows where that heart-stone is. We do now.’

‘You are suggesting that the Twacuman in Piada stole it?’

Conn shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’ Conn looked at Derryth. ‘It was not the haligdom that was calling to you was it?’

Derryth agreed. ‘No – it was the medallion. It is said that they are the gift of Gyden and they do not like to away from their rightful owners.’ He studied the medal closely. ‘I know this medallion…’

‘I don’t understand…’

‘I also think I know who the girl was but I can’t explain why she had the haligdom. Let me think.’ They paused while he paused. ‘Her name was Conchobel… no it was Conchobarre. She was the younger sister of Freyotta. Freyotta was the last person to arrive in Halani from Piada. Our Healdend Ulfkarl went to find bedda in Piada as he had yet to have a child and he was getting old – even for us. When he was in Piada, he gave this necklace to Conchobarre.’

Conn was curious. ‘Why would you remember that? It doesn’t seem that important a story.’

Derryth agreed. ‘It doesn’t seem it but we never give medallions to other Twacuman – there is no need. Ulfkarl was a wise leader – his mother is also my ancestor – she was a Wothbora – and had Wilwar – who became Wothbora – and then had Ulfkarl to the Healdend. That is also unusual. It is said that Ulfkarl always said that Conchobarre had a troubled soul – and he gave her the medallion to help her. The story is told because it is the only time that a medallion was so given.’

Conn continued the story. ‘So Conchobarre somehow had the haligdom and brought it with her here to Moetiak and somehow lost both things and died...’

Derryth concurred. ‘It is clear that your ancestors were involved somehow, and it was their untruths that created your problem. They must have lied about the heart-stone and the medallion,’

Driscol took a deep breath. ‘The medallion as well?

‘Yes, it too was stolen or taken from the girl.’

‘Does this mean that it is over? That my family can now be healthy? That Alduini will get better?’

Ana interjected as she got off Conn’s lap and went to Alduini. ‘He will be fine now; Badb will take care of him.’

Looking relieved Driscol looked back at the glowing blue stone. ‘What are we going to do with the gemstone?’ He was asking Derryth.

Conn was right about the haligdom – the second voice in his head was very happy that the stone had been found – and because she didn’t think that Conn could “feel” her, she made no attempt to communicate with him. The haligdoms allowed the Gyden to communicate with her Folgere and as there were none of the blue dress wearing variety nearby, she had not expectations of being ‘felt’. Conn was more than happy to let her maintain the delusion. He didn’t try to communicate with her either – he didn’t want that Pandora Box opened.

Derryth shook his head. ‘It is not for me to say. I will claim the medallion and return it to Caewyn for it belongs to her. But the Haligdom is not mine.’

They both looked at Conn; he shrugged. ‘I’ll take it. … I have some experience with these things.’

Derryth looked at him strangely. ‘I don’t understand’.

Driscol laughed. ‘Did the Thane not tell you – he single handedly replaced all four haligdoms in the Moetian Cirice.’

Derryth looked at Conn, and laughed. ‘You didn’t tell me that. You are not supposed to attempt life endangering acts when I’m not around – I have a debt to repay. How did you do it anyway? I thought only a Gyden herself can do that…’

Driscol agreed. ‘So did I – and all the Folgere I’ve ever spoken to.’ He handed over the gemstone to Conn. ‘Take it with my warmest thanks. I’m more than happy to see the end of it. Generations of grief have been caused because of the events that surrounded this stone.’

Conn took the stone and placed it carefully in his pouch. ‘I’ll return it to Silekia when I can.’ He was not so sure he was going to enjoy having Inanna travelling around with him and looking over his shoulder all the time but what could he do.

Driscoll actually smiled. He then yelled at some servants to bring wine and food; and lots of it. It seemed that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He refused to talk again until he had drunk half a jug. He tried to cover the tears that streamed down his face but he failed. Ana went and hugged him and he held her tight.

After he had recovered, he spoke again. ‘Ok, at least that’s over. Now let’s eat. I suddenly feel famished. Then we can talk about the second puzzle – what possible reason is there for the daughter of a rebel Aebeling from Kania to be in my donjon? And as welcome as she is, I just know I am not going to like the answer.’

‘So let me get this right. You have just been to Kania where you just happened to meet Esras, Eaorl in exile and declared rebel, and you just happened to kidnap his daughter. Why were you in Kania in the first place?

Conn shrugged. ‘I got lost. Discovered some people following me and decided to ask for directions.’

‘Very funny. So why did you go and see Esras?’

‘I wanted his help on getting my Fyrd through Kania. I figure as Aebeling, he will be much more amenable to my request…

‘As Aebeling – what has the current one done to himself?’

‘Nothing yet – but I understand he has a terminal illness… and it would be appropriate to replace Gorman with Esras – or at least I’m going to help Esras defeat Gorman without too many lives lost.’

‘I knew I didn’t like it when you said ‘current’. You know Moetia can’t be involved.’ He looked at Conn suspiciously ‘You didn’t promise support from Moetia did you?’

‘No I did not, but …’

‘I knew there would be a ‘but’. ‘

‘I do need to borrow the Moetian Cavalry for a day…’

Bran, Aebeling of Moetia, and Driscol’s only son, stood and spoke. He had joined them not long after the arrival of the jewellery box – as had many others. The hall was now full.

‘Thane, if you want me to invade Kania, I’ll do it. Ignore what my father says – whatever you want me to do I will. I have never felt better in my whole life. This is the best day of my life. You have lifted a curse from my family so my sword is yours to command – and now that I might be able to swing a sword, I might need your help to get into condition.’

Tears welled in the Healdend eyes as he watched his son speak. Just thirty five years old, he had been a weak, thin and sickly child. Whilst he had improved over time, he was never able to be a Folctoga as was customary for the Aebeling. To see him sound stronger, and almost look stronger, made the Healdend’s heart break.

Driscol rubbed his eyes. ‘Do what you must, but please try not to start a war.’

He turned to Brit. ‘I’m still unsure why you are here, Brit…’

‘The Thane had me betrothed…’ She pointed to Arlen, ‘to him…’

‘Betrothed? Isn’t this a bit sudden? How old are you child?’

‘I have survived fifteen winters.’

Conn decided to interject. ‘She will make up her mind up next spring of course, but I think they seem perfect for each other! Oh, and Esras is going to make him an Eaorl as a wedding gift.’

‘What, only an Eaorl’, Driscol replied exasperatedly, ‘and which Eaorldom is he going to have?’

‘Dor. It was Brit’s mother’s, and I didn’t really warm to the current holder.’

‘I didn’t warm to him much myself – but it didn’t seem reason enough to invade Kania. It seems a little contrived to me, Brit, but if you do decide to marry my cousin, you can be assured that I will give the joining my blessing.’

‘Your cousin? I thought his father was an Eaorl?’ She again looked scornfully at Arlen; who tried to look wounded.

‘That is true, his father is my cousin – the only male cousin I have. I gather he has not told you much of his family.’ The Healdend laughed, he actually sounded happy. He then stood and raised his glass. ‘Moetians, this is a joyous day. To our guests Derryth il Halani and Brit il Kania; betrothed of Arlen il Batra.’ They drank the toast and Driscol sat. He looked at Conn and enquired ‘Now, you have no more surprises for me today, do you? I’m not sure if I can handle a third one.’

The recovery of Bram and his son was almost miraculous; every day would see an improvement. Conn elected to train Bram himself, and together they would work until Bran was exhausted. But the next day he would turn up again to go the next step. They worked tirelessly through the rest of autumn and then through winter.

At the turn of spring, he was riding and fighting better than most. Brit had also been trained daily by Halla, and over the six months had grown and developed beautifully; taller, her hair now longer, she was every much as beautiful as her mother was reported to be. Arlen, by this time was besotted, and he tried very hard to hide it. She knew that he knew that she knew, and she taunted him constantly. It was fun to watch – Derryth in particular found it most amusing.

With the arrival of spring, Conn went to farewell Aerlene who was now ‘very’ pregnant. The babies would be born in Moetiak in the Cirice, and she would stay in the town until they were healthy enough to travel. Conn apologised that he wasn’t going to be around when they were born.

Aerlene said she understood. ‘So when do you think we will see you again?’

Conn had intimated many times that he might not be back – there were no guarantees.

‘I do not know – I am uncertain how long the war will take – and I will see it out. None of us can afford to lose this one. But I hope I will be back.’ He held her close and kissed her one last time before departing.

By the time Conn arrived in Susa to join the fyrd, it was packed and ready for departure. The Gatinan fyrd was already marching, it had crossed the border in Trokia, and would have had its first battle somewhere within the Trokian Eaorldom of Ridlah.

Conn assumed that the battle would have been short and bloody – and the Gatinans would be victorious given the Rakians forces that made up a large part of their experienced wiga. After the victory they would head to Trokiak, hacking their way through the Eaorldom of Temah. With their infantry and followers in tow, that would take about ten days.

If the Troakians had followed his suggestions, most of them would have evacuated their homes and be behind the walls of Trokiak; which were considerable, and safe for the moment. Inevitably some foolhardy Trokian Eoarl would try to make himself a hero by attacking the Gatinans but that would fail.

Outside Trokia, the Gatinans would attempt to storm the walls – they would have prepared scaling ladders and a range of artillery weapons like battering rams and catapults. Conn was prepared for this: the attack on the walls would be unsuccessful as Conn had sent the Wealdend of Trokia five hundred of his best Silekian bowmen with supplies and equipment, and a half company of Silekian Engineers with better siege equipment that anything the Gatinans had. With their superior range and accuracy, the Gatinan attacks would be thwarted.

Stymied, Conn wasn’t sure what the Galatians would do next; what was intended to be a short campaign just turned into a long one; and they could possibly resort to trying to force a surrender by devastating the countryside and the population outside of Trokiak. The Trokians had no other castles that would stand up to siege weapons. It was thus essential for Conn to get there as soon as possible – which was between five and six weeks depending on what was in his way.

As sunrise, the Healdend rode with him to join the Fyrd as they prepared to cross the border in Kania.

‘And you think this plan will work?’ Driscol was genuinely afraid that things were going to go poorly.

‘I am hopeful that not too many lives will be lost.’ Conn advised. ‘We know that very few are happy with the Aebeling, so with the opportunity of change presented to them, they may well grasp it with both hands.’

Conn had arranged a march past and they were led out by Bram, Folctoga of Moetia, now fit and healthy, at the head of the three hundred wiga that had trained with Conn’s fyrd. Conn saluted them as they passed, and although the symbolism was lost on him, Driscol did the same.

The Moetian, like the entire Fyrd behind them, were resplendent in new uniforms – a mishmash of technologies. The first layer was a silk Happi, followed by the long sleeved cotton padded gambeson, a chain mail byrnie, and finally a full blue linen tabard that sported the symbol of Moetia.

Conn’s wiga had a tabard of brown and green; in the brown half was Conn’s golden sun emblem, while the green half had a range of motifs that identify each company from a distance. Being Silekian, they also carried symbols from each of the Eaorldoms in Silekia – Wilga il Melnik had the wild boar emblem on his tabard.

The first Susa company was led by Arlen while the second by Leogar il Farah; the second son of the Earl of Farah. Conn had disappointed his ambitions to become Eaorl of Susa – he was next in line – so had offered him a commission as Captain in his fyrd. Their tabards were half brown and half blue.

Driscol looked at Conn as his company passed. ‘He was always a frivolous young man – has he improved?’

Conn nodded. ‘Indeed he has. If he wants to be a noble now, he has to do it the hard way.’

The Moetians were followed by eight companies of Silekian Sagittari – his so called light cavalry based on the famous Mongol cavalry. Lightly but adequately armoured because their main weapon was the bow, they rode horses that were both light and fast; and with their genetics based on his Arabian stallion, they were predominantly grey. They were followed by four companies of Cataphracts, his heavy cavalry, and the sight of them clearly unsettled Driscol. Instead of gambesons, they wore metal reinforced brigandines over their three quarter hauberk chainmail, and as well as the extra armour on the rider, they had extra on their legs and on the chest and necks of their horses. These were the strike fighters of his force – they were designed to hit a line of wiga at speed and cut through them like butter; they carried a long lance, as well as the ubiquitous sword, dagger, and a bow and quiver. These horses were some of Conn’s finest; big and strong, and uniformly black. Even Conn was impressed. Combined he only had just over 1500 cavalry – but they were as good as could be found anywhere.

Second last to pass were another six companies – four of pikemen and two of bowmen – albeit they had horses drawn from local supplies to get them to the battle front. They were followed by eight companies of support staff – pipers, drummers, medics, signallers and cooks – with several hundred pack animals carrying supplies for several months on the campaign. As someone famous once said that ‘an army marched on its stomach’, and Conn had no intention of letting his fyrd run out of food or supplies. He needed regime change in Kania also to ensure an effective resupply route for his forces in Troas. An immense quantity of supplies waited in Menia for delivery.

With everyone included there was almost three times as many horses as wiga; and marching 3 a breast, each mile would take 300 cavalry, so the entire column would be almost 8 miles long. And it was a small fyrd. Nonetheless, it would take Conn some effort to regain his spot at the front of the cavalry.

As the last man passed, Driscol took a deep breath. ‘I’m truly glad I’m on your side, Thane, I don’t know if I have ever seen a fryd or wiga of this quality before; and a fyrd this strong is not necessarily a good thing. Anyway, you might not have to fight Gorman – he’ll probably die of fright when he sees them.’

‘One can only hope.’

He still looked concerned. ‘I wish you good health. The thought of this fyrd without you in charge fills me with dread. Let us hope that not too much blood is spilled in Kania – and certainly not yours. So please take care.’ With that, he shook Conn’s hand, and rode away.

With Driscol gone, Conn cantered the miles until he joined Halla and Derryth at the front of the long line of wiga.

‘What took you so long?’ Derryth chided him. ‘It is almost lunchtime.’

‘First things first – let’s get rid of Gorman.’

‘Hope it doesn’t take too long. I’m hungry already.’

As soon as Gorman’s scouts spotted his fyrd, Conn signalled for the drummer to start a beat and with a large roar, the fyrd scattered into position; spreading out over the country side. Luckily this part of Kania was largely open woodland and light forest, and they had an unimpeded trip to the battle front, and half an hour out, the pipers were signalled to join in.

Gorman had positioned his forces well; on the hillside opposing a small river. It would normally have a much larger amount of water flowing but the latter part of winter was unseasonably dry and still cold; the snow from the winter peaks had still to melt to any great level. It all helped Conn – but didn’t aid Gorman. As Conn crested the final hill, he signalled the drummer to cause his fyrd to stop.

Waiting for them was Esras. Scouts had joined up with Esras’s troop and had brought him to Conn’s position. Brit raced forward to greet her father, and he actually cried; four months away and she was not the same girl he had sent away.

Conn rode up to the pair. ‘I return her to you safe and sound.’

Esras wiped the tears from his face. ‘I see that. Thank you. She reminds me so much of her mother now. She has certainly blossomed – no longer the wild mountain girl.’ Gathering his thoughts he turned to Conn.

‘So what happens now? There are a lot of men over that hill.’

‘I’m going to go and have a little chat. I would like you to follow soon.’

After assuring that all would be well, Conn took with a dozen men, including two pipers who played as they travelled, and headed over the hill towards the Kanians.

‘There are certainly a lot of men over there…’ Derryth observed as the Kanian forces came into view as they headed for the river and forded across to the other side. ‘Not many cavalry or bowmen, it would seem.’

Gorman did not have a strong cavalry; Conn had declined to sell them horses so they remained small and slower than his breeds. Kania had also never been a prosperous demesne, though the Eaorldoms were typically larger than most others, the years of isolation since the rise of the influence of Rakia had brought even less prosperity. What they did have was numbers, but little in the way of skill. The stronger elements were a home guard of mercenaries – some of which were from Cyme – while others were from Rakia. Recently, however, the numbers of mercenaries had declined, due in some part to the fact that several hundred were under guard in Menia; their ships having surrendered in lieu of being sunk while on their way from Rakia to Kania. Conn had implemented a blockade of the Bay with his ships in Menia, and very few ships had gotten through.