The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) (4 page)

Esras had a wry smile on his face. ‘I’m starting to realize that being on your side is distinctly more profitable than being on the other.’ He paused to contemplate and then asked the obvious. ‘So what do you want from us now?’

Conn explained what he was intending to do, and what support he expected from Kania. It was nothing too onerous and Esras and the Eaorls readily agreed. Dagdail, however, had a suggestion.

‘Thane – we can do more. Do you remember my second son Daigh?’

‘I do – I recall he served with Gorman in his fyrd.’

‘Indeed he does – or did. Daigh has asked if you would be agreeable if he joined your fyrd with three companies of men. He knows that they are no match for yours but he would like to help our Trokian cousins in these difficult times. It has been very galling to us that we had to stand by and let the Gatinan attack them – they are our kin after all.’

Gorman nodded. ‘We have discussed it already. Daigh seems almost eager to participate if you will have him.’

‘I’d be delighted. Will they be ready to march in a few days?’

‘Daigh says he will be ready tomorrow.’

‘Even better.’

Conn turned back to Esras. ‘To the matters is our agreement...’

Esras nodded. ‘The currently vacant position of Eaorl of Dor will be granted to Arlen of Batra at the next Witan – which we will convene as soon as we return. As for the other part of that – that is not up to me…’ Both he and Conn turned and looked at Brit who was suddenly looking quite embarrassed.

‘You want me to decide NOW?’

Conn smiled at the blushing girl. ‘Your decision will be no different tomorrow – and I’ll be gone tomorrow anyway. Arlen will be made an Eaorl next week – and I would like to ensure that he has a suitable bedda at his side when he starts. If you decline, I’m sure that the Eaorls here have a few daughters that they would be prepared to promote...’

‘I have several…’ The Eaorl of Ar suggested hopefully.

‘Very well.’ She was sitting beside Arlen and she stole a glance at him before she continued. ‘I suppose he is agreeable enough. I agree to be his bedda. Besides, he will need help, as he can be a bit silly at times.’

Arlen didn’t react to the gibe – he had a silly smile on his face.

She continued. ‘See what I mean…’

Conn looked at Esras and Esras nodded, and called them both forward. He looked around for a rope or sash and Conn handed him a package – and when Esras unwrapped it, it was an extremely beautiful silk scarf. Esras shrugged and used it to perform the handfasting ceremony, because, without a Folgere at hand, it was his duty and right.

Afterwards, Brit grabbed the scarf and wrapped it around her neck. She wasn’t giving it back. The Eaorls all toasted the new pair with more ale and then unceremoniously moved on.

‘The Cymeans…’ Conn asked. ‘What do you want to do with them?’

Esras hadn’t given it much thought. ‘Send them home probably … I have no need of a bodyguard.’

‘Perhaps there is another alternative…’

They sent for the Folctoga, whose name was Jofrid. Quite magnificent in her uniform and bulging breasts, she smiled at Halla when she arrived, though she did not address her. She bowed to Conn and then Esras. Conn hadn’t met her before – she must not have been in Cyme when he visited the previous autumn year.

‘Aebeling, you sent for me?’

‘Indeed I did. As you will understand, I will have no need for your services anymore – I doubt I will be trying to have myself killed – not that I ever did try. I just spread the rumour around.

‘It never seemed to us that the Aebeling was ever in danger. We will leave immediately after we return.’

‘Not so fast; I believe the Thane has a proposition for you.’

She turned at looked at Conn again; her eyes flickering between him and Halla. Halla’s ‘situation’ pained them all.

‘Jofrid, do you understand what I am intent on doing?’

‘I believe so, Thane, you are going to war with the Gatinans, who are planning to attack Trokia.’

‘Correct.’ Conn added, ‘I would like to employ your company – not to fight Gatinans – but just to provide the security of the camp and mine. It will free my wiga from the essential but non combative roles. And there is only one other small detail; Halla is my voice a lot of the time. Are we going to have any of this silliness of her being dead and invisible to you? I understand banishment and the theow stuff, but the other stuff is pure child’s ridiculousness. I won’t employ children. What do you say?’

Jofrid was embarrassed at the rebuke. ‘She… Halla … has always been my friend – she is like my sister – we are also cousins. I will see to it that we are able to balance our customs with your requirements, Thane.’

‘Good, it is settled then. We march tomorrow. I would suggest that you send riders to Kania to collect your belongings, and they can catch us up.’

‘As you will, Thane, I will make arrangements.’ She got up to leave, but as she did she went to Halla and gave her a hug and kiss. Halla just tried not to cry.

By lunch the next day, Conn’s fyrd was heading out, leaving behind the thousands of Kanian wiga who would slowly drift home with their Folctoga. Conn asked for and received the services of the Eaorls whose towns he would pass along the way, and Dubgall il Nisa, who he had already met, led the Fyrd as it passed through his lands. With the large numbers in tow it was a five day march to Nisa, another fifteen to the town of Saniwa – through the lands of Shekem and Kania. Saniwa was two days from the border of Trokia, and it was there that he farewelled Esras, Arlen and Brit, and the little girl came and hugged them all as she left.

‘Thank you, Thane, somehow I think I’m going to miss you all. I kind of wish that I could go along – but Arlen will be lost without me…’

Arlen just said thanks over and over again. He didn’t quite understand why he deserved so much for giving so little. An investment, Conn said, and he did expect a lot from him. When he arrived in Dor he would find a dozen ships from Menia, as well as Allowena and Devlin with several hundred men waiting to ensure that Dor would be suitable as the entry point for all supplies into Trokia. His work was cut out for him.

Almost three weeks later they arrived at the border of Trokia; the border guards did not quite know what to do with the long line of wiga that suddenly turned up and were very relieved to find that they were not going to die. Conn requested that they send riders ahead to warn the Eaorl – and there was only one between Saniwa and the coastline – and that was the Eaorl of Moha. The Eaorl of Temah, whose lands they would also pass, would be much more concerned about the arrival of the Gatinans.

Trokia was predominately a coastal civilization, with fishing based cities located in easy harbours. The interior was relatively undeveloped because they didn’t depend on grain or wool or meat for survival. Consequently, as they travelled towards Trokia, the Thane demesnes they encountered were small and less developed than any in Moetia or Lykia, and the countryside they passed through was largely undeveloped forest. Travel was slow.

From the border, and ahead of the fyrd, Conn sent forward a small scouting party. Disguised as merchants, they were expected to make contact with the Gatinan within ten days; and within another five, Conn would have his first reports back from the front.

They soon arrived in the desolate and crowded Eaorldom of Moha. The Eaorl was female – over twenty, and had only just inherited the position. Her name was Cenlinda and it turned out that she had just returned from Ridlah, where she had seen her mother, as well as a recently taken bedda, die in the battle with the Gatinan fyrd. Wounded, she had returned to take care of her demesne.

She welcomed Conn and his companions into her humble abode, with women and children but few young men in attendance – they had all gone to fight the Gatinans. The hall was old and derelict; everything would crumble in a stiff breeze, but she tried to make Conn welcome.

Over dinner, she described how the Trokian fyrd was destroyed in a single battle.

‘There was just too many of them – we were holding our own until another fyrd arrived to the west; I think they were Rakians – we were not prepared for an attack on the west and after that side collapsed; the front weakened and the Gatinan breeched our front line. After that we died or surrendered.’

‘How did you get away?’

‘As soon as my mother saw the Rakians arrived from the west, she told me that we were doomed. I was already injured so she told me to leave – to save our house. She led me out and when we were about to be intercepted by Rakians she turned and attacked them. She sacrificed her life to save mine. I arrived back here three days ago.’

‘I see that you have wounds from the battle – they don’t look like they are getting better.’

She had multiple bruises, cuts and abrasions – some of which appeared to be festering due to lack of proper treatment, and the imperfect removal of fragments and splinters. Conn asked if his medic could look at them. After some hesitation she agreed, and Conn’s medic treated her as they spoke.

She had a lot of questions for Conn – and she was delighted to meet her distant Valkeri cousins – but they were restrained in response. Her warmth was not reciprocated. And while she was grateful that he was helping, she doubted that he would do much other than get himself killed.

‘There must be ten thousand of them – you said you have two thousand. How can you expect to stand against so many?’

‘Skill. Some of the greatest battles have been one by a few against many – including some of the wars here in Meshech.’

‘Remember’, Derryth added, to be helpful, ‘nearly everyone died in those battles.’

‘Thanks Derryth. Ever helpful.’

Because Moha was north of the invading Gatinans, the young Eaorl had a lot of extra people in her village; refugees from the south, and many mouths to feed.

Conn offered supplies. ‘A hundred mules or horses will pass by your door every week to bring supplies to me and also to you.’

She protested. ‘Thank you but we are poor – we cannot afford to pay for wheat brought from Kania – and we will not accept charity.’ She was quite firm about that.

‘I’m sure that we can come to some arrangements. Do you have any land that you can sell me?’

‘You want to purchase a Thane demesne from me?’

‘Not one – how many do you have vacant?’

‘Several… I’m sure we can come to some arrangement…’

Cenlinda invited Conn to stay behind after everyone had left – she said to negotiate further. When she started to take off her clothes, Conn presumed that she didn’t want to show him her scars and that negotiations were going to be fairly interesting.

~x036~

As for land, it turned out that she did indeed have several demesnes available, and after they had negotiated a deal that was very profitable for the Eaorl, Conn was declared the Thane of Hebal in Moha. The deals done, Conn continued east, following the ancient road that connected Trokiak and Moesiak.

Derryth scolded him. ‘You have to be the worst negotiator I have ever seen. You paid three times what the so called farm land is worth. I hate farming and even I know that. It is either forest or hills.’

‘Remember that she has to buy her food from me – and that most of the land I purchased is along the road or on the river. It also is all connected – for that I paid a premium. The spring floods will allow us to grow excellent rice and before long they will be staying in my Inns along the roads, and paying to use my roads. It is all good.’

Halla put her hand on Derryth’s shoulder. ‘I keep telling you, Derryth, he is not nice, he just pretends to be.’ With Jofrid riding by her side, Halla was much happier than she had been for a while. She still understood that she was theow, but at least her kin were speaking to her.

Conn asked why Trokia had female Eaorls.

Halla didn’t answer so Jofrid answered instead.

‘When our ancestor’s sister Astra broke her vows and claimed the demesne of Trokia in the name of her daughter Fastvi, she didn’t do it alone. She took many of her company with her. Others refused to break their vows – including our ancestor Godreda – and they returned to Cyme. Those that stayed behind were rewarded and were given the title of Eaorl or other privileges. Cenlinda is the descendant of one of the vow breakers – and they choose a daughter to succeed them.’

‘Is she not your cousin?’

They both shook their heads. ‘No; her ancestor is of Cyme but not of our house. There are few of our house left in Cyme…’

‘Which house is that?’

‘Ilissus – our ancestor was a Folgere from Ilissus.’

It always struck Conn as unusual the number of times he heard the name of the extinct Eaorldom of Ilissus. Strangely, it normally had something to do with women he was sleeping with—not only Halla but also Annisa and Sileas. It was a strange coincidence.

As they continued to march east, the countryside was becoming deserted; the Thanes had deserted their demesne in fear of marauding Gatinans and had left crops to rot in the field. At several stages, Conn rested his wiga and set them to work in the field to harvest the winter crops. Anything he didn’t need, he sent back to Gebal. In some cases he left behind a few injured or sick wiga to manage the farms.

Fifteen days after arriving in Trokia, the first of the scout party returned with grim news – most of which he expected.

‘Thane, they have arrived in Trokiak – and they were repulsed. After the battle of the border near Ridlah, which they won after three days, they took the harbor and are using it to resupply their forces. The town of Temah was deserted by the time they arrived so they burnt it to the ground. Now that the walls have not fallen, they have had to set up a camp in the ash of Temah just over the river. They lost significant numbers before they withdrew from Trokiak.’

‘What are they doing now?’

‘They have Trokiak surrounded and they are destroying anything they can find – it seems that the Rakians are the ones doing the destroying.’

Conn had just crossed the river that emptied itself in the bay near Ridlah. The news made him change his plans – there was no benefit in heading to Temah anymore. He would go directly to Trokiak, but there was no easy route except via Temah.

‘You say they have a large force near Temah?’

‘They must know of you Thane, they are protecting the road from the east. They are three days away.’

‘Are they coming this way?’

‘No – they are waiting.’

‘Then we don’t go that way. We will go over the mountain.’

They all looked at him strangely. They were riding down a huge valley; the lower they got down the flatter and more fertile the valley became. To the north was a mountain range; to the south was an even bigger range that was the border with Gatina.

Derryth raised his hand. ‘Just a moment there. You are suggesting we go north – over the range?’

‘As much as we can; we need to get around them – and we can’t cross the river again. It takes too long.’

‘Is there a road over the range, perchance, that only you know about?’

‘Sadly, no. But I’m sure we can find one…’

‘We have almost six thousand animals; we are going to need a big road.’

In the morning a group headed west to search for a road over the range. Derryth decided to go with them – after all he had the most experience in mountains. Conn would follow with the fyrd – he estimated that it would take two days to get to the foothills. That was all the time Derryth had to find a way over the range.

With the change of plans, Conn got the fyrd to assist logistics to unpack the horse and ox carts that had accompanied them thus far and transferred to the back of horses. He then led then north; with ten squads of men providing a barrier between himself and the Gatinans – just in case they decided to head north because of his change of plan.

Conn was sitting on a small hill observing small amounts of dust in the distance when scouts cantered up to him.

‘Thane, perhaps a hundred horse – Rakians we think – have been observed to our south. We don’t think that they have observed us yet they will as soon as we cross that crest above us.’

‘Well, we do not want that, do we?’

Giving the order to be silent, Conn collected a four squads of Sagittari – each squad was led by a Corporal and contained fifteen men – and followed the scouts west. After an hour they had gotten as far as they could go without being seen; Conn sent one squad further east to cut off any escapees, and signalling his piper to start playing, he broke through the forest wall in a canter towards the Rakian cavalry – who were resting for lunch in the forest shade.

The noise startled and surprised the Rakians who leapt to their horses. Seeing the fifty odd men charging them, they reciprocated – which was of course what Conn wanted them to do. By the time they had realized this was a mistake – when arrows started picking off riders as if they were standing still, it was too late. The simple act of stopping and turning made them even bigger targets and there was soon nothing but horses without riders cantering around the fields.

Those that were able to realize that it was folly soonest and not leave the protection of the forest, headed west instead – but ran into the other squad of Sagittari.

Conn sat resting the stallion as he watched his men collect the horses and check if there were any survivors – there were a few – mostly common wiga. The Folctoga in charge of the company was dead and was buried with the others in a large common grave. Survivors were bundled on horses and they took everything thin with them – leaving nothing behind but a long strip of freshly dug soil; covered in rocks, with a wooden cross.

Derryth was most disappointed when he heard. He had re-joined the fyrd later than night as they camped on the foothills of the range, bringing news about his search up the mountain.

‘Foolhardy – if you keep doing things like that, you are going to get yourself killed. So none got away?’

‘None that we know of. I still have a few men down there to keep an eye on things but it will be a mystery for them for some time. And you found a way over the range?’

‘I did – it will be slow but we will get there. On top of the range is a valley – it faced directly down to Trokiak and it will be an easy position to protect, and it has adequate water for the animals. I suggest we set up camp there.’