The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) (41 page)

Conn went to the body of Fallon and retrieved his dagger. He used it to sever the lace that held the black stone around his neck. He looked at the stone and it was the largest that he had seen. He put it in his pouch and headed outside. He took Andsware with him.

The castle was now under his total control. All Ancuman had been killed, and all Rakians were assembled and under guard in the bailey, where any wounded were being treated. As Conn arrived he watched the hostages being led out across the drawbridge. Conn had Fainche collect Andsware.

He was about to addressed the prisoners when Sighard, who had let the charge into the castle, came and addressed him privately. Conn nodded and he went away.

Conn then spoke to the assembled men. The sun had risen on a new day.

‘Rakians, the day is lost. Your Healdend is dead as are the Ancuman who protected him. There will never be another Healdend of Rakia – that position will be abolished, and until the new Eaorl of Rakia is appointed by the Healdend of Gatina, the person in charge is me.’

He studied them closely before continuing.

‘You will be released this morning; I suggest you all go home. If your home is not in the demesne of Rakia, I suggest you go home there tomorrow. If you wish to stay here in Rakia and work, either as wiga or craeftiga, then you will be back here tomorrow morning. If you have something to account for due to your actions in Silekia, you will have the opportunity to make amends at a later date. Justice will be done – as it will be today.’

Sighard came forward with three men – all Silekian wiga, dressed in his tabards. They were bound with their hands behind their back.

Conn addressed everyone. ‘I have very strict rules in my fryd – and one of those is that I do not tolerate rape. In Taransay I once removed the penis and scrotum of an enemy wiga who raped a member of my fryd.’ There was a general “OOO” from the crowd. Conn smiled. ‘He didn’t feel any pain until he woke up and found the offending items in a bowl beside him.’ He turned around and looked at the three men. ‘These three were caught raping and then killing a female Ancuman wiga. Perchance, do you deny the charges?’

One was large, tall and strong – an obvious bully. He didn’t deny it but instead excused his behaviour. ‘She was an Ancuman whore – we know the males fornicate with them whenever and where ever they want – and even pass them around to their friends. I’m sure her master was a friend of mine!’ He sniggered at the last comment.

Conn ignored the denigration. ‘Do you know what my punishment for rape is?’

He nodded. ‘Execution – but you are not going to execute us for getting between the legs of an Ancuman whore – she wanted to die anyway.’

‘In that you might just be wrong.’

Conn had him stood up and his hands unbound. Sighard handed him a dagger.

Conn addressed him again. ‘Trial by Combat. If you draw blood, you are free to go. If you die, you are guilty.’

The big man needed no second invitation; he launched into his attack on Conn – who was unarmed – and he waved his dagger in front of him. After several attempts to slice Conn’s leg or arms, he overreached and Conn closed in and grappled with him; the knife still in the big man’s hands – which in a twist and a spin ended in the Silekian’s chest. He fell to his knees and collapsed on the floor.

‘The verdict is guilty as charged.’

The last two were given swords and Conn regained his katana and wakizashi. It wasn’t long before two more bodies lay dead on the bailey floor.

He cleaned his swords before sheathing them. ‘It makes no difference who you are; punishment will be the same. You have my instructions; you are free to go.’

Soon all the remained in the castle were his own wiga, as Sighard took control of the facility.

Elva followed Derryth and Conn as they walked out of the castle and headed for the Inn.

‘I need a bath and a beer – not necessarily in that order.’

Conn agreed. ‘I think I need more than one.’ He looked at Elva as she walked along at his side. ‘And you – you and I need to have a little chat about doing silly thing.’

She smiled mischievously. ‘I am very sorry – perhaps later I can show you just
how
sorry I am…’

Derryth pointed to Conn. ‘Do you know he has an Ancuman theow?’

‘Really? I bet she is pretty and has big breasts.’ She looked at Conn, smiling. ‘Do you think that she would help me show how
very
sorry I am?’

Conn shook his head. ‘Elva, not all things can be forgive with enthusiastic fornication?’

Elva looked surprised. ‘Since when…’

As soon he was able, Conn sent letters to Ailbe in Gatina and Ailidh in Silekia, bringing them up to date with events and inviting them to Rakia in the last week of autumn. He also sent out invitations to all the Eaorls of Rakia to attend the first Witan to be held in decades. There was much to discuss.

He then settled into a daily routine of early morning meeting and training with the fyrd, afternoon meetings with the heads of the Engineering and Logistics Corp, dinner with all and sundry and nights with any of the three women who were prepared to accommodate him. This was increasingly not Lile as she was getting closer to giving birth. Elva – with Kutidi’s help – was
still
sorry. Conn had the funny idea she was just putting it on now.

Some of the first things to deal with so the pyre for the former Healdend and also the Ancuman wiga. It wasn’t their fault that they had to die so far from home. As he watched the pyres burn, he had Kutidi on one side and Geirnarr il Axum on the other. Geirnarr was his new prisoner and had arrived that day with Fionn il Hera. He had brought with him news of the battle for Tindara – Eochid had taken poorly to the suggestion of surrendering and had instead engaged them in battle. He and most of his fyrd had died charging the Eriak cavalry. The Ancuman and his crew were caught in the harbor – they seemed ill aware of the fall of Eochid, and surrendered without a battle – claiming the status of merchants. Without an alternative course of action, Fionn had decided to bring Geirnarr with him – along with the remnants of Eochid’s family.

Geirnarr and Kutidi had spoken little – except to say that Kutidi said that she was theow –to Geirnarr’s surprise. Conn explained the background to the events as they headed out to the Pyre. Later they retired to the Great Hall.

‘So, Geirnarr, tell me what commodities you trade? I have to say that you are the most unlikely ship merchant that I have seen.’

He smiled. ‘It is true that I was once a wiga but I had an injury and retired. As for goods, I buy what I can – time are tough.’

‘What did you find in Tindara worthy of your time?’

‘Alas – little of use. I had been misinformed about the available of, umm, wool – but it seems that the clip was not as big as promised.’ He changed the subject. ‘Can I ask what you intend to do with us? Fair play normally indicates that merchants have a right to leave in circumstances such as these.’

‘I agree – and I will ask Fionn to take you back to your ship. As for a cargo – Fionn will ensure that you have a full load before you leave.’

Geirnarr shook his head. ‘That will not be necessary… just some food supplies perhaps.’

Conn smiled. Geirnarr didn’t want to have to pay for anything. ‘No, I think that it is import that you have a cargo. And prices will be fair. I understand that Tindara has fine timbers.’

‘Timber? Timber is so time consuming…’

‘No, I insist. Fionn will organize it for you. In exchange for my letting you go, I have a boon to ask.’ Conn indicated a case that was sitting to one side. ‘You will find the swords of all of those of Kishdah that had died are in that case. I would ask that you return it to their families.’

Both Kutidi and Geirnarr was surprised. Conn knew how much family honour was stored in the family sword – and some of these were very old.

Geirnarr bowed respectfully. ‘I will do as you ask. It is beyond all expectation – as was the pyre. Both will be appreciated by their families.’

With Geirnarr sent back to Tindara, Conn continued his “work” – which he felt strangely perplexed about. Having “rid” Meshech of the Ancuman and supposedly “put everything right”, he subconsciously expected to receive a “sign” that he had actually achieved what he was
here
for! But there wasn’t – and the arrival of Lile in Rakiak reminded him that he had inadvertently promised to do something else anyway – perhaps he had postponed the “sign”.

Work in the town proceeded quickly; his organization was a well-oiled machine and they had done it all before. The Engineering Corp was hard at work directing the efforts of hundreds of willing workers – an extensive program of public, commercial and residential buildings was commenced, streets were being paved, sewerage and drainage systems were being constructed and the harbour was being extended. The work on the castle was also being completed – as it was Conn had able to move into the renovated donjon after a week of work – there was still much to do, but his quarters and the great hall was usable.

Logistics had taken over the running of everything else, including the chartering of the Guilds as they arrived in the town to set up businesses in partnership with locals – as per Conn’s requirements.

Many of Conn’s current fyrd were taking the opportunity to retire to become a Laird or in some cases even a Thane – some of the boys he recruited in 862 were now of an age and wealth to take bedda for the first time and didn’t want to travel to some distant shore. Most of those that wanted to remain wiga were happy to stay in Meshech – Conn was going to maintain a fyrd of two thousand scattered around the continent. Consequently he had to recruit a large part of the fyrd he needed to take with him to Sytha from Rakia and Gatina. In total, he needed five hundred cavalry – as well as Logistics and Engineering. In all there would be a thousand men and a thousand horses to transport – as well as supplies. Njil was responsible for putting together the flotilla of over twenty ships.

The Rakians and Gatinans that joined his expeditionary fyrd saw it as an excellent opportunity for fame and wealth. All former members of Conn’s fryd seemed to have done very well for themselves.

Conn’s other personal project was to construct a Cirice in Rakiak, and he used his Twacuman wiga to build one of the same design as the Cirice in Lyciak. It was built just out of town on a site that overlooked the town. At the gate he added a large brass bell. It looked pretty impressive to Conn; he wondered what the Folgere would think about it.

Soon after it was completed, it came as no surprise to him that one morning he was advised that Folgere had arrived at the docks. The ship had come from Gatina and Conn was surprised to find that the passenger list contained not only Morna but Synne as well. Conn greeted them all with hugs. Those he didn’t know very well seems to want to hug him longer.

‘Very impressive. I take this to mean that the Gydens are appreciative of my efforts.’

Morna smiled. ‘It would seem – having an extra Cirice does change the dynamics of the Gyden – but then many seem to have been called recently so we have lots of Folgere to go around.’

Fainche arrived in a rush in to the hall, and the Folgere turned and watched her as she came in. She raced up and hugged Morna and then her cousin Synne. Fainche cried as they hugged.

Synne brought her over to Conn. ‘I heard that you gave her the necklace I gave you. How did you know that it belonged to her?’

Conn laughed. ‘I didn’t – but how did you know to give it to me. As I recall we were both naked at the time and you took it off your neck and put it on me… there was no discussion.’

She smiled ‘Not of the verbal kind anyway – as always you seem to be able to achieve what others can’t. I tried to give the necklace to Fainche when she was a child but she already had the … other one and she rejected it. I am glad that she is finally home.’

The next morning, the Folgere followed Conn – no one else was allowed to go – out of the town and up the hill; the walk took about an hour and as they arrived, the guards opened the gates. Conn dismissed them – they were no longer needed. Inside the palisades was the building that housed the Cirice and extra houses for the Folgere to live in. They entered the Cirice through one of the four doorways, into the central Cella. Inside the sun shone through a hole in the roof.

The central square Cella led to the four Apses, and in each Apse, Conn had arranged for a large piece of uncut marble to be placed. Because of their size, they had been placed there before the building was even built, and it was still incomplete because no one knew what to carve. Conn watched as the Folgere spread out, dividing into colours; Morna stayed with Conn in the center while the girls disrobed and placed their robes over the marble blocks. They started to chant; led by Morna who stood in the centre; her robes now at her feet. Naked, their chants turned to a wail and the light intensity increased until Conn had to close his eyes. The wailing stopped and when he opened them again the Folgere were removing the robes from the rock. Instead of a marble block, there now stood four statues of the Gyden; splendid in their voluptuous nakedness – their hands outstretched, and the usual twinkle in their eyes.

Conn’s head was filled with an immediate hum and he shut them all out. He then went to each in his usual fashion; collecting a haligdom from his pouch and placing it into the open palms that sat waiting. As the stones hit the marble, they were quickly half absorbed into the stone. It never failed to amaze Conn.

Soon the room was full of light and well as ecstatic and still naked Folgere embracing each other in sexual embraces; some were soon on the floor in what was soon to be an orgy. The naked Morna came to Conn with a girl in tow. Conn recognized her immediately they took the gown from her. It was Andsware.

‘Andsware need to be initiated – she is still in much emotional pain. We can help her – as we do all that suffer from the mistreatment of men.’

Conn didn’t seem to have much choice; other Folgere were disrobing him as Morna was speaking. It was going to be a long afternoon.

~x361~

It last late afternoon when Conn finally returned to the town and the donjon, quite worse for wear. Again, he always thought that there would be worse ways of dying – if fact he couldn’t think of a better way of dying.

A few weeks after the opening of the Cirice, the two Healdend arrived – as well as Halla il Cyme. She arrived earlier with Ewan; she had stopped in to collect Jowan and Oisin from the new harbor in Piada. Conn learnt that Oisin was now officially the Wealdend of Piada – it had been time for her father to re-join the wind. Fiona il Gatina had also travelled with her father and brother at his request.

Conn had his first meetings without the Eaorls, and he outlined what he wanted to do. Ailbe was still surprised.

‘You have every right to be Healdend and yet that is not what you want.’

‘No; Rakia is no more – what was done in 636 is to be undone. I would only be Eaorl of Rakia.’

‘But you are Eaorl of Eriak… you can’t be Eaorl of two demesnes.’

‘Not under one Healdend, no. That is why I want the Eaorl of Eriak be transferred to Odilea, Fiona and my daughter, but as she is too young, I want Fiona to be declared her Regent.’

Ailbe was still confused. ‘What about Rakia – you said that you are leaving for Sytha?’

‘Oswen will be declared the heir and I will be appointing Major Osdred il Jader the Governor while I am absent. I don’t imagine that it will be that long.’

‘And that leaves Tindara. You said that the heir is to be Halla’s son Ewan, and Aelfstan il Jasi is to be the regent.’

‘Yes; I have arranged for him to take Eochid’s daughter Eldwen as bedda, and have agreed with Eldwen that her daughter will be Ewan’s first bedda.’

Ailidh laughed. She was holding on of her two babies on her lap. Conn had the other. ‘I presume that you have plans for these two as well?’

‘Of course – this one – if this is Brigantia, is to be the heir of Ilissus. I think that her bedda could be Leowahl il Ilissus. It will join the Eaorldom back with the Thane demesne and Ceolred il Ilissus will be regent for her while I’m away.

Ailbe looked at Devnet and Ailidh and shrugged. ‘It all seems far too reasonable to me. Only think I’m concerned about is handing out those medal thing.’

Ailidh gave him a dirty look. ‘You have hundreds – I have thousands – so don’t complain.’

The last act of the last sitting of the Witan of Rakia voted itself out of existence – after it had complete the procedure of naming the Eaorls and heirs of Rakia. As well as Conn’s immediate family, Kane il Lipara was renamed Kane il Motya and became the new Eaorl – with his father as Regent. The turbulent period had resulted in there being four new Regents in the former Rakia, and they made their declaration of loyalty to their charges with each other Eaorl witness.

With the extinguishment of Rakia, the Eaorls of Ilissus, Mylae, Lipara, and Soloes made their vows of allegiance to Ailidh and the Eaorls of Rakia, Tindara, Akarah, Hera and Syra and Motya made their vows to Ailbe.

They then called out and filled with wiga from Conn’s fyrd every vacant Thane demesne in Rakia – as well as the ten new Baronies. As well as Aelfstan, Osdred and Ceolred, the senior commanders of all his Fyrd was similarly rewarded. As well as the Thane demesne, several hundred others became Lairds within the Thane demesnes.

That long day was followed by an even longer feast, and Conn found himself trying to avoid the numerous women vying for his attention. Conn had learnt that Rakian society, like the Gatinans, was more conservatively dressed that the northern Moesians who barely wore anything on the top. However, with the arrival of Moesian and Lycian fashion, even Rakians women wore the form showing designs and the nightly feasts were a sea of breasts jutting over tightly bound bodices of silk or linen blouses.

He escaped to Ailidh’s room.