The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) (42 page)

She open the door. She was miffed. ‘You ignored me all evening and now you turn up here. I shouldn’t let you in…’ The silken Yukata was a major seller from Conn’s factories and she casually let hers open. She was naked underneath.

‘I was overrun. I had no idea that Fallon liked to have women sit on his lap ALL the time – and they kept trying to place my hand places it shouldn’t be placed in public.’

Ailidh stepped forward and picked up his hand. She placed it on her left breast. What had once been ample was now large. ‘You mean here?’

‘Yes, just there.’

She moved his hand a bit and then gave it back. ‘Well, I still shouldn’t let you in.’

Conn signed audibly for effect. ‘Very well then, I’ll just…’ He turned to go.

‘Don’t you dare leave!’ She hadn’t let go of his hand yet, ‘Come in here this minute – I’ve had a Folgere with a very lustful look in her eyes rubbing my leg all evening and I’m as aroused as a sow in season. I promised to see her tomorrow at the Cirice. And don’t you dare get me pregnant again.’

‘You will be fine – breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive.’ Conn walked in and closed the door as Ailidh discarded her gown as she walked to the bed.

She wasn’t.

~x363~

The next day they had the military parades – and they handed out hundreds of service medals and the less numerous gallantry medals to both Silekian, Rakian and Gatinan wiga. Ailidh also appointed more members to the Order of the Cirice – the Knight Commander to Ibor il Lipara, Aelfstan il Jasi and Osdred il Jader, and the lesser level of Knight to Meilseoir il Soloes and Breasal il Mylae. Bryce il Akarah, Fionn il Hera and Leodhas il Syra.

Conn then took the opportunity to appoint more Knight Commanders – Devnet il Gatina, Bryce il Akarah, Fionn il Hera and Leodhas il Syra, were all raised to Order.

It was later when they were celebrating with wine that Ailbe mentioned Oxmon in Mazra. The work on the star fort was progressing slowly but surely.

‘I don’t mind personally by why are you spending so much money on a castle that will not get any use? Surely the Ancuman have been defeated and will not come back.’

Conn shook his head. ‘They don’t think they think that – except for a few incidents, it is just their Priecuman allies – who they consider to be weak and feeble – that were defeated. When they come back they will bring perhaps ten thousand Ancuman wiga to extract revenge.’

‘But why? Why go to all this effort?’

‘Remember that in 562, the last Casere, Goibniu, brought together the three Aebeling that he allowed to rule the lands with him; Comhghall il Gatina, Daimine il Moetia and Leachlainn il Trokia. He got them together to try and avert a threat that he believed would endanger the entire population.’

Conn paused to sip his drink and started to walk around the room; his old University professorship days returning to him.

‘What was the threat?’

‘He had somehow learnt that the Ancuman were planning to invade – and very soon. They had gathered a force large enough to secure a stronghold in Meshech – and that was in Gatina.’

Ailbe protested. ‘I have not heard of that.’

‘I doubt that you would have – but it is the records here. Goibniu called the meeting but unfortunately it was held in Mylae – where the Ancuman had placed the guard stone – counteracting any influence of the Gyden on the Aebelings. He expected that Daimine il Moetia and Leachlainn il Trokia would side with him as Casere – against Comhghall – but they didn’t. Trokia had no Cirice and Daimine had been undermined by the bedda of his daughter in siding with Comhghall – and he didn’t gain their support against Gatina.’

Ailbe knew most of this. ‘And Comhghall was going to lead a rebellion against the Casere…’

‘Yes – with Ancuman forces. What they didn’t count on Goibniu doing what he did – he resigned as Casere – and he effectively bought time by negotiating that there would be no Ancuman in any demesne. The chief advisor to Comhghall was an Ancuman called Finlayv; who later became the Eaorl of Rakia, and he was the only exception. In exchange for becoming Healdend, they had to prohibit any other Ancuman from Meshech.’

Everyone agreed that they had never seen such an agreement.

‘You haven’t – all four copies are here in Rakia.’ Conn had them brought out and two were handed back.

‘There has been a deliberate campaign by the Rakians to erase knowledge of the agreement – to the extent that even by the war with Silekia, it wasn’t a problem because all copies had been stolen and brought back to Rakia. The second agreement that created the Healdend of Rakia didn’t mention the first agreement – which I thought strange. The library here is full of documents stolen from all libraries of all the demesne.’

‘So you are saying that they will just try to do what they’ve always wanted to do – but this time by force.’

‘The will – it is just a matter of time. Oxmon will protected that part of Gatina. The expansions of Trokiak will protect them, as will Hebal in Trokia – it will be hard to pass into Moetia if Hebal is in the way. I have one of my best Major as bedda to the Eaorl of Mohar – and he directs the building of the Castle there. Kadash protects Moetia while Atrak and Tergeste guard the western coast. They will never expose their ships to my ships anything soon so they will make their landing in Trokia – it is only the logical point.’

‘And when is this happening?’

‘In our life time.’

Ailidh was still confused about something. ‘You have the Torc but you are not Casere. But you are Feorhhyrde. Aren’t they usually combined?

‘Not always – when Kolmarr went in search of the Priecuman and brought the Sythans here, the Twacuman gave him two things – the Torc of the Casere and the medallion of the Feorhhyrde.’

Ailidh nodded. ‘The Torc gave him rule over all Priecuman. But what does the medallion do?’

Conn laughed as he looked at Oisin. ‘I don’t know how it got to be given to Priecuman but it is just the symbol of the Healdend of all Twacuman.’

Ailbe and Devnet laughed. ‘Is that it? It has no special Gyden given powers?’

Conn shook his head. ‘No – it is just like the Torc. The question behind it how, when and why it was given away.’ He fiddled with the medallion. ‘This was made in Kishdah – and then it went to Sytha and then it came here. It cannot be taken – it has to be given.’

Devnet had a question. ‘But why do the Ancuman want Meshech? Surely it is not worth all this effort?

‘It is to them. They want to eliminate the Priecuman and punish them for the past losses but mostly importantly they want to recapture the Twacuman. They want Twacuman for Theow. Like them they live long lives – and they don’t get pregnant. Pregnancy is not only dangerous but expensive. That is why the Twacuman were being stolen from Halani – the Ancuman wanted them and were prepared to pay a small fortune. It was worth the risk.’

Derryth nodded. ‘In the time of the Ancuman, it is said that we were bred for work and for the pleasure of our masters. Once the Ancuman were finished with a girl; she would be sent back to the village to have children.’

Ailbe was astounded. ‘So all of this is so the Ancuman could have long living workers and bedda? That seems absurd.’

‘There are many things that look differently when you put them in a different light; the Ancuman have their own way of looking at the world.’

‘So, amongst all of this, you are going to Sytha?’ Conn ad discussed his plans with both Healdends. ‘What about the Ancuman?’

‘They won’t be back for some time – I’d say a few years at the earliest. And with all my ships, I’ll know if they are heading this way.’ Conn paused. ‘I’m pretty sure that the problems in Sytha are being caused by the Ancuman, so I’d like to deal with them there first, before it gets out of hand. Everything here is in good hands now – especially if you both agree to setup the fyrds as I suggested.’

Conn set into motion as new Meshechian fyrd; centred on the recruitment and maintenance of almost three thousand men throughout the continent. Eight garrison town were to be constructed all around Meshech, to each house five companies of wiga, mostly pikemen and bowmen – cavalry was too expensive to maintain. Just like the Romans, Conn recruited men for his fyrd with certain conditions. They would serve and train for fifteen years minimum; from the age of fifteen. At the end of that time they could marry and also receive land to become a Laird and during their time they would move between the garrisons every two year; they should return home at the end of the eight years having marched the entire circumference of Meshech. The garrison towns were already under construction in his demesnes – Oxmon, Eriak, Rakiak, Tovio, Azaba, Barek, Samal, and Ushu would provide them homes and their wages would be paid from the annual taxes collected on their behalf by each Healdend.

As winter was setting in – and Rakian had the coldest winters of all of Meshech, the two Healdend headed home before the seas got too rough as well. Conn farewelled them on the docks. Ailbe was almost sad to leave.

‘Eaorl – I’m getting old. I doubt that we will meet again. I can’t imagine what kind of impact you will have in Sytha – and I’m sorry I won’t hear the stories! Safe travels.’

One of the last to leave was Halla. Halla was a conundrum – she looked magnificent and strangely hadn’t seemed to have aged at all. It was starting to be noticed and commented upon. Despite three children (and a possibility of more – Conn had been sneaking into her room late at night), she looked younger than when he first met her. He wondered if the black stone had an effect on her. Something was amiss.

Halla dropped their son on his lap. Ewan was now three. ‘I am leaving him with you – it is time his father took care of him. He is far too disruptive in a castle of women!’

Conn was shocked. ‘What about his sisters? Won’t they miss him?’

‘Probably not – the will enjoy the peace and quiet like the rest of us!’

‘Do you really want me to take him to Sytha with me?’ Conn was a little surprised.

Halla thought for a moment. ‘Yes, I think that would be good for him, Njil’s boys are about the same age. They can keep each other company.’ Njil and his family travelled together on his ship.

Conn nodded. ‘OK; but you don’t get off that easy. I want you to take my daughters with you.’

Elva was shocked. ‘All of them?’

‘When they are twelve. Anissa’s two will be the first and I want you to train them in the ways of the Valkeri – as well as my ways of course. The school we established there is doing a great job.’

‘And their mothers?’

‘They agree – the kids are so easy to target, and harder to manage as they get older. They know they will be in danger, but they will be safest with you.’

Halla returned to Cyme, taking Moana and most of the Folgere with here. Fainche returned to Gatina with Synne. There remained only four Folgere in Rakiak – but they were enough to keep Conn distracted. There were also a lot of widows in Rakiak who were more than happy to sit on his lap in the privacy of his chambers.

Winter saw Lile give birth to twin girls as expected, and he felt sure that that Kutidi was now also pregnant.

Conn just had to wait for the return of Njil in the spring to begin the relatively simple voyage to Sytha. It was going to be simple except that he received a message from Caewyn, by pigeon, that he wasn’t to leave until she arrived. She would be there at the beginning of spring. He was to WAIT.

Conn hated waiting.

Several weeks into spring there was still no sign of Caewyn, and a very frustrated Conn stood with Derryth looking at the pouring rain from the castle window. He overlooked the harbour and there were only three boats left. He had sent Lile and Kutidi – now heavily pregnant – with Ewan and a hundred wiga ahead on her own ship. Conn decided it best if she proceeded him as he was being delayed. His ship was fastest so they should arrive around the same time if he was only a week delayed. That was two weeks ago.

‘This is getting ridiculous. The rest of the fleet will be there before we even leave at this stage. How long did the LAST message say?’

‘A few more day; at the most.’

‘So it should be soon. Heck, it should have been last week – and then there is this incessant rain. Are the ships ready?’

Derryth nodded. ‘For the tenth time, Njil says that he is now ready to go. The supplies are all stored and the men ready to board. All he has to do is load the horses. He waits for your command.’

The main ship was his newest and the largest; nearly two hundred foot in length, it carried over 300 men and over two thousand tonnes of cargo. It was what could be called a ‘packet ship’, and because he was carrying fifty horses as well, there were only a single company of men; one hundred of his best. Getting it loaded had proven to be problematic and they had to build a new dock for this ship alone. Loaded, its draught was almost seven yards deep. There were two other vessels that also waited – a smaller hundred foot schooner that would act as the escort and scout; and a cargo Junk that was loaded with an additional three thousand tonnes of supplies and military hardware. With both, he could outfit five companies of men with the finest weapons and uniforms that money could buy.

Conn watched the rain stop and the clouds part. The sun returned to its rightful place warming the surrounds.

‘I hope this is an omen – I still think that someone is messing with us. I just wish to hell I knew who it was.’

They headed down to the grand hall as a servant rushed in.

‘Eaorl, you have guests at the gate. Caewyn il Halani is here to see you.’

‘Finally!’ Conn called another servant. ‘Send someone to Njil and tell him that we set sail as soon as possible.’

Within moments, Caewyn arrived. He almost didn’t recognize her as she glided into the hall, her long dark green cloak sodden. Servants retrieved it from her and she walked up to Conn and hugged him. No longer a girl, she was quite the woman, tall and beautiful; her hair and eyes black and her skin shining like golden bronze.

Conn shook his head as he looked at her. ‘Every other day something happens that I don’t understand. Today is one of those days.’

‘And what don’t you understand today?’ she asked; in fact she almost purred.

‘I don’t understand how you could have gotten any more beautiful since the last time I saw you. I didn’t think it was possible – but it is.’ He kissed her on both cheeks ‘Welcome – and am I glad to see you!’

‘Have I kept you waiting long?’

‘Only three weeks – the rest of the fleet is almost there.’ He tried hard not to sound sarcastic.

‘Good, good.’

Conn was confused. ‘Good? How can that be good?’

‘Just because it is – no reason that I can explain, just a feeling I have. I just feel that it is important that only you be on the water at one time. Is your ship a good one?’

She greeted Derryth with a big hug as well. He looked at her curiously. ‘I don’t like the sound of this – are we at risk of sinking? You know how I hate the water. And I don’t think I can swim to Sytha…’

‘I don’t think so. But be careful. Anyway, you need to be on your way soon – I just have two more things to talk to you about. Come this way.’

She led them out of the donjon into the bailey. There waiting for them were her troop and a few extra horses. She led them to one of them – he was over 15 hands, an overo. ‘Do you recognize him?’

Conn didn’t approach him as he knew immediately that he was elven bred.

‘He is the second foal from the mare that Oisin gave me. Annisa told me he ran away.’ He held out his hand and the large stallion walked forward and nudged his hand, and then walked forward and nudged him in the chest and stomach hard enough to send him flying backwards.

Conn struggled to stay on his feet. ‘Gyden! Hello to you too! What is his name?’

‘He doesn’t have one – you have to name him.’

Conn looked at him for a while. ‘Balios. I think that Balios is his name. So he didn’t run away?’

Caewyn nodded. ‘No, just moved to the great forest. He came home just recently. Anyway, he likes the name. Good, that is settled then. He is to go with you. I think you will need him.’

There were two things that had concerned Conn about his impending trip. The first was that he couldn’t leave when he had planned. The second was that for the first time ever, he didn’t have a ‘proper’ horse. The stallion he was currently riding was lame – and he didn’t seem to like ships. Totally refused to go near it. Another had died from colic. He was taking his third and fourth horses – and they were both young and inexperienced. Now he had this monster of an Elven bred horse. He felt better – even if he still felt that someone was messing with him. He hated being messed with

‘And what is this second thing you want to do?’

‘I need you to find a bedda for me. I have looked in Piada but there is no one there for me. He must be in Sytha.’

‘And how will we know?’

‘You will know. Even if you don’t, whomever you bring back will be just fine.’

Derryth looked at Caewyn. ‘So you want us to find you a bedda and bring him back for you. What happen if he doesn’t want to come?’

She smiled mischievously. ‘You’ll know what to do. Anyway, I’m going to find whoever is in charge and then have a proper bath. You need to be on your way. High tide is in an hour, and the weather is changing.’ She kissed Conn again and he hugged her. ‘Thank you for saying those nice things. No one else says things like that to me.’ She looked pointedly at Derryth as she said this. He shrugged.

The Reeve had arrived and Caewyn went and greeted her.

As she walked away, Derryth asked, ‘How does she know it is going to be high tide in an hour? She lives in a forest!’

‘Don’t ask me. I’m just happy to be going.’ Conn had said his goodbyes every day for the last three weeks and so he went, and headed for the dock. Balios was waiting outside quietly for him. Conn addressed him.

‘So, shall we walk or ride?’ He didn’t move so Conn presumed that meant ride and leapt aboard. The horse turned and they headed for the docks. By the time they arrived; the loading of the horses and wiga was almost complete. Conn dismounted and led the horse to the loading plank. Njil waited for him.

‘I presume the horse goes with us. Will he go on?’

Conn nodded. ‘Yep, shouldn’t be a problem. I think you will find that he is not an ordinary horse.’ Conn hailed a groom and gave him instructions. Balios needed his own stall; and it should be twice the size of any other horse. ‘If you needed to, leave one of the other colts behind.’ he instructed.

The groom led the horse to the plank and Balios quietly followed along behind; the sway of the plank and the rocking of the ship was not a problem. Unlike the others he hadn’t done this ten times already – on calm days – for practise.

Two hours later they were finally at sea; the Schooner and junk were waiting and they set course north east. As the wind filled their sails Conn thought he should warn Njil.

‘What do you mean – expect bad weather?’

‘Only passing on what I have been told. I think you should assume that hatches should be battened down at all times. This is not going to be an easy trip. See those clouds on the horizon?’

Njil sighed. ‘And it started out as such a beautiful day.’