Read The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) Online
Authors: Michael O'Neill
The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) (6 page)
Unluckily for them, over the rise and waiting for them to arrive were the pikemen in front of bowmen, and supported by the artillery whose first volleys of stone scattered the advancers. Almost simultaneously an arrow flew into the sky and exploded into a red flare; signally the next part of the plan. Moments later, a flare was sent from the town. All was set, and the MacLeod Pipe band started to play.
In the distance, the gates of Trokiak should be opening and what cavalry and infantry they still had, should be streaming out to attack the rear of the Gatinan forces. It didn’t take the Gatinans too long to realize their position; the sight of the war of phalanxes, the bombardment by arrows and artillery, and the new warning that the Trokians were attacking from behind them caused them panic and they tried to turn around, losing formation.
This of course was error number something large, and now mounted at a Cataphract on the black stallion, Conn led two companies of fully armoured horses into a charge of the confused Trokians. As the Gatinans saw the oncoming cavalry they tried to turn and defend; but there were too many holes to stop the charge of horses who plowed through the line of men. The lances having taken out the first line, the riders used their swords to cleaver a path through to the other side of the fryd; and when the Gatinans saw Conn prepare to charge again, the fyrd simply collapsed; they dropped their weapons and ran in all directions.
Two hundred fully mounted knights on the largest horses you have ever seen charging at you with a long lance is enough to put the terrors into a real wiga – let alone a conscript who didn’t want to be there – and the battle quickly turned into a rout.
With the collapse, Conn trumpeted the retreat of his forces, giving the Gatinans the opportunity to surrender. They needed no second invitation and in the face of overwhelming defeat, they stopped and raised their arms into the air. Very quickly, the Sagittari surrounded the forces. Of the more than two thousand that had engaged Conn’s forces; hundreds lay dead on the field, with hundreds more injured. The Gatinan fyrd had been defeated – or at least this part had. On a further signal, the Cataphracts turned and headed for Trokian to assist with any ongoing battles there; the other half of their force having been sent there initially.
Conn waited for the leaders of the Fyrd to be brought to him; and they symbolically handed over their swords. Both were middle aged, one an Eaorl, the other the son of; one was even a Ratakian.
‘Dubhghlas, Thane il Mazara’; ‘Amargein il Motya.’ They bowed reluctantly but respectfully. ‘We place ourselves at your mercy.’
‘Conn il Haran; but I suspect you know who I am. Motya; are you not a long way from home?’
He shrugged. ‘The Aebeling is my kinsmen; I wanted to ensure he stayed alive. I was just helping out.’
‘I’ll bet. Is not Alric il Rakia also your cousin?’
‘Yes he is.’
‘Cosy little arrangement isn’t it. I suppose he was just helping out as well.’
The Ratakian ignored the barb. ‘Thane, is not Haran a part of Lykia? Can you tell us why you have chosen to be drawn into this internal conflict between neighbours?’
‘It is not just neighbours but also neighbours of neighbours. I was doing the same – as you can see, I am not a Lykian and my wiga are all from Silekia and they are in conflict with Rakia. We just wanted to help our neighbour as well. And as for my mercy, you will have to wait to see what that looks like.’
As Conn spoke to the two Eaorls, messengers arrived to tell him that the entire Galatian force had surrendered, and that he was requested to attend the battlefront near Trokiak.
As he rode towards the town it was obvious it had been a major loss for the Galatian forces – of all those that participated, perhaps just over half would return – and whatever problems Conn had before today dwarfed into insignificance with what lay ahead.
Derryth and Halla rode with Conn and his Cataphracts as they travelled towards Trokiak.
‘It is wrong to be impressed by the administration of mass death,’ Derryth offered, ‘but it was truly impressive.’
Conn shook his head. ‘Clinical – and such a huge loss of life; thankfully not that many of ours, but Gatina will remember this event for ever.’
As they rode to the town, they were met by a welcome committee; several Trokian Folctoga and the Major of the Silekian archer company, Eocho; who made the introductions.
Eocho il Pelva was a cousin of Sebbi of Pelva and had joined Conn’s fyrd after Conn had returned the stolen Evalyn to her bedda some years earlier. Conn had trained him so that he had become Major of the archery division.
‘Thane, this is Aisly, Aebeling of Trokia and Leon, her Folctoga.’
Despite being on horseback, they bowed respectfully to Conn; Aisly was dressed as a Valkeri with modifications; her clothing less humble. She looked as if she was in her late thirties, with round face, dark brown eyes and long brown hair. Young, she must have been very beautiful, as she still remained extremely attractive. Conn thought that she was old for an Aebeling. The Wealdend must be very old.
‘It is hard to believe that one who is a Thane in Lykia would travel so far to provide us with assistance, but we are most grateful. As I see you now, though, I see that you are no normal Thane.’ She looked to the Valkeri on one side and the Twacuman on the other. ‘And you travel with unusual companions as well. I have not met with one of my kin from Cyme for many years, and the last time that a Twacuman visited Trokia is not in my memory. Welcome to you both.’
‘About seventy five years’, Derryth offered, ‘my grandfather visited your great grandfather with his father. Before your great grandmother usurped the position.’ Derryth recalled the events so matter of factually, that Conn was surprised to see the flush of colour in Aisly’s face. Obviously, they didn’t see things quite the same way. But she had the control to let it slide.
Aisly continued. ‘As the victory is yours, Thane, we do not lay claim to prisoners or booty. What do you propose to do with the Gatinans?’
‘I propose to send the majority home, as soon as possible; so that they can get back before winter. Those that can be ransomed, I will keep until the ransom has been paid. Once I know who is here I will send demands. Do we have the Aebeling?’
‘Yes we do, Thane’, Eocho interrupted, ‘But he has been severely wounded. It is doubtful that he will live.’
‘Well we must try and ensure that he does. He is better to us alive than dead. Has he been seen by a Medic?’
‘I believe not – they will not let us touch him.’
Conn shrugged. ‘I don’t believe I gave them a choice…’
Conn rode with the Trokians to where the Aebeling was being held, in a tent in the middle of the field devastated by weeks of feet and hooves – mixed with rain. It was a quagmire. They alighted and found the Aebeling surrounded by his personal staff; refusing to allow Conn’s medics to see him.
Conn walked towards the group of men and one had the tenacity to stand in his way; Conn dropped him to the ground with a right cross. He crumbled to the mud.
‘Gentlemen; I’ve had a very bad morning where I have seen men and boys that I have taken responsibility for die in front of me because of an unjust war that I didn’t invite. So, I’m in a very bad mood. The next person who stands in my way with feel my dagger slit a hole in his gut so big that his hands will not be able to keep his innards in. Which one of you is that going to be?’
They melted away in front of him and he walked to the Aebeling laying on the ground. Conn’s medics went forward and immediately started to assess the condition of the Aebeling, quickly removing his armour and soiled clothing. He was almost unconscious and two arrow wounds were apparent and still bleeding. They went to work cleaning, removing the arrows, stitching and bandaging the wounds. As they worked, Conn went outside and observed the work of his men dealing with the battle field; as for the medics, he had personally trained these men; they knew almost as much as him, and had a lot of practise over the last weeks.
The lead medic came out. ‘Thane, the wounds have been closed, but I fear that he has lost too much blood. They did not stop the bleeding early enough.’
‘Then he is going to need a transfusion. Set it up.’ Conn instructed. He looked to the Gatinans, ‘You probably don’t know what that is so I’ll explain. Your Aebeling has lost a lot of blood. He needs replacement blood. Sadly I don’t know which type he is, or any of you, and I don’t have time to find out. Luckily I’m type ‘O’, and that is called a universal donor.’ Conn paused to take off his armour and his shirt, as the medics prepared. Conn went inside and sat down beside the Aebeling offering his arm to one of the medics.
It was primitive but it was the best that Conn was able to invent in Haran, fine bamboo needles attached to a fairly coarsely extruded rubber hose with a hand pump; it would allow his blood to be transferred into the Aebeling. Tying a tourniquet to his arm, the Medic inserted the needle into Conn’s arm and when the blood began to flow, he inserted the other needle into the neck vein of the Aebeling. All they could do now was wait.
The Gatinans were horrified at what they thought was a barbaric act, but the swords of Derryth and Halla prevented them from moving. Halla with her hands out stretched showed to all that she was band-less. Aisly, Aebeling of Trokia, was shocked, ‘Cousin, your arms – does that mean..?
Halla nodded, ‘Yes, it does. I am theow.’ There was little else she could say.
Silence prevailed as they observed the strange occurrence, and after about 30 minutes, the Aebeling began to breathe easier, and as colour returned to his face, he looked like he might live. They unhitched Conn from the transfusion line, and after consulting with Aisly, Conn gave instructions that the Aebeling was to be moved carefully into Trokiak, and to be under guard at all times. Despite their loud protests, his personal staff were to have no contact with him whatsoever – just in case they tried to undo their efforts – until Conn gave them permission. The alternative of a slow death brought them around to Conn’s way of thinking.
Aisly stood in awe. ‘Thane, I have just seen a dying man come back to life. Is your blood magic?’
A middle aged, overweight man stepped forward. He stated proudly that he was the private medic to the Aebeling and the Healdend.
‘I don’t know what you are so proud of – your lack of skills almost cost your Aebeling his life. I want you to go with one of my medic teams and work on the wounded.’ The Medic was protesting strongly until an arrow from Derryth hit the dirt between his legs. He went white.
‘We seem to have a communication problem – if you don’t follow my orders you join the dead. I have no time to negotiate. I expect you to work on your wounded until there is no one left untreated. Is that clear?’ He nodded, still shaking with fear. ‘Good, now go.’ He scampered off to the waiting medic team and they went in search of wounded.
Conn continued. ‘Gatinans, you have suffered a defeat of true significance. Your names will be vilified for generations. Today is not a time for recriminations; today your men need you. It is not their fault that they have been dragged into this war. I need your help to ensure that, by the end of today, all your men are disarmed and are either back in their camps with food or in the hospital tents getting attention for their wounds.’
Conn’s Logistics Corp had been tasked with cleaning up the mess, and had already sprang into action, but it was a massive task, and they needed all the help they could get.
Conn continued. ‘You will have to bury the dead today; so graves must be dug. Every person must be named and identified before he is buried. My heralds will assist you with these activities. All weapons must be surrendered, as must all animals. You are allowed your clothing and personal possessions only. You must ensure that everyone has a tent to sleep in and something to keep them warm. If you do not have food; that will be supplied as well.’
Conn looked at Eocho, who nodded and responded.
‘Thane, a large supply of food arrived a few days ago; a dozen ships from Menia and Atrak. Abrecan has arranged for it to be unloaded to ox wagons and it will be here as soon as you give the order.’
‘So ordered.’ Eocho sent a wiga to Abrecan, while Conn continued to address the Gatinan Eaorls and Folctoga; whose had spent the entire time in total silence.
‘Gentlemen, you do not have much time, return to your men and set to work. I will be setting up a command post, and you will return there this evening. If you have questions, please ask any of my officers. Oh, and if you fail to perform these instructions to an acceptable standard, any ransom that I set on your name will double – if you even live to see tomorrow.’ Conn paused to contemplate the group. ‘Does anyone have any questions?’
They looked nervously at each other. One gained courage and stepped forward. ‘What about punishments – will you be executing anyone?’
Conn shook his head. “I might look like a barbarian but I am not. You will only have to be concerned if you have treated anyone in contravention of the Rules of War – or if your family decide not to pay your ransom.’
The Rules of Law were a set of standards not unlike the Geneva Convention, and they had been set down by the first Casere. All wiga knew what they were and understood the consequences. Conn was starting to develop a real appreciation for the first Casere.
The Eaorls, Thanes and Folctoga set out immediately, relieved that they might just live to see another day. Aisly and her Folctoga had watched and waited quietly all this time.
Soon after, the Aebeling came up and stood beside him; ‘Thane, that was very impressive. I find it impossible to think that your rank is only that of Thane…’
Conn smiled at the lady whose clothing seem to have loosened and her bosom seemed to be much larger than before. ‘I have made it a policy to not let rank restrict my ambitions or actions.’
‘I gathered as much from the letter from cousin Driscol I received recently asking as to your health – he seems to hold you in high regard – even if he sounded somewhat perplexed. He certainly seemed concerned about your wellbeing.’ She rested her hand on his elbow. ‘So will you join me this evening – we will hold a feast in celebration of your great victory. We have much to be grateful for.’ Her eyelashes fluttered on the last comment.
‘Aebeling, I apologize but I must disappoint you this evening. I will attend as soon as all is put right here. It is not for me to leave such responsibility in the hands of others.’
‘Very well, if you must. Leon, my Folctoga, will stay with you and whatever you want he will make happen. I will return to the Castle and do my work there. When you are ready, please come and be our guest.’
It took a week before the two fyrds were sorted, and Conn surprised everyone by ordering the fit and healthy to go home. If they left now, they would be able to get there before winter set in and snow covered the mountain passes. Conn had allowed them geldings and some stallions only to ride – the mares or better stallions were now part of his personal horse breeding program. The Thanes had their swords returned to them. They were family heirlooms and were gratefully received. Everything else was collected, loaded on ships, and sent to Atrak. If he was going to need it at all, he would need it there.
Nobles of any level were not allowed to leave; they would go home by ship after a ransom was paid. Nor were any of the Rakians allowed to leave – Conn sent them all to work at the demesne of Ushu doing whatever needed doing – including lots of stone wall fences, drains and ditches. Conn didn’t trust Fallon il Rakia so set the wergild for the Rakian contingent as a package price – if the wanted one, they had to pay for them all – from Eaorl to wiga.
Conn arranged for the list of survivors and the ransom conditions to be sent to the Healdend in Gatina; he could pass on the letter of demand to the Rakians. Six million Ryals would go a long way to paying the costs of this expedition – and that was just the Rakian portion. As well as gold, Conn made a range of other requests to the Gatinan Healdend.
Conn though that he was being reasonable while the others thought he was being generous.
When the plains around Trokiak were clearing of Gatinan wiga, Conn had the majority of his fyrd transported back to Lykia on ships – they had arrived weekly into Trokiak with grain and other commodities, and without much to take on the return voyage, it was appropriate to return the Silekian wiga to their families. He retained a thousand Sagittari and support divisions to guard the prisoners, and with the Thane of Ushu deceased, Conn was able to retain control over the demesne for as long as he wanted.