The Aebeling (13 page)

Conn had just returned from one of his regular trips to Hama when Octa came for his first visit. It was not typical of Eaorls to randomly visit Thanes and his excuse was to visit his children. Conn had heard that Octa was not impressed with rumours that his son Hengist wished to take bedda from amongst the Silekians and that his daughter seemed to want to be bedda to Wilgar. Whilst they had rank, they did not have means, and given his new prosperity, he felt that his daughter and son could make a better match.

It was late afternoon when Conn greeted Octa as his Fyrd escorted him into the keep at Haran.

‘Eaorl, welcome to my humble abode.’

‘Nothing humble about it anymore – I have been riding on paved roadways between new dwellings.’ He handed his horse to a groom. ‘I’ve got to say that I’m impressed so far.’

His son and daughter greeted their father. Hengist was resplendent in the new wiga uniform manufactured by Conn. His father checked out the chainmail without commenting.

‘I hope my son has been diligent in his studies – and not otherwise distracted.’ Hengist ignored the barb. ‘What I have seen so far gives me great hope for further improvement in Tabae.’

‘Your son is one of my best wiga – you are rightly proud of him. Your daughter has also made great steps in her learning.’

‘Yes; I got the letter she sent me. I’m not sure why females need to bother with such manly skills – but at least she is amused.’

Octa greeted Annisa; her choli and scarf failed to cover her extended stomach. She was clearly pregnant. Octa was shocked, and said so.

Annisa bowed respectfully. ‘Not as shocked as I – I thought my child bearing days were over. For some reason the Gyden had blessed me with a child.’ Annisa had lost two children soon after birth, and another at five years old – with her bedda.

Octa congratulated her. ‘By the Gyden’s will this one will survive. Now – who is going to show me around this keep? One of my daughter’s letters even mentioned a steam-room. I think I might try it.’

The Eaorl was the special guest at the evening feast; held in the newly renovated and extended great hall. The main table looked over the large number of guests – mostly keep staff, the masters of the Guilds, and the new Lairds; as well as his Folctoga. Between Allowena and Naomh sat another girl; about sixteen, and very pretty. Her name was Theolynne. She had turned up some time ago – her father was the Eaorl of Abri in Silekia – the youngest child of many; and like many, the reason she was still alive was because she had been visiting her mother’s relatives and away from her home when the Rakians attacked. Separated, she had fled south with other refugees.

At the appropriate moment, Conn made the speech of welcoming and then made an announcement.

‘The days have been long, and the effort of all has been truly enormous. This week we have completed the last five of the farms here in Haran and I would like to announce the names of those that will be the new Lairds.’

Conn then announced the names of three Ceorls – all of them second or third sons of Ceorl in other thane fiefs in Tabae; including a nephew of the Octa. The last two he named were Wilgar il Melnik and Theolynne il Abri.

‘Whilst not of Lykia, these two are the children of Eaorls in Silekia, and it is important that they find themselves in a situation befitting their rank.’

Conn had a special proclamation made for each new Laird; written on a scroll, it stated their rights and obligations and displayed their heraldic insignia – should they have one – or provided a space for one that would be is created for them by Conn’s Herald. Formally receiving the document, they then all made a vow of allegiance to Conn and then to Octa; as their liege’s overlord. The two most surprised and grateful were Wilgar and Theolynne.

Later Theolynne was formally introduced to Octa by Hengist, and he stated his desire that she be allowed to be his primary bedda – and she would be his first.

Before Octa had a chance to say no, Conn interrupted. ‘I forgot to say that I will be acting as her father in these bedda negotiations. I only think it right given that she is to all intents an orphan. The same of course with Wilga – I will also stand as his father. Annisa will negotiate on my behalf.’

As both were presently of inferior status to the Eaorl of Tabae’s children, it was custom that the dowries would be paid to the Eaorl. Given their new positions as Lairds, and Conn’s careful manipulation of the situation, Octa now had no reason to refuse the request and he begrudgingly gave them his blessing.

Later he asked Conn about the Lairds.

‘Just how many of them are you creating?’

‘About forty – twenty in each domain; you could consider doing the same...’

‘We will have to wait and see – I have yet to be convinced that it is a good idea. They seem a bit pretentious…a bit like your wiga…’

Indeed the wiga did look very impressive in the new sleeveless gambeson, new lances and bows – and colourful linen surcoats. Wearing surcoats wasn’t a Meshechian thing, but Conn had introduced them to his wiga; both as sun protection for the chain mail that covered the gambesons and as easy identification. They also carried Guidons for the same reason. The surcoats needed identification and Conn had learnt that all the Eaorl’s of Meshech had long ago chosen animal motifs to identify their domains – and Tabae’s was a deer. So Conn’s wiga had black deer imprinted on their brown surcoats, while the surcoats he presented to Octa had black deer on a white background. Octa’s wiga had readily embraced their use, as they had felt a little like the poor cousins and yet were the Eaorl’s wiga.

‘It is always important to look good – and Hengist has proved to be an able student.’

‘That’s what I’m worried about.’ They had travelled together to the escarpment that overlooked Silekia, and were inspecting the sentry posts that had been built along the valley wall. Each stood beside a fire and smoke tower; continually manned, a signal could be started and quickly seen from everywhere in Haran.

‘It certainly is a severe drop into the valley. I can see why you do not fear invasion from Silekia.’ Conn commented to Octa as they overlooked Silekia.

Unlike most river valleys that are in a V shape, this was J shaped river valley, the high side being up to Lykia. It would take a great and skilful general to get his troops over the river and up the valley wall without losing thousands. It would be almost impossible to drag carts up the slope so a large scale invasion of Lykia would be near on impossible, and invading Silekia would be less hard, but still difficult.

‘Only once was it successful – I believe the Casere Sherric brought fifteen thousand wiga up these walls. He started in the middle of the night, catching the Ancuman by surprise because he had Twacuman as guides, and it is said that they can see in the dark. By morning he had enough men on the top to allow the rest of his Fyrd to make it up unharmed. It was not long after that that the Ancuman were finally defeated, and banished.’

Conn looked at the wall with renewed interest. ‘There must have been a great loss of life.’

Octa agreed. ‘Not only here – but a month later was the last battle – when seven of every ten men died on the Silekian side – and eight of every ten Ancuman died. Sherric himself died.’

‘I doubt that the Rakians are going to try the same thing again.’

‘True, but there are reports that the unrest in Silekia is increasing; and they fear that it will spill over our side. The Witan is much concerned about the number of incursions already.’ Octa had recently returned from Lykiak – and the Witan. He looked at Wilgar. ‘Not only here, in Silekia we are told that the Eaorldoms of Lugia, Azali, Emona and Sirido are all now in Rakian hands. Silekiak is now surrounded – there is only Salvia left in the north – and we are told that the Earls of Pelva and Jader have great problems.’

‘And there is nothing we can do?’

Sitting and watching always bothered Conn. Even more so as they watched a pillar of black smoke rise in the distance; something must be burning. The closest Eaorldom, Salvia, must be under attack.

‘No – nothing. We have no Aebeling. One can only wonder what tragedy is occurring there, even today, and we are powerless to do anything.’ Octa noted. ‘But it is not for us to interfere in the affairs of our neighbors. Even if we wanted to we can’t – only the Aebeling can lead Lykia to war.’ He smiled a thing smile, and asked rhetorically. ‘Anyway, who would lead the Fyrd?’

‘And there is still no decision?’

He shook his head. ‘No – it is an impossible task. There are always more reasons to say no than yes.’ Octa pointed to the valley. ‘A few hundred years ago, this whole valley supported hundreds of people. But the wars between the Rakians and Silekians has reduced the population and made those left behind stick close to the Burhs and Cotlifs. It has been a great tragedy.’

From the border they travelled west to Hama, and Conn showed Octa the new buildings and the craeftiga hard at work. He was awe struck; the range and scale was nothing like anything he could ever imagine. This was not subsistence craftwork.

One of the new buildings had been turned into an Inn, and Conn escorted the Eaorl inside, and they were heading for a table when a voice called out.

‘Feorhhyrde! About time you got here.’ They turned to see Derryth walk towards them. ‘If I sit in your Inn too long drinking ale I get soft.’ Derryth bowed to the Eaorl. Conn did the introductions.

Even Octa was surprised to see the Twacuman, but gathered his composure. ‘It is a pleasure to meet one of Halani. It has been a long time.’

Derryth nodded in agreement. ‘I think my father was the last to visit Tabae as a child – he was with a group who visited your grandfather just after he first became Eaorl, and they went to pay their respects.’

‘That is over a hundred years ago.’

‘Indeed it is – far too many years. But we can thank the Feorhhyrde for bringing the Twacuman back to Tabae. Unfortunately, he has had me delivering chickens.’

‘Chickens?’ Octa didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

‘And goats. I spent a day in the steam bath trying to get the smell off. The combined smell is atrocious.’

‘Chickens and goats – from Halani?’

Derryth laughed. ‘Eaorl, I understand your scepticism – I wouldn’t believe it myself.’

Conn explained that he had requested some of the chickens from Halani so that he could put them with the chickens he had already. Conn had already taken Octa to the see the acres of chicken pens with their maremma guards – to his continued amazement. But surprising Octa was the rule of the day; he was bemused at the quantities and range of goods being manufactured.

‘What are you going to do with it all – you have more than you can use in ten lifetimes.’

The buildings had crates of the back of new carts full of good ready for transportation – all small goods easily transported like shoes, pottery, blankets, rolls of linen and wool in bright colours, copper pots, glassware, candles, oils, soaps and other cosmetics – including the first perfume.

‘Anywhere I can – Lyciak first and then Abrekan – he will take what I don’t sell in Lyciak. Abrekan has agents in Moetiak and Trokia in place to sell anything that I can manufacture.’ Conn had received a message from Abrekan saying the first ship had been built and others were under construction, and that it would be in Sabatah by mid-summer.

‘So amongst everything else – you are now a merchant? That is not the traditional activity of Thanes – or Eaorls – because it is well, to be blunt, appropriate for the lower classes.’

‘Money has no class, Eaorl, if the money won’t come to you; you need to go where it is.’

Octa took another swig of the ale, shaking his head. ‘It is all very disturbing; Taransay is a most unusual place. I’m not sure I’m ready for all these changes –at least my son seems to be embracing them easily. Anyway, I was going to invite you to come with me to Lykiak next summer. I was going to suggest that it is unusual for Thanes to go to the Cotlif but I presume that you were going anyway?’

Conn nodded. He was definitely going.

‘Thought so; anyway, I have been getting questions from the other Eaorls – and they don’t believe anything I say – and I don’t believe a lot of it myself. Nonetheless, I’m displeased at being called a liar, so I’d like them to meet you in person.’

It suited Conn perfectly to go with the Eaorl to Lyciak – as well as selling merchandise, he also had some unfinished business of a personal nature to take care of.

With Octa on his way back to Tabae, Conn stayed to help with the shearing of the flocks of sheep and goats. Derryth even helped; he was in no hurry to return to the forest, and they both stood with Wilgar and a shepherd called Ablendan, watching the last lamb scamper down the chute from the new shearing shed.

To Conn, the sheep were the size of lambs and he commented as such. ‘Meshech certainly has small sheep. In Taransay, our sheep have at least five times more wool then these.’

Ablendan, who was originally from Sirido in Silekia, shook his head. ‘Not all Meshech. The sheep is Sirido are twice as big. Sirido is famous for its sheep.’

Wilgar nodded. ‘That is true. And they protect them well. It is impossible to buy one of their rams; only the wool. Of course, now they will have probably been stolen by the Rakians.’

Sirido had been captured by the Rakians a few months earlier; the Eaorl Eadrys and his family had escaped to Silekiak but the Cotlif had been lost. Conn had about thirty families from Sirido living with him now – the lucky ones who got out.

Conn contemplated the information before asking. ‘If they were going to steal them and take them to Rakia; would they do that before the sheering?’

Ablendan shook his head. ‘I doubt it –they would get too hot and be too heavy – much better to do it after the shearing.’

‘Would they be finished yet?’

Again he shook his head. ‘I doubt that also – the equipment and facilities you have built are second to none. They will have weeks to go yet.’

Derryth was not impressed with the line of questioning.

‘You are not thinking what I think you are thinking are you?’