The Aebeling (22 page)

Octa agreed. ‘I thank the Gyden that he is on our side; and I hope he stays there. If anyone can help you; he can.’

Conn agreed to try, and as the next day was the Witan, Octa requested Conn join as an observer – and although not typical, Octa’s growing wealth courtesy of Conn’s endeavours was giving his greater influence over members of the Witan – and Octa was happy to “donate” to have his way. His influence didn’t extend to the decision about the Aebeling; a decision was unable to be made again. Each Eaorl had a right of veto and it seemed that all choices and suggestions had been vetoed at least a dozen times already. They now had only four years before the Healdend of Moetia gave away the principality and they were no closer this time than any time in the past.

At yet another impasse; they turned to the Eaorl of Abela’s problems. Given the difficult terrain that was the border, the Rakian incursions were obviously not done light hearted, and although a slave trade still flourished in Tegeste, the rewards were minor. Like their incursions into Silekiak, they were simply testing the waters to see if they could achieve the same in Lykiak as the lack of an Aebeling could meant the likelihood of an organized retaliation was minimal.

The Eaorl of Erbil, his neighbor to the west, was not experiencing the same issues due to the geography of his border, and no one dared to enter Tabae with Conn’s Fyrd patrolling the border. With the discussion going in circles, Conn decided to take the initiative.

‘Excuse my rudeness for interrupting your discussions, Eaorls, but, as Octa and the Eaorl of Erbil will attest, I have a well-trained Fyrd patrolling all of Tabae, and I would be more than happy to patrol the entire Lykian border for you. I will need to increase the numbers of my wiga to do that – or I can train a company of Lykian cavalry to do the job. Nearly all my wiga, as you now, are Silekian.’

The solution was logical, and as the Eaorls was not individually inclined to donate their limited resources to the effort, the proposal found support after Octa was able to silence any nervousness about a Thane having such a large fyrd. After further negotiation, they settled on a compromise – Conn could increase his fyrd by half what he requested – a hundred and twenty men – but he had to also train a company of Sagittari, another hundred and twenty men, for the Lykian Fyrd. They also agreed that the Cotlif of Lykian would pay its share – after all, it was making a lot of money because of the increased amount of trade. With the expansion in numbers, Conn would soon have an official fyrd of almost three hundred of the best trained and resourced wiga in Lykia – unofficially, however, he already had twice that number. It was politic to keep some things to one self.

Within weeks the new Lykian Fyrd in full training. With nice new uniforms and weapons manufactured in Hama, and with the excellent pay of eight thousand Ryals a year, recruits were drawn from families of Thanes as well as Eaorls. The new fyrd required a new a new structure, and ten Folctogas were recruited to lead squads of ten men, and the ten squads would be commanded by the newly created Kaptain. After a month of preparations and recruitments, they moved to Abela to commence training and patrols, with Wilga appointed as the acting Kaptain; until such time as a suitable person could be found.

While in Lykiak, Conn would meet regularly with the Eaorls in their residences. One such Earl was Eanfrid, Eaorl of Erbil, who was his closest neighbor. Eanfrid was a regularly visitor to Haran, ostensibly to try some of his latest meads or wines – and then his beer, but in reality to see what was happening. After a few visits, Conn had offered to send some people over to work with his Burhgerefa and he agreed. As he arrived at his residence in Lykiak, Conn noticed a young man of about eighteen; who he could have sworn he met the previous day.

‘Daray?’ Conn asked curiously

‘Good morning Thane; nice to see you again.’

‘I thought it was you but I wasn’t sure - I’m surprised to see you again; did I not see you yesterday with Eaorl Tolbert? I didn’t expect to see you here.’

‘Tolbert is my uncle; my mother was his youngest sister and she first married a Thane in Gozan, but when he died, she married Eanfrid’s father – my father – as his third bedda. I am son number five.’

‘So Eanfrid is your brother, and Tolbert is your Uncle; you are unusually well connected…’

‘That is true – I am also cousin to Ricbert il Urfa. I have just returned from his domain. I have been there for five years, on the border gates, counting people and goods as they pass.’

‘Exciting work – so how old are you now?’

‘I have just seen eighteen winters.’

‘What about bedda?’

Daray shook his head. ‘I do not have an income to support a family yet.’

‘And what are you going to do now?’

‘Whatever my brother decides; I serve at his pleasure. I had considered joining the new Lykian fryd but I understand that recruitment has ceased for this year.’

Before they could speak again, Eanfrid welcomed Conn to his hall and was about to send Daray away when Conn requested he stay. Curious, the Eaorl relented. Later, as they drank the quality Hama ale, Conn made a suggestion.

‘Eaorl, I have had the pleasure of your brother’s company twice now, and I hear that he is not destined for a position at this stage. Would you be agreeable for me to arrange a position for him in the new fyrd?

A younger brother was sometimes a more of a burden than a joy, especially one young enough to be your son. Eanfrid was more than happy to rid himself of the task of finding a role for him, but only agreed if Daray was agreeable – which he was.

Conn told Allowena about him as they ate dinner in the Inn. She was interested.

‘So is he cute?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

‘So I get to hang around a cool fifth son of an Eaorl – who doesn’t have bedda yet. Sounds like fun.’

‘Sorry to say but you can’t think of him that way. I need him to… umm … do something for me – and I don’t want him distracted by your feminine guiles.’

Her only response was to giggle and punch him – which given that he trained her to fight meant that it hurt.

Instead of returning directly to Hama, Conn and Allowena decided to join Daray as he travelled to join the wiga in Abela. They travelled south through the dividing range into Erbil, and then west towards the coast, staying in Inns along the well-trodden, albeit muddy, path. When they arrived at the outskirts of the cotlif of Arbella, they arrived at the camp that was being set up to house the new recruits and training grounds for the border patrol. Wilga and Wuffa joined them as they travelled into see the Earl; an hour away from the camp.

The cotlif was in turmoil. A troop of men were getting ready to leave in a hurry and Conn asked the Folctoga what was the problem.

‘We seem to have lost the Eaorl’s daughter – she was riding with a wiga to her grandmother’s Burh, and he has been found dead on the road with an arrow in his chest. The arrow is of Rakian design, and they seem to have taken the girl with them.’

Conn entered the keep to find an upset Egbert.

‘She is just twelve. I did not think it possible that they could be so close to the Burh.’

‘How much of a lead do they have?’

‘To the border? Half a day. If we cannot find them before they go over the wall; she will be lost to me. I dare not follow.’

‘But nothing is stopping me.’

‘You? I don’t understand.’

Before he replied he spoke quietly to Daray and he scurried from the room, taking Wuffa with him. ‘I am not – technically speaking – a Lykian. And neither are Wilgar or Wuffa and most of my wiga. Daray is another matter. We will just have to avoid getting caught. If we go across the border, there is little chance of a response from the Rakians.’

‘But there is great risk in only four against so many.’

‘Someone once said that bad things happen when good men sit by and do nothing. With your leave, I will go and see if they have found her, and if not, I will do my best to find her for you. Will you take care of Allowena for me please while I am away?’

‘Of course; she will be as my daughter.’ Egbert didn’t know what else to say; but with tears in his eyes, he shook Conn’s hands heartily. Conn hugged Allowena, and immediately departed with Wilgar. Daray and Wuffa would catch up.

By evening they had found the squad sent out to find the girl and learnt that they had failed. But they knew where she was – they had tracked her assailants over the border.

‘Thane, at least four horses have gone down this path sometime today. It would only be a few hours ago. It seems that they came up this way as well.’

Conn told the Folctoga his plans, and as Daray arrived with three extra men and two pack horses with supplies, they headed down over the border in the failing light. By the time they arrived at bottom of the wall, they were at the river’s edge, and there was just enough light to cross safely – the ford in the river at this point was dangerous in day and treacherous at night. Safely on the other bank, a well-travelled path headed towards the port of Tegeste and they set out at a brisk but steady pace. Before long, they spotted a camp site on the road side.

It was located in a small hollow, and a dozen horses were tied up to graze. The camp consisted of three tents and a fire, and as Conn scouted closer, he could see the ‘slavers’, which is what he assumed them to be, pushing the Eaorl’s daughter, her hands tied, into one of the tents. Conn was relieved to see she looked otherwise unharmed.

They could also see three riders leave in the direction of the cotlif – which must still be a two hour ride, and they were travelling at night. It must be very urgent to be travelling at night. They did a quick scout around the camp, sending Wilgar and Daray in opposite directions. In about twenty minutes they returned.

‘There isn’t a sentry on the north side – near the river.’ Wilgar reported.

‘They must not assume any danger from that side, I guess; their mistake.’

Leaving Wuffa to guard the horses, they crept up to the camp from the river side. Whilst the moonlit night was advantageous for attacking, it was likewise for defending. However, Conn was able to get in close enough before he was noticed, and when they noticed him, it was too late. Two large men sprang to their feet, grasping their swords and rushed to him. A swing, a parry, a thrust and one fell to the ground grasping his throat where the Katana had severed his artery; the second was more skilled and had more time to look death longer in the face before he too was dying.

It was a short but deadly exchange. The two remaining men, in their late teens, stood still, looking terrified; it was over before they had time to fetch their weapons. So they raised their arms in surrender, as they saw two bows aimed towards them.

‘Don’t kill us.’ they begged.

‘Why not?’ a female voice from the tent called out; ‘you are nothing but slaving scum. You deserve nothing but death – and a slow one. The other two died much too quickly for my liking. But I presume we are now the property of more pond scum.’

As Conn walked into the fire light, he waved his men forward; they soon had the two slavers bound and were dealing with the dead bodies. Conn walked to the tent.

‘Pond scum is a bit harsh…’

‘Gyden, Thane, it’s you!’ a female voice interjected with a sense of relief and surprise. ‘What are you doing here?’

As Conn looked into the tent, there were three women tied up, two Silekians and the Lykian girl who Conn had once met in Lykiak with her father and whose name was Bettia.

One spoke. ‘You know this man? Who… what… how… he isn’t even Lykian?’ She was Silekian, mid-twenties, obviously a noble of some sort. The third was most probably her maid, a girl in her thirties. Conn untied the ropes and Bettia hugged him; more in relief than affection. The younger woman interjected.

‘Just who are you? Not that I’m not grateful but I’d like to know’.

‘Evalyn, this is Conn il Taransay, Thane of Hama in Tabae. He is a friend to my father. Thane, this is Evalyn, bedda of Sebbi, Eaorl of Pelva in Silekia.’ She pointed to the third girl who stood timidly in the background. ‘This is Valeri, Evalyn’s maid.’

Conn nodded and bowed to the ladies. ‘Greetings from the pond.’

Evalyn missed the comment but looked at Allowena surprisingly, ‘I know that your father is an Eaorl, but to send a Thane to rescue you?! I’ve never heard of such a thing…’

All this time Conn had been unable to get a word in edgeways, and though about to start, he had been interrupted by Evalyn. He raised his hand for her to stop talking.

‘Sorry, it is important for me to ask questions for now; you may ask me questions later. We saw three men leave for Tegeste – who were they?’

‘There were only two men – two of the slavers – and a captive – a Twacuman girl.’ Evalyn answered.

‘A Twacuman girl?’

‘Yes, they captured her after they caught us. She is I think from Piada – which is strange because we didn’t know that there were any Twacuman in Piada anymore.’

Conn was surprised as well. He knew that there had been no contact between Piada and Halani for over a hundred years – and what was this girl doing out alone?

Conn escorted them outside to the fire while his men set up camp. They posted sentries, kept the two prisoners under guard and prepared a meal. They also did a survey of the camp and its contents.

‘You are going to have to start at the beginning, I think,’ Conn decided. ‘I don’t know how all of this fits in – Bettia is from Lykia, you are from Silekia, and the Twacuman girl is from Piada.’

Evalyn started her story. ‘Pelva is on the coast, about five days north of Silekiak. About 12 days ago I was with Valeri riding in the woods near our Cotlif – we were visiting Valeri’s sister who was sick. We thought we were safe – her house is within our patrolled zone – but we were attacked by these Rakian scum. I think they intended to go south but our patrol was there so they headed north…’

‘The Twacuman girl?’

‘The strangest thing – not a day later when we were past Lugia, there she was – all alone. She was collecting firewood or something – she was away from her horse and they captured her easily. She must be no more than ten and out there all alone?’