The Aebeling (46 page)

With the ship ready to leave at first light, Conn returned to the Keep in time for the feast and he was escorted to the hall. Halla was left behind in his room as she was no longer allowed there.

Inside Aerlene was waiting talking to Sibbe and several others from the court. Conn was taken to his couch and the hall gradually filled with women of all ages and statures but mostly underdressed. Conn felt like he had suddenly died and gone to heaven – surrounded by beautiful women with very little on. The servants wore less, and the dancers later had no clothes on at all. It was surreal.

The Cyme did not use chairs and tables but lay on what Conn would describe as the lectus - a wooden frame that supported criss-crossed leather straps and a mattress filled with wool or feathers. The couches held two or three people and Conn shared with one of the Aebeling’s advisors; including a young woman whose clothes covered almost nothing when she stood, and less when she lay down. She also had a wandering hand that kept finding itself on his leg.

Sibbe sat in front of him; she shared her lectus with a young woman who was obviously her lover. ‘I noticed that you were wearing an unusual medal that seemed familiar. Would you show it me?’

He took off the medals and handed them to her. Sibbe looked at them in silent contemplation. Via his link with Lilith, he felt her surprise when she recognized that one of them said Feorhhyrde.

She took a deep breath; held up the medallion on its leather thong and watching it spin. ‘I do not understand how you would have this medallion. It is said to have disappeared in the battle that defeated the Ancuman – on the battlefield with the Casere who died with thousands of his kin and Twacuman. Can I ask who gave it to you?’

‘The Twacuman of Halani…’

‘Really?’ She handed it back. ‘Such a simple object but one filled with such reverence. Did you know that the Rakian have tried for centuries to find that medallion?’

‘It is probably better for all that they were not successful. The Twacuman seem to think that it holds great power.’

‘Indeed – and so do the Rakians – though I do not understand what it is.’

‘I gather you have spent some time with the Rakians.’

She nodded. ‘Indeed – we provided protection for the Healdend of Rakia – they are generally hated by their subjects and three have been assassinated over the last two hundred years.’

‘You no longer provide protection?’

‘No – we have been replaced by...’ she paused and leaned forward, her lack of under wear clearly apparent, ‘Ancuman.’

‘The Healdend has a strong connection to the Ancuman, I gather.’

‘Their blood is mostly of the House of Axum in Kindah – which is the home land of the Ancuman. The Rakians search for that medallion because the Ancuman have asked them to – their desire is to destroy it – I remember hearing that it was actually cast in Kindah, so they feel they own it.’ She paused to contemplate him further. ‘So now you are Feorhhyrde and have a theow from Valkeri; a rare combination.’

Conn changed the subject. ‘Are not the people of Trokia your kin?’

‘It is true, the Healdend in my cousin.’

‘Then why do you not go to her aid? It is possible that they will be invaded by the Gatinans next spring.’

Sibbe paused to considerer her answer. ‘The Valkeri have a reputation to uphold. We are bodyguards who do not take sides or interfere in wars. We only act if our client is under threat. Sadly that pledge was not followed by my Great-Aunt who usurped the throne of her client. They have broken from the path that we follow so we cannot help them.’

As it was getting late, Aerlene retired as she was very tired. She was escorted to her room in an outside longhouse. With the departure of Aerlene, Sibbe moved to sit beside Conn; very closely, placing one hand on his leg and another on the girl that she had displaced. She was rubbing both very slowly.

She smiled at him, the sweat on her brow visible. The room wasn’t cold, and the fires had dimmed down so that the room was getting dark.

‘It seems that you are not afraid of doing things that perhaps you shouldn’t…’ Her hand didn’t stop as it went up his leg. ‘Tell me what you would like me to do… and I’ll say yes.’ She stood, and dropped the shoulders of her grown. It slipped down her body and dropped to the floor. She was naked now; and as he looked around, most everyone else was as well – and engaged in some form of sexual activity.

For a fleeting moment, Conn wondered if he would make it out alive, and then decided he didn’t really care – there would be a lot worse ways to die.

CHAPTER 23

Early the next morning, they bid the Aebeling farewell and headed to the port without escort. Halla was already on board.

Aerlene commented on how much friendlier they were, despite what had occurred the previous day.

‘What happened last night?’ she asked curiously as they walked.

‘Nothing much – we just sat around and had a few drinks together after you left – we had a lot to discuss.’

‘I’ll bet – you in a room with fifty almost naked women. I can imagine what you talked about.’

‘I was able to negotiate porting rights for my ships.’ Conn added hopefully. Sibbe did need some “convincing” about that so he made to “negotiate” with her several times over the evening. With a Gyden urging you on, it’s amazing how much stamina you have – enough to even “negotiate” with the “not as attractive as half the room” Gudrun, Portgerefa of Cyme. After a particular energetic “negotiation” session, she agreed that the brown sailed vessels could land in Cyme any time they wanted to.

They had other things to discuss as well. They were in a tangled mess of nakedness when he asked Sibbe about the Cirice.

She shook her head. ‘I don’t know where the Trokian Cirice is – or was. We have our own – this is an ancient Ancuman port; Kishdah – the Ancuman homeland –is somewhere to the east and this was their first stop. My ancestor discovered a Cirice here in the keep – deep down on the lowest level – and long since deserted by the Ancuman Gyden. My ancestor was Silekian – a Folgere from Ilissus– but the pirates treated her just the same as any other female. One day she was able to steel a gold gemstone and took it to the Cirice and devoted the Cirice and herself to Lilith – who accepted it and us. Not long after that the men were gone and the Valkeri were born.’

Conn understood now – every Valkeri was actually a Folgere. No wonder men were not allowed – unusual sword bearing and bow wielding Folgere, but Folgere none the less.

‘What of Kadash – is it around here?’

She shook her head. ‘Kadash? I remember hearing that name...’ She stopped to contemplate for a moment. ‘Do you remember me saying that we were guards to the Rakians until we were replaced?’

Conn nodded.

‘There was an overlap when we served beside them – and I remember seeing an Ancuman map that had Cyme and a lot of other names familiar to me written on it – but the shape of the lands looked nothing like today – everything seemed much closer together. I remember seeing a city named Kadash – I noticed it because it was close to Cyme.’

‘How old was the map?’

‘Very – I was told that it was before the last flooding – and if so Kadash, must be under forty feet of water now because it was between Cyme and Trokia.’

Disappointed as he was, Conn was curious. ‘How did you manage to see the map?’

She smiled a sad smile. ‘I was young and adventurous – and a certain Ancuman Folctoga was magnificent. The only problem is that Ancuman like their intercourse rough – they prefer to take with force rather than have what is offered freely. If you can act like a violated virgin seven days a week, you do well. As I said, I was young and adventurous, and he was very beautiful, but I had to stop because I was finding it hard to explain why I covered in bruises.’

‘Are the women the same?’

‘Not always – they are extremely docile and compliant with their men – I suspect it is to punish them – but same as the men with women. They generally prefer women to men. Consequently, the Ancuman had an insatiable need and desire for theow –both for the bed – and also the field. The Ancuman don’t like to work in fields or workshops. Very nearly every Ancuman is either wiga or breeding wiga.’

They even discussed Halla. Sibbe said that she really did not understand why it happened. Conn told her of meeting her in Tegeste – naked. He asked her why she was there.

Sibbe took a deep breath. ‘Halla has always found some pleasure in visiting Rakia – her father is an Eaorl of Rakia – but not that we usually have attachment to our fathers – mostly we don’t know who they are. She was also purchasing theow.

‘In Tegeste? Most of those theow are stolen from the domains of Silekia…’

She shook her head defiantly. ‘We never buy illegal theow; only those with the proper papers. Most domains have a supply, and we buy all the girls that we can.’

Every Valkeri had a girlfriend on hand and most appeared to be theow, as were most of the servants. Conn wondered if it was only him that saw the irony in that situation.

Later, as he was finally leaving to get some sleep, Sibbe asked him to take care of her daughter; she would be missed.

At sea the conditions were now perfect, and they were soon on a fast course to Moetiak. Aerlene was able to stay below and rest, why Conn trained Halla on how to sail a schooner. Talented and interested, her progress was handicapped by the fact that she was still very sore and weak from the beating she had received. Conn didn’t push her.

They arrived six days overdue to find an anxious Arlen waiting for them on the docks; he had beaten them home by two days, and unable to explain their absence, spent his time avoiding the Healdend by hiding at the docks. Soon after their arrival, he happily escorted his cousin to the keep, while Conn took Halla with him to the Inn. Arlen was also to request an audience with the Healdend for the afternoon. There was much to report.

Several hours later, changed and rested, the three of them arrived at the appointed time in the keep. As they walked in, Ana ran to her father and he picked her up and hugged her. She giggled hysterically as he tickled her. Aerlene, who was waiting for them by the door, explained to the stunned Halla that the black haired but blue eyed beauty was Conn’s daughter – and one of twelve. While they had been away, Ana had been staying with Driscol’s family.

As they continued up the hall, Conn could see a strange look growing on Driscol’s face as he watched Halla walk toward him. He acknowledged their arrival as they bowed. Obviously Aerlene didn’t tell him about Halla. She whispered that she didn’t know how.

‘Thane, welcome back. I hear you have had an eventful journey, and I see you have a new travelling companion.’

Driscol then addressed Halla.

‘Halla il Cyme, it is a long time since you graced the halls of Moetia. Last time was with your mother the Aebeling, I think, about ten years ago. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?’

Halla looked at Conn before speaking, and then held up her arms that were denuded of the gold bracelets that defined a Valkeri. Driscol was visibly surprised. Halla spoke in the silence.

‘Healdend, I thank you for the welcome. This time, I do not travel as a representative of my mother, but as theow to the Thane.’

Startled, Driscol looked back at Conn and bade them all sit at a table, which he joined. Halla didn’t sit; she stood as appropriate for a theow. Driscol requested wine – lots of it, and quickly and sighed as he spoke to Halla.

‘Is it not true that the only way that a Valkeri can become theow is in combat?’

She nodded.

‘So the Thane defeated you in hand to hand combat?’

She nodded again.

Driscol looked at Conn. ‘Ok, tell me the story. This I’ve got to hear.’

‘It’s a long one,’ Conn offered.

‘I’ll make the time. You also have to tell me about everything you are doing in Menia. I hear that your ships have been attacking pirate vessels.’

‘I hope they have learnt their lesson by now and stop attacking my ships.’

An hour later, as they finished their supper of bread, cheese (Haran cheese, Conn noted) and beer, Driscol was almost speechless.

‘In summary, for some reason you believe that you ended up in Cyme as a result of some exceptionally bad and unseasonal weather, and end up defeating one of the Valkeri in combat! And you think it was deliberate? That sounds so ridiculous, it is almost plausible.’ He shook his head. ‘You are a very strange man, Conn il Taransay. No offense meant of course.’

Conn bowed slightly. ‘None taken’.

‘And you think one of the Gyden were behind this?’

‘I have no idea – but I can’t find an alternative reason.’ He didn’t say that it was neither Lilith nor Badb nor the mysterious Gyden in the Keep as the Healdend didn’t know he could talk to them.

As they spoke Ana came over and sat on the Healdend’s lap. She peered up into his eyes and giggled. He gave her a hug. ‘Oh, and we have another problem. This one is even more very serious than unknown Gyden messing with us –because it affects me directly. My family will hate me if I allow you to take Ana away; they had become very attached to her. As you know, children have always been rare in our family, and she is a constant companion to my grandson. Indeed, he has recovered much since Ana arrived.’

Bran’s eldest son was sickly, and even though Conn had discussed his case with the court Medic, he was unable to offer much advice – though he did give them tonics and potions to try. There was a mild improvement. It seemed more a malaise more than an illness.

‘Whatever Ana and Badb want is fine by me. Ana?’ As he asked he opened up his mind to Badb, who was most annoyed at being shut out, but felt her approval for the arrangement. What still vexed her most was that someone could shut her out.

Ana spoke also, ‘I’ll stay.’

‘Then that is settled.’ Conn had grown attached to his daughter but knew that this was the best arrangement. He changed the subject,

‘Have you inspected my Fyrd?’

Driscol looked at Bran who had joined them and who answered. ‘I have just returned; they are already a formidable force. We are indebted to your guidance, Thane; our wiga will be stronger with the skills that they have learnt’.