The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (2 page)

Conn stopped to consider the ramifications. Certainly knowing what was happening in Kishdah with lunars to spare was a distinct advantage. Still, he would be sorry to lose the companionship of the tall and beautiful Alwaian. ‘If you are really sure?’

She nodded, tears in her eyes. ‘It is best. For everyone.’

They hugged, and she smiled, ‘And I don’t know why people are so against being theow – it is not all bad.’

‘I will miss you.’

‘And I you – but don’t tell anyone I said that.’

They walked back inside, and Conn sat down again at the table. They were on to their fifth glass of wine. Everyone assumed that Conn was paying so they drank freely. Conn paid the partially dressed waitress who waited for the ryals.

‘Dagrun – what if you had a bedda who carries the blood of Nobatia, Himyar, and Saba – as well as being one of the last living descendants of Sarun, the last Healdend of Alwa, do you think that would aid your cause?’

‘Yes, of course, that would be a wonderful solution.’ He stood up to declare his hand, but sat down quickly without a word. ‘Just where am I going to find someone like that?’

Both Volund and Conn turned to look at Kutidi, and Dagrun’s eyes followed theirs. ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘Oh! I see. That now only leaves one problem. Isn’t the… Jarl ... theow? I don’t have any gold.’

Conn looked at Volund in despair. ‘He isn’t very quick is he?’

‘Nope; terminal case -- and he is to be Thane of Aeaea?’

‘He was once a Healdend.’

‘Don’t remind me.’

Dagrun was confused. ‘Who are you guys talking about?’

‘Dagrun, we will solve your ryals problem tomorrow. But I have a task for you – and only you. I happen to know where you will be able to borrow bows, arrows, and chain mail for at least fifty men.’

‘Really? Where?’

‘On that very large ship you saw leaving.’ Conn handed him a purse with a small fortune in ryals. ‘This is a loan; I need you to go and buy the best boat you can find – something that can take you out to the ocean to find that ship to purchase the weapons you need. Can you do that? Remember, for fifty men.’

‘I can.’

‘Good, you go and organize the ship. Tomorrow you can get the arms. Try not to make too much noise about it, though.’

With Dagrun gone, Conn discussed tactics with Volund.

By the time evening arrived, they had devised a course of action and Volund’s messenger had returned. He said that the message had got to all the right places – everyone had heard the rumour about the ‘fish girl’ having gone north, and was being hidden by the Alwaian, in defiance of the folgere.

Derryth laughed, ‘Fish girl indeed, poor Alana is never going to live this down!’

~oo0oo~

Many hours later, and after far too little sleep, Derryth and Conn drank their coffee in the trees, looking at the idyllic sun rising over the water.

‘Any moment soon, I’d say.’ Conn suggested.

‘I haven’t finished my coffee yet. Be most annoying if they arrived before I’ve done that.’ He turned to face Conn. ‘Do you have a feeling that we are being watched.’

Conn answered without indication. ‘I do – but I don’t know how – or from where. They have skill.’

‘Best keep an eye out for a stray arrow then.’

Derryth had finished his coffee when the sound of horses permeated the trees. After five minutes, over a dozen riders appeared, at least ten in the dark red robes of the folgere. They rode in, dismounted from their horses in the centre of the main street of the town, and gathered together in discussion. They were all heavily armed with daggers and swords. Volund had informed Conn that the folgere were actually very skilful with their daggers in both combat and torture. It was their speciality. When they turned around, they were surprised to see men standing in every doorway and alley.

Unused to such provocation, one yelled. ‘What is the meaning of this? Come out of the shadows or you will feel the wrath of Ashtoreth.’

That was Conn’s cue. He called out; his voice bellowing across the town. ‘Ashtoreth will not help you here, Folgere, nothing will; your destiny is set.’

Conn then walked out into the sun, his hair and beard golden. He was unmistakable, even if he wasn’t dressed in his trademark purple gambeson.

The folgere hissed in surprise, a foul sound, with a collective question. ‘The Feorrancund! What are you doing here?’

With the recognition, Conn knew he had to block his mind, and even though he did, the assault by Ashtoreth was tangible. He stumbled slightly. Shaking his head to clear it, he answered.

‘I have come to collect my daughter. I am also going to do what I said I would do if any one of you laid a hand on any of my daughters – exterminate every last male folgere on this planet. Today is the beginning of the end for Ashtoreth’s folgere. I did warn you. This is your last morning – prepare to die.’

Conn dropped his cloak, drew both his swords, and walked towards the dozen men. The instructions of his men were clear – no one left alive – either at his hand or by arrow when trying to run. The folgere drew their swords and attacked.

Conn’s quiet rage was sufficient to make short work of the group. The first few died by wakizashi; and the first that died as a katana severed his head from his body brought panic amongst the others, and their actions became foolhardy. A few tried to run – unfortunately towards Derryth’s position. Soon everyone was dead; except for one folgere – he had been hiding amongst the others.

He dropped his sword. ‘I will not fight you – and you cannot kill me in cold blood – I am Folgere – Ashtoreth’s chosen. I am protected.’

Conn wiped the blood off his sword on another folgere’s cloak. ‘Were they protected?’ he pointed to the corpses that lay on the ground. ‘What did Ashtoreth do for them? And you know that I am not afraid of Ashtoreth. From this moment, Ashtoreth should fear me, because you have stepped over a line that I said you should never cross – and Ashtoreth will regret she didn’t keep her dogs at home.’

‘So you will let me go?’

‘Of course not. But, I’m not going to kill you. Alana is.’

‘Who is Alana?’

‘My daughter – the one you kidnapped.’

He laughed disdainfully. ‘That girl? Like you, she is weak. She would never kill me …’

With that and the sound of a thud, the folgere had an arrow lodged deep in his lung. He collapsed wheezing and coughing –disbelieving. His last moments were not pleasant. Conn walked over and pulled the necklace from around the folgere’s neck, and in front of his eyes, crushed it with his kunai. The pain and anguish was memorable, but gave Conn little pleasure.

‘What some might call weakness, another might call tactics. You are wrong in a lot of things you believe, Folgere.’

He turned around to see Derryth sheepishly walking towards him with three dirty and dusty young women with him. One was Twacuman, another was Ancuman while the last one was Alana, and she raced to her father and he enveloped her in a big hug. After a few moments, she said.

‘You can let go now, papa.’

He held her back at arm’s length. ‘You, young lady, have a lot of explaining to do. That was not how I taught you to shoot an arrow.’

She shook her head in disgust. ‘He is an animal. All he did was talk about how I would suffer and cry out… he caused pain, and what little I caused him pales into insignificance.’

‘There are other questions.’

‘I know, I’m very sorry. But Beortan? Is Beortan okay?’

‘Wilric tells me that he will survive. If Derryth doesn’t kill him first.’

She turned to look at the silent, albeit still embarrassed, Derryth, her face pleading. ‘Please don’t. He was very brave when he tried to save me. There was nothing anyone could have done.’

‘Except not putting you in a position of danger to start with.’

She stopped to contemplate. ‘I had a strange feeling that things were wrong but I did not act, and that is more my failure than his. He doesn’t have the knowledge that I have.’

Conn hugged her again, and then turned to look at Derryth as Alana went to hug and greet the others. Even Kutidi held her for a long time.

‘So tell me how you got ambushed?’

Derryth was still embarrassed. ‘I do not know! I am standing there waiting, when I heard a voice at my elbow say “Can I use your bow, Uncle?”, and there they were – all three of them. I was shocked.’

‘I’ll bet. Wait till I tell everyone that story. How Alana crept up behind you.’

‘You wouldn’t.’

‘I would.’

‘You can’t. My reputation will be in tatters.’

~oo0oo~

They returned to the door of the inn. Dagrun looked at the corpses being carted away. ‘So this is what happens if people get on your bad side?’

Conn agreed and he watched the street return to its former peacefulness. ‘I highly recommend that no one kidnaps my children.’

‘I’ll pass the word around.’

Inside, everyone sat down and were soon being fed. Alana found it hard; as a Corporal in Logistics she felt she needed to get up and do something but it had been some time since any of them had eaten properly, so she sat and ate. Conn wanted introductions.

Alana introduced the Twacuman girl first. Since she had arrived, she had not said a word and just stared at Derryth and the other Twacuman. She seemed in shock.

‘This is Siga il Neritum, and that is Asbera il Nobatia. It was Asbera who found me as I swam ashore, and it has been Siga who has been keeping us safe.’

Derryth responded in surprise. ‘Neritum? Neritum is our ancestral home – but everyone left Neritum – no one was left behind.’

Conn knew of the story of Neritum; to escape the Ancuman taking them all as theow, the Twacuman fled Neritum and headed west. They landed in Meshech; those that hadn’t already been taken as theow to Kishdah.

Siga spoke for the first time and she looked at Derryth. ‘There are a few – not many. Less than a hundred now I think. I am the youngest. I have come in search of my kindred – and I am so glad that I have found them.’

Conn looked at Derryth and Derryth looked back. He shrugged.

‘And’ Alana continued, ‘Asbera is wearing something that I recognized. I was very surprised. Asbera, please show my father.’

The young woman was wearing a tunic that was up to her neck and she reached around and undid the leather lace and pulled out a medallion. It wasn’t so much a medallion as a rectangular gold coin that had been pieced and turned into a necklace. She handed it to Conn, hesitantly. Alana reassured her.

‘My uncle gave me this before he died. He said to castle it always. Never let it go. It tells everyone who I am.’

Conn and Derryth inspected the coin together, and Derryth laughed. ‘I’m looking forward to you explaining this.’

Conn looked at the girl. ‘Asbera, how old are you?’

‘I have seen thirteen winters.’

Conn nodded. ‘And what is the name of your mother?’

‘Elddis il Nobatia.’

‘And your father?’

She shook her head. ‘I do not know my father. My mother came back from Meshech, pregnant. My father’s name was not mentioned, but I was told that medallion belongs to him.’

‘And where is your mother now?’

The girl suddenly looked sad. ‘She is dead – I did not know her. My uncle told me that she died not long after we were born. He said that she had complications from a wound she got fighting in a war somewhere.’

‘Wait. You said “we were born”?’

‘Yes, I was told that I have a twin brother; I think his name is Farrun. I think he is in Saba somewhere. My uncle said that he was adopted by his nephew from Kinjan.’

The knowledge made Conn pause to contemplate, before asking. ‘So why are you here and not in Nobatia yourself?’

‘My mother didn’t return to Nobatia – she went to Saba where her mother is from. But she had problems there as well because twins are not considered acceptable amongst the Ancuman and particularly by the Axum. So soon after I was born, we were separated and my uncle left Saba and brought me here. We were going somewhere else but he died before we got there. I also don’t think he knew how to get there.’

‘What happened to him?’

‘Illness – he was quite old. They had to find someone who was not going to be missed in an Axum census of the noble families in the Southern Isles – no one would be surprised about his death.’

‘When did he really die?’

‘Two years ago.’

‘So where have you been living since then?’

‘Anywhere that I can. The family that took us in when we arrived are kin to my uncle but not to me. They also have sons that were not as welcoming as their parents. Aeaea is a dangerous place to be female if you don’t have protection -- and they would protect me if I offered something in return. So, with my uncle dead, it was safer for me to be out of the house than in it. Luckily, it wasn’t long after my uncle died that Siga found me – I was being attacked by two men – not the sons. She saved me. We have been hiding ever since.’

‘Fortune has certainly been on your side, then, Asbera.’ Conn handed the necklace back. ‘As for the necklace, this coin is called a Koban. I gave it to your mother when I farewelled her so many years ago.’