The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (27 page)

‘You’re getting hysterical.’

Conn sighed. “I know – not enough sleep.’

‘Or too much coffee.’

‘Not possible.’

Conn followed Derryth down the hall to the Great Hall in the very large tower house. They had arranged a large ‘round table’ with chairs all around. Conn sat at a spot that was designated for him and Derryth. When Volund and Sarun had arrived, Derryth indicated to the Jarl of Masila that he should start.

Masila explained that there were only seven major demesnes in Alwa – six for Jarls and one for the Healdend. They thus had huge demesne and hundreds of Thanes below them. Only five Jarls were present – even Thorgurl il Igili. He had made his way down a soon as he could, by ship, with Sir Njil. It was a lot quicker than by road. He had already met the Jarl of Ridu, and was introduced the very nervous Jarls of Rezo and Kelan.

‘Who is missing?’

‘The Jarl of Hatusa. He died at the battle of Masila and he was Axum.’

‘Is there an heir?’

‘A daughter. She has no bedda because she has no inheritance.’

‘Well my first decision is that Volund should take the girl as bedda and become the Jarl of Hatusa.’

Volund looked at him in shock amid the stunned silence. Taking the silence as agreement, Conn continued. ‘My second decision is that the new Jarl of Hatusa be appointed as High-Steward of Alwa until such time as Sarun is of age.’

This time there was noise. Volund chocked in his beer.

Masila was aghast. ‘I love my brother, indeed I owe him my life, but he is not suitable for this job. You need someone who has experience at running a demesne.’

Conn shook his head. ‘No. This position only needs two things – dedication to Sarun and a real understanding of what can happen if things don’t go my way. He has both those things. He also knows what we have done in Saba, Himyar and Makuria already – and especially relating to theow.’ Conn looked around at the frustrated faces around the table. They were clearly not happy. ‘Perhaps I should remind you all that the concept of a fair and just society ruled by laws doesn’t exist yet – so if I want to murder you all in your sleep and take your demesnes, I can – and none of you can do a single thing about it. Now, is there anything else?’

There was a rush of agreements. Conn stood up and they do followed suit.

‘That is the last you will hear from me on these matters. I leave it to you all to work out the details. You don’t need me here anymore.’ He went to leave the room and then turned back. ‘I saw an island in the distance on my way to Igili. Who does it belong to?’

‘It was once part of my demesne, a Thane fief.’ Igili informed him. ‘It is called Mersin. It has been taken over by pirates – some ten years ago. It is nothing but an annoyance now.’

‘One last thing then; I will have you grant me the island of Mersin, and I want it raised to be a Jarl demesne. I don’t have the title of Jarl yet.’ With that he walked out, and Volund rushed to join him.

‘Marquis, do you really think this is a good idea?’

‘I do – who else can I put here to protect Sarun. Do you really trust the rest of them?’

They both turned to look at the Jarls sitting around the table and talking to Sarun. Volund shrugged.

‘You know you have ruined my life, don’t you? From the day that I happen to be the last ship to leave a harbour in Samria…’

‘You don’t really believe that was an accident do you?’

Volund was shocked. ‘It wasn’t?’

‘There are no such things as accidents. There is a hand in play always. Sometimes it is mine, a lot of the time it is not.’

He joined Derryth at the door, and was heading to the docks when he saw Steinvi looking at him from the narrow staircase. She had been listening.

He smiled at her.

‘You are a very strange man.’ was her greeting.

‘You are not the first to say it – but you do say it more frequently than others. I’m going to the docks – do you want to come for a walk?’

‘Will I be safe? I am scared of Twacuman with weapons. And I’ve seen Priecuman with weapons too. They look very untrustworthy.’

Conn laughed. ‘You have no reason to be scared of them. You are safe with me.’

‘Very well – if you are sure. I will go with you – but I don’t know if I can trust you yet either. You are really very strange.’

‘You said that already.’

Steinvi joined Conn and Derryth and walked towards the docks. After a while, Conn looked back at the girl as she walked cautiously.

‘Do you think we can go faster? I am a busy man.’

‘Doesn’t everyone wait for you? I thought you were important.’

‘Somethings wait for me but not everything – and certainly not the tide.’

‘I see your dilemma – I will hurry.’ She then trotted along behind Conn and Derryth as they found their way down to the docks.

Njil was slowly inching his way into the dock on his schooner; it was only just big enough and they had cleared the docks of all other craft. They could hear him cursing and yelling as they tied the vessel to the wharf. The gangplank lowered, Njil stormed down. He was not happy.

‘Conn – what are you going to do about this ridiculous port – I very nearly sank a vessel worth more than this entire demesne because they don’t build things right.’

‘I’m going to get things fixed.’

‘Good – do it quickly – or I’ll die of old age getting out of here.’

Steinvi looked accusingly at Conn. ‘You can’t be that important, because if you were, you wouldn’t allow anyone to talk to you like that. You would have him flogged.’

‘You could just play bagpipe music to him instead – much more painful.’ Derryth added.

‘I don’t understand.’ Steinvi was confused.

‘Njil,’ Conn introduced him to the girl, ‘this is Steinvi, the daughter of the Bretwalda of Axum.’

Njil paused. ‘How many Bretwalda of Axum are there?’

‘Just the one.’

‘Oh – and how long have you been keeping the daughter of the Bretwalda with you?’

‘Since last night.’

‘I’m surprised.’

‘Not as much as me. Anyway she thinks you should be flogged because you speak rudely to me.’

He addressed the young woman. ‘Steinvi, instead of having me flogged, would you prefer if I organized for you to look around my ship. I would say it is the best on the ocean, but I doubt that you’d believe me.’

‘Oh no – I believe you. It seems to be bigger and faster than anything I have ever seen – and I was on a sailboat to come here. It is very impressive.’

‘Very well.’ Njil looked around until he spotted a likely candidate. ‘Vigbert, get your butt over here immediately.’

Vigbert had spent two years sailing with Njil and unless you received a command of a ship from him, he always treated you as a subordinate. He was on the dock watching the schooner dock.

‘Commodore?’

‘Show this young lady around the ship please. You have my permission to trash anyone who shows any disrespect.’ The crew were all Priecuman.

‘Of course.’ He bowed to Steinvi and directed her to climb the gangplank. ‘This way please.’

After she had disappeared into the ship, Njil looked at Conn and Derryth. ‘What an unusual young woman.’

‘That’s what we keep saying. Now tell me what you want done with this dock; we have work crews being assembled.’

‘Let me talk to those crews. Get me flogged indeed. Doesn’t she know who I am?’

Derryth led him away while Conn waited on the dock. People and goods were being unloaded at a steady pace, and Conn watched as Eldwen, the folgere who was called in Makuria walked down the gangplank to him.

She smiled seductively and kissed him. ‘I’ve missed you.’ It had been ten days. ‘Fornication is just not the same without you.’

‘Likewise. You know what you need to do?’

‘Of course – already I can feel Ishtar, I will go and look. Until tonight, then.’

She wandered off with a detail of Twacuman to keep her unmolested. Disetha, Vilotta, Arna and Tihild were next to disembark.

‘When I get home’, Vilotta advised ‘if I never travel by ship again, it will be too soon.’

Tihild have him a hug and told him what a wonderful time she had, while Asbera advised him that they had met the girl Steinvi with Vigbert.

‘She is very unusual.’

‘Don’t I know it.’

They left to find rooms, steady ground and proper baths.

Vigbert returned with Steinvi to the dock.

‘I met some strange people on the ship,’ she explained, ‘some who are Ancuman who claim to be your children, and a person who claims to be a folgere – except there are no female folgere.’

‘They are my children – though not all are blood children. Vigbert is also my adopted son and also blood relative of my blood children. It gets very complicated.’

‘How many children do you have?’

‘Almost sixty. Derryth would know.’

‘You don’t know?’

‘I know them all – I just don’t know how many there are. They are not numbers to me.’

‘I’m very confused.’ She stopped to look back at Vigbert, and then back at Conn. ‘And why is he wearing the symbol of Geirfrith on his coat thingy?’ He wore a tabard over his chain mail.

‘It called a tabard – and it is his right – Vigbert is tenth in line from Geirfrith il Axum – in the male line.’

‘There are many that descend from Geirfrith il Axum in the female line – but few in the male line. My mother is descended from him in the female line – the Jarl of Jamut a long time ago took one of his daughters as bedda. My father must also be his kin as they both descend from Finnrun the First. But his mother is Priecuman is she not?’

‘She is. Do you have any more questions?’

‘Yes – was she really a folgere?’

‘Yes she is – she follows Ishtar.’

She frowned. ‘But such a thing is against Ashtoreth – there is only one Gyden.’

‘Just because people say and believe things, doesn’t mean that it is so. Here we celebrate Ishtar. Anything else?’

‘So what is the folgere doing here?’

‘She is helping me reopen the Cirice of Ishtar.’

She was confused and wanted to ask more but instead stopped and looked past him ‘The man that stands behind you – I think I have seen him before. What is his name?’

Conn looked around – Farrun had come to see him. ‘This is Farrun il Nobatia – he is also my son.’

She smiled at him, the first time Conn had seen her smile. ‘I remember that name now – were you not involved in some scandal somewhere?’

Farrun bowed to her. ‘That is true – and it is very complicated. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance again, Steinvi. The last time I saw you was about four years ago – when you visited your grandfather in Jamut.’

She bowed back and then bowed to Conn. ‘I think I will return to the castle now – I have much to reflect upon. Who will escort me back?’

‘Vigbert will take responsibility for your safety – he will assign men to be with you any time you need or want to leave the castle.’

‘Very well. I presume that you will have a feast. Am I to be invited?’

‘In a few days, when we are ready, there will be a feast, and of course you will be invited. I will send my daughters to help you select some new clothes.’

‘I have a wardrobe that is suitable for all occasions. I will not require their assistance.’

‘If you are sure?

‘I am.’

After they had departed, Farrun looked at his father, who had a curious look on his face. Farrun took a deep breath. ‘Did I not mention that my daughter Arna’s mother was Arna il Jamut. Steinvi’s mother, like Arna, are daughters of the Jarl of Jamut.’

Conn frowned. ‘It is the things I don’t know that cause me grief, Farrun. You could have mentioned that Arna was a cousin to a daughter of the Bretwalda.’

He nodded. ‘It didn’t seem important at the time.’

Conn joined him as they walked back toward the tower house. ‘Of course, that begs the question – why is she here?’

‘I know the answer to that one. The Jarl of Jamut had two other daughters – one became the bedda of the Jarl of Mende and the other became bedda to the Aebeling of Alwa. I recall that she was very expensive. The daughters of Jamut have a reputation of being great beauties – as I found when I was posted there.’

‘Seems a long way to go to visit an aunt. Perhaps you should tell Steinvi’s mother that her niece is here?’

Farrun nodded. ‘I will do that this evening – after I tell Vilotta.’ He stopped mid stride. ‘Oh – I almost forgot. The folgere need you – something about a Cirice not being where it should be.’

~oo0oo~

Conn left everyone to their tasks and headed to the stables where his horse and a guide waited for him; he mounted and rode out of town. Ten minutes out, on a knoll, unusually enough to seem man made, stood a grove of old gnarled trees. They were disfigured and deformed – twisted around each other. As soon as Conn got close, he knew what it was – just like Gatinak. The knoll was guarded by a guardstone – and a much more powerful one than he had experienced before. He joined two women as they stood at the base of the hill. One he didn’t know. She was introduced to him.