The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (48 page)

Chapter 24
The Epilogue

‘Where are we?’ It was hot, there was lots of sand and it was dry and dusty. Halla and Conn had been unceremoniously plonked in the middle of somewhere unlike anywhere Halla had ever been or seen – or possibly ever imagined. ‘What is this place? Where are all the trees?’

‘My guess is somewhere in the Horn of Africa.’

‘The Horn of what? And what language am I speaking? I sound different to myself.’

‘English – with a very strange accent. I know that because I speak English and I understand what you are saying.’

In the distance they could hear gunfire. Conn told Halla to keep her head down, and when she was about to ask another “what” question he indicated that she be quiet. Confused, she followed him up ditches and hollows until they found their way next to some small buildings in a deserted small African village. They climbed in through the window. It hadn’t been inhabited for some time, and signs of warfare were everywhere.

Voices could be heard now as well.

Conn sat close to her and whispered. ‘To be precise, we are in Eritrea. The dispute between the Eritreans and the Djiboutian was flaring up when I “left” and I’ve landed back in the thick of it.’

‘We are back in your time and space?’

‘So it would seem. A kinder spot would have been preferable – like a beach resort or something.’

There were men talking in the distance, they seem to be hunting for something.

Conn shrugged. ‘If only the Gyden’s gift applied here – then I would know what they are saying.’

Hall looked at him strangely. ‘I understand them. How is it that you don’t?’

‘Long story. What are they saying?

‘They are looking for someone – a thief. Someone stole weapons from their camp. He is …’

Conn held up his finger to stop her talking. He then pointed to the back wall of the hut; it was mud and sticks. Conn had heard movement. After a moment, they heard a voice.

‘Damn, I wish people would keep their weapons in good condition. First rule of war…’

Connor looked at Halla and looked back at the wall. Ishtar did say there were unintentional consequences. Conn picked up two rocks and started to beat out a message in code; Morse code. He suspected the listener would listen before firing. He stopped and waited. They then heard the voice speak.

‘I gather your name is Connor too?’

‘Did she use the word unintentional consequences to you.’

‘She did.’

‘Well, we know what they are now.’

Halla was confused. ‘Who are you talking to? You know him?’

‘Kind of. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

The voice from outside was curious. ‘Who is with you?’

‘A woman. Couldn’t leave her behind. Very complicated story. What weaponry do you have?’

‘Some Kalashnikovs, a fair bit of ammo, and some other stuff. Enough for the both of us to make a mess of these people.’

‘Still not going to end well, is it.’

‘No, it’s not going to end well at all.’

Glossary

I have used Anglo Saxon and Old English words can be found here:
http: bosworth.ff.cuni.cz/

• ~cuman = Come, go, happen
  
• Æþeling = Aebeling – Prince
  
• An, Twa, Prie = One, two three
  
• Bedda – from ge–bedda, a bed fellow, consort
  
• Cirice = church, temple, cirice
  
• Cotter or Tilia; one who has rights of residence in a cottage and works for living (no farming land)
  
• Folctoga = commander or leader of wiga
  
• Folgere = follower, disciple (of a Gyden)
  
• Feorhhyrde = Life guardian, protector
  
• Feorrancund = having a distant origin, foreigner
  
• Fyrd = army
  
• Gyden = goddess
  
• Healdend = one who rules, guardian (King)
  
• Thane = Lord of the Manor,
  
• Theow, þeów = a servant, slave, thrall
  
• Tacksman, Ceorl, (the class above Cotters and below Thane). Farmers who hold a right to land within a demesne and pays rent or kind in exchange to the Thane. Later replaced by Lairds
  
• Wealdend = controller, master (Queen)
  
• Wiga, = warrior
  

Acknowledgements

It has been a long haul of almost 600,000 words written over a short period of time. Book 1 was published in April 20914, and less than two years later, the final chapter is released.

As always I am grateful to all of those that have read my books. I hope you have enjoyed Conn’s adventures as much as I did. I particularly enjoyed any review that used the word “fun” – because that is what it was supposed to be. Conn isn’t supposed to be fallible because it would be a short book if he was! It was also never going to be dark and full of despair and disappointment. Other people write that stuff – and I don’t read it. I wanted lightness, lots of humour, and for it to be sexy – in the middle of a medieval war story. I hope I achieved that. It is also fantasy, but I have at all times worked very hard to make it “plausible” within the constraints of the setting of the book.

After this? The prequel probably. The working title is “The Kerchians”, and it will arrive in 2017.

Sincerely,

Michael O’Neill

March, 2016,

The Author

Michael O’Neill is a high school teacher from Queensland, Australia, who has had a lifelong interest in books, and in Science Fantasy books in particular. Probably introduced to the genre via CS Lewis and his books, he progressed to “The Lord of The Rings” by JRR Tolkien, and then onto books by David Eddings, Terry Brooks, and Raymond Feist, amongst many others. Interestingly, not Conrad Stargard!

Years later, cured of the desire to read any more books containing unfulfilled prophesies, or magic, or dragons, and failing to find anything to read that he enjoyed, he decided to write something himself. The four volume “Casere” series is the product of that activity. His hope is that one day it might be turned into a TV series. Just because.

Appendix: The Cast

1. Aga, a Twacuman, from the 7th Clan in Makurai
   
2. Agdis il Axum, mother of Disetha and Albega, bedda to Dengor il Elis
   
3. Agingur il Sinjar, Ancuman Folctoga, uncle and adopted father of Farrun
   
4. Aisly il Trokia, Wealdend
   
5. Allynne, Twacuman Wothbora of Piada and Derryth’s spiritual guide
   
6. Albard, Priecuman Colonel of the Merians fyrd Conn takes to Kishdah
   
7. Albega il Axum, captured by Conn with her mother Agdis, in Pontia, Conn’s adopted daughter
   
8. Aldkel, Twacuman, the second son of the leader of the ninth clan
   
9. Alfvir in Axum; leader of team that assassinated Bran il Moetia, let go by Conn
   
10. Alhilda v Taransay il Trokia, third daughter of Aisly and Conn
    
11. Alred il Gatina, young son of Brictbert il Gatina and Cordelia v Taransay il Haran
    
12. Anbadur, the Jarl of Masila in Alwa, brother of Volund il Alwa
    
13. Anolfur, Jarl of Leptis in Nobatia
    
14. Arna, daughter of Farrun and Arna il Jamut in Axum
    
15. Arnben, Aebeling of Nobatia
    
16. Asbera il Nobatia, daughter of Conn and Elddis il Nobatia
    
17. Aslatha il Abdera, bedda of Svenben, the Aebeling of Himyar
    
18. Asvi il Jamut, fifth bedda of the Bretwalda of Kishdah, mother of Steinvi
    
19. Baldfrith il Zemar, Ancuman, second son of the Jarl of Zemar in Axum
    
20. Began il Elis, son of Agdis il Axum and Dengor il Elis, merchant
    
21. Benelfa il Neritum, ancient Twacuman bedda of the first Casere
    
22. Beortan il Kashi; Pontian Eaorl from Sytha captured by Conn
    
23. Bergsten il Nobatia, Aebeling
    
24. Beowen, adopted daughter of Conn and daughter of Cynilda il Sinope. Conn identified her as a Sacerd in Larsa and sent her to Moana.
    
25. Bergurl il Nobatia, wiga, grandfather of Elddis
    
26. Bermia v Taransay il Susa, 17, daughter of Aerlene il Susa, Eaorl in Moetia, and Conn
    
27. Bertlund, Jarl il Bakan in Makurai
    
28. Bewdar il Enak, Captain in the Red Jackets, son of Colonel Kenoth il Enak
    
29. Bolger, Jarl of Calpe in Saba, father of Vilotta
    
30. Borgsyn il Alwa, Aebeling
    
31. Boldur il Sinjar, wiga uncle of Agingur il Sinjar
    
32. Brenna v Taransay il Trokia, second daughter of Aisly and Conn
    
33. Brictbert il Gatina, Aebeling, son of Devnet
    
34. Bricwahl, son of Egwahl il Kerch, Colonel of the Kerchian fyrd in Kishdah
    
35. Brystan, Jarl of Ridu in Alwa (b859)
    
36. Caewyn il Halani, Aebeling of the Twacuman in Meshech
    
37. Coirea v Taransay il Silekia, eldest daughter of Conn and Ailidh, Wealdend of Silekia Cordelia v Taransay il Hama, daughter of Conn and Annisa il Gozan, bedda of the Aebeling of Gatina
    
38. Cuthelm il Igili in Alwa, brother of the Jarl, and Folctoga after Volund
    
39. Dagrun, the usurper Healdend of Samaria, exiled by Conn
    
40. Daray, Aebeling of Lykia in Meshech
    
41. Delwyn il Lixi, 2nd Folctoga of the Saba fyrd
    
42. Dengor il Elis, merchant
    
43. Derryth il Halani, Conn’s Twacuman companion
    
44. Devnet il Gatina, Healdend
    
45. Disetha il Axum, elder sister of Albega il Axum, and daughter of Agdis
    
46. Egstan il Motya, Colonel, Colonel of the Blue Jackets Regiment in the Meshechian fyrd
    
47. Egward il Syra, son of deposed Eaorl of Syra, Captain in the Red Jackets.
    
48. Eadhart and the Sythan XXX
    
49. Einrun, Twacuman, 3rd son of the Chief of the ninth Clan
    
50. Eldarr il Makuria, “illegitimate” son of Sigkarl il Makuria, Aebeling
    
51. Eldvir, Twacuman chief of the 4th clan in Nobatia
    
52. Eldward il Durah, Colonel, Colonel of the Grey Jackets Regiment in the Meshechian fyrd
    
53. Elfrea, Twacuman, Gunvi’s cousin, also of the ninth clan
    
54. Enbert, Jarl of Cirta in Nobatia
    
55. Eoric, Eaorl of Tamar in Kania, Meshech
    
56. Erikurl, the sickly son of the Aebeling of Nobatia
    
57. Evalida, young daughter of the Jarl of Rubutu in Makurai
    
58. Ewan, ancient son of Benelfa il Neritum, and first Casere, becomes chief of ninth Clan
    
59. Fareitha il Alwa, daughter of Borgsyn Aebeling of Alwa and Vila il Jamut
    
60. Farolfur il Axum, Bretwalda, of Kishdah, 84 years old
    
61. Farrun il Nobatia, Ancuman son of Conn and Elddis il Nobatia
    
62. Fastota il Nobatia, Ancuman wiga who surrenders to Conn to follow Asbera
    
63. Finnrun the Third, Ancuman Aebeling of Axum, invades Meshech
    
64. Fridfina il Nobatia, Ancuman wiga who surrenders to Conn to follow Asbera
    
65. Garnar, the son of the Jarl of Kuara in Axum, Geirfrith loyalist
    
66. Geirfrith il Axum, Ancuman wiga who united all of Kishdah under Axum rule; murdered by brother Finnrun the First
    
67. Geirnarr il Axum; Wiga with long history with Conn in Meshech and Sytha.
    
68. Guntor il Saba, Ancuman wiga who Conn meets in Larsa and Sytha.
    
69. Gunvi, Twacuman, theow in Himyar and of the ninth Clan
    
70. Gweneth v Taransay il Barek, 17, daughter of Aerlene il Susa, Eaorl in Moetia, and Conn
    
71. Helbut, Jarl in Sipan in Makurai
    
72. Herfina il Axum, Ancuman Folctoga Conn captures in Larsan, Sytha
    
73. Holmvar, Jarl il Agate in Himyar
    
74. Hybald, son of the Jarl of Igili in Saba
    
75. Ingesten, Jarl of Adana in Himyar, Ancuman Folctoga in Meshech
    
76. Kadwahl, second son of the Eaorl of Katane in Gatina, Meshech
    
77. Kaltor il Neritum, rescued by Coon and taken to Halani, Caewyn’s bedda
    
78. Kalwitha il Meshech, daughter of a merchant, niece of Daray, Aebeling of Lykia
    
79. Karalyn il Neritum, Twacuman widow
    
80. Kasdis il Bakan, Ancuman girl who is scion of Jarls of Bakan in Makurai
    
81. Kelwin il Neritum, Twacuman of the 1st who went to Sytha eight hundred years ago
    
82. Kenoth il Enak, Colonel of the Green Jackets Regiment in the Meshechian fyrd
    
83. Ketilerna il Sepinu, Borgsyn il Alwa, Aebeling
    
84. Kolata il Siri, bedda of Borgsyn il Alwa, Aebeling
    
85. Kolbert, Ancuman, Aebeling of Saba
    
86. Kutidi il Alwa, wiga who surrenders to Conn to save her comrades, mother of Sarun
    
87. Larena, daughter of Jarl il Bakan in Makurai, bedda to father of the Aebeling of Himyar
    
88. Oisin il Piada, Twacuman Aebeling of Piada, bedda of Jowan, Conn’s half Twacuman son
    
89. Oslinda v Taransay il Oxmon, daughter of Granuaile il Mazra and Conn
    
90. Goltan il Sytha, 16, son of the Healdend of Sytha taken to Meshech with Conn.
    
91. Osstan, Eaorl of Katane in Gatina in Meshech
    
92. Redbert il Panua, young Thane in Gatina, wiga
    
93. Rendel, the Jarl of Tarsus, Folctoga of Makurai wiga in Ancuman fyrd in Meshech
    
94. Redgart, Eaorl of Mazra in Gatina in Meshech
    
95. Saekell il Kishdah, Twacuman chief of the 3rd Clan
    
96. Sarun il Alwa, and son of Conn and Kutidi il Alwa, scion of Alwa royal family
    
97. Sigdis, about 14, daughter of the Jarl of Igili
    
98. Sigrin, Jarl of Siri, Folctoga of cavalry in invading Axum fyrd
    
99. Sigvir in Sinjar, grandson of Agingur’s elder brother and a future Jarl of Sinjar
    
100.                  
     Njil v, Commodore of the Navy, Conn’s every dependable Master of Ship.
     
101.                  
     Steinvi il Axum, 15, daughter of Farolfur, Bretwalda and his fifth bedda Asvi il Jamut
     
102.                  
     Svenben, the Aebeling of Himyar in Kishdah
     
103.                  
     Tihild v Taransay, daughter of Conn and Herfina, an Axum wiga.
     
104.                  
     Torvarr il Axum, Folctoga, grandson of Farstein the 3rd, captured and released in Rakia
     
105.                  
     Toulid, Jarl of Rubutu in Makurai
     
106.                  
     Tulia v Taransay il Trokia, eldest daughter of Aisly and Conn
     
107.                  
     Vigbert il Axum, adopted son of Conn; son of a Merian, Kytha il Sinope, and Dargar il Axum.
     
108.                  
     Vigill, Jarl of Latakia in Nobatia,
     
109.                  
     Vila il Jamut, one of three bedda of Borgsyn Aebeling of Alwa, sister of Asvi, and mother of Fareitha il Alwa
     
110.                  
     Eggar v Leofric, Kt., Master Ships in Conn’s nave
     
111.                  
     Vilotta il Calpe, daughter of Bolger, Jarl of Calpe in Saba
     
112.                  
     Volund il Alwa, younger brother of Anbadur, the Jarl of Masila, in Saba
     
113.                  
     Welyn il Mende, Axum bedda of Svenben, the Aebeling of Himyar
     
114.                  
     Wigbert il Neh, Colonel of the Red Jackets Regiment in the Meshechian Fyrd
     
115.                  
     Wilric il Iladion, from Sytha, Chief of the Twacuman forces that Caewyn gives to Conn.
     
116.                  
     Winheld il Latakia in Nobatia, cousin of the Jarl, Second Folctoga of the Nobatian forces
     
117.                  
     Wulfgar il Mazra, eldest son of the Eaorl of Mazra in Meshech, wiga
     
118.                  
     Wynstan il Tabae, Kt., Colonel of the Meshechian Fyrd during Ancuman invasion