The Marquis (44 page)

‘Who are you? And why do you command Twacuman – no one has commanded Twacuman in Sytha since the time of the Casere.’ She looked at Conn with bewilderment. ‘I don’t understand.’

Conn bowed, ‘As I said I am the Marquis of Rila, and I am also the Marquis of Kerch. My name is Conn il Taransay and amongst the Axum in Meshech I am called the Feorrancund while the Twacuman call me Feorhhyrde. As I said, I will be putting you on a ship today so that you can return to Pontiak, so I suggest that you go and pack.’

‘Feorhhyrde? That is impossible…’

‘Not the first time that has been brought to our attention. That being as it may, please GO and get what you need for your journey.’

They didn’t move; the daughters still clung to their mother. ‘Marquis; that is not a good idea’, she pleaded.

Conn looked at Derryth, shaking his head. ‘Why is it that everyone recently seems to think that my ideas are not good?’

Derryth shrugged. ‘No idea. I always think your ideas are good.’ He nodded contemplatively. ‘Foolhardy and downright life threatening sometimes, but definitely well thought out; or at least most of them are. The attack on Rakiak still bothers me. I am not a fish.’

Shaking his head, Conn looked back at the Eaorl’s bedda. He had an idea what the problem was. ‘And why is it not a good idea?’

‘We don’t want to go back to Pontiak – Pontiak is a dangerous place for ... girls, young girls. That is why I agreed to be bedda to the Eaorl so that I could help my daughters escape the ... dangers.’

‘The Folgere?’

They nodded in unison, surprised at his knowledge.

Conn sighed. ‘Are you from Axum?’

Surprisingly, she nodded. ‘Yes – my name is Agdis il Axum. I am kin to the Bretwalda – albeit distant. My bedda, whose fate looks bleak, is Dagvir il Axum. Last year, I was widowed from the father of my daughters, and with little options, and because none of his other bedda was prepared to move here, I chose to remove myself and my daughters from the town and be bedda to Dagvir. My daughters warrant special attention from the Folgere because of our ancestry and my daughters would be treated … poorly … so no, I do not want to return. Please do not send us back, I beg of you.’

Conn pointed to his neck. ‘You don’t wear the necklace…’

She shook her head defiantly. ‘No; I rejected Ashtoreth after her Folgere killed my sister, my beautiful sister, in their hideous initiation rituals. She was so small and so beautiful. She bled to death. They indulge me but my daughters…’

Conn looked at Derryth who shrugged. ‘It is not you who is rolling the dice, my friend. All you can do is choose how to play them…’

Conn turned and nodded. ‘Very well, you can stay. But only because I hate the Axum Folgere even more than you…’

Agdis face flooded with relief and she walked up and bowed low; her ample bosom very much on display in her night gown. ‘Thank you Marquis, I am extremely grateful – and I will show my gratitude in any way that you desire…’

He smiled thinly. ‘Would that not make me as bad as a Folgere?’ Conn then turned and told the Pontian Wiga that they would be leaving town on the hour and to get themselves packed. He didn’t see Agdis blush with embarrassment.

No one moved, again.

Conn looked at Derryth who now had a broad smile on his face.  ‘This is ridiculous.’ He looked at the prisoners. ‘Does
anyone
want to go back to Pontiak?’ They all looked at each other and shook their heads.

Conn then addressed the two Ancuman wiga. ‘What about you two?’

They shook their heads. ‘No, we’re fine. I’m sure you will find us model prisoners.’

‘All right, I give in. I am going to keep you all here but you are going to have to work hard.’

Baldba, the Pontian Folctoga came and shook his hand. ‘Thank you Marquis, you will not regret it.’

Conn shook his head in disbelief. ‘I don’t know what the world is coming to anymore.’

They were interrupted by riders entering through the front gate; including his two hostages, along with a captain from his Kerchian battalion. He reported that there had been a few escapees – some were riding east, while others had ridden west.

‘Excellent – in about two weeks the Eaorl should return and in four weeks the Healdend. We have plenty of time to prepare.’

~oo0oo~

Beobald il Kashgar had arrived to find that, as well as the Folctoga Baldba, there were many wiga there that he knew amongst his clansmen. They were happy to see him – they had thought him dead.

Conn collected all the Kashgarians together and informed them that he was putting Beobald in charge of them.

‘Anyone with issues’, Conn offered, ‘still can find a seat on the first boat to Pontiak.’

Baldba assured him that there weren’t and Beobald was sent to report to the Colonel of his Logistic Corp to see what needed to be done. The Colonel was Sir Theoric von Almund; former Steward of Rila and a man who knew everything about rebuilding a town. 

Beortan il Kashi also found clansmen amongst the prisoners and dutifully offered his services.

‘Is there a Cirice that needs rebuilding? I know how to do that. Or some ditches to be dug? Even I can tell immediately that Kapisi doesn’t nearly have enough ditches or drains.’

Just to please him, Conn had his team go to the docks to help unload the ships as they arrived. There was going to be a lot of unloading over the next few days, and many hands made light work.

Soon the bailey was clear of people, except for the Ancuman and men rushing around to follow the instructions of Sir Theoric. Agdis had returned and was now dressed in day wear though it seemed to show more cleavage that what might be considered usual.

Alana, dressed as a Corporal because he was “forced” to promote her after her escapades capturing Eaorls, came and reported that breakfast was under way and he should move inside. He had his revenge by transferring her to Logistics. He introduced his daughter and then invited them inside to have breakfast with him while he worked out what to do with them.

As they ate in silence, they watched Alana order people around cleaning and clearing the Great Hall of its accumulated grime and rubbish.

Conn asked if there was a way to avoid killing any more Ancuman wiga than necessary.

‘Sorry Marquis, I don’t understand what you mean.’

‘Can I assume that most of the Ancuman wiga in Mapri are not Axum?’

They nodded.

‘Can it be assumed that most do not want to die unnecessarily? Did not one of your leaders say that ‘A pointless death is of no benefit to anyone”’?

‘Geirfrith … How do you know of him?’

‘I have a copy of the book he wrote – fascinating. It reminds me very much of one that I would write if I was going to write a book on warfare.’

In fact Conn had rewritten it into a Priecuman language and was printing hundreds of copies. It would be the first book to come off his new printing press in Atrak.

‘So the question is; how do we prevent the pointless death of your kinsmen. Think about it and let me know what you have in mind. After you do, if you feel the need to clear your heads by going for, say, a … ride ... or something. Feel free.’

By mid-afternoon the two Ancuman were strangely absent from the fort, and had not returned by dinner, by which time the Great Hall was transformed into something palatial.  It is amazing the major impact new lightning, flooring and some whitewash can have.

They ate and drank from the supplies that had arrived on the junks, and everyone celebrated the removal of the usurper – even if he still was alive. As well as his officers, Conn invited some of the community leaders to attend the dinner.

Conn stood and addressed them all.

‘I have a Pontian bedda – the daughter of the Eaorl of Kucha but I will not be claiming this demesne for her children. They will become the Marquis of Patria. Instead the next Eaorl will be a son of Keowyn il Kapisi and Eadhart il Kucha.’

It took some time for the noise to settle – everyone had thought that Keowyn and her family was lost forever. Conn then introduced the man who would be Steward in his absence – Sir Theoric. He also suggested that the Moetian was in need of bedda – perhaps two, and Conn would be happy to accept nominations.

After dinner on the third night, Agdis came to see him in the roundhouse. She had been polite since his rebuke but was being increasingly attentive. Her clothing barely covered her very well proportioned body and age had not damaged her appeal.

‘Marquis, I would like to express again just how grateful I am that you didn’t send us to Pontiak.’

‘Agdis, I would hate to see your beautiful daughters have anything to do with the Ancuman Folgere. I am pleased that I can do my bit to prevent that.’

Conn had gotten to know the two girls, their names were Disetha and Albega, over the last couple of days, and once they realized that they were actually safe, they warmed to him – and Alana. Disetha was two years younger and Albega four.

Conn handed her a glass of wine and she sat down.

‘I misspoke the other day and I apologize. I wish to say that fornicating with you in a manner that would be enjoyable to both of us would not equate you as one of … them.’ She was nothing if not direct.

‘Very well. Please describe what ways that you would find enjoyable. I’ll see if I can accommodate.’

~oo0oo~

Over the next week, work progressed repairing the village and readying the fyrd. Already the transformation was immense.  The fyrd was almost complete; nearly everyone was down the mountain and in a few more days they would all be. Soon after that the Earl of Kapisi would arrive to “reclaim” his demesne having been outflanked. Sir Eggar was on his way to Mapri by ship with Godhart and a Pontian company to invade and occupy the town. As soon as they had control of it, they would hand it over to three hundred Twacuman wiga that Ceolyn, and his new bedda Albega, had hiding in the hills.

Mapri was a very large demesne for a thane fief – it continued along the coastline all the way around to Rila. Conn had discussed with Eolyn if he wanted access to the sea now that he could regain contact with Halani and Piada in Meshech, and he gladly accepted. Twacuman had a long history of being seafaring fishermen. Conn had decided to give him the demesne of Mapri.

The Eaorl was being squeezed. Brictdred was still in the mountains with Eolyn, monitoring the Eaorl’s return from Mapri.

A day after Sir Eggar had departed, Alana brought Beortan il Kashi to see him.

‘Papa,’ Alana began, ‘Beortan has a problem.’

‘Oh. One that we don't already know about?’

She ignored him and continued. ‘It seems that he is dead. Well, not actually dead, just that his family think he is dead. It seems that his uncle was not as honourable as he had presumed – he has claimed the demesne for himself.’

‘I thought he couldn’t do that.’

‘It seems that everyone who returned from Sytha has been paid off to say that they were told to say that he was alive and that in fact he wasn’t – it is all your fault, apparently.’

‘Lucky me. And how do we know this?’

‘One of the new men in the village is kin to Beortan – and only just arrived in town from one of the outlying villages. He says that the Healdend just the other day confirmed his uncle as the new Eaorl. He is outside if you want to speak to him.’

Without being asked, Derryth rose and went outside. Having a Twacuman doing your interrogations was useful – an urban myth suggested that you couldn’t lie to a Twacuman because a Twacuman never lies.

‘And what can I do to help?’

‘Beortan would like to return home to correct the situation – if he is there he can prevent his clansmen from sending wiga to join the Healdend.’

‘Okay. He can go.’ Conn watched the news pass between them – Alana had obviously expected that. Conn loved to tease her. ‘Is there anything else?’

‘Papa, he can’t go alone. It is too dangerous. He needs someone to cover his back.’

‘He has fifty men here from his clan. Surely he can make up a squad of men from that?’

Beortan shook his head. ‘There is only one I truly trust – and he is too old.’  

‘What if I send Wilric with you? He is known in Pontia and he will not look out of place.’

‘Wilric? Really?’ They exchanged worried glances now, as they hadn’t expected that either. She tried again. ‘But papa, he is my responsibility – you said so yourself. I think I need to go too. I do not wish to shirk my obligations – those that you gave me.’

Conn paused, and then spoke. ‘Okay – but you still have to take Wilric. Anything else?’

Alana nodded. ‘Yes, we need a ship to take us to Kashi. It would be impractical to go by horse. A safe path would take months.’

‘Very well; organize a ship from one of the local crews – get back to me with what you come up with. And Kashi will be safe? Will your relatives welcome you?’

‘They will. From there we will ride north to another uncle and once we have sufficient men, we will confront the usurper.’ He smiled. ‘My uncles are not friends. I must do this because I do not want my kin and clan to fall under the arrows of the Eaorl of Kucha and the Aebeling of Sytha.’

Conn called Wilric and informed him of what he proposed. Wilric agreed and the three went away to organize a ship. But not before Alana had given her father a big hug. Derryth returned to confirm everything they had been told. Conn told him what had been decided.

‘Well, you did know it was going to happen.’

‘True, but not quite like this. I hope I’ve done the right thing.’

‘Wilric will keep her safe – if not, your reputation will.’

‘There are some that don’t think much of my reputation – it is them that I worry about.’

‘And he is going to dock in Kashi?’

‘He says he will be fine. I will however get the Eaorl of Kucha to visit at the same time – just to make sure. With the Patrian and Sythan fyrds.

‘Did you actually intend the Patrian fyrd to start marching toward Pontiak so soon?’

‘No. But it can’t be helped. My hand has been forced.’

Before he left the dock the next day, “Uncle” Derryth told Beortan exactly what was going to happen to him if anything happened to Alana, and poor Beortan was almost white after hearing his potential fate.

‘I will give my life to defend her.’ he pleaded.

‘That, Beortan’, Derryth pointed out, ‘is a given.’

~oo0oo~

A day later Conn headed east; Dagvir il Axum was less that two days away and Conn’s scout had determined a good place to meet him head on. He rode with just over eight companies; five Sagittari and three Cataphracts; already waiting in the hills were another five hundred, on both sides of the road. Given the forced march Dagvir would need thousands to defeat his fyrd and he didn’t have them.

‘He does have several thousand’, was Derryth’s guess and he looked through the telescope. ‘But they do look a little fragile.’

‘Indeed. Let’s see what they are like in the morning.’ At midnight Eolyn, Healdend of the Iladion, arrived silently in the camp. Conn had been waiting for him.

He sipped mead as he brought them up to speed. ‘He has only three hundred or so “real wiga” – all Ancuman – and a couple of hundred good quality town guard wiga. The rest are local Thanes and their fyrd or recruits from the other Eaorldoms of Pontia. We have captured half a dozen Kapisi scouts and sent them back with your message – they are very intent on not dying so should do as requested – on your signal.’

Conn hoped to kill as few of the locals as possible – they were not doing this because they wanted to.

‘At dawn then.’ he instructed.

Eolyn nodded and left the tent, fading back into the darkness. A few hours later, Conn sat on his horse ready to depart before the sun’s rays hit the tall trees. He led two hundred Cataphracts – a hundred were held in reserve and behind him sat the Sagittari. One thing was certain; the Eaorl wouldn’t be surrendering – it was not in the nature of the Axum – it was victory or death. He knew also that there would be a suicidal charge of Ancuman wiga – all not Axum – such was their nature.

Dagvir had his troops unfortunately bedded down in a vale between two small mounds some miles apart. It was an unfortunate choice of location but they did have to remove the very large tree that had fallen across the road to be able to progress with their wagons.

As the sun rose, Conn signalled, and his wiga rode slowly up the rise until they were on the top and now clearly visible to the Pontians. Any sentries and scouts that the Eaorl had sent were neutralized or cooperating with the other side. They rode up until Conn had a wall of men behind him that filled the horizon, fifty wide, four deep and their lances saluted the horizon. Below, there was confusion and pandemonium as wiga raced for their horses. Seemingly poorly advised or inept, Conn waited instead of charging when he had the advantage, and it was only when a hundred Ancuman wiga had formed a line and made to charge them that he signalled his pipers. As the bagpipes started, the music wafted down the valley. Immediately, other pipers joined in; until the Eaorl was surrounded by sound.

‘Men,’ Conn called out, ‘remember your orders.’ It wasn’t really necessary but these were atypical orders. He then set Balios forward down the hill at a gallop. Two very unusual things then happened. Before the Ancuman were within bow range they fired; their arrows falling harmlessly on the field before Conn’s charging horses. That confirmed the plan. The second was that Conn’s wiga continued to fan out and when the two lines clashed it was like a marching display; the Ancuman passed through untouched and Conn continued on unfettered to the main body of wiga. Behind him the Southern Isle Ancuman would be surrendering to the Sagittari. The music also changed. Only the bagpipes on the north and south played and a thousand riders suddenly became visible on the northern and southern sides. And then charged. They would hit the lines after Conn’s wiga had effectively passed through.

Faced with an obvious outcome of instant death, the Kapisi and other Pontian wiga turned and fled east; the only avenue left open – another poor judgement by Conn.

Dagvir would not have had time to consider the ramifications of the mass desertion of his forces before his position was overrun, and the Cataphracts don’t miss a second time. They hit the remnants of the cavalry with lethal effect; the three hundred remaining Ancuman Wiga were no match given the unimaginable turn of events. As the cataphracts passed through they were followed by Sagittari, and most of the Ancuman cavalry were killed quickly – those that had not been hit by lance were hit with arrows.

The battle for Kapisi had taken less than thirty minutes.

With the outcome indisputable, all that could, surrendered; laying their arms on the ground and raised their arms.

The battle over, Conn’s Logistics Corp set to work. Tents were quickly built, a field hospital established and the injured collected and treated. The dead were identified and graves dug – or as in the case of the Ancuman wiga, pyres built and the deceased cremated. Amongst the casualties was the Eaorl and most of his home guard. Conn collected the haligdoms from around his neck.

‘I don’t think,’ Eolyn offered after he had congratulated Conn on the clinical precision of his fyrd as they sat to eat in the evening, ‘that the Healdend is going to be quite as easy as this. I have reports from kinsmen who served in Trokiak that he has over a thousand axemen under his command.’

Conn had yet to deal with Ancuman axemen – he had plenty of experience with the mounted version and their long swords, but Axemen were firmly planted on the ground with long axes. Direct contact with cavalry was usually not congenial to the welfare of the horse – or its rider. With strong shields, they would be fairly impervious to arrow or lance as well. It was going to take a different tactic to defeat them without a huge loss of life.

Conn later addressed the thanes as they sat around the tent. All were happy to have been spared and were happy to take Conn’s “suggestion” to go home immediately. He also advised them that they should see the Steward of Kapisi if they had shortages of anything to ensure a good season and a good harvest.

He asked to see the Thane of Mapri. He was advised that there wasn’t one – he was an Ancuman that had been killed that day. All that was left was a Folctoga and a hundred men.

He introduced Eolyn to the Folctoga.

‘As Eaorl of Kapisi, I will be relinquishing the demesne of Kapisi to Iladion. Eolyn is the Aebeling and his Ceolrys will be your new overlord – he is the new Baron Mapri. Ceolrys by now has Mapri under his control with three hundred wiga.’ When the Folctoga looked bewildered, he explained it as a new thing.

‘When you return, you will find the village is totally under Twacuman control and it will remain so. I task you with talking to everyone – and I mean everyone – in Mapri and tell them this. They can stay as cotter loyal to Baron Ceolrys or they can move west to Kapisi where we will find new work and new homes for them.’

When the man understood his task, Conn let him gather his townsmen and depart.

By midmorning, the campsite was almost deserted; all Pontians from Kapisi had headed home and all that was left was Pontians from other parts of Pontia and the Ancuman wounded.

~oo0oo~

A couple of days later they arrived back in the town. Most of Conn’s fyrd was already there; the wounded had taken longer to arrive. The Southern Isle Ancuman wiga were nowhere to be seen – though Conn noticed their horses grazing in the paddocks. Balios did too – a lot were mares.

  Sir Theoric advised that as soon as they had arrived they had done as instructed and boarded cogs and headed for Kishdah. He passed on their thanks and their desire and hope not to see him in battle again.

The next morning he gathered the remaining prisoners.

‘I don’t understand’ one Ancuman asked, after Conn had greeted them, ‘why you have gone to such trouble to heal us, if you are going to execute us.’

‘I’m not going to execute you – I am not like the Axum – quite the opposite in fact. We have a ship in the harbour that is sufficiently large enough for you to go back to Pontiak.’

They looked at each other in surprise. ‘What are your conditions?’ one asked.

‘None; do whatever you want. Hopefully I will not find you at the end of another arrow next time – hate to have to repair you twice.’

‘What about the others here in the donjon – what about Agdis?’ one asked.

‘I’m keeping her as a hostage – I understand that she is connected to the Bretwalda. It will be profitable for me sometime in the future, to ransom her.’