The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (12 page)

‘Man’s inhumanity is always hard to understand.’ Conn knelt down and looked closely. He soon found what he was looking for; necklaces and their gemstones – white stones. There were perhaps a dozen, and they were still around where the neck of the bones would have been. He carefully collected them. Conn requested that someone prepare a pyre as these bones should be put to rest as soon as possible.

Fridfina addressed Conn again. ‘Were they murdered?’

He shook his head, ‘Not in the way that you’d imagine. When Ashtoreth’s folgere subjugated Ishtar, they didn’t murder her folgere because they couldn’t – Ishtar was still too powerful to allow anyone to harm them. But something even worse happened – they simply imprisoned the folgere in their own cirice and let them die.’

The girl was horrified. ‘They were put in here and locked in – and left to die? How long would that have taken?’

‘Hard to say – depending if they had water. I doubt that Ishtar would have let them suffer.’

‘So every Cirice of Ishtar is like this?’

‘It is possible.’

Death shrouds were brought and the bones were carefully placed on them and taken out to the courtyard, where a small funeral pyre had been built. The bag of bones was placed on the pyre and a torch was given to Conn – he handed it to Bolger.

‘You were their host – you need to send them on their way.’

Bolger nodded, took the torch and lit the pyre. It burned hot and quick; and those that watched it swore that the flames were not red but white. The white flames were strange; they lingered.

As he watched them, he grew uncomfortable as if the flames were trying to communicate and he wasn’t listening. ‘Something is still wrong’ Conn turned to search for Fridfina. Surprisingly, she was standing directly behind him. ‘Frid… you are already here. There is something you need to do. Do you know what it is?’

She responded immediately. She was crying again. ‘I know. She has spoken to me.’ In front of everyone, she stripped off her armour and clothes until all she had on was her long silk undershirt. She was totally comfortable in her semi nakedness. Conn searched in his bag for a haligdom, one of the ones he had just collected, and placed it on a golden necklace. He wasn’t sure why she knew.

Bolger and Kolbert were standing next to Farrun and Derryth. Kolbert asked. ‘Does anyone have any idea what he is doing?’

Farrun shook his head. ‘Not a clue.’

Derryth smiled. ‘He’s bringing back a Gyden – one that has been subjugated for a thousand years.’

Kolbert was in awe. ‘Can he do that?’

‘I hope so – it could get very messy otherwise. I guess we’ll all find out together.’

The near naked Fridfina stood in front of Conn, and he placed the gold chain and while haligdom around her neck. As the stone touched her ebony skin, it flared and she shuddered. She then suddenly grabbed Conn’s hands in hers and she cried out – a wail of pure joy and ecstasy. He drew her in and held her as she continued to shudder. Soon her body was covered in a white glow that seemed to come from the white flames, and as it got brighter, everyone covered their eyes. After it faded, she was dressed in a long white gown; also silk but a deeper fabric. The stone around her neck glowed. She stood back from Conn. ‘Thank you, thank you.’

‘You will have to wait for your initiation.’

‘There is no need – isn’t that what we were doing – every night since we left Sytha – when you weren’t otherwise occupied?’ She smiled wickedly. Prior to the voyage, she had not sought a relationship with Conn; but when they had departed Sytha, she turned up at his cabin on the first night of the voyage, and had asked him who he was going to fornicate with, and if he didn’t have anyone else in mind, she was happy to volunteer. It was direct and he had seen no reason to say no.

As she walked away from him, Conn reached into his pouch and withdrew a few other white haligdoms. ‘I think you need these.’

‘Yes, already I feel others who have the call. They are here on Saba. Thank you again.’ She then kissed him again.

Kolbert and Farrun spoke simultaneously. ‘Well, that is not something you see every day.’

‘I don’t know – I’ve seen it before.’ Derryth added, and they looked at him in amazement.

Fridfina then turned to Kolbert. ‘Aebeling, you and I need to have a little chat. Please follow me.’

Kolbert turned to Conn, unsure what to do. ‘Just follow her. You won’t regret it.’

~oo0oo~

Later they gathered back in the Jarl’s hall which was now filling up with curious people. They sat and ate in relative quiet. The locals wanted to celebrate but weren’t sure if they were getting out of the saucepan into the fire. The news that five thousand wiga were in Saba – even if most were Ancuman – was unsettling.

It didn’t stop Kolbert from celebrating however. He returned from Fridfina recharged. Not long back in the room he left again with one of his bedda. Later he invited all the girls in the hall to introduce themselves – he could be in the market for an extra bedda soon. He made Vilotta sit next to him; Farrun was sitting across from him next to Conn.

‘Cousin, do you not think that my cousin is beautiful?’

Vilotta blushed. ‘Aebeling, you embarrass me; the Folctoga is not interested in your chatter. I’m sure he already has bedda enough.’

‘Actually,’ Farrun explained, ‘I have no bedda at the moment. I did have one but she died giving birth – I have a daughter. She is nearly two I think.’

Conn interjected. ‘Wait a moment. What is this about a child? Where is she now?’

Farrun seemed surprised that Conn didn’t know. ‘In the demesne of Mende – in Axum – one of the Jarl’s lesser bedda is the sister of my former bedda. She is raising the girl for me.’ He was further surprised by the intensely worried look on Conn’s face, and watched him call Derryth over, and Derryth leave. ‘Surely, you don’t think… but no one knows.’

Conn returned his attention to his son. ‘Do you know that for a fact?’

Farrun shook his head. ‘No – but how would that knowledge be gained.’

‘That is something else we don’t know. Since we arrived here the possibility that the knowledge had escaped is a possibility. Unlikely but possible.  With that as a possibility, we need to act as if they know.’

‘What do you propose that I do?’

‘I think you’ll have to go and get her.’

‘From Mende? After invading Saba? How am I going to do that?’ His youth and inexperience did sometime show.

‘At this moment, that is something I don’t know. Let me think about it. Oh, and as for Vilotta – I agree – you should take her as bedda – if she agrees of course.’

Vilotta was quick to respond. ‘I certainly do not agree. The Folctoga is nice and everything – and I’m flattered – but I think I’ll wait. I am after all not yet sixteen. My opportunities might be expanding if the rebellion is successful.’

‘When are you sixteen?’

‘Next spring.’

‘I see.’ Conn looked at Kolbert as he was chatting to a few girls of the court. ‘Kolbert, have you told Vilotta who Farrun is?’

‘My cousin – what else does she need to know?’

‘How about the fact that he is to be the Jarl of Sala.’

Kolbert winced; they had determined that Sala was in fact his grandmother’s inheritance that Farrun hadn’t received – but Kolbert was not overly happy about the thought of giving it up. It was a rich demesne. He had also to find a suitable inheritance for Asbera. He was a little vexed by it all.

‘And that he could be the Healdend of Nobatia.’

Vilotta immediately had a different outlook and she looked at Farrun keenly. ‘You are going to be the Healdend of Nobatia? What of the current Aebeling?’

‘His is my uncle and he is very sick and his son is two. He is also sick. He could be vacating his position in my favour as I am his closest relation. It is only a possibility.’

She rested her chin on her hand, looked at him, and fluttered her eyes. ‘Well, then, since you might be the Healdend of Nobatia, I’ll consider it and talk to my father. If not, then I guess the demesne of Sala will just have to suffice. Oh, and I’m going to be very expensive. I hope you have lots of ryals.’ She stood up, and went to her father’s side. He had been watching the interchange with bemusement. ‘Come, father, we need to talk in private.’

Farrun looked at Kolbert and his father. ‘What have you two got me into? Already I can tell that she’s conniving, manipulative, controlling and bossy – and I’ve only known her less than a day.’

Kolbert sighed. ‘Yes, I was hoping it might take a little longer for her other – not so easy to lust over – qualities to shine through. Still, there you have it. She is
very
beautiful – and her body is to die for…’

‘She also said she was going to be expensive… what’s expensive mean these day?’

‘Untouched by folgere hands – priceless. I’m sure her father will make a ridiculous offer in the morning.’

~o00oo~

The night was late and servants escorted them all to their own longhouses outside the castle. Conn slept poorly. He had a granddaughter out there and she was not protected. He slept better after Fridfina came to visit him in the early hours.

Conn called everyone together in his rooms at first light for a meeting and went over everything they knew.

The unexpected response was from Saekell, who had been invited to attend, to Kolbert’s surprise.

‘Well, that is very interesting. In Mende in Axum, you say. Very interesting indeed.’

Kolbert reacted. ‘Saekell, you are confusing me – you need to speak out aloud. I don’t follow you when you don’t use full sentences.’

He bowed in contrition. ‘Sorry Master. Does the Feorhhyrde remember our conversation about the ninth clan; the clan that descends from Benelfa. Well, she was sold to the Jarl of Mende as the Healdend of Himyar died soon after he had returned to Saba form Sytha. That is where the ninth family is based.’

Kolbert shrugged. ‘Well that is all very well and good, but how does this help my cousin?’

‘You just need to say the word. Help will be provided. Feorhhyrde, I noticed that two medallions. Derryth can pass one down to your son.’

Derryth jumped up. ‘I can – I forgot that.’ He went to Conn and asked for the medallion back. ‘It’s not as if I’m ever going to save your life anyway. I’m getting bored waiting.’

With the medallion in his hand, Derryth went to Farrun and asked him to stand and bend his head. He placed the medallion over his head. ‘This is a sign of a bond – between you and me – between mine and yours. I have a life blood debt with your father that I have to repay – to him or to his. If I or mine can assist you, all you have to do is ask, until the debt is repaid. You are like blood to the Twacuman.’

‘I still have no idea what is going on.’ Kolbert protested. ‘The giving and taking of medallions – what does this have to do with my cousin?’

‘It means, master,’ Saekell began, ‘that when Farrun goes to Mende to rescue his daughter, he will have the assistance of every Twacuman he meets.’

He paused to consider the matter. ‘The kind of help that may be contradictory to the wishes of your masters?’

‘Yes; to the extent of dying for him.’

‘Wow. That should help. But what is the Marquis’s other medallion?’

‘That is the Feorhhyrde medallion. Cast in Saba and taken to Sytha and then lost. From Derryth I now know that it was then taken to Meshech where it was later lost again until found and given to the Marquis. He has the unconditional assistance of every Twacuman everywhere.’

‘Can I get one of those?’

Saekell laughed. ‘No master, you cannot – there was only one ever forged, and I doubt the Feorhhyrde would relinquish it. But your ancestors have spent generations trying to find it.’

‘To wear it?’

‘No, to destroy it. It cannot be taken; it has to be given.’

Farrun turned to his father. ‘That leaves one problem. How do I get there?’

‘Volund the pirate.’ Conn smiled. ‘He should be here any day.’

~oo0oo~

By the time Volund arrived, they had formulated a plan to rescue the child – her name was Arna; named after her mother. While they waited, there was only a few complications left to sort.

Vilotta arranged a meeting with her father the next morning for Farrun. The Jarl received them in his hall and they sat on the seats provided, facing him. Beside her father was a seat for the Aebeling; so Kolbert sat at the front as well. He couldn’t get the smile off his face.

The Jarl commenced negotiation. ‘I have received a request from my daughter to consider her becoming bedda to Farrun – who is possibly to be Healdend of Nobatia. I am unsure of his connection to the house, so could you please explain.’

Farrun spoke slowly as to remember. ‘My grandfather is Fitdred il Nobatia on one side and Agingur il Saba on the other. I have a verified claim to be Jarl in both Saba and Nobatia – I have claimed the demesne of Kinjan in Nobatia despite being adopted. By the ancient rules, I have a claim to be Healdend in both Saba and Nobatia. If Kolbert does not have a son, I may well be Healdend of Saba as well.’

Kolbert feigned shock. ‘I’m going to go to my sweet bedda now that you say that. No sons indeed, I’m going to have a dozen.’