The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) (9 page)

‘Thank the Gyden; I thought I was losing my touch.’

~oo0oo~

Farrun arrived the next day and they proceeded to load the vessels as long as light held and it was still safe. By the end of five days, they were up to the last few vessels – Conn’s junks and then the fastest, his schooners.

Depending on the speed of the vessel and the winds – which Conn expected to be good – the journey would take between thirty and thirty-five days – and with the five-day start that the older vessels had, they should arrive about the same time. Their destination was Saba, and more specifically the port of Sala. He already knew that this was the largest port on the west coast of Saba and possibly all of the Southern Isles. Conn had already mapped the position of all of Kishdah – it had taken some time but Njil had done some exploration of the open waters in the largest and fastest schooner ever built – a three mast vessel, and had plotted the location of all the islands. It did concern Conn that there was so much still unknown about the islands themselves, but that was a problem for another day.

The next morning, after farewelling his family, Conn climbed aboard the last ship as it prepared to leave the harbour. Farrun stood with Njil on the upper deck as he prepared the large ship to glide away from the dock and into open sea. Farrun had agreed to travel with his father and Conn joined him on the main deck as they watched Dor disappear.

As well as his children, Sir Njil and his crew, Farrun and fifty of his Nobatian wiga, the balance of the passengers were Twacuman. His children included his blood daughter Asbera il Nobatia and his three adopted children; the sisters Disetha and Albega and the fifteen-year-old Vigbert; all scions of Axum. There was also the four Nobatian wiga led by Fridfina. Fridfina was now in her thirties and had a special relationship with Conn – demonstrated by her regular visits to Conn’s cabin late at night, soon after they headed to sea.

Conn also requested that Eldarr join his personal staff, and travel with him and Farrun. Rendel agreed, and Eldarr stayed behind after his father’s boat had departed. He was confused when Conn included him in all their strategy meetings as well as expecting him to eat with them at night. He was totally confused when Conn assigned his daughter Albega to be his personal liaison.

Albega was initially surprised as well, when he informed her a day before Eldarr arrived. ‘Papa, I understand that you want to have him trained as quickly as possible but I don’t understand why you have chosen me?’

‘Albega, do you know that you two, as distant cousins, are very likely going to be some of the last links to the last Healdend of Makuria. It seems that there are few of you left. It is important that you get to know each other – with a view to future opportunities.’

‘Oh. OH. I see – you want me to get to know him in that way? But why me – what about Disetha – she is older and everyone says she is more attractive?’

‘I think Disetha has a different path. This may be yours.’

‘Okay, papa, I will do as you ask. But I’m going to go and change before I meet him.’

‘Why – you look lovely.’

She smiled wickedly. ‘In these functional clothes he might mistake me as a boy – I’ll go and put some clothes on that will ensure that he’ll have no doubt whatsoever that I am female.’

‘Try not to terrify the rest of the men.’

‘I’ll be careful, papa, and it’s just for today.’

Eldarr never really knew what hit him; he was not used to Ancuman girls giving him much attention because he was of mixed blood despite his father – and certainly not something as sexually charged as an attentive and half-dressed Albega. Dressed functionally from the next day, nothing he could do would remove that first impression. The young man turned almost un-functional around her. What surprised him was that no one else seemed to notice.

~oo0oo~

Once in the open sea, the days aboard the boats were spent performing training drills; Conn put Farrun through an intense training program – each of his siblings had their own strengths and they took turns to instruct him. He found it hard not being the best – especially as it took him a few days to better his sisters with the Bo. All of the explanations of being trained by Twacuman – who fought with Bo or bow and rarely sword, failed to quell his frustrations. His superior strength won out when he sparred with the sword – except against his father. But then, no one beat his father with the sword.

Farrun finally wisely chose to train some of his men – using the knowledge he had gained training with Conn to improve his men’s skills. Over time he became more confident but he didn’t challenge his father again. By the time he arrived at Saba, he was clearly the second strongest on board.

Conn also had time to speak to Farrun and Agingur about Farrun’s background.

‘So tell me about Elddis’s ancestors. She said something about being the scion of two houses.’

‘Yes she was. Elddis’s grandmother, Karola, was the daughter of the Aebeling of Saba and his bedda who was the daughter of the Jarl of Sala. Because her mother died in childbirth, Karola was fostered out to a family in Sedand. Karola was later sold to my father as a second bedda, and their daughter Sigotta, my younger sister, was sold to the Aebeling of Nobatia after he had sired a son from his Axum bedda. He did not know that she was a scion of the Aebeling of Saba – very few did – only her mother’s kin from Sala. If the Axum had known, it would never have been allowed.’

‘So this was discovered when they searched for Farrun’s parentage?’

‘Indeed, everyone knew that Elddis was the daughter of the Aebeling – she even had the rank of Jarl and the right to a dowry – but not her mother’s status or her rightful inheritance in Saba. It caused great consternation when it was discovered and in some ways protected Farrun from retribution. It did create a need to know who the father was to avoid a difficult situation later. It is not uncommon for female wiga to return pregnant from their postings in Meshech or Sytha as the Axum men had a right to use their bodies.’

‘So Farrun is a Jarl in Saba?’

‘Yes; in both Saba and Nobatia. After everyone knew his ancestry, we came to Saba and laid a claim. Kolbert had yet to receive approval from the Bretwalda’s council when we left for Meshech.’

‘I see. I’ll take that up with him tomorrow. Which demesne do you suggest?’

Agingur laughed until he realized that Conn was serious. ‘We descend from the Jarl of Sala – and there is no Jarl here anymore. I would suggest that one. The only problem is that the Aebeling has chosen it as his home. He will be there now.’

‘Okay, Jarl of Sala it is. Can you tell me more of how he got to Folctoga?’

‘There are two pathways – you can buy a commission in the fyrd or do it the hard way. As Farrun il Kinjan, the adopted son of a poor Jarl in Nobatia, it would have been suspicious for him to buy a commission. So we had him enter as a cadet. By the time he was twelve, he was the equal of any man I’ve seen with the bow.’ Conn suspected that the Twacuman were training him.

‘Is the Academy for anyone?’

‘Anyone may try and enter. Geirfrith set it up that way and the Bretwalda would like to close it but it is an effective way to train wiga. Farrun went as a cadet when he was twelve, as Farrun il Kinjan. Things got more difficult when he was to graduate as top of his class better than any other candidate there. The Folgere who supervised the training realized they did not know him and went searching. Then they found out about Nobatia and Saba. He then changed his name to Nobatia.’

‘What happens after graduation?’

‘Junior Folctoga are placed in a fyrd somewhere in Kishdah, and are rotated every year. Because of who he was, he was placed in a range of places in Axum, so that they could keep an eye on him. His last posting there was in Jamut. After Jamut, he arrived in Nobatia and for some reason was allowed to stay. His uncle also allowed him train with the Nobatian fyrd, as a Jarl is entitled, and when a force was gathered to go to Meshech, he was selected to lead the Nobatia fyrd. It was unusual for one so young but there was no opposition by any Folctoga. I think the folgere who advise Arnben were the ones promoting his participation as well – they expected him to die during the campaign, but I could be wrong with that opinion.’

~oo0oo~

Over time the faster vessels gradually caught up with the slower ones until they arrived almost simultaneously off the coast of Saba; their first destination.

They had collected a few extra vessels along the way; smaller fishing boats and ships heading to Meshech with supplies. All had been captured and turned around. Conn expected that no one in Saba would know of his arrival.

Conn asked Farrun and the commanders again what was going to happen when they arrived on shore.

‘Rebellion is always a consideration so the Bretwalda has folgere and barracks of Axum wiga strategically placed around the islands. So as soon as he finds out about Saba, he will raise what wiga he has in the Southern Isles to crush the rebellion.’

‘How many can he raise?’

‘He could raise twenty thousand.’

‘What’s to stop him?’

Farrun paused, momentarily. ‘Transportation. Most of his ships that can transport horses are in your control or are in Meshech.’

‘And if we can rid the Southern Isles of folgere and Axum wiga because he knows what has happened?

‘If we control the isles and you control the sea – there is nothing much he can do about it.’

Conn nodded. ‘That was my conclusion as well. So our best defence is for him not to find out.’

‘Yes, but it is not that easy. He also has an extensive system of spies. Some you think are loyal are not.’

‘Very well. And to our more immediate problem – the Aebeling of Saba – how many troops guard the town?’

‘Not really sure – but fewer than five hundred – more guard the outposts and guard posts. Sala-jo is a very important port and its castle is one of the best as it is the western-most point of Kishdah.’

Conn had been briefed that every Jarl demesne in Kishdah had a castle at its centre – and the main town in each demesne was called a Jo – so they were heading for Sala-jo.

Agingur continued. ‘Sala-jo has a very extensive signal network to let the folgere know if something is wrong. I spent some time when I was young manning the outposts.’

‘So we need to take out the guard posts. That is a job for the Twacuman. As for the job of isolating the islands from each other, we will need a naval blockade of Saba so that nothing can get through – not even a single fishing boat.’ He turned back to Volund. ‘Folctoga, I think it is time you returned to the sea. I’m promoting you to Commodore and giving you command of all the cogs. We need your Masters to become pirates.’

‘A pirate you say; I’ve always wanted to be a pirate.’ He stopped to look at Sir Njil. ‘Sir Njil is also a Commodore. Can I get a new uniform just like his?’

Chapter 7
The Aebeling of Saba

As the main port on the west coast of Saba, Sala-jo had been a significant transit point for some time, and it was large and ancient; having been inhabited for nearly two thousand years in one form or another. It was also very well fortified as the Ancuman were historically very fond of inter clan warfare – something Conn noticed first hand as he lay on a small hilltop overlooking the city. The town had a very significant castle with large walls. From his position Conn could see that the castle was a four or five story tower house made of stone, and the walls surrounding it were over twenty-foot high. Outside of the walls were rows upon row of longhouses, that seemed to have no pattern or logic. Inside the walls, there didn’t appear to be any space left either.

The town appeared busy. Outside for some miles they could see farmland full of fields of wheat being harvested. There was a lot of land, however, fallow and underutilized. They had no difficulty finding cover as there were stands of trees everywhere.

With the ships over the horizon, Conn had Derryth guide him, and a few wiga, in overnight to get a closer look. They took a night voyage to the most desolate part of the coast he could find; and then made their way towards the castle. Having spent a day hiding in the trees, it was now close to night again. Farrun and half the Ancuman cogs were due to dock in Sala-jo the next morning.

‘This is not going to be easy.’ Derryth offered, ‘how are we going to stop the message getting out from the port. Their beacon network is well designed and looks well protected.’

Scattered behind Conn were fifty Twacuman bowmen and fifty Saba wiga.

‘We are going to have just a single moment to get this right. As soon as Farrun pulls up in the dock, I presume that a message will go to the castle via beacon that things are not as expected. I would assume that that message will travel across to that guard tower over there’ he pointed, ‘and that one over there’, he pointed to another on the side of the hill. ‘Once it gets to the top of the hill over there… and there, we’ve lost it.’ He pointed again. ‘You will need to ensure that no one gets those last two beacons lit. Split your men into two groups – and take charge of those two towers.’

Conn addressed the Sub-Folctoga of the Saba fyrd, Delwyn il Lixi. They had decided that Agingur should stay on board. ‘Captain, it is your job to keep the locals calm – the attack on the towers could be very noticeable, and we don’t need locals coming to their defence.’

‘Can I tell them that you are just going to kill the folgere?’

‘Definitely.’

‘Everyone hates the folgere – everyone has a mother, bedda, and daughter. That’ll keep them quiet.’

~oo0oo~

At midnight, Conn bid Derryth adieu. ‘I will see you in a few hours.’

‘Now don’t get killed – I’ll be very peeved as I won’t be there to save you.’

Conn laughed, drew the cowl over his face and silently followed his guide down the hill. He carried several bows, quills and swords over his shoulder as well as his own weapons. His guide was Sigvir, grandson of Agingur’s elder brother and a future Jarl of Sinjar. He had been raised in the castle and knew it inside out. He knew a way of getting Conn inside the town walls without being seen. It was his in-depth knowledge that had created the plan they were utilizing.

It was slow and painful walking along the cobbled and meandering lanes that separated the many longhouses. The night was dark with a new moon. Conn was grateful that it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t muddy. The town was old and there was no logic to anything. Finally, Sigvir had Conn near the six yard walls that were located yards from the rows of houses.

He whispered. ‘We can climb this wall and get down into the castle without getting noticed. This point is in a blind spot from the corner towers. I noticed it while on guard duty.’

Nodding, Conn threw his grappling hook up the wall and over the top. It quickly bit into the rocks and Conn indicated that he would go first. Hand over hand he raced up the smooth stone wall and lowered himself onto the parapet. He assisted Sigvir by pulling him up, and they sat in darkness on the parapet as Conn then lowered his rope down the side. Together they then lowered themselves down into the bailey.

Conn collected his rope and then followed Sigvir into the jungle of cobbled paths and buildings.

‘We have to be even more careful now – the folgere are known to patrol in the early hours in search of any girls – or boys – out alone – who might like to help them in their rituals.’

‘I was wondering why it was so quiet.’

Inside Conn’s head, it wasn’t quiet. As soon as he landed in the bailey he felt the presence of Ashtoreth. He made sure that she didn’t feel him though – he was quiet skilled at blocking out Gyden now – especially Ashtoreth. He could also sense the presence of the folgere, and he used that knowledge to guide Sigvir – telling him when to go and stop. They finally made it inside the donjon, and up to the second level which was the great hall.

From a distance the donjon may have looked like a single square tower house, but up close the building was more complicated – an original square building had been added to several times and was now a confused structure of walls angled haphazardly around each other creating nooks and crannies.

‘This tower is such a mess that there are hiding places everywhere – as a kid I was able to hide and never be found. I’m taking you to my favourite hiding spot.’

‘You were playing games?’

‘No – I was avoiding the folgere and their games…’

The hiding spot was excellent – just off the main banquet hall and reception area; sometimes hiding in plain view was the best plan. Conn guessed that it would be at least five hours before Farrun arrived, so he lay down and dozed. He left Sigvir to be vigilant; and Sigvir woke him with a small shake.

‘Marquis – the Aebeling has arrived in the hall but nothing else has happened.’

‘Soon then.’

It didn’t take long before things warmed up – a flurry of servants rushed in and Conn heard them say that a dozen ships were docking in the harbour – ships returning from Meshech. The folgere had also been warned – Ashtoreth was busy in their minds – and upset that the morning rituals had been interrupted. The beacon had been lit in the harbour as well; time was fleeting.

Conn knew that it took about an hour to walk to the castle from the harbour and he waited. He could tell that the hall was getting full – probably the folgere, a small number of Axum wiga, and the Aebeling and his entourage.

When Farrun and his entourage arrived, they would all be dressed in long dark cloaks. If things went to plan, as they walked into the hall, they would stop directly in front of the storage cupboard that Sigvir had chosen for them to hide in. Conn waited for a knock and when it did, he was able to slip in and join them before they continued on their way towards the Aebeling in the great hall. They would have all been disarmed as they arrived in port, so Conn slipped bows and quivers to his Ancuman daughters and Farrun’s sword to one of his guards. He then waited at the back as they went through the introductions, his head deep in his cowl, stooped to hide his height.

He could see the Aebeling, Kolbert, sitting on a wooden throne with a look of immense curiosity on his face. On either side of him stood folgere; men who didn’t know that their minutes were numbered.

The chief folgere was unhappy with Farrun’s responses. ‘If the Aebeling wanted extra troops, he would not have sent you, you half bred bastard! I do not even understand why he even let you live, let alone go – you failed to take the oath of allegiance.’

‘So can you get erections again? Or do you still play mommy? I did warn you – and the last time I saw your gonads they were very blue and swollen.’

The retort made the folgere’s face flare in anger and he struggled to keep his cool. ‘How dare you… before I have you killed here and now, tell me why you are here! Now!’

Asbera walked up to Farrun and he looked at her, and then back at the folgere. ‘Okay; I lied before. I’m actually here to rescue cousin Kolbert from your reign of tyranny and then to lead a rebellion against the Bretwalda. Is that better?’

Kolbert burst out laughing. ‘Farrun, you are crazier than I thought – but I like you anyway! Tell me, who is the girl at your shoulder?’

‘My sister.’

‘Damn – I was hoping she wasn’t related. Too bad. What about the girls at the back? I don’t think I recognize them.’

‘They are not related. They are from Nobatia.’

‘Things are looking up, then. Can I have all four?’

This conversation enraged the chief folgere even more. ‘Fool, sit down! Stop this endless babbling. You will not be taking any bedda in the foreseeable future …’

‘What stops me if Farrun leads a successful rebellion?’

‘There is never going to be a successful rebellion, you moronic idiot. What is going to happen is these fools will be executed and these girls you speak of will willingly sacrifice themselves for your sins.’ He suddenly stood and pointed directly as Asbera. ‘You; I’ve heard that the half breed had a sister – you I’ll initiate myself before everyone else does.’

Asbera took her cue. She smiled at him. ‘Ooh, I don’t think that is going to happen either.’

Kolbert almost burst out laughing. He seemed to be enjoying himself. However, the folgere was not used to this kind of dissent. They were starting to appear apoplectic. ‘WHAT are you talking about? Everything I say will happen, does! What kind of idiot are you!’

‘My father will be very upset with you if you touch me… he takes very poorly to that kind of thing.’

In frustration the folgere laughed and turned to his bemused comrades. ‘The half breed girl is delusional – she will need extra sessions to repent… she seems to think her father is above us.’

Asbera spoke again, her voice strong. ‘Folgere. I am proud to be a half breed. My father has many names but you might know him as Conn il Taransay or the Marquis of Kerch. Last time someone touched one of my sisters, he killed twenty of your brothers – in Aeaea, by himself. I’m sure you’ve heard of that – even if you don’t know who killed them.’

The response was what Conn wanted – a sudden lack of control, fury and outrage. They had successfully wound up the folgere in the room, and now with Ashtoreth in their heads, only chaos would result. Conn made sure of that by opening his mind to Ashtoreth to say ‘Hello, remember me? I’m back!’ before shutting it again.

Pulling his sword from his scabbard, the chief folgere turned to attack but a strange thing happened. All of the visitors dropped to their knees except for three girls and a man; the man’s cowl fell off – and the golden beard and hair was a plain as day. The second thing he noticed was the arrow imbedded in his neck, and as he sank to his knees he saw his brothers be hit by a barrage of arrows. The Axum wiga that raced to protect them were met by the blonde giant and his two swords and his half breed son. As if water flowing over rapids they cut a path through the wiga until none stood. The blood oozed into his mouth and he saw the floor covered in death – all Axum. Disbelief flooded his eyes as he coughed his last breath, falling flat on his face.

‘Well, I’ve got to say, cousin, you put on a good show.’ Kolbert got off the throne and walked amongst the death wiga until he found a sword and scabbard that he liked and then armed himself. The rest of Farrun’s entourage did the same. ‘We have about three hundred men to subdue before the castle is ours. I hope you have a few more than this outside.’

‘I do.’ Farrun embraced his cousin. ‘Five thousand.’

‘Five hundred will make it a meaning fy… five thousand? You have five THOUSAND men outside?’

‘Give or take...’

‘Give or take how many?’

‘A thousand… I forgot to count my father’s wiga.’

‘Your father? Who is your father?’

Farrun turned to look at Conn.

‘Really? Of course, the girl is your sister. By the Gyden, this is turning into a very confusing day. Good but confusing.’ He walked around the group greeting the new arrivals – and made special notice of the four female Nobatian wiga. He greeted Agingur with a hug, and then stopped in front of Conn, and bowed politely. He then looked up and smiled.

‘I gather that you don’t like folgere much.’

‘I like folgere fine – just not Ashtoreth’s lot.’

‘Lucky me. So let’s rid the castle of them.’

‘I’ll deal with the folgere – you and Farrun deal with the Axum.’

He shrugged. ‘If you say so. I was hoping I might be able to get the wiga to surrender but they would be expecting reinforcements from the east.’

‘Tell them that none will arrive. Send them to the parapet and they will see that the beacons are not alight. The message has not gotten out.’

‘An outcome I wasn’t expecting. Do you need a guide to find the folgere?’

‘Nope; I’ll be fine. I can smell them.’

Kolbert shrugged again; ‘Unusual skill… until later then.’

Kolbert and Farrun raced out while Conn stood alone with his three Ancuman daughters and their wiga. He stood still and listened inside his head. He had seen one of the folgere escape the hall and Conn could sense that there were men now trying to escape the castle. He looked up and pointed. ‘This way.’