The Aebeling

by O'Neill, Michael

  Instead of staying in one of the camps, Conn had them camped out in the open. It was summer, and it was a clear, albeit dark night, without rain. Instead a cool mist settled around them as they sat snugly around a large fire. Allowena was eventually unable to contain her curiosity. She was a little cold.

  ‘This is all very nice – but we would have been much more comfortable back at the camp.’ She was very forthright with her ‘father’.

  ‘True – but it would have been harder for our visitors to meet with us.’

  Both girls responded; surprised. ‘Visitors – what visitors.’

  ‘The ones standing behind you.’

  ‘Aww – you spoilt my fun!’ said a voice from the darkness.

  The girls sprang to their feet and raced for cover – the closest that Naomh could find was Wilgar and she hid behind him – clinging to his tunic. He burst into laughter. After a few moments she let go – but not as quickly as she could have.

  Derryth and several other Twacuman walked into the camp. Conn stood and greeted them all with hugs. Allowena stood alone now – her cover had moved. She didn’t know what to do and she stood still. Conn rescued her after a few moments.

  Derryth looked at the girls and their shocked faces, visible even in the firelight. ‘I don’t think they have seen Twacuman before?’

  ‘I gather not.’ Conn introduced his travelling companions to Derryth and his squad. Wilgar and Hengist had been warned, but even they were reserved. It had been a long time since the Twacuman had ridden amongst the Priecuman. ‘I was not expecting you. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Keeping an eye on things – there has been much activity on the mountain side.’

  ‘I’ve been busy.’

  It was only later after everyone had gone to sleep, that Derryth and Conn had a chance to speak privately. Conn outlined his request and Derryth agreed to help. He would be back in a couple of week with a few workmen to assist.

  ‘Oh, and I have something for you.’ He handed over a bag that was surprisingly heavy. Conn opened it up and brought out lumps of rocks. Even in the fire light the flecks glittered – there was lot of silver ingrained in the rock.

  ‘Impressive – where did you find it?’

  ‘High in the mountains.’

  ‘In Halani or Lykia?’

  ‘In Lykia – but even so, if there were Priecuman here, we would be watching them.’

  The next day the Twacuman joined them on their trip back to the nearest mining camp, and they then guided a squad of men up to the discovery. It was a very unusual location; half the mountain had collapsed down the slope and the Twacuman had dug into the mound the find the ore. Conn was amazed at the discovery.

  ‘What made you look here? It is just a land fall.’

  Derryth smiled sheepishly. ‘It wasn’t me – it was Caewyn…’

  ‘Caewyn? Caewyn led you to this site?’

  ‘She did – not directly, but we were exploring around here and she made us dig into the mound – that was when we found the entrance to the mine. We also found this.’ He led Conn over to a pit cutting that had been exposed by the rain. In the exposed banks, bones were clearly visible. Conn could see at least a dozen set.

  ‘It’s a mass grave. Who would do such a thing?’

  ‘Caewyn says that these are Twacuman bodies – and the Ancuman killed them.’

  Conn nodded in understanding. ‘To hide the location of the mine.’ He took a deep breath and shook his head. ‘The things people do. I will have the remains dug up and arrange for their return to Halani. Did you not know of these kinsmen?’

  He shook his head. ‘No – these are not of Halani – they are from the home of the Twacuman – and theow to the Ancuman before their final defeat in Meshech.’

  Conn looked curiously at Derryth. ‘Original home?’

  ‘Neritum. Neritum is where all Twacuman originate. But Neritum is no more; it fell beneath the sea hundreds of years ago.’

  Leaving a crew of men behind to continue reopening the mine and to carefully recover the remains, Conn returned to Hama to collect resources to fully develop the mine. It must have been a rich resource for it to have been hidden like it was. On his return they built a small village around the mine and the accompanying processing plant that also included a barracks for a squad of wiga to protect the mine and the workers. They would also escort the ore – which further investigation showed to contain large amounts of copper as well as the silver. Refined and cast into ingots, the bar would be escorted down the mountain to Hama where it was processed directly into Ryals. Conn discovered that there is nothing better than having your own mine – and it solved any liquidity crisis – especially as it created the smaller denominations.

  Several weeks later, Conn waited for Derryth in Hama, He was sitting with the new Burhgerefa of Hama – a Silekian – when a wiga rushed in.

  ‘Thane, your visitors have arrived.’ He sounded very excited.

  ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘You said maybe a dozen men – well, there are more than a dozen.’

  Conn stood and headed for the door. ‘How many more?’

  ‘Probably a thousand…’

  Conn laughed, shaking his head. ‘And it was such a simple request…’

  Derryth justified himself by saying that if it needed to be done, then do it quickly – and indeed it was. Twacuman might live a long time but they didn’t want to spend a long time doing something as tedious as building barns. They much preferred to spend their time leisurely fishing by the lake. So, with several hundred workers cutting and hauling trees from the forest with oxen, hundreds shaping and splitting logs for the purlins, beams, rafters, shingles and posts, and hundreds more assembling the building, the barns, barracks and houses very quickly appeared; and instead of ten barns, Conn had more than twenty completed by the end of the month – and enough housing for several thousand people. Most had wooden shingle rooves but others had clay tiles; wood would be dangerous given the industrial purposes of the buildings, and the kilns being constructed beneath the rooves.

  With the building in place, and the Twacuman finally returned to the forest; escorting the more than forty bodies that they had recovered from the mass grave, Conn turned his attention to training his craeftiga in the manufacture of a vast array of goods for personal, industrial and military uses. Military was the priority, and by winter the Fyrd had been totally reequipped with new equipment – from uniforms and chainmail to swords and spears. The second priority was sellable goods, and products was manufactured that could be taken to Lykiak for sale. Hama was the beginning of an industrial and agricultural revolution in Meshech, and one that would fund Conn’s activities for many decades to come.

  Conn had just returned from one of his regular trips to Hama when Octa came for his first visit. It was not typical of Eaorls to randomly visit Thanes and his excuse was to visit his children. Conn had heard that Octa was not impressed with rumours that his son Hengist wished to take bedda from amongst the Silekians and that his daughter seemed to want to be bedda to Wilgar. Whilst they had rank, they did not have means, and given his new prosperity, he felt that his daughter and son could make a better match.

  It was late afternoon when Conn greeted Octa as his Fyrd escorted him into the keep at Haran.

  ‘Eaorl, welcome to my humble abode.’

  ‘Nothing humble about it anymore – I have been riding on paved roadways between new dwellings.’ He handed his horse to a groom. ‘I’ve got to say that I’m impressed so far.’

  His son and daughter greeted their father. Hengist was resplendent in the new wiga uniform manufactured by Conn. His father checked out the chainmail without commenting.

  ‘I hope my son has been diligent in his studies – and not otherwise distracted.’ Hengist ignored the barb. ‘What I have seen so far gives me great hope for further improvement in Tabae.’

  ‘Your son is one of my best wiga – you are rightly proud of him. Your daughter has also made gre
at steps in her learning.’

  ‘Yes; I got the letter she sent me. I’m not sure why females need to bother with such manly skills – but at least she is amused.’

  Octa greeted Annisa; her choli and scarf failed to cover her extended stomach. She was clearly pregnant. Octa was shocked, and said so.

  Annisa bowed respectfully. ‘Not as shocked as I – I thought my child bearing days were over. For some reason the Gyden had blessed me with a child.’ Annisa had lost two children soon after birth, and another at five years old – with her bedda.

  Octa congratulated her. ‘By the Gyden’s will this one will survive. Now – who is going to show me around this keep? One of my daughter’s letters even mentioned a steam-room. I think I might try it.’

  The Eaorl was the special guest at the evening feast; held in the newly renovated and extended great hall. The main table looked over the large number of guests – mostly keep staff, the masters of the Guilds, and the new Lairds; as well as his Folctoga. Between Allowena and Naomh sat another girl; about sixteen, and very pretty. Her name was Theolynne. She had turned up some time ago – her father was the Eaorl of Abri in Silekia – the youngest child of many; and like many, the reason she was still alive was because she had been visiting her mother’s relatives and away from her home when the Rakians attacked. Separated, she had fled south with other refugees.

  At the appropriate moment, Conn made the speech of welcoming and then made an announcement.

  ‘The days have been long, and the effort of all has been truly enormous. This week we have completed the last five of the farms here in Haran and I would like to announce the names of those that will be the new Lairds.’

  Conn then announced the names of three Ceorls – all of them second or third sons of Ceorl in other thane fiefs in Tabae; including a nephew of the Octa. The last two he named were Wilgar il Melnik and Theolynne il Abri.

  ‘Whilst not of Lykia, these two are the children of Eaorls in Silekia, and it is important that they find themselves in a situation befitting their rank.’

  Conn had a special proclamation made for each new Laird; written on a scroll, it stated their rights and obligations and displayed their heraldic insignia – should they have one – or provided a space for one that would be is created for them by Conn’s Herald. Formally receiving the document, they then all made a vow of allegiance to Conn and then to Octa; as their liege’s overlord. The two most surprised and grateful were Wilgar and Theolynne.

  Later Theolynne was formally introduced to Octa by Hengist, and he stated his desire that she be allowed to be his primary bedda – and she would be his first.

  Before Octa had a chance to say no, Conn interrupted. ‘I forgot to say that I will be acting as her father in these bedda negotiations. I only think it right given that she is to all intents an orphan. The same of course with Wilga – I will also stand as his father. Annisa will negotiate on my behalf.’

  As both were presently of inferior status to the Eaorl of Tabae’s children, it was custom that the dowries would be paid to the Eaorl. Given their new positions as Lairds, and Conn’s careful manipulation of the situation, Octa now had no reason to refuse the request and he begrudgingly gave them his blessing.

  Later he asked Conn about the Lairds.

  ‘Just how many of them are you creating?’

  ‘About forty – twenty in each domain; you could consider doing the same...’

  ‘We will have to wait and see – I have yet to be convinced that it is a good idea. They seem a bit pretentious…a bit like your wiga…’

  Indeed the wiga did look very impressive in the new sleeveless gambeson, new lances and bows – and colourful linen surcoats. Wearing surcoats wasn’t a Meshechian thing, but Conn had introduced them to his wiga; both as sun protection for the chain mail that covered the gambesons and as easy identification. They also carried Guidons for the same reason. The surcoats needed identification and Conn had learnt that all the Eaorl’s of Meshech had long ago chosen animal motifs to identify their domains – and Tabae’s was a deer. So Conn’s wiga had black deer imprinted on their brown surcoats, while the surcoats he presented to Octa had black deer on a white background. Octa’s wiga had readily embraced their use, as they had felt a little like the poor cousins and yet were the Eaorl’s wiga.

  ‘It is always important to look good – and Hengist has proved to be an able student.’

  ‘That’s what I’m worried about.’ They had travelled together to the escarpment that overlooked Silekia, and were inspecting the sentry posts that had been built along the valley wall. Each stood beside a fire and smoke tower; continually manned, a signal could be started and quickly seen from everywhere in Haran.

  ‘It certainly is a severe drop into the valley. I can see why you do not fear invasion from Silekia.’ Conn commented to Octa as they overlooked Silekia.

  Unlike most river valleys that are in a V shape, this was J shaped river valley, the high side being up to Lykia. It would take a great and skilful general to get his troops over the river and up the valley wall without losing thousands. It would be almost impossible to drag carts up the slope so a large scale invasion of Lykia would be near on impossible, and invading Silekia would be less hard, but still difficult.

  ‘Only once was it successful – I believe the Casere Sherric brought fifteen thousand wiga up these walls. He started in the middle of the night, catching the Ancuman by surprise because he had Twacuman as guides, and it is said that they can see in the dark. By morning he had enough men on the top to allow the rest of his Fyrd to make it up unharmed. It was not long after that that the Ancuman were finally defeated, and banished.’

  Conn looked at the wall with renewed interest. ‘There must have been a great loss of life.’

  Octa agreed. ‘Not only here – but a month later was the last battle – when seven of every ten men died on the Silekian side – and eight of every ten Ancuman died. Sherric himself died.’

  ‘I doubt that the Rakians are going to try the same thing again.’

  ‘True, but there are reports that the unrest in Silekia is increasing; and they fear that it will spill over our side. The Witan is much concerned about the number of incursions already.’ Octa had recently returned from Lykiak – and the Witan. He looked at Wilgar. ‘Not only here, in Silekia we are told that the Eaorldoms of Lugia, Azali, Emona and Sirido are all now in Rakian hands. Silekiak is now surrounded – there is only Salvia left in the north – and we are told that the Earls of Pelva and Jader have great problems.’

  ‘And there is nothing we can do?’

  Sitting and watching always bothered Conn. Even more so as they watched a pillar of black smoke rise in the distance; something must be burning. The closest Eaorldom, Salvia, must be under attack.

  ‘No – nothing. We have no Aebeling. One can only wonder what tragedy is occurring there, even today, and we are powerless to do anything.’ Octa noted. ‘But it is not for us to interfere in the affairs of our neighbors. Even if we wanted to we can’t – only the Aebeling can lead Lykia to war.’ He smiled a thing smile, and asked rhetorically. ‘Anyway, who would lead the Fyrd?’

  ‘And there is still no decision?’

  He shook his head. ‘No – it is an impossible task. There are always more reasons to say no than yes.’ Octa pointed to the valley. ‘A few hundred years ago, this whole valley supported hundreds of people. But the wars between the Rakians and Silekians has reduced the population and made those left behind stick close to the Burhs and Cotlifs. It has been a great tragedy.’

  From the border they travelled west to Hama, and Conn showed Octa the new buildings and the craeftiga hard at work. He was awe struck; the range and scale was nothing like anything he could ever imagine. This was not subsistence craftwork.

  One of the new buildings had been turned into an Inn, and Conn escorted the Eaorl inside, and they were heading for a table when a voice called out.

  ‘Feorhhyrde! About time you got here.’ They turned to s
ee Derryth walk towards them. ‘If I sit in your Inn too long drinking ale I get soft.’ Derryth bowed to the Eaorl. Conn did the introductions.

  Even Octa was surprised to see the Twacuman, but gathered his composure. ‘It is a pleasure to meet one of Halani. It has been a long time.’

  Derryth nodded in agreement. ‘I think my father was the last to visit Tabae as a child – he was with a group who visited your grandfather just after he first became Eaorl, and they went to pay their respects.’

  ‘That is over a hundred years ago.’

  ‘Indeed it is – far too many years. But we can thank the Feorhhyrde for bringing the Twacuman back to Tabae. Unfortunately, he has had me delivering chickens.’

  ‘Chickens?’ Octa didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

  ‘And goats. I spent a day in the steam bath trying to get the smell off. The combined smell is atrocious.’

  ‘Chickens and goats – from Halani?’

  Derryth laughed. ‘Eaorl, I understand your scepticism – I wouldn’t believe it myself.’

  Conn explained that he had requested some of the chickens from Halani so that he could put them with the chickens he had already. Conn had already taken Octa to the see the acres of chicken pens with their maremma guards – to his continued amazement. But surprising Octa was the rule of the day; he was bemused at the quantities and range of goods being manufactured.

  ‘What are you going to do with it all – you have more than you can use in ten lifetimes.’

  The buildings had crates of the back of new carts full of good ready for transportation – all small goods easily transported like shoes, pottery, blankets, rolls of linen and wool in bright colours, copper pots, glassware, candles, oils, soaps and other cosmetics – including the first perfume.

  ‘Anywhere I can – Lyciak first and then Abrekan – he will take what I don’t sell in Lyciak. Abrekan has agents in Moetiak and Trokia in place to sell anything that I can manufacture.’ Conn had received a message from Abrekan saying the first ship had been built and others were under construction, and that it would be in Sabatah by mid-summer.