The Aebeling (17 page)

Octa sat back and sighed. ‘You keep changing the way we do things – I expect that you think I should get all my Thanes to do the same? And these ‘codex’ things will never catch on – what is wrong with a scroll?’

The development of the codex is considered the most important invention in the history of the book prior to printing – and Conn had his craeftiga working on a moveable type press. Octa didn’t need to know.

After two days in Tabae, a long line of horses led by Octa headed for Lykiak. Conn took Godric, Wuffa, Wilgar and Allowena with him. Allowena’s uncle lived in Lykiak and she wanted to see her cousins. Wuffa’s shoulder had healed over the winter and when Conn discovered that he was a cleric’s son – and he had been made Godric’s apprentice. He would take over as Conn’s official accountant after Godric returned to Trokia.

From Tabae it was a three day ride to Lykiak, and it gave Octa the time to explain to Conn the internal politics of Lykiak. As they got closer, the route became well-trodden, muddy, and increasingly not suitable for heavy carts. Conn made comment that it might be time to fix the roads. Octa had been very impressed with Conn’s new roads.

‘The Eaorls are very sensitive to people making suggestions or interfering. It will take some time to convince them of anything – especially change.’

‘Just like the position of Aebeling.’

‘Exactly; you will need to tread carefully and slowly if you want to effect change. Slowly, gently doesn’t seem to be your forte, but let’s try and not be like a fox in a hen house. I will talk to the Witan about your roads, however. Even I can see the benefit in doing that.’

Lykiak was a very large settlement – over ten thousand people – and it was situated at the confluence of two rivers. The river carried boats down to the sea every summer, reaching the ocean and merchant ships at the port of Sabatah. Bring the boats back was a much slower process with oxen used to assist in some places, towing through rapids. Nonetheless, the river was very busy carrying produce downstream in summer. Conn expected Abrekan’s ships to be waiting in Sabatah, and he had a hundred tons of produce destined for the river voyage.

As well as a significant inland port, Lykiak was also surrounded by rich farmland. It all combined to make the inheritance a rich one – which was the main reason why the Lykian Witan was unable to nominate an heir. It was also why the Moetian Healdend waited patiently, and according to Octa, actively promoting disunity within the Witan. They had nothing to gain if an heir was nominated, but according to an ancient agreement signed when Lykiak was created, everything to gain if they didn’t – if the Witan failed to nominate a new Aebeling within the next five years, the Healdend in Moetia would have the privilege. Coincidently, the Healdend’s daughter would be sixteen in five years, and based on his expectation that the Lykians would be unable to name an heir, he had unilaterally decreed that the position of Aebeling of Lykia would become her dowry. So, whoever she chose as bedda would be the new Aebeling. He was obviously very fond of his daughter.

They arrived at a gatehouse on the outskirts of Lykiak, and were met by several burly guards armed with pikes who blocked their paths. Octa directed them to halt and went forward. After they recognized him, they waved him and his entourage through. When Conn rode up, with Wilgar at his side, they stood in front of him.

‘Who are you?’ they demanded gruffly. ‘And aren’t you that Silekian we told never to come back?’ one said, pointing to Wilgar. Ahead of them, Octa was turning to intercede but Conn waved him off. He wanted to deal with these men himself; this was unfinished business.

‘I am Conn il Taransay, Thane of Hama.’

‘You are not an Eoarl then.’

Conn didn’t answer – the point was moot. They carried on regardless.

‘There is an entrance fee for Thanes. Twenty Ryals ... and another twenty – no fifty – for unwelcome Silekians.’

Conn dismounted, dropping the reins of the stallion.

‘Really – and how much is a beating worth. You know – if I asked you to beat someone up for me?’ Dismounted Conn was bigger than when he sat on the stallion – the horse made him look small. The guards took an involuntary step back.

‘Umm, a beating? Umm, well, maybe a hundred Ryals?’

‘That’s good then – so if I beat you two up that would be sufficient to cover my entry fee and Wilgar’s as well?’

They looked at each other confused. One wasn’t as bright as the other and called some other guards over. ‘Hey, this Thane thinks he can beat us up. What an …’

They were his last words for a while. Conn’s punch to his solar plexus dropped him to his knees. Guards rushed to the melee, and after about five minutes, ten guards lay strewn over the muddy road, covered in mud, horse manure and other excrements. The villagers who had gathered to watch cheered and clapped. Conn made sure that he didn’t break anything; but they would be very sore for days and bruised for weeks. Conn walked over to one that was recovering quickest and as Conn reached for him, he cowered and almost cried.

‘No, no, no more... please! I beg you. I give in. You can go in – no charge.’

Conn reefed him to his feet and gripped his collar. He growled in his face. ‘Now, I have a few hundred pack horses coming here over the next few weeks. I do not want them – or any other person charged an entrance fee. If I hear of such a thing I will come back and “pay you” again. I understand that this is a free city and this is a free road. Has that changed?’

‘No, sir, no it hasn’t...’

‘Good, so have I made myself clear?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, sir, very clear, sir…’

Conn let go of the collar and symbolically brushed off mud from his uniform. ‘Also, you guys are a mess. Next time I come here – which will be tomorrow, I want to see you in clean clothes. Have I made myself clear on that point as well?’

They nodded. The fact that Conn had no authority to tell them what to do was not lost on them – but the fact that he could beat up ten of Lykiak’s finest without raising a sweat wasn’t lost on them either.

Conn went back to his horse, mounted and led the way through the gate. Octa waited for him.

‘Wouldn’t it have been easier if I just told him to let you through?’

‘Probably, but not near as much fun. Besides, I owe them that for Wilgar.’

‘Their boss is not going to be happy...’

‘I hope not.’

‘I did say to tread slowly and carefully, didn’t I?’

Conn complained. ‘I did – they’re still alive, aren’t they? Nothing broken either…’

Each Eaorl maintained a dwelling in Lykiak, and Conn accompanied Octa to his; a group of longhouses surrounded by walls. Conn declined to stay with the Eaorl and instead went to stay at an Inn in the center of the Cotlif. Octa advised against it.

‘You have seen what this place is like; and given your reputation already, you will be robbed in your bed – or murdered. The Metgiend tries but he has little power to control it.’

‘Does anyone know who is behind it all?’

‘No, just that they are well protected – and very powerful. Any attempt to do anything about it never succeeds.’

‘I think we might soon find out then – after the gate, whoever is in charge will not let that lie. He can’t afford to. I’d like to see what he does.’

‘I still think you are insane.’

‘It has been said before. ’ Conn however insisted. ‘Anyway, which would be the best one to stay at?’

‘The “Black Sheep” is considered the safest.’

The Innkeeper, Beogard, was unsure what to do when Conn arrived to take up lodgings; he like everyone else had heard about the incident at the gate and seemed to be of the opinion that Conn was bad for business – until Conn gave him several gold Ryals as a down payment.

Accommodation sorted, Conn took Allowena to find her uncle Osdred. Osdred had inherited her father’s business when he died, and it was situated in type of bazaar located on the waterfront. The banks of the river were littered with a jumbled mess of wooded docks and rows of longhouses that served as residences, warehouses and shopfronts for the many merchants that served Lykia. They made their way slowly through the wet and muddy streets, and it took them some time to reach Allowena’s childhood home.

Her uncle Osdred was delighted to meet Conn.

‘I have heard so much of you, Thane – and it seems that not all of it is exaggeration.’

‘I’m sure that all the good bits are. So tell me about your business.’ They stood in the shop room; a small room with benches and some piles of items for sale. Allowena had moved to the back rooms to join her cousins.

Osdred explained that he was a small merchant that bought and sold goods from cotlifs and traders; mostly it was grain, salt and cloth; and he had done very nicely from the orders that the Merchants in Tabae had sent him.

‘Well, I have a proposition for you. I have a hundred horses on the way here from Tabae. They are carrying an extensive range of goods that I wish to sell – such as leather, wool, linen, pottery, glassware and the like. I would like you to be my agent here in town. There will be another several hundred over the summer.’

Osdred was surprised and shocked. ‘I do not have the resources to handle that amount of stock – as I said; I am only a small trader. I don’t even have enough room to store it.’

‘I see that some of the buildings on this street are empty – would it be possible to purchase them?’

He nodded. ‘Times have been hard – and many lives were lost in the sickness – including my own brother and his bedda.’

Conn handed over a purse of coins and Osdred inhaled sharply as he looked at the pile of gold Ryals inside. ‘Buy as many of these buildings as you can – and any vacant dock area. The money is a loan without interest – you can repay me when you can. Do we have a deal?’

Osdred was still looking at the purse of coin. ‘What can I say but yes. Thank you. I will do what you need.’

‘Excellent; now, do you know Abrekan the Trokian trader?’

‘Yes, I met him as he passed through.’

‘Anything you can’t sell here, you can pass on to him. He has ships that will be in Sabatah soon and will be looked for goods. Do you have people in Sabatah you can trust?’

‘Yes – a cousin.’

‘Excellent. Send everything you don’t want to your cousin, and he can sell it on to Abrekan’s captains. My only condition is that only a reasonable profit be made along the way.’

‘Thane, I will be indebted to you for life. Thank you.’

‘There is no need. I need people as much as people need goods. Everything will be to both our benefits. I will let Abrekan know of our arrangement and he will be in contact with you and your cousin. I do have one last condition.’

‘Whatever you need.’

‘You have a son?’ Conn knew the answer but asked anyway.

‘Yes, two – my eldest is Osbert. He is much the same age as Allowena.’

‘Good – we can start with Osbert. I would like him to be apprenticed to Wuffa so that he can be taught how we conduct business in Hama. Wuffa will stay with you this year so that your son is trained. Are you agreeable with that?’

‘Of course – my son is already able to read. We will be greatly honored that he has the training of a cleric as well.’

Before he left the stunned and overwhelmed Osdred, he asked who he thought was behind the extortion in town – Osdred having mentioned that a problem with doing business in Lykiak was the “protection” fees that some ruffians demanded and which the guards seemed powerless to prevent. He didn’t know but knew that most of his men who came to demand money from him hung out in a Tavern called the “Boar’s Head”.

Leaving Allowena with her relatives, Conn and Wilgar headed for the “Boar’s Head”, located in the backstreet of the docklands not far from Osdred’s shop. It was decidedly old and rundown in what was clearly the oldest part of town. The smell inside as they entered was rancid and sour. It was also very dark, full of smoke and damp heavy air.

‘This has potential, don’t you think?’ Conn asked as he coughed in the smoke that filled the room.

‘If you say so.’

‘I think that it just needs new owners. This might be a “two birds with one stone” kind of event.’

Wilgar was confused. ‘No idea what you mean. What do you want me to do?’

‘Stay here at the door – don’t let anyone leave if things turn weird...’

Wilgar found a table near the door. He was soon accosted by mead maids, and he ordered a drink.

Conn walked to the counter and the locals parted as he arrived. Being so distinct in size and color, and the room went silent as he was recognized. In the now silent room, Conn asked to see the owner. A short fat man came to see him.

‘Whadda – whadda you want?’ Conn was the last man he expected to see in his tavern.

‘I was wondering if you were selling.’

‘What – a drink? We ‘ave great mead.’

‘No – the Inn.’

He laughed. “The Boar’s Head”? Never!’

Conn placed a pile of ten gold Ryals on the bar and the owner stopped laughing. He placed another ten beside it. The room went silent. The Innkeeper said nothing. Conn placed a third pile of gold Ryals and stopped. Eighteen thousand Ryals, it was definitely more than the Inn was worth. Sweat appeared on his brow.

‘That is my last offer. Do you want to accept or not?’

The Innkeeper was curious. ‘What would you want an Inn like this? You could build a new Inn for the same money?’

‘True – but I like the ambience.’ They all laughed. Conn went to pick up the coins and the Innkeeper saw the chance of a lifetime slipping away.

‘Wait; wait. With one more I would be tempted.’

‘No more – my final offer.’ He picked up the coins and went to turn.

‘OK! OK!’ The Innkeeper almost yelled out. ‘I accept – the Inn is yours.’

‘Good.’ He tossed him a single coin. ‘My deposit – I will be back in the morning to take ownership.’

As he turned, nearly a dozen men, burley, dirty, and heavily scarred, stood in his way, blocking his exit.

‘You’re the tough guy who beat up the guards aren’t you … well, we think you were lucky, and we don’t like you – heck, we certainly don’t trust you. I think you should let us keep the rest for him – as a guarantor. Hand over your coin bag...’