The Aebeling (20 page)

‘I had not considered that far ahead.’ Conn answered diplomatically.

‘I don’t believe you. What about the daughters? Have you found one you like? Taking an Eaorl’s daughter as bedda could be a wise move for someone new to Lykia.’

‘They are a bit young for me.’

‘Unusual but encouraging. Most men seem to like their meat fresh and undercooked.’

The Eaorl’s bedda’s name was Ranait il Dahae from Moetia. She explained that she was in Lykiak because her bedda was taking Theogarda il Neh, just sixteen, and one of the many daughters of the Eaorl Swidhelm, as a bedda.

‘The Eoarl had been unable to have a son with any of his current bedda. He has eight daughters and as I am the eldest of his bedda, so it was my duty to agree to this new joining, and make way for a replacement. So he has taken something young and fertile – Theogarda’s mother had eight children – so we believe that she will soon provide him with an heir.’

‘So Theogarda will be his fourth bedda?’

‘No – he already has four – but I am no longer bedda – I am now Scylcen. I agreed to relinquish my position to one of lesser standing and authority. But you need the Metgiend’s approval to do so.’

Conn suspected that he would have been disappointed if he needed the Witan’s approval.

‘That must be disappointing for you...’

She shook her head, the movement sending her long black hair and large breasts into a quiver. ‘Not really – I have more freedom now. Freedom to do things that I otherwise couldn’t...’ She was sitting very close and Conn was starting to get an idea of what some of these things might be. ‘Without causing a scandal, that is.’

Conn thought it appropriate to pause meaningfully. She continued, leaning closer and caressing him with her bosom, whispering.

‘I must say I have heard such a lot about you since you arrived, Thane. Everywhere they talk of you – the Eaorls do not know what to make of you. I understand you are personally responsible for the changes to the city guard – the new Sheriff is from Tabae as well. Speaking of which – is what they whisper true – about the Sherriff?’

Conn played along. ‘I’m not sure what you refer to? I gather he is responsible for a lot of the crime that has plagued Lykia...’

She shook her head. ‘Not that – about how he died… some say that you were responsible for his death – no one else would have been brave enough to attempt such a thing in case it failed?’ She looked intently at him? ‘Is that true?’

Conn was trying to find an answer without lying too much but Ranait interrupted him. ‘It doesn’t really matter – it does seem that one of the problems in Lykiak has been solved.’ She looked at him intently, ‘What is more important is that Octa tells me that you are looking for the Cirice.’

He was surprised that Ranait knew. ‘Octa told you?’

She shook her head; more quiver. ‘No, I heard him talking to the Metgiend. Why do you seek it?’

Conn didn’t think the ringing head story would work. ‘I met this old lady in the market – she told me about it. And we had Cirice in Taransay – so I am very curious why it is hidden here. It seems that it has been shut down for over seventy years.’ As for the ringing in his head, he still had it here in the Longhouse – though very faint. The keep must be very near the Cirice.

‘Do you know why it was closed?’

‘No – not yet.’

‘It was the mother of the last Aebeling who closed it down – it is said that she was so jealous of the attention her bedda paid to the Folgere she had them all sent away. And after that the family was cursed and paid the price.’

‘What was that?’

‘The end of her line – her bedda had only one son and a daughter with all his bedda. It seemed that the son – the last Aebeling – was more interested in boys than girls – and he paid so much attention to the second son of an Eoarl, his lover, that he had no time for his bedda and had no children. His lover was even given an Eaorldom – Asaak – and he gave his sister as bedda to him as well. I believe it was a great scandal.’

Conn now understood why the Eaorl of Asaak – her bedda – vetoed every candidate and why he was put out that he didn’t have a son himself. Not even a younger brother.

‘I understand why you are so well informed.’

She smiled mischievously and nodded. ‘I probably shouldn’t be telling you but ... I have been set aside. That has consequences.’

‘What happened to the Aebeling?’

‘He tried to go by boat to visit his lover – in spring when the waters are the most turbulent – and drowned.’

‘And they have yet to find a replacement…’

‘Indeed. Anyway, tomorrow I’ll help you look for the Cirice. I know of such things as I was brought up in Moetiak – they have a Cirice there. I even thought that I had a calling to be a Folgere for a while; but that was not the case.’

‘You as a Folgere; that surprises me.’

She smiled at him scornfully. ‘Being a Folgere is a great honor. You serve your Gyden, and through her, you serve their community. There is much joy to be gained in those activities.’ She paused to emphasise her next comment, and well as pulling back her shoulders to expose more of her already very evident and abundant bosom; ‘And they have the added benefit of being free to comfort and guide men on behalf of their Gyden. Have you noticed that men do like a lot of comforting? So, it is an extremely powerful position – and it is said that Gyden are insatiable...and those that serve her are the same...’ She smiled seductively. ‘If you know what I mean.’

Conn had an even clearer idea of what she meant when she said the last comment as she casually placed her hand on Conn’s leg, dragging her hand up it slowly. ‘Of course, one doesn’t have to be a Folgere to serve the Gyden. We all do our bit in our own way. ’

She stood, brushing her bosom on his arm. ‘Thane, until tomorrow then; I’ll expect you to collect me in the morning sometime. I’m sure that you will know where to find me – a resourceful man such as yourself.’

Conn watched her as she moved away. Octa moved back into his seat and saw Conn’s gaze.

‘What did she want?’

‘She is going to help me find the Cirice, it would seem.’

‘Is that all?’

‘Possibly not…’

CHAPTER 10

It was midmorning when Conn arrived at the residence of the Eaorl of Asaak and collected Ranait. He waited outside for her, and she admonished him mischievously.

‘What kept you so long? Which girl was it?’

‘Nothing like that – just too much bad mead – it was the worst stuff I’ve ever drunk.’ There was the small question of one of the maid to send home rewarded, monetarily and otherwise.

‘Liar. I saw the girl you had your eye on. I wonder if she feels as well-rested as you look.’

Being the gentleman that he was, Conn changed the subject, and they conversed casually through town to the point where Conn had the strongest sensation. He indicated.

‘I’m led to believe that it is over there somewhere.’

‘Let’s look.’

Ranait set up down the windy lanes with Conn on her heel, and they worked their way between the slime, mud and filth that made up Lykian streets. Ranait talked as she went. Conn wasn’t sure how she could walk and talk and keep her clothes covering her breasts; but she seemed able.

‘A Cirice in Moetia is a special building inside a walled enclosure. The enclosure is usually quite large and the walls are usually made of timber so it is possible that they have been destroyed in Lykiak – which means that these houses and people are living within the grounds of the Cirice - another reason why we cannot see it so easily.’ She stopped to draw a circle in the dirt with a stick she found. ‘However, the Cirice itself is a strange shaped building because it has four ends’. She drew two overlying rectangles creating a plus sign. ‘People would never live in or demolish a Cirice – so it is still here somewhere.’

Conn was having trouble concentrating on what she was saying – again he wasn’t sure it was because of her choice of wardrobe or the increasing ringing in his head. He thought he had some self-control so presumed it was the latter. They continued their search up and down the multitude of miniscule alleys looked for some indication of the Cirice’s location. After almost an hour without success, Conn realized that the noise was like a tuning fork – if he concentrated hard enough, he could get an indication of the right direction to follow; so he started to direct Ranait. Not overtly – he decided that he wanted her to find it for him.

‘I don’t think we have been down this alley?’ he would say, and they would try another path.

Suddenly Ranait stopped, and looked up. Conn followed her eyes. The building in front of them was odd. It seemed to be built higher up then those around it and it had an odd construction. There was one wall built of stone.

She turned and faced him; her very full figure directly in front of his eyes. He wasn’t sure why but he was finding the urge to reach out and grab her almost overwhelming. He was starting to need a really cold shower.

‘Can you see the wall? It is not connected to the walls around it – neither is the roof. That brick color is just the same as in Moetiak. I can feel it – this is the Cirice. I am so excited.’ She grabbed Conn’s hand and held it tight to her chest, above her heart and breast. ‘Can you feel my heart pounding in excitement?’

Conn had to agree, as he forced his hand not to slide downwards. After she released her grip, they searched for the owner, but none was forthcoming. With no alternative, Conn broke into the building, and inside the room was ‘stuff’ that was at least 20 years old; the dust was an inch thick and nothing had been moved for years. The owners had clearly moved on.

The room was triangular, and behind the bric-a-brac was the stone wall; and it contained an arched doorway, with a heavy wooden door. Conn cleared a pathway, and tried to open it, without success. It had been closed for years; the iron bars fused into place. Using the kunai that he carried, Conn was able to break the timber boards until he had a pathway through the way. On all fours, he led then way. Ranait followed, and they stood side by side looking into a small antechamber – it was also triangular. The noise in Conn’s head was intense. Not distressing but like a presence.

Ranait clutched her mouth. ‘It is! It’s definitely the Cirice.’ She pointed to a door on the corner of the room; it was broken and off its hinges. Through the space you could see into a larger room; with rays of sunlight hitting the broken timbers that lay scattered on the floor. She grabbed Conn’s hand and led him out of the antechamber in the central room of the Cirice.

‘We’ve definitely found it! We need to celebrate!’ She turned and looked at Conn, reached for his tunic and pulled him towards her until they touched, breast on chest. ‘I wish to celebrate now.’ She whispered as she kissed him.

There are many ways to celebrate – and this was certainly one of the better.

Later, sated after an incredibly passionate session, they redressed, dusted off their clothes, and walked around the Cirice. From the central chamber, much like a Nave or Cella, they could see into four semicircular rooms – something like and Apse – that all faced the Nave with its collapsed roof. At the end of one of the Apes, they could see a large carved stone statue of a naked, voluptuous and very sensual figure of a woman. Everything on her was clearly defined. Conn walked up and almost felt like running his hands down her fine figure. He walked into the other three Apses – instead of carved statues the walls were covered in murals – also all naked women; also in graphic detail.

Ranait explained that in Moetiak, the Apses all had carved statues. ‘We were in the cella, the central chamber where offerings are made to the Gyden.’ She pointed to the idol. ‘Each chamber holds a different idol, but because this is a lesser Cirice it has only one stone idol – dedicated to Badb. The others in murals are her three sisters; Lilith, Tabiti and Inanna.’ She went clockwise to point them out, and explained that the Gyden were always naked in the Cirice as it symbolized the state of a human in birth and death – and when they make offerings to the Gyden.

Conn found it disturbing him that the four sets of eyes seem to follow him around the room, and they watched him as he returned to the carved statue. It was as fine as any he had ever seen in the great museums. Just under her very fine and large left breast was an open palm – as if to hold something.

‘Why is her hand open? Is it for something?’

Ranait nodded. ‘That is where the Folgere holds her haligdom.’

‘Haligdom?’

‘Yes, a Haligdom is a special gemstone – Inanna’s is green, Tabiti’s is red, Badb’s is blue and Lilith’s is yellow. The Gyden use it to connect and communicate with their Folgere. Each Cirice must have at least one Haligdom for one Gyden – and without a Haligdom a Cirice doesn’t have Folgere.’

Conn knew already of the colors – but not about the haligdoms. ‘So why is the Haligdom missing?’

‘I don’t know. The Folgere must have removed it for safe keeping when the Cirice was closed. No man can remove or replace a stone – so it must have been the Folgere.’

Conn had a sudden thought, and he walked closer to Badb.

‘What are you doing?’ Ranait asked anxiously.

‘Nothing to harm her.’ He reached into the pouch that he always carried with him – the one that had his money as well as the gemstones that he inherited from his mother. He tried to shake out a few stones but only one fell out – and it was a blue sapphire.

Ranait moved up to his side. She was astounded. ‘You carry around a Haligdom? Why would you do that? And you know you can’t touch the idol – you are not a Folgere.’

Conn shrugged. ‘It is just a stone – you can carry more money in gems than in gold. And as for touching her, I somehow don’t think she will mind.’

Hesitantly he reached forward, holding the sapphire in his fingertips. He hadn’t even touched the stone before several things happened. The first was that the gem got sucked from his fingers and then half absorbed into the marble hand – after which it started to glow – until the room was suddenly illuminated in a blue haze.

Simultaneously, Conn felt a rush of adrenalin that set his heart pumping and his head whirling; and he fought to stay upright; gaining control by suddenly finding that he could shut out the sound in his head by concentrating on the imaginary doors in his mind. It was something he had learnt when he was child.