The Aebeling (32 page)

An increasingly larger percentage of Conn’s income was coming from the sales of spices, beer, cloth, and the manufactured household goods being produced in Hama. Osdred was expanding as well, building Emporiums everywhere to sell the goods. He also had an increasingly large chain of Taverns that Brictdred was creating – he had just started renovating his first Inn in Moetiak, and had already purchased Inns in Trokia and Silekiak thanks to Abrekan, and these were outlets for alcohol and food.

His craeftiga were also spreading their wings; a guild type organization called Fellowships had been had been established for over eighty crafts, and the Fellowships were setting up shops and factories in all major centers in Lykiak, Trokiak, Moetiak and Silekiak. There they produced goods close to their markets. Behind every new enterprise was finance provided by the new “Meshech Finance and Insurance Company” set up by Godric, son of Abrekan.

Despite this advances, Conn had yet to make inroads into three markets – Kania, Gatina or Rakia – due to the fact that Trokia was in the middle of some kind of dispute with Gatina, Rakia was at war with Silekia, and Kania had a huge problem with pirates that made access expensive. Business was business, and Conn was determined to not let politics get in the way of gold.

Jory and his party arrived very quickly at the Inn; Conn directed them to sit and had more food and drinks delivered. With the very confused Gatinans sipping their drinks, Conn opened negotiations.

‘I’m sure that the turn of events is not as you would have expected, but it may well be that this doesn’t end so badly for you all.’

‘I don’t understand how I can benefit from this situation...’ Jory was surprised at Conn’s suggestion.

‘Every cloud has a silver lining. How much are your theow worth, and why are they theow?’

Jory said that the four men, aged in their twenties, were theow because they had committed petty crimes against their Eaorls, and were unable to pay the wergild, whilst the other two, both young girls, had been sold by their parents to be servants due to economic circumstance. They were all Gatinans, and the total value was about thirty thousand Ryals.

‘Very well; so you now owe me two hundred and seventy thousand Ryals.’ To the theow he said, ‘You now belong to me, you will work for me until the debt is repaid; then you will be free. Do you agree to that?’

They all agreed with delight. Conn got Wilgar to take them out to the Inn keeper who promptly set them to work – it was a big night. Jory was still watching events with bemusement.

‘Okay – the silver lining. You might not realize that I control the supply and distribution of most products in Lykia.’

‘I did not know that – but then I did not have any reason to know. The fact that you are rich has not been lost on me.’

‘Have you heard of Abrekan of Trokia?’

Jory nodded, a faint smile of understanding appearing on his face. ‘Five years ago, he was nobody – a small trader who scratched a living trading in leather. Now I hear that he is the most powerful merchant in Trokia – possibly Meshech – and now I understand why. I presume you are his patron.’

‘I am. As you know, Abrekan trades with all nations excluding Gatina and Rakia. He was starting to trade with Gatina and then this war came up. So that is what I want you to do form me.’

‘You want me to trade with Rakia? I heard in Sabatah that trade with Rakia was banned – which is why I had a hard time when I arrived.’

‘It is – but it also has a need of food and other goods and gold is gold. Do you not already trade with Rakia from Gatina?’

Jory nodded; ‘We have our contacts there.’

They waited as another round of mead was brought in by the buxom mead ‘wenches’. The two new girls looked like they were going to fit in perfectly; they seemed to take well to the lack of clothing. When privacy was returned, Conn continued.

‘I understand that you lost your ship?’

‘Yes; we lost our sail in a squall and then struck a sand bank that appeared out of nowhere – but at least close to shore. We were unable to save much. We had no intention of visiting Lykia – but we were given no choice.’

‘I gather you were on your way to Kania?’

‘Yes; there is always a market there for theow.’

‘Even a Twacuman theow?’

Jory nodded apologetically. ‘One of the Eaorls … he even prepaid.’

‘Some justice there as well.’ Conn continued. ‘Anyway, I will provide you with whatever money you need to purchase a ship so that you can trade in whatever you want – except weapons.’

‘What about theow? It will be strange if I stop…’

Conn took a deep breath. He hated the concept but saw the reality in what he said. ‘Provided that they are legal…’

Jory nodded. ‘Very well – I don’t think I’m in any position to refuse. In fact, you are being extremely generous so I will actually be in your debt more ways than one. But how will I get around the trade blockade?’

‘Moetia – you will travel to Moetiak and buy everything you need there. They are still dealing with Rakia and Gatina. The important thing is that it is not obvious that I’m trading with Rakia; but as you already do – it shouldn’t raise too much suspicion. Do you have any questions?’

They had a few, and Conn answered them all, and it was late by the time that everyone had left and when Conn retired to his bed – with a couple of very grateful new members of his staff. All in all, it had been a productive day.

Inside the week, Jory and his crew had left for Atrak, where a ship – not a schooner – with a cargo of goods was being prepared for him. In plain colors he would continue on to Moetiak and sell his cargo, and reload there for Rakiak. He had a letter of introduction to the “Meshech Finance and Insurance Company” would take care of all his needs. Before he left, Conn had a separate and private meeting with Jory that outlined some other requests – the events of the past year had given Conn a greater need for information, and that was Jory’s other task. Unfortunately Jory knew little of the conflict with Trokia except to say that he was very surprised to hear that Trokian vessels had attacked and sunk Gatinan vessels; it would never be to their benefit.

With the departure of Jory, Conn prepared to leave for Halani. Caronwyn was undoubtedly eager to return, though she made no comment of it to him. She was very quiet; and when she spoke she asked him questions of his experiences in Meshech, and he told her about Derryth, Caewyn and Oisin. She didn’t ask anything about how he got to Halani, and he didn’t mention Jowan or the medallion. It seemed a strange thing to bring up.

She was delighted to hear that they were still all alive and well – she explained that Caewyn’s mother was with her when she was captured, but she did not know where she was.

Weeks later they camped at the edge of the great forest; he had sent a pigeon to say he was coming. It was late as Conn stood sentry, and he sensed movement in the trees and ducked under cover. He couldn’t see movement, but he knew they were there somewhere; and they would be creeping up on him. Taking his bow, he fitted an arrow and fired it into the forest. He heard the thud a moment later.

He heard the abuse come from the trees. ‘For the love of a Gyden – you missed me by a fingernail!’

Conn stood, and was soon surrounded by Twacuman who greeted him warmly.

‘Thought you could creep up on me, did you?’ Conn asked. ‘And I missed you by a foot.’

Derryth walked out and handed Conn his arrow back. ‘Well, it felt like a fingernail. It’s a very big arrow.’

‘Why so late.’ Conn asked as he guided Derryth down to his camp.

‘I haven’t been home for days and didn’t know you were coming but saw the fires. Your damn pigeons don’t always work, you know.’ They arrived at the camp and as Derryth got close he saw Caronwyn, who was standing and waiting. He stopped short. He looked shocked.

‘Caronwyn? Is that you? By the Gyden, it is. But how...?’ He raced and grabbed her, drawing her to him, and held her tight. They both burst into tears.

As the rest of the unit joined them at the fire, Caronwyn was soon surrounded, and to Conn’s surprise they were all soon in tears. Conn came to her rescue again and urged them to sit down. Derryth immediately sent several Wiga to the Cotlif, and when Conn asked him about it, he explained that Brina would want to know.

Caronwyn spent the night telling of her rescue – but little of her recent life. Derryth raised a toast – Conn had brought a supply of his wine and Derryth had insisted on trying it.

‘To the Feorhhyrde; again the savior of our people.’

They all saluted and drank to him, while Caronwyn almost choked on her wine.

‘Feorhhyrde? How is that possible?’ She exclaimed on impulse.

Derryth looked at here. ‘Did you not know? I am sorry. I thought you knew. Caewyn gave him the medallion. Conn, bring out the medallion; Caronwyn will need to see it.’

Conn removed the medallion from around his neck and handed it to her.

Caronwyn received it with reverence. As she looked closely in the firelight and felt the etching with her fingers she shook her head and repeated the question.

‘How is it possible? This has been lost for hundreds of years. It was thought that it had been lost forever… and Caewyn found it! How did she do that?’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘I don’t know what to say or to think.’ She looked at Conn. ‘And she gave it to you. So many questions and so few answers…’

Conn nodded. ‘Brina seemed to be of that opinion as well.’

‘Feorhhyrde, I owe you an apology – I have not been totally honest with you, and it is something I regret now. Brina is actually my mother, and Caewyn is my daughter. I am truly indebted to you for not only saving my life, but also the life of my daughter. Thank you again.’ She stood and hugged him.

Conn was not altogether surprised; ‘I knew you weren’t telling me everything, Caronwyn, but I didn’t realize it was that. But as always, I am happy that I could be of assistance.’

In the morning the group headed out as early as possible, and by midday they had completed the ascent and commenced the descent into Halani. Caronwyn rode beside Conn.

‘Derryth has told me everything he knows of you, and it would seem that we know very little. Even your arrival is something no one fully understand.’ She paused as if to allow Conn to explain himself – he didn’t, and she continued.

‘It would seem, however that Caewyn trusts you implicitly, which is also unusual.’

Conn told Caronwyn of the instructions that she had given him about the Silekians, and how he had followed that advice.

‘Did she say why?’

‘No – but it has proven fortuitous advise to date. It seems that there is much she isn’t saying.’

Caronwyn was silent for a moment. ‘When I was captured – so many years ago – Caewyn was with me. She escaped during the melee – there must have been fifty Rakian wiga that attacked our group, but somehow they missed her. When we were tied up; prisoners, she was suddenly at my side in the middle of the night. She told me to be brave; and that someday someone would rescue me. Then she disappeared into the night. She was six. She is nearly seventeen now.’

Before Conn could ask more questions, they were joined by a group of wiga who had arrived to welcome home their lost princess. They were still a day from the main village of Halani when they became aware of a large number of horses coming towards them. Soon the riders, led by Brina, with Caewyn and Elva, appeared in from of them, and as they drew close, Caronwyn separated herself and rode on ahead to meet her mother.

It wasn’t long before Caewyn trotted over riding the pinto colt. She rode up to Conn and smiled her beautiful smile as she wiped tears of happiness from her face. She reached over and hugged him.

‘Thank you, Conn, even I am surprised this time.’ she stated matter of factually. ‘I knew one day that my mother would return – but I didn’t know it was today.’

An emotional Brina joined them.

‘You continue to surprise me, Feorhhyrde. This is the second time that you have given us something which we never expected. You would have to give us the stars to give us anything greater. Thank you again.’

The group turned and headed for home. Caronwyn travelled at the front and greeted individually every person along the way. They were overjoyed to see her again. As they got nearer to home, Derryth guided Conn and Daray away from the center of the village to Conn’s longhouse, where they put away their horses. Oisin and Elva arrived soon after; Elva had brought the nearly four year old Jowan to see his father, and together they headed for the Brina’s longhouse.

Caronwyn greeted them as they arrived inside. She looked at Jowan as he walked in holding his father’s hand.

‘That was something else you didn’t tell me about, Feorhhyrde. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it. That is a fine boy you have there. What is his name?’

‘Jowan’, Conn replied, and as he spoke Jowan walked forward and held up his arms; expecting to be picked up. Given everything she had been through for nine years, a half Priecuman child should bring back horrible memories for her. But she picked him up and held him tight and more tears flowed down her cheek, and she spoke directly to him.

‘It is good to be home, Jowan ap Conn, and I don’t know why, but I’m very happy that you are here to greet me.’

Still holding Jowan, she looked at Oisin. ‘And you must be my cousin Oisin il Piada. While I was … away … I met others who were from Piada. It is wonderful to see you here. Our clans are united once more.’

Together they went inside and joined the celebrations; which lasted for two days. On the morning of the third day, Conn dragged Daray out of bed early, he had his own longhouse, and when they were finally ready to leave, they headed west.

‘West?’ Daray protested. ‘Lykiak is east. Why are we going west? Are we lost?’

‘We are going into Gatina.’

‘Gatina? Really? We are not lost, we’ve gone crazy. I’d ask why but I’m not sure if I really want to know the answer.’

Conn answered anyway. ‘Last summer Abrekan came to see me and said that there was a dispute going on between Gatina and Trokia – and it looked like it is going to lead to war. Derryth has been doing some spying for me but I wanted to find out more.’