‘Do you know,’ Derryth offered as they both watched the women discuss his appointment of Baldric, ‘I think this is the first time you have ever been asked to justify one of your decisions. How does it feel?’
‘Very, very, strange. Not one I want to get used to…’ They paused to watch the Pontian glide across the room towards them. She was carrying two more tankards of beer for them. She seemed to quiver in all the right places. She smiled very sweetly and handed them the tankards before retreating.
‘I think you are going to have your hands full with that one. How on earth did she end up here?’
‘Another question for another day.’
With consensus reached that Conn had done the right thing, Conn asked what happens next.
Enilda answered again. ‘My daughter tells me that you are on your way to Sytha so you may not want to keep the estate. Bricgar’s daughter is of age, so if you wish to sell the estate, there would be many that would be interested. We can help organize that for you though it will take two months to allow everyone to be informed and to make the financial arrangements necessary for such a huge purchase.’
Conn shook his head. ‘Well, I will not be selling the estate.’ He saw the immediate rush of fear cross Cynilda’s face, so he added. ‘I have the resources to maintain this and the other dozen I already have – and any
more
I might gain or have rights to.’ The answer soothed her; she almost smiled.
‘Then there is the question of us theow – if you want to keep us, you can – otherwise you can sell us as well.’
Another rush of fear crossed Cynilda’s face. She was pregnant so he decided to put her out of her pain.
‘Any who wish to be sold tomorrow can be. The decision to sell Akelda has already been made, and I feel that we should add you, Enilda, to the list as well. I think that would be for the best.’
Another sign of relief from Cynilda. Enilda seemed to understand. ‘As you wish, Master. With your leave, I will make arrangements with the Auction Hall.’ She went to leave and then looked back. ‘Master, what of Keowyn il Kapisi. She is not Merian so she does not have the ability to ask to be released.’
Conn looked at Keowyn, and she smiled cutely back.
‘She can stay.’ Conn didn’t need to look to know that Cynilda just gave him a “you lecherous bastard” look. He did see Keowyn’s broader smile out of the corner of his eye.
Before she left, Conn had another visitor. It was Alward, the man whose life he had saved. He looked terrible – his face was puffed up and he could barely see through his eyes. He bowed to Conn as he entered. He thanked Conn profusely for saving his life.
‘Steward,’ an old title with a new meaning here in Meria, and now Conn’s as well, ‘thank you for seeing me. I have come to find out what I can do for you to repay my debt. You outlaid a lot of gold to save my life.’
‘There is something you can do for me.’ Conn answered. ‘It seems that I have a great demesne to manage – and I do not want to sell it. I understand that you are skilled in these areas.’
He nodded.
‘Very well then. I want you to be Reeve of the demesne, and manage it for me in my absence.’ Conn explained that he was on his way to Sytha. ‘If you do that loyally and well, I will consider my debt paid.’
Alward was grateful and said that he would be delighted.
Conn asked him if he had enough gold to purchase theow. It was clear that a man without theow was nobody.
‘No. When you lose you only take what you need to survive for a year – not enough to buy a theow.’
Conn opened a pouch and handed him some coins.
‘Will this be enough? Consider it a loan.’
Alward was shocked.
‘Steward, your generosity exceeds what is reasonable.’
‘We do what we can.’ Conn walked with him a way down the street before returning and explaining what had happened.
They were surprised again but after some discussion agreed that it was a good plan.
‘I have asked that he purchase Enilda – I do not wish to lose her knowledge of the estate.’
As well as Enilda’s sudden surprise, Cynilda looked at him. ‘How much money did you give Alward?’
‘A 350 bar – he said the goldsmith can turn it to coin.’
She nodded eagerly. ‘Well done, that will be fine – he will have enough to buy one of his old theow as well as my mother. She was once head of our clan so deserves a high price. I will arrange it with him.’ She got up and left. She then turned and took Keowyn with her, giving him a dirty look as she left.
It wasn’t even close to bed time so Conn wasn’t sure what she was concerned about – though he was feeling a little sleepy.
Enilda watched them stride out, and moved to Conn’s side. ‘I fear that she did not wish to have me mess with her plans. I am also too old to ride around on horses.’
‘Her plans? What plans? Derryth and I are a little unsure.’
She smiled. ‘She intends to regain our birth right. Our clan has ruled the demesne of Sinope for centuries. It was only the treacherous act of her brother and his Ancuman theow that finds us both here.’
‘Ancuman theow?’
‘Yes. As you know, demesne pass down the female line – the sons of the Steward get money from their fathers and then through adventure or hard work earn enough money to buy theow to allow them to fight for theow, until they are Steward of their own demesne. My master’s eldest son Osnoth was able to purchase a small village in Bata on the border with Pontia – he purchased the theow daughter of his second cousin. He also purchased a theow from a passing Ancuman ship – reportedly the daughter of a Healdend of Axum. Soon after that happened, Cynilda’s father and Cynilda were ambushed as they travelled visiting villages within Sinope. My master and his wiga were murdered while Cynilda and the other girls disappeared. I never expected to see her alive again.’
‘You said that you were also betrayed?’
‘Yes, Osnoth arrived soon after and became the Steward of Tanais in Sinope, one of our main villages. He then came to me and we agreed that his friend, an Ancuman, could purchase Cynilda’s younger sister, Kytha, as bedda. No sooner had that happened when they swapped demesne – and he sold me to theow-raiders so that I couldn’t even have my own village as is my right. He betrayed me and has successfully usurped our birth right.’
Conn looked at Derryth with contemplation before turning back. ‘And when did this happen?’
‘Ten winters ago.’
Derryth shrugged. ‘We are missing something. I don’t understand what was to be gained for so much effort?’
‘I don’t understand either – but it must be something important.’ Conn paused. ‘Enilda, tell me everything you know of your demesne.’
She laughed. ‘I know a lot – do you have the time?’
‘I’ll make the time.’ He sent for paper and ink and he took notes for the next few hours – through dinner and after until he was alone contemplating his notes in the candle light. Everyone else around him was asleep on the benches.
He looked up to find Cynilda and Keowyn waiting for him.
‘Where’s Kelinda?’ She was always last to go to bed.
‘Keowyn has taken her duties tonight. I thought you might like to visit the washhouse – Derryth says you need to go. He says you smell.’
‘Washhouse?’
‘Yes, Kirman has a large washhouse that I was unaware of. Keowyn will guide you there.’
Leaving Cynilda behind, Conn followed the very attractive girl out of the roundhouse and through the streets to the large building near the river. They found Baldric outside.
He nodded. ‘There is no one inside. I’ll keep guard here.’
Conn was confused. ‘Am I in danger?’
He shook his head. ‘Kirman is an outlaw town however, and many that reside in the hills here are theow-raiders. They will attack for the theow more than to kill you – and ransom the theow back for gold. Better safe than sorry.’
Inside it was indeed deserted; the room was large and steamy, and huge timber baths were being filled with hot running water. The smell took him back to his childhood in Japan, the mountains, and the hot springs. And to think he was in a small wooden tub last night. He looked around to see that Keowyn was already naked and was helping him undress.
‘I thought I might join you in the bath – and in anything else you might want to do…’
It was an invitation that she soon discovered that parts of him had already made preparations to accept.
~oo0oo~
The auctions started mid-morning and given the “quality” of the lots on offer, namely Akelda, there was a lot of manoeuvring to raise enough funds to be able to purchase her. Not only that, they then needed enough wiga to ensure their safety on the trip to Utika to claim the village birthright.
By lunch she seemed happy with her purchaser – a scion of Bahal, who just happened to be Wilenda’s brother, sharing a father. What she didn’t know was that Wilenda had been to see him much earlier that very morning. Conn and Derryth both require little sleep and had been investigating the town from a very early hour. Something seemed out of place and they were trying to work out what it was.
As they arrived back, he found Wilenda waiting for him. She had a man standing beside her – tall and strong, he was dressed as a wiga, and on his gambeson was a patch depicting the device of Kirman. She introduced him as her brother Renoth.
They had a problem. She explained that she had only just discovered that her brother was Folctoga for the Steward of Kirman. Being the resourceful woman that she was, she saw an opportunity – she wanted Renoth to purchase Akelda.
‘Renoth has four theow but none are of value sufficient enough to raise the funds needed. Even if he did, he lacks the funds to convince the Steward of Utika to grant Akelda a significant demesne. He also needs to buy additional theow to entice wiga to join his cause.’
‘Doesn’t Akelda already have a demesne?’
‘She lost it when she was captured by you – but has not lost her right. Her master that you killed won her in a bout but was only able to convince the Steward to grand him a minor demesne – on the border with Larsa. He then sought to upgrade by invading Rasadi…’
‘So I presume you need Ryals?’
They both nodded.
‘Will they not ask who provided the Ryals?’
‘No – wiga find benefactors everywhere – their fathers or sometimes rich merchants or even Trokians. But you will not be disappointed – Renoth is an excellent and capable wiga, and our father trained him well as a Steward. He will return the Ryals.’
Renoth added. ‘Marquis, you will not regret it; I do not forget who my friends are.’
Conn always needed friends so went and found him three 350 Bars – the 150,000 Ryals should be enough to get him what he wanted – and more. Renoth thanked him profusely and rushed to wake the goldsmith. The good thing about goldsmiths was that they were sworn to secrecy. No-one would know that the money was made from Larsan bars of gold.
Wilenda thanked him with a kiss. ‘How can I ever thank you?’
Conn kissed her back. ‘I can think of several ways.’
She laughed, grabbing his hand and pulling him. ‘You should start now. Come, I know where there is a vacant hayloft.’
Conn knew of it too. Akelda had waylaid him and taken him there on his return from the bath the previous night. He was alone as he had sent Keowyn on ahead. Akelda said she wanted to say farewell by showing him what he was giving up. Despite the temptation, he was strong and didn’t change his mind.
~oo0oo~
The Auction went as expected – Akelda was easily purchased by Renoth and he then recruited a small fyrd of six wiga, purchased extra theow and prepared to march to Utika with his new hird, to claim his demesne. When Akelda found out about his involvement, she thanked Conn, in a way appropriate for the theow of another man.
‘Perhaps our time together was not a waste. Perhaps my Gyden has not forsaken me as I’d thought.’
‘Who actually is the Gyden of the Merians?’ Conn had not asked – and it was never mentioned.
‘Her name is Lilith of the mountain, and she guides us with wisdom.’
The last time Conn saw Lilith she was naked. He decided not to mention her or her Folgere. Given that they were on first name terms, it was strange that he hadn’t “felt” her in Meria.
As well as Renoth, Alward was also able to conclude his purchases. Enilda was now part of his hird of three theow, and with business concluded, they departed Kirman the next morning and headed south to Tashke. Baldric led the caravan of horses out of the village for the four day ride to his new demesne.
It was the morning of the second day, three hours after leaving a riverside inn, when they sensed trouble – or rather Balios told him in his usual way that something was awry. They were riding along the roadways that followed the river. In the middle of a forest, with the river on one side and hills on the other, it was a perfect place for an ambush. He rode up to Derryth and Derryth nodded knowingly.
‘I think there must be about ten of them.’
‘There were four horses missing – and they know there are four of us – so they have found some friends. I gather they think we will be rich pickings – they probably don’t know that you sold Akelda…’