Free The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) by Michael O'Neill Page A

Aebeling came up and stood beside him; ‘Thane, that was very impressive. I find it impossible to think that your rank is only that of Thane…’
    Conn smiled at the lady whose clothing seem to have loosened and her bosom seemed to be much larger than before. ‘I have made it a policy to not let rank restrict my ambitions or actions.’
    ‘I gathered as much from the letter from cousin Driscol I received recently asking as to your health – he seems to hold you in high regard – even if he sounded somewhat perplexed. He certainly seemed concerned about your wellbeing.’ She rested her hand on his elbow. ‘So will you join me this evening – we will hold a feast in celebration of your great victory. We have much to be grateful for.’ Her eyelashes fluttered on the last comment.
    ‘Aebeling, I apologize but I must disappoint you this evening. I will attend as soon as all is put right here. It is not for me to leave such responsibility in the hands of others.’
    ‘Very well, if you must. Leon, my Folctoga, will stay with you and whatever you want he will make happen. I will return to the Castle and do my work there. When you are ready, please come and be our guest.’
     
    It took a week before the two fyrds were sorted, and Conn surprised everyone by ordering the fit and healthy to go home. If they left now, they would be able to get there before winter set in and snow covered the mountain passes. Conn had allowed them geldings and some stallions only to ride – the mares or better stallions were now part of his personal horse breeding program. The Thanes had their swords returned to them. They were family heirlooms and were gratefully received. Everything else was collected, loaded on ships, and sent to Atrak. If he was going to need it at all, he would need it there.
    Nobles of any level were not allowed to leave; they would go home by ship after a ransom was paid. Nor were any of the Rakians allowed to leave – Conn sent them all to work at the demesne of Ushu doing whatever needed doing – including lots of stone wall fences, drains and ditches. Conn didn’t trust Fallon il Rakia so set the wergild for the Rakian contingent as a package price – if the wanted one, they had to pay for them all – from Eaorl to wiga.
    Conn arranged for the list of survivors and the ransom conditions to be sent to the Healdend in Gatina; he could pass on the letter of demand to the Rakians. Six million Ryals would go a long way to paying the costs of this expedition – and that was just the Rakian portion. As well as gold, Conn made a range of other requests to the Gatinan Healdend.
    Conn though that he was being reasonable while the others thought he was being generous.
    When the plains around Trokiak were clearing of Gatinan wiga, Conn had the majority of his fyrd transported back to Lykia on ships – they had arrived weekly into Trokiak with grain and other commodities, and without much to take on the return voyage, it was appropriate to return the Silekian wiga to their families. He retained a thousand Sagittari and support divisions to guard the prisoners, and with the Thane of Ushu deceased, Conn was able to retain control over the demesne for as long as he wanted.
    Yet more wiga were sent home by road – they had several hundred head of horses and donkeys – booty from the defeated Gatinan and Rakian fyrds – to take to Conn’s breeding farms in Lykia.
    Before every wiga departed Trokia, however, they were paraded in dress uniform to the centre of Trokian, where Conn had the Wealdend of Trokian affix the first campaign medal ever issued in Meshech. The ribbon was gold ribbon with a round cast bronze medallion depicting an image of a Trokian merchant Lymphad. The words “For Service” and the year was cast around the image.
    The campaign medal had been prepared prior to the campaign, and additional service was recognized by the three medals created for courage; a Bronze Cross for Bravery, a Silver Cross for