Free The Bretwalda (The Casere Book 4) by Michael O'Neill Page B

sixteen year of age, Conn had relinquished the demesne to her. Barony of Mantu was now a very significant harbour with extensive ocean fortifications protecting a carefully planned layout of houses, factories, warehouses and shops. Everything was new, and it had surpassed Silekiak as the financial and trade centre of Silekia – and large parts of the former Rakia.
    Davan had conveniently taken Macrae il Motya, the grandson of the former Thane of Mantu – and the rightful heir of Mantu – as her bedda, so the circle was complete. With a father killed in battle by Conn and a grandfather who dies in prisoner because he lost a war against Conn, Macrae had every reason to harbour resentment, but he didn’t. He greeted Conn warmly as well. After the fall of Rakia, Conn had ensured that every bedda and child of the vanquished were treated with dignity. None went without. All had demesne, and all received as much opportunities as any other.
    Mobbed by a multitude of sisters who fussed over her two children, it was some time before Conn even had a chance to hold his eight born child – or so he thought at the time – in his arms. She had spent a year with him in Sytha and they were close.
    She hugged him. ‘Papa, I wasn’t expecting you. You told me you would go to Gatina.’
    ‘What is the Eight Principle?’
    She looked at him and smiled back. ‘Flexibility – one must be prepared to change when confronted by change. So what has changed?’
    ‘I’ll explain soon.’ Together they joined a thong of people including Sileas, Ailidh, and Kenoth il Enak, Colonel of the Greens, in the Thane Hall, where Conn brought everyone up to date, and issued new orders.
    After a couple of days, all the ships were unloaded and three companies of Kerchian wiga on their greys, a company of Iladions on Elfina, and a company of irregulars – made up of Merians, Pontian, Larsans, and Sythans; most of whom served as Engineers and Logistics completed Conn’s Regiment of Brown Jackets. Assembled over the last five years in Sytha, they were as well trained as Conn was capable of. The Colonel of the Regiment was Bricwahl il Kerch.
    From the Green Jackets, Conn added five companies of Silekian Cataphracts to his fyrd, while Colonel Kenoth would leave as soon as possible for Gatina with what was left behind.
    On the third day, Conn farewelled everyone and headed north, to Halani. He wanted to take the shorter route to Kania. Going via Lykia and over the mountains into Susa was the long way.
    ~oo0oo~
    With the season having changed to summer, and with the fyrd finally assembled, they farewelled the two women and headed north. It was a ten day ride up the mountain pass that gave them entry in Halani; and another twelve to get through the mountains to arrive in Kania, overlooking the Eaorldom of Tamar. Conn was not forcing the pace of his march, if he understood what Farrun was trying to do, it wouldn’t involve attacking the Meshechian forces. He had greater strength defending than attacking. Conn assumed that he understood that and was relying on his staying put.
    Once they arrived in Halani they were met by Caewyn, Kaltor, Wilric and Siga – and, to Conn’s surprise, five hundred Twacuman wiga. He greeted Caewyn with a big hug. It had been six years since he had seen them last in Sabatah. The only one missing was Hallvi; she had a child and was back in Sytha having travelled there with Derryth last summer.
    Being still so young in Twacuman terms, both Siga and Caewyn were still childless. Both were a picture of health, and virtually glowed.
    ‘I got your message.’ Caewyn said as she hugged him.
    ‘I can see that.’ Conn pointed to the long line of wiga on Elfina that lined the road into Halani. ‘But I didn’t say anything about wiga.’
    ‘Remember I promised you wiga?
    ‘Twenty-four years ago?
    ‘Yes; this is them. They will go wherever you want them to go and do whatever you want them to do. Wilric is to go with you as Chief. I know