The Aebeling Read Online Free PDF Page B

always.’
    ‘Thank you, Aebeling; as always we are appreciative of your hospitality.’
    She smiled back. ‘And we are appreciative of your wine.’ Brina then looked back to Conn. ‘Conn il Taransay; tonight you will be our guest at a feast to celebrate the survival of Caewyn. As well as much to think about, we have much to be grateful for. Elva will show you to your longhouse.’ Elva had arrived back in the room and stood at the side, waiting.
    Conn stood to leave, and then turned back when Brina spoke again. ‘There is something else that confuses us, Conn il Taransay. Caewyn says that there is something that connects us to you – some kind of link. I do not understand what it can be, and yet it exits. Even our Wordloga feels it. Perhaps time will explain it also; for we can’t. There is no logical explanation – but then there is nothing logical about any of this.’
    Leaving Brina, Conn was escorted to his new abode, a medium sized longhouse that he had to himself, and where Conn found his gear carefully stacked; his animals were below and all content. The ten Rakians ponies were there as well; Elva informed him that the rules of warfare made them his booty, and his large herd of animals had been unsaddled, rubbed down and given grain to eat.
    At his request, Elva then took him to see Derryth who was in the infirmary. Accommodation seemed plentiful as Conn walked through the village; empty houses scattered between occupied one. He commented as such.
    Elva agreed. ‘There was a time when there were many more of us. Once we had two of three children – now it is one if we have any.’
    Derryth was fine – the medic explained that there was nothing they could do that was better than what Conn had already done, and commended him on his skill. With the sore Derryth walking with them to his dwelling, he despaired that he would never be wiga again.
    Conn shook his head. ‘No, I think you will be fine. If left alone your shoulder will quickly become useless but we can do exercises to encourage recovery. We will start that as soon as you are able – perhaps next week.’
    Derryth bowed in gratitude. ‘I will be even more in debt than I am now if that can be done.’
    Conn was surprised to find that Derryth lived in what was effectively barracks – a long building containing around fifty men. Derryth had shared this building with the same group of men since he was a teen; and they preferred not to share with the young ones because they were too noisy!
    Elva shared a dormitory with other Cempestre and other single women. It seemed that once pregnant, women moved in with other mothers and they stayed there until their children were old enough to move to a dormitory of their own. Men and women didn’t live together; children were fathered somewhat indiscriminately – pregnancy was the Gyden’s will and consequently cherished – and seemed to be a result of casual affairs. That being said, everyone knew who their father was – the clan they belonged to was important knowledge.
    Despite his continued protestations about missing out, they left Derryth to rest, and returned to the main square, where preparations for the feast were underway. A large bonfire was being built, and cooking fires with spitted pork and mutton were being prepared. By the time the sun dipped behind the mountains, the villagers had arrived, the musicians had started to play and the food and drink was being served. The large kettle styled drums created deep mellow tones that resonated through the village, while the smaller drums, bamboo flutes and xylophones added melody and variation. As darkness arrived, the large bonfire provided an eerie light to the village, while the singers sang sad songs, and the dancers danced in circles around the bonfire.
    As the honored guest, Conn was offered large amounts of the new wine as well as the mead made from the honey and fruit from the forest, and drank far more than usual. He even joined in the drum