The Marquis Read Online Free PDF

excellent shape, the flames flicked light off her naked breasts. ‘In fact, it will be my distinct pleasure.’
     

Chapter 02
    Although within her rights to do whatever she wanted as a widow, but choosing to be discrete, the Wealdend returned to her rooms before dawn and then joined Conn and the others for breakfast. She was now dressed in more functional clothing provided from Conn’s supplies. Heavier, more durable cotton pants, and a formfitting and colourful tunic and bodice. She was surprised to find Wystan also in new clothes; he was now dressed in the same uniform of all of Conn’s wiga – the leather boots, brown heavy linen trousers, and a cotton and linen officer’s tunic in dark brown, under which he wore a silk undershirt. His collar bore the single star insignia that indicated his rank of Major. Conn and Derryth were the only ones that did not wear insignia – but there was no confusion about who they were.
    Efilda made him do a twirl, to his embarrassment. ‘Wystan, you – we – no longer look like something the cat dragged in…’
    ‘They do say that appearance is important…’
    After a morning working in the village, they collected everyone together for lunch after which Efilda held a small ceremony to formally announce that she had granted Conn the demesne of Subari. He was now the Marquis, and as such he was now their new overlord. They all clapped. They were being fed and protected so he was doing his job well.
    Conn made his vow of allegiance to her, and all the former residents of Subari then did so to Conn; a long queue of people passed him by, bowed and shook his hand. Conn then declared that it was his intention to move everyone away from the river village – although safer, it suffered from swampy ground and mosquitos. After some weeks the village had been totally dismantled; everything usable had been recycled for Subari and everyone now in cleaner, safer and dryer dwellings.
    ~oo0oo~
    They then waited for the inevitable attack, which Conn expected to occur well before his ships returned from Meshech. In anticipation, he had set up a series of watch towers along the coastline as the ships would arrive from the north, hugging the coastline from the capital. He wanted good notice, and five weeks after his arrival, he received it.
    Conn and Efilda were out inspecting new paddocks that had been created in expectation of the arrival of more animals when they saw a rider galloping towards them.
    He pulled up the panting horse. ‘Marquis, the boats are coming.’
    Conn turned and led the way down the hill. ‘How many?’
    ‘We can see nine.’
    As soon as they returned, Conn and the Wealdend put on gambesons, byrnie and tabards, and joined Brys and Wystan in the command post.
    ‘Everything ready?’ It was rhetorical but he had to ask. They had gone through the plans many times. It had several elements. Anchored out in the bay were several barges that were filled with dry straw and pitch that was designed to create smoke when set alight.  Along the shore line were the new towers built from stone with the trebuchets and mangonel hidden inside. In the river waiting were two of the small boats equipped with bowmen, and waiting in the shallows were half a dozen newly constructed rowboats.
    Conn had been careful not to construct much beyond the point of the bay; there was no westerly indication that Subari was now a bustling port.
    They waited and watched; Conn with his telescope. Before long the Samarian war boats, all cogs in shape, rounded the point seemingly expecting to find a deserted village. The fact they didn’t soon caused some consternation on deck. On Conn’s signal, arrows flew to the barges, and fires quickly started; followed very quickly by plumes of black smoke. With the arrival of the last of the nine cogs around the point, the trebuchet started firing; aiming at the last ship. They soon had their range right and the projectiles flew straight onto the deck; while others