closer, and he could see the black stone hanging from the man’s neck. He still couldn’t hear the one around the Folgere.
Conn sensed that Efilda knew the older man well – it was soon obvious that their relationship had not been an easy one. It transpired that he was one of the first arrivals here – he had become a trusted advisor to Efilda’s father; and the architect of his downfall.
He bowed to Efilda as he arrived. ‘You are looking well.’
‘No thanks to you, Baldri, I would look dead if all things worked out as you had planned.’
‘Not if you had done as I asked so many years ago… you had to share your body with an old wiga instead of me. You would have had many children by now.’
She shook her head. ‘That alone I do not regret.’ She pointed to Conn, who was sitting to the side. ‘You know Conn il Taransay?’
As soon as his eyes hit Conn, Conn felt the hate emanate from the presence that occupied the necklace. Not prepared, Baldri almost stumbled. As he regained his composure, he answered feebly.
‘Yes, the Feorrancund is known to me by reputation. We are unsure why he interferes in matters not of his concern.’ He steadied himself with his hand on the Folgere. The Folgere visibly flinched. There was no love lost there as well.
‘It is just as well he did – for the people of Samria at least.’ Efilda responded angrily. ‘He is more a friend to us than you ever were.’
‘We shall see – Efilda – we shall see. Don’t get too used to your new title – it is temporary.’ He looked at Derryth and Conn. ‘Just as the abomination that is the title of Feorhhyrde that he also claims to use. We do not acknowledge it – and it will be vanquished along with all those that support him.’
Conn stood up and Baldri took a step back, as did the Folgere. Geirnarr didn’t move, he looked on in amusement.
‘Time will bear witness, Baldri – but I don’t need any title to do what I need to do to protect those that need protection.’
Something occurred to Conn as he looked at the Folgere. He seriously wanted to punish him in some way – make him suffer. ‘Wealdend – did you not say that there is a Cirice in Samriak?’
‘Yes. Why do you ask?’
‘I think we should show your guests the Cirice – before they leave…’
Efilda looked bewildered but she complied and they headed for the thirty minute walk through the castle and out and up to a hill top. It stood even higher than the castle and overlooked the entire port. The Cirice surprised Conn – it was not like the others; it was a large single room; open on three sides to the outside wall – with twelve large timber pillars supporting the timber and thatch roof.
Like the others, however, the stone idol was naked – but there was only one of them. It made up with being twice as large as normal.
‘It is said to be modelled on the Folgere who landed here.’ Efilda added as they stood. All the Samrians guards had stooped to one knee on entering, before standing guard around the perimeter.
‘She must have been one heck of a woman.’ Conn said as he walked around the naked statue that sat in the lotus position in the centre of the room. Like the others, she had a hand open – under her left breast while the right one covered her genitalia in modesty. Least that was something.
Agkell was getting uncomfortable. ‘What are we doing here? There is no Gyden here – nor will there ever be. That is why the Samrians should bow to Ashtoreth.’
‘I gather she has some practices that the Samrians find ... well unpleasant … especially the girls but also the boys.’ Conn offered as he reached into his pouch.
The Folgere was undeterred. ‘Everyone must make some sacrifice for the guidance and protection of a Gyden. It is only just and righteous.’ He was starting to watch Conn closely as he fumbled around in his pouch. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I thought I’d give the old Cirice a kick start. Every Cirice I know
Conn sensed that Efilda knew the older man well – it was soon obvious that their relationship had not been an easy one. It transpired that he was one of the first arrivals here – he had become a trusted advisor to Efilda’s father; and the architect of his downfall.
He bowed to Efilda as he arrived. ‘You are looking well.’
‘No thanks to you, Baldri, I would look dead if all things worked out as you had planned.’
‘Not if you had done as I asked so many years ago… you had to share your body with an old wiga instead of me. You would have had many children by now.’
She shook her head. ‘That alone I do not regret.’ She pointed to Conn, who was sitting to the side. ‘You know Conn il Taransay?’
As soon as his eyes hit Conn, Conn felt the hate emanate from the presence that occupied the necklace. Not prepared, Baldri almost stumbled. As he regained his composure, he answered feebly.
‘Yes, the Feorrancund is known to me by reputation. We are unsure why he interferes in matters not of his concern.’ He steadied himself with his hand on the Folgere. The Folgere visibly flinched. There was no love lost there as well.
‘It is just as well he did – for the people of Samria at least.’ Efilda responded angrily. ‘He is more a friend to us than you ever were.’
‘We shall see – Efilda – we shall see. Don’t get too used to your new title – it is temporary.’ He looked at Derryth and Conn. ‘Just as the abomination that is the title of Feorhhyrde that he also claims to use. We do not acknowledge it – and it will be vanquished along with all those that support him.’
Conn stood up and Baldri took a step back, as did the Folgere. Geirnarr didn’t move, he looked on in amusement.
‘Time will bear witness, Baldri – but I don’t need any title to do what I need to do to protect those that need protection.’
Something occurred to Conn as he looked at the Folgere. He seriously wanted to punish him in some way – make him suffer. ‘Wealdend – did you not say that there is a Cirice in Samriak?’
‘Yes. Why do you ask?’
‘I think we should show your guests the Cirice – before they leave…’
Efilda looked bewildered but she complied and they headed for the thirty minute walk through the castle and out and up to a hill top. It stood even higher than the castle and overlooked the entire port. The Cirice surprised Conn – it was not like the others; it was a large single room; open on three sides to the outside wall – with twelve large timber pillars supporting the timber and thatch roof.
Like the others, however, the stone idol was naked – but there was only one of them. It made up with being twice as large as normal.
‘It is said to be modelled on the Folgere who landed here.’ Efilda added as they stood. All the Samrians guards had stooped to one knee on entering, before standing guard around the perimeter.
‘She must have been one heck of a woman.’ Conn said as he walked around the naked statue that sat in the lotus position in the centre of the room. Like the others, she had a hand open – under her left breast while the right one covered her genitalia in modesty. Least that was something.
Agkell was getting uncomfortable. ‘What are we doing here? There is no Gyden here – nor will there ever be. That is why the Samrians should bow to Ashtoreth.’
‘I gather she has some practices that the Samrians find ... well unpleasant … especially the girls but also the boys.’ Conn offered as he reached into his pouch.
The Folgere was undeterred. ‘Everyone must make some sacrifice for the guidance and protection of a Gyden. It is only just and righteous.’ He was starting to watch Conn closely as he fumbled around in his pouch. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I thought I’d give the old Cirice a kick start. Every Cirice I know
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