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

about the lives of those people in charge, like Frederick the Great and Bonaparte. Every military action or battle ever recorded he had studied in great detail and it helped his research that his ancestors or members of the extended MacLeod clan had been in most of the major battles since Flodden – the only time they had been on a losing side.
    Daray and Alduni knew the book well but Derryth didn’t. He hated to read. ‘So who are Jomini and Sun Tsu?’
    ‘Just some people from Taransay who had a lot to say about warfare.’
    ‘I had no idea that you had so much spare time while you were in Sytha. Anyway, what are we going to do about Farrun?’
    ‘I have a very wild plan that might work.’
    ‘And if it doesn’t?’
    ‘I could be short a few children.’
    Derryth laughed. ‘Lucky then that you have more than enough to spare.’
    Asbera and Sigrid were in the room as well, and they were immediately concerned.
    ‘Papa, what do you mean; “be short a few children”?’
    ‘Let me explain.’ He sent for the rest of his children and Fridfina, the Ancuman wiga who was Asbera’s guard and had been faithfully at her side for six years.
    Her response was not surprising. ‘You’re insane.’
    Derryth agreed. ‘It has been noted in the past – by more than one person.’
    Conn ignored him. ‘I’m trusting that Farrun has given his troops instructions not to kill anyone on sight. By all accounts he has spared more lives than he has taken so I’m sure that he will just capture you all, and interrogate you a little.’
    ‘And if you are wrong?’
    Conn took a deep breath. ‘I’m praying that I am not. Remember that he is Asbera’s brother.’
    ‘That is if he is who you think he is. Even if he is, does he know that he has a sister?’
    ‘No, I don’t think he does. I’m also taking the gambit that someone there does. Someone has to.’
    ‘That is really helpful.’ She took a deep breath. ‘So who am I taking with me.’
    ‘Asbera, Sarun, Ewan and Sigrid – and a few others; maybe five – let’s see who wants to volunteer?’
    ‘Marquis, are you not taking a huge risk? What if there are folgere there?
    ‘Folgere are never anywhere without Axum to protect them – no Axum, no folgere.’
    ~oo0oo~
    It was midday, two days after his children had left to find Farrun. Conn was pacing up and down, and had been doing so for hours. Derryth was lying down under a shady tree. ‘You know, that is getting very annoying. Can you walk somewhere else? I told you, they were alive when they arrived in Farrun’s camp. He is maintaining a very secure perimeter and we couldn’t get very close.’
    ‘I know. Still, I have to do something.’
    ‘Try to do something less annoying then. The trees are unsettled by your movement and they keep complaining to me. Anyway, you said that he won’t kill them when he finds out who they are.’
    ‘No, he can’t kill them if he knows who they are. It is not considered appropriate amongst the Ancuman to kill one’s relatives. I believe that a Bretwalda introduced that rule to stop the assassination and murder of his children by other children.’
    ‘Irony in itself.’
    They shared a laugh before Derryth continued. ‘Anyway, I’m glad you’re back.’ A year ago, soon after the birth of his son, Derryth had left Meshech and gone to Iladion with Hallvi. Conn had sent for him a lunar before he had departed Sytha for Meshech.
    ‘So how was the last six years at home?’
    ‘Okay for the first four; then I was bored silly.’
    ‘Four years?’
    ‘Four lunars. There are only so many trees you can talk to.’
    ‘But you have a child…’
    ‘He is only three – he doesn’t make much sense yet. And he thinks the trees are telling him jokes so he laughs at them. Young people are so annoying. Anyway, if you are right, all we can do is wait.’
    ‘I know – but I hate waiting.’
    ~oo0oo~
    A day later, they were advised that two riders were heading their way; and by lunch