The Eaorl (The Casere Book 2) by Michael O'Neill Page B

show her gratitude…’
    ‘Gratitude indeed…’
    Derryth had been sitting quietly as well; he had the small carved box in his hands and he has spent some time turning it over in his hands. ‘If we all showed our gratitude to you that way, Feorhhyrde, you’d never get out of bed. Anyway, that is nothing – there is something very weird about this box. We will have to wait until we have light to see – even my eyes can’t see anything in this fog of smoke. Someone should install my chimneys…’
    ‘Tearing it all down and starting again would be the better option I think.
    After a lot more music, food, alcohol and dancing – most of the dancers were topless, the party petered out and people started leaving for home. Conn was about to follow Abrecan out the door when a servant rushed over to him.
    ‘Thane – my master the Aebeling has asked that you stay a little longer. She has something that she needs to discuss with you urgently.’
    Halla laughed. ‘Perhaps she wants to show her gratitude as well... maybe we will see you in a week …’
    ‘It’s nothing like that – it must be something to do with the war…’
    Conn was wrong and Halla was right – the servant guided him through the rooms of the donjon until he reached the room where Aisly was waiting for him, it was a bedroom and she had on less clothes than before. In fact she was topless.
    Ignoring the presence of servant, she walked up to Conn and started to undress him, handing the servant, a young lady, his clothes as she removed them. ‘Let me show you just how much I light up this room…’
    ~x061~
     

Chapter 05
    Over the next days, Conn had the first of many meetings with Kiley and Aisly; there was much to discuss. As well as a campaign and valor medals, Conn had also created another award system – one he called the “Order of the Cirice”. He wanted a way to recognize individuals for service to their people, either as a wiga or a civilian, and he was happy to use the Gyden to help him.
    Loosely based on the “Order of the White Lion”, it had five levels – the last one two were equivalent to a Knighthood – not that they knew what a Knighthood was – but these recipients would be called ‘Sir”. The first four level gave the member a possibility of a seat in a proposed “People’s Assembly” – Conn’s first step in creating a form of democracy in Meshech –whilst a Knight Commander, the highest level, had a permanent seat on the Assembly, and a non-voting seat in the Witan.
    Like the Witan, the Assembly would meet at least once a year, before the Witan, and would propose “Bills” for consideration by the Witan. As well as Knight Commanders, it would draw its members in equal parts from Thanes, Guildsmen, Lairds, and Order of the Cirice recipients; representatives of whom would be chosen by election, another new concept, to a maximum of forty members. Conn’s was an insidious plan, a Pandora’s Box that once opened would eventually consume all of Meshech – but in a good way.
    He spent a lot of time explaining the Assembly, and after some hesitation, Ailsly and Kiley finally agreed to its establishment, and to recognizing members of the Order of the Cirice in the manner that Conn wished.
    The order had its first showing at the next feast. Conn had arranged for Abrecan and his sons to be his guest at the dinner, and at the appropriate time, Kiley got up and explained about the ‘Order of the Cirice” and its different levels.
    She then called forward about thirty Troakians for special mention. Most were appointed to the lower levels of Member or Officer, while Eaorls and Thanes who had fought were rewarded with the rank of Commander. Kiley then awarded the rank of Knight to her Folctoga, Leon, and her daughter. The rank was acknowledged by a neck collar or breast star in silver. Leon placed his next to his valor and campaign medals. She informed everyone that Leon was now to be called Sir Leon.
    After the clapping