The Marquis Read Online Free

The second is south of here, and we maintain that all year. It is a fishing village and we only vacate it when we see ships.’
    ‘Ships?’
    ‘Yes, every spring and autumn, instead of more pleas, my brother now sends ships to attack any villages along the coast, destroying any houses and fishing boats that he can find. He is trying to starve us into submission – we have minimal cropping, almost no livestock, so depend on fish for survival.’
    ‘I gather he doesn’t land his wiga?’
    ‘He tried once – but on land we are his match. He doesn’t have enough Ancuman wiga to invade from the sea – and our countrymen readily desert to my side if they are left alone.  However, we can’t defend against his ships attacking our homes, and he has succeeded in destroying most of our villages along the cost. So every year it is getting harder to survive – and this winter will be our hardest yet. We now have shortages of everything – including basic things such as salt to preserve food. The season has also been bad and we have little to harvest. By next summer we will not have enough able people to defend the mountain pass. My brother knows this and he is sure to attack our villages again this year to make sure. Once I am gone, my people have no choice but to fully accept him as Healdend.’ Efilda concluded her story, and finished her wine in gulps before a servant refilled her glass. The thought obviously brought her great pain.
    ‘How many people do you have here?’
    ‘Nearly two thousand. After we left Samria, we’ve had a steady stream of people arrive to join us – there were only about five hundred people scattered around Subari before we arrived. Small fishing villages. The main purpose of the fyrd on the other side of the pass is to stop people coming to us.’
    She waved out to the ocean.
    ‘Food is not an issue if we can fish – the bay here is a full of fish, but it is hard to fish for many if you have no fishing boats. That is another reason why my “brother” is so intent of starving us into submission – he needs the harbours here for the fishing season but doesn’t want every person unhappy with him to suddenly disappear into Subari.’
    Considering his answer, Conn looked at Derryth. ‘Now you know why I think we are being messed with.’
    Derryth smiled back. ‘I have no idea why you have that idea…all seems very normal to me…’
    Conn turned back to Efilda. ‘As I said, I was on my way to assist the Healdend of Sytha in his war against the Ancuman, but it would seem that he will have to wait. Fortuitously for you, I have arrived here and you seem to need help. Will you accept it?’
    She paused for a while. ‘We need help, but if you are a mercenary, we have nothing to pay you with. I suspect even if we reclaim Samria, there will be little left.  And while your men and horses are the finest that I have ever seen, so few can do little of consequence. I am led to believe that my brother has an entire Fyrd of Ancuman now – over three hundred cavalry arrived just this last year.’
    It struck Conn as strange that they would need that many cavalry in Samria. He smiled nonetheless. ‘We are not so few – I have two hundred in total with me – though some are out there somewhere in the ocean. I hope they aren’t shipwrecked as well. And as for being paid, I am happy to accept land – what do you say this demesne is called?’
    Efilda shook her head. ‘Here – this is Subari.’
    ‘Who is the Marquis or Eaorl?’
    ‘Marquis. And there is none at the moment – the last Marquis was unfortunately implicated in a plot to overthrow my grandfather as Healdend. His lands were confiscated and his people moved elsewhere.  Subari is a long way from Samria and we have no need to farm it, and it is not as good grazing as other places much closer.’
    ‘So would you be prepared to grant me the March of Subari in exchange for me giving you back the demesne of Samria?’
    She looked at her