The Aebeling by Michael O'Neill Page B

genuinely surprised. He looked at Elva, and she smiled back. He could only imagine that it was something new – she didn’t mention it just a few hours ago – or last night when they were together. He looked back at Brina.
    ‘I don’t know what to say. Nor do I have an explanation.’ Certainly not one he could share.
    Brina stood and moved around the room, collecting a mug of mead. ‘Neither do we... and the Gyden have been strangely very silent on this subject as well. As you know, each Twacuman has a path that is revealed to them by the Wothbora – whether it is wiga or Craeftiga, as soon as the child is known to us. Our Wothbora knew of this child today, but he cannot see its path.’
    ‘And that is a bad thing?’
    Brina shrugged. ‘We do not know – but it is unusual – but then his father is not known to the Gyden, so we presume that it is because of the connection to you. It is certainly something that is unusual; at a time when there is much that is unusual. Things are not as they should be and we don’t know why. The Priecuman nations have had many years recently when crops have failed and people have died from disease or famine. There is also war amongst them again – nothing like that has happened for three hundred years. Unusual events by themselves do not indicate much; but lots of unusual events all at the same time mean something. The most unusual is of course you - the first Priecuman in hundreds of years that understands the language of the Twacuman – as well as being able to get a Twacuman pregnant.’
    She paused and sipped her drink. ‘Ingeulfur died with her father fighting the Ancuman – it was the last and final battle, and soon after the Ancuman left Meshech. She was bedda to Torhallur il Halani – an ancient uncle to Derryth, and they had a son Vigmundur. Vigmundur survived the war and later took half of our people to live with him in Piada; to be near the Casere of Meshech. As you know, we lost contact with our kin there over a hundred years ago.’
    Conn was aware that since the establishment of Piada, it was usual for the two nations to visit each other regularly, but after the closing of the borders of Halani, it had become harder. However, an annual visit was common, until a hundred years ago when anyone who had left for Piada did not return and none from Piada ever arrived; so people stopped going. No-one understood why.
    She paused again to let the knowledge settle. ‘We know that all this has meaning – but we do not know what that is yet. All that being said, it is time for you to leave Halani.’
    Conn was surprised at the suddenness of the remark but she continued, ‘It is not because you are not welcome here but because this is not where you are needed.’
    Conn was still confused. ‘I don’t understand.’
    She smiled. ‘Neither do we; but Caewyn has seen it. She believes you are needed there.’
    ‘There?’
    ‘In the Priecuman lands’
    ‘Oh.’ Conn was about to ask the obvious question when she waved him down.
    ‘I know what you will ask, because I asked it. None of us have the answer to that question. I’m sure you will discover your purpose as you go. We do know that it is Abrekan’s path is to lead you out of the valley.’
    ‘As you will, Aebeling,’ Abrekan responded immediately. He seemed as surprised as Conn to the change of events.
    Conn was about ask another question when Caewyn stood and came to him. She hugged him. ‘Do not worry – you will know what to do.’ She reached for a chain that hang around her neck, hidden under her tunic, took it off, and placed the chain and its medallion over his head. ‘This is for you. If you ever need assistance from any Twacuman, show this to them, and they will do what they can. It says that you are the Feorhhyrde, and that means that you are our friend, and we are yours’. Then she kissed him on the cheek, stood and walked out. They all watched her leave in silence.
    As he watched, Conn fiddled with