Ætharr of Calador
I don't own Redwall, Gangs of New York or the Godfather. I also do not intend to completely impersonate any kind of ritual or religion.
Book 3: The Ealdor
Prologue
Three days.
That's all it took to drive the remnants of the Millar troops out of Calador and take the Millar lands for their own. Three days of rapid marching, of volunteers enlisted, of divisions sent to various theign estates, of bloody skirmishes, of banishing the remnants of the Millar tribe to an eternity of a nomad, outcast life. Three days of Ætharr of Calador's glorious return to his homeland.
Judos noted a slight change in Ætharr since his return to Calador: he seemed more mature, somehow, though he still laughed and smiled with his friends, and was still mesmerized by Rosheen.
Rosheen's father, the legendary Tiarnan, had immediately taken to his new son-in-law, and privately informed the Ealdor that he was in his debt. Rosheen had told her father of everything Ætharr had done for her in imprisonment.
So the Falcarragh army now marched alongside the Calador army. Kazahley had gone to the Hunan lands to receive his fraction of the Hunan territory that was his reward. The rest was given to Blackaxe and the Jeri clan. Luther Pelopidas became a general in the Jeri army, and the leader of the Sacred Band, which had been re-established as the king's bodyguard and was recruiting the best of the best.
Ibos had not been in the least disturbed by Blackback's death, though he did show fury when news came of his father's death in a revolt. He had immediately departed with the Vireo army to avenge his father's death.
Tiarnan's eldest son, Cocoran, was the second-in-command of the Falcarragh troops, and had led the division sent to destroy the Hunan/Millar group against Ætharr. A group of Calador soldiers, quick to make a humorous compliment, teamed up with some Falcarragh troops, and they rapidly composed a song to which heavy quick drumbeats were played, and a wild tune on the pipes followed up. The song was affectionately called, "The Fighting Falcarragh"
Come all you gallant heroes, along with me draw nigh
I'll sing a song, it won't take long,
Of the fighting Falcarrii
They're a band of warriors, stout and bold,
From o'er the hills they came
And they have a leader to the fold,
And Cocoran was his name
It was in the month of peril,
When the boys they marched away
And they made a sight so glorious,
As they marched along the way
They marched right down the way, me boys,
Tiarnan in the fore
And from there they came to evil lands,
And straight unto the war
So we gave them hearty cheers, me boys, which was greeted with a smile
Singing there's no way we'll lose this fight, with the Falcarragh in sight!!
Brownhide was sent by Ibos to claim the Vireo's share of the Millar lands, which angered some of the Calador troops, for if anyone deserved more land, it was Tiarnan, whose efforts had been crucial in the taking of the Millar lands. Ætharr hushed them up, keeping his word to Ibos' deceased father Nero.
Tiarnan's kingdom was to the west of Calador, where they had raided its lands ceaselessly, along with all other lands it could. There was no ill will meant; they were a restless race of vermin that loved to scrap.
Ætharr was formally crowned Ealdor on the fourth day since their arrival in Calador and Millar. The rituals included a series of oaths, where the theigns swore eternal allegiance to the Ealdor, and many others would swear as well.
Blackaxe sent a message to Ætharr with his oath upon it, stating that he relinquished Captain Rojo to him. Rojo became the commander of the High Guard, which consisted of the Vireo, Jeri, and Calador troops that had been with Ætharr from the beginning; there was forty of them all told, all loyal veterans.
Rosheen and Ætharr were married in Falcarragh style, in thanks to the oaths that Tiarnan, Cocoran, and the rest of Rosheen's brothers swore to Ætharr. Some growled that it was not right, that the Calador tribe must remain pure Calador, but even they admitted that Rosheen was the perfect choice for their lord.
The remaining theigns were Viggo, Æđelstan, Ferric, Keld, Ulric, Horal, and Cynefrid. The rest had perished, either with Ætharr, or on the home front against Ælfer. Three theigns had to be appointed.
Ætharr knew he would have to think hard on who it would be to replace Gæruff, Aletorix, and Eadwig. All had been hard, tough beasts, but Ætharr was highly aware of the fact that he must trust those he appointed.
He was already aware of one of the replacements; it had happened on the second day, when Ætharr had taken Rojo, Ædall, and Ferric against a renegade band of Millars. It had become a fierce battle, and at one point, Ætharr was stunned by the leader.
Just as he was about to kill the Ealdor, a Calador weasel from the High Guard had beheaded the captain and had stood over his lord's body despite the wounds he received.
Afterwards, Ætharr had visited the weasel while being treated by Iola, the vixen sorceress/healer.
"What is your name?" Ætharr had asked.
The weasel stirred, and answered, "My name is Agricola, lord." Agricola was strongly built, fully grown, and was somewhere between middle age and early adulthood, nearing middle age.
Ætharr glanced to where a female weasel, presumably Agricola's wife, was bringing five toddlers forward, "Have you missed your family?"
Agricola smiled, "I left when she was pregnant, back when we left the village in the swamp."
Ætharr turned sharply and stared, "You've been with me that long?"
Agricola's smile faded, "I was there when Ællear fell to an arrow in his mouth, and Burg cleaned our wounds, and Ferric led you away to safety."
Ætharr had been deeply touched by this refreshed memory, and he tried to shove it back into the depth of his mind, "Is Burg still alive?"
Agricola nodded, "The six of us are all alive; you, Ferric, Burg, Lanvor, Sagleus, and myself."
Ætharr had looked away, into space, and gave Agricola a speculative look, "Can you read and write?"
Agricola smiled, "I was taught by Tran in the afternoon, while you were in the morning. You were younger than me, and a better student, but I learned my letters well enough."
Ætharr gave him a piece of parchment and a feather, "Write a message for me."
Agricola was puzzled- why should Ætharr make a wounded creature write what he could do himself?- but he carried out his command.
Ætharr spoke his message of victory out loud, as well as his strategies for the next day, watching as Agricola wrote down everything perfectly, not a single mistake.
He paused, waited for Agricola to look up, and spoke again, "I have also found myself a theign to rule Aletorix' old territory."
Agricola took a second to understand, and his wife, who had arrived during the writing, gasped in astonishment after a pause. Ætharr accepted Agricola's heartfelt thanks, and smiled fondly at his five pups.
That left two more to appoint. Who would they be? Rojo was the commander of the High Guard. Ædall was second-in-command of all the armies of Calador, and was also advisor to the Ealdor: he would also command in absence of Ætharr, so he had enough power. Jinn did not want a theignship, and he was also in command of a secret agent network.
Both answers were soon placed in front of him; Gyras, the only surviving son of Gæruff, had escaped into hiding, leading guerrillas out to harass the Millar renegades. He had become a legend among the commoners in that part of the Calador territory. He had guided Ulric through ambush-laden paths, and had followed Ulric's directions in the pitched battles. He was just entering adulthood, and was already engaged to be married. He could replace his father better than anyone else.
The third was Judos. Judos had proven himself to Ætharr every time, and they knew and loved each other like brothers. Ætharr would give him Eadwig's theignship, the one closest to Æthelly, the capital city, and thus independent of theign rule.
Judos had protested, saying that it was not right, that he was unprepared, but Ætharr had waved him down, "I want you in a position of power, Judos. You I can trust beyond anyone short of Jinn, Ædall, or Rosheen."
Judos was at first touched, but then inwardly saw the suspicion behind Ætharr. He feared an arrow in his mouth, a hacked up corpse, and a crippled country.
He knew that Judos was too moral and too loyal to betray Ætharr, so he was ensuring a permanent ally among the theigns, as well as inside Æthelly.
Judos did not mention any of this to Ætharr, but he firmly accepted the promotion, and toasted his good health.
Thus was Ætharr's retaking of Calador complete. He would deal with those who had wavered in loyalty, and would reward those who were faithful.
In short, an Ealdor in Exile had come out of exile to reclaim what was rightfully his, and now the country would either benefit, or suffer, under his rule.