by Griff Hosker
“He was paid before he made the first incision.” He shrugged. “He thought that if you died we might be unwilling to pay. He mistrusted barbarians. He only agreed to operate because of David ben Samuel.”
I realised that I had not seen him since the night before the operation. “Where is our host?”
“He left. Ptolemy just said that his master would be gone for a while and we were to treat this as our home.” I cocked an eye. “Aye, Jarl, there is more to David ben Samuel than meets the eye. Before he left he was up and down the road to the Palace three or four times a day. He is an important man.” He looked to the door. “The others will wish to enter soon. I need to speak. You entered the spirit world.” It was a statement and not a question.
“You knew?”
“For the first time since we passed into the Blue Sea I sensed the presence of the spirits. Erika spoke to me. You died, jarl. The doctor thought he had lost you. It was the spirits who saved you. I know not how but they made your body fight death and you won. The Norns have not finished with you.”
He went to the door and let the others in. I wondered at that. I had been ready to surrender. What had made me fight on?
The first ten days saw a succession of visitors. The crew all wished to visit me. Ptolemy insisted on their visits being in groups of five. It made the process even longer but I was pleased to speak with them all. Each had news for me. Haaken, of course, had told them that I had been in Valhalla. Their visits exhausted me and Germund took to limiting the time they had with me. He and Sámr never left my side. Aiden would examine me each morning and evening. Other than that, he left me alone. Erik Short Toe told me that he had a cat. It was a black kitten with a white blaze. If had come from Josephus’ family. On its first visit it had killed a rat. The crew liked him and named him Dragon. He seemed to like the name or so Erik Short Toe said. I did not mind any of the trivial conversations for I was alive and they were all the more important for that.
After four days I sensed that Sámr was becoming bored. He stayed with me but I thought that it was out of duty more than anything else. “Sámr, I order you to go and join your oar brothers. This is a fine city. Go with Lars and explore it. You need to buy gifts for your family do you not?”
“But you need me.”
Germund said, “Go, young master. I will tend to the jarl. You have my word.” I think that when I had been in the spirit world and then recovering Germund had grown close to Sámr and Haaken. Sámr nodded. When he had gone Germund said, “He is a good boy! You are lucky, jarl. I have no family and if he is typical of yours then I envy you.”
“There is still time for you to have a family, Germund. You are still not too old.”
“Who would have a crippled warrior?”
“A woman who could see beyond the wound and into the heart. You too are a good man Germund. If you wish to come back to the Land of the Wolf then I am certain there will be women with eyes clear enough to see that.” He nodded and I saw gratitude and hope in his eyes.
Germund kept me apprised of the events beyond my room. He told me that my crew had traded their goods and made a great profit. Erik had confirmed as much. The men had spent much of their gold already. When Erik had visited me had told me that he had visited Josephus’ family and discovered that they now had three small ships. I was pleased that we had brought the old man back all those years ago and his return had helped his family to prosper. Germund also brought disturbing news about the city beyond the harbour. There was unrest. It was nothing to do with my men and their high spirits. It was a rival to the Regent. His allies were stirring up trouble.
“I have seen this before, Jarl Dragonheart. The Empress Theodora holds on to power by her fingertips. Her son is still young.” Germund hesitated. “My new master is away now seeking alliances for her.”
“He works for the Regent.”
He shook his head, “His religion makes that impossible. He serves her and that is a subtle difference.” He looked uncomfortable. “I cannot be disloyal, Jarl, even for you. He saved me from a life which might have been ended already. I owe him much.”
Three days before the doctor was due to return Aiden brought Erik, Olaf and Haaken to see me. “This looks serious.”
Erik said, “Jarl we have a request to make. If you say no then we shall understand.”
“Ask.”
“Josephus’ family wish to trade.” I nodded. “The ports they would use are far from here and the waters dangerous.”
Aiden said, “The Imperial ships stay close to home these days, Jarl Dragonheart, because of the troubles in the city.”
“Aah and they wish ‘Heart of the Dragon’ to escort them.”
“You are galdramenn, Jarl. Yes, it is so. The men are becoming bored and there would be coin for them. It is your drekar and your decision.”
“Erik, your blood is in the drekar too. Take it with my blessing.” A sudden thought struck me. “And Sámr?”
Olaf Leather Neck stroked his dagger, “I will watch over him, Jarl Dragonheart. He is to take an oar.”
“Then enjoy your voyage and when you return I may be on the quay to welcome you.”
After they had gone, leaving just Aiden and Germund in the city I felt lonely. It was fortunate that Oribasius came that day to take my stitches from me and to tell me that I was allowed to walk in the courtyard. Through Aiden he also told me that he was passing my care to my galdramenn. I could see the mutual admiration in their faces. I suspected that they had spent long hours together. Each had things to learn from the other. I was convinced that Aiden had had something to do with the spirits and my return from death. I knew not what but then I did not understand the spirit world. Perhaps the sword was the portal through which Aiden had come for me. Odin had touched it. I had had a glimpse through the door and no more.
It was like being released from prison as I stepped, leaning on the arms of Aiden and Germund, into the lemon scented courtyard. Ptolemy and the servants applauded me as I left the house. I sat and looked at the sun for the first time in almost half a moon. I saw the blue skies and watched the wispy clouds on high. Life was wondrous. I had spoken at length with Aiden. I had been saved for a purpose. The shadow that had hung over me was gone but why had I been saved? Neither Aiden nor I could divine that purpose but we both knew one thing. Life would begin anew for me.
The diet that I had been put on was effective. My strength returned. I began to put on weight. As the days passed I walked more than I sat. By the middle of Sólmánuður I felt the itch of my scar which told me that I was healing. Within a few days I felt much stronger. I asked Aiden if we could walk to the harbour. He did not object and the three of us went. For the first time since I had awoken I carried Ragnar’s Spirit. I would not leave it in the house. Germund was protective. He too had put on weight since I had first met him. Good food and security had done that. He and Aiden ensured that there were no accidental bumps to harm me.
The sea breeze fed me. It filled my lungs and reminded me of home. This sea was blue and not grey but the smell was still the same. As we stood at the quayside watching ships come and go I said, “Germund I would begin to make my arms strong again. I want you to make two practice swords. We can spar.”
He looked at Aiden who nodded. “He is growing stronger. His body needs to become what it was and the jarl has used his sword almost every day for as long as I have known him.”
And so my next phase of recovery began. We used the stable area to practise. I knew that Germund was being gentle with me and, at first, that was good for the stretching of my arms made my scar ache. I had had wounds before and knew that it was necessary. When that passed I demanded that he be more vigorous in his attacks.
“Jarl I do not want to hurt you.”
“Then just avoid striking the side with the scar but I would have your full strength, Germund, and not these blows that even Ptolemy could block.” I knew my body and I knew what I could take. I was under no illusions. We had found mu
ch trouble on our voyage here. I could not see us returning home without some combat. I could not rely on others to fight my battles for me. The practice became more realistic and I felt my old strength return. I had been afraid that I might never recover. Now I saw that I was almost healed.
My ship arrived back before David ben Samuel. Siggi appeared at the door. Ptolemy wrinkled his nose. He allowed him in to the courtyard. “Jarl, we have arrived back in port. My grandfather said you would wish to know.”
I nodded, “Tell him that we will be down soon.”
The heat of the Miklagård summer and the hot sun meant that we had practised in the shade of the stables. The streets also afforded shade so that when we stepped on to the quay it was like being struck by a wall of fire. I suddenly remembered the spirit world and the heat there. Aiden had said that it was the fire the healer had used to seal the wounds. I was not so sure.
I saw three small ships tied up close to the drekar. All four ships were being unloaded. Olaf Leather Neck, Haaken One Eye and Erik Short Toe strode towards me. As they passed one of the Greek ships they waved a man over. He looked familiar yet I knew I had never seen him.
“Jarl Dragonheart, it is good to see you up and about. This is Josephus’ grandson, also called Joseph.” The Greek bowed when he heard his name. I guessed he could speak little of our language.
That was when I saw the familiarity. He had the same eyes and nose as my old navigator. “You had a productive voyage?”
“Aye we did. We sailed north to the Hospitable Sea. It is like the edge of the world and filled with wild men. I can see why Joseph and his cousins asked for our help. There were many pirates.” I looked at the ship for damage and to see if any shields were missing.
Olaf laughed when he saw my gaze., “They were small boats and the men poorly armed. With two drekar I could conquer the whole sea.”
“Were there no Imperial ships keeping the seaways safe?”
Erik shook his head, “That is why they asked for our help, Jarl. The Imperial ships have withdrawn to face the threat of revolt here in the city. It was as David ben Samuel said, we took the risks and the rewards were great. They have had a good harvest there and here is a shortage of grain. We are rich. You are rich!”
I smiled, “Erik, I am alive, what more riches can a man wish?”
“I am sorry, Jarl Dragonheart.”
Erik Short Toe asked, “And we can leave now? Soon it will be Heyannir. That would be a good time to leave. If we stay here for longer then we risk the storms of Gormánuður.”
“I see no reason why we should not leave. I would like to say farewell to our host but he is still absent.”
“It will take seven days or so to refit the ship and load the supplies. With the coin we took we can fill our hold with all that is valuable here. When we were in Bruggas we discovered what fetches the highest prices.”
The sun was burning my head. I said, “Good. I will let you know when we can leave. Haaken do you and Sámr wish to stay at David ben Samuel’s?”
Haaken smiled. “He has been an oarsman now. I think he wishes to stay here on the ship. Do not worry I will stay with him. We have songs to write.” He pointed to half a dozen men who sat by the prow. “And we found these poor souls rowing for the pirates. They were pressed men. Like Germund they are Rus and wish to serve. We will return with more men at the oars than whence we came.
I felt a little excluded as I headed up to the house. Aiden was in the courtyard when we returned. I told him our news. “Then this voyage, risk filled though it was, has been worth it.”
“I would not leave without saying goodbye to David ben Samuel.”
Aiden frowned, “There is something going on. When I was in the Forum the other day I heard that there was an army camped outside the walls. They are Greek but it is not an Imperial Bandon. There is much tension. From what I can gather, the three who run the Regency, Empress Theodora, Bardas, a general and Theoktistos, a minster, have had a falling out. There was a rumour that Bardas was with the army camped outside the walls. It may be prudent to leave without saying farewell to David ben Samuel. He would understand.”
“He might understand but that would not make it right. If there is trouble then we will join the crew on the drekar. You have all that you need from the city?” Since my operation he had spent most days in the library where he had been copying maps and writings which he felt would help us back in the Land of the Wolf.
“I can never have enough! Yet I would rather we were safe and returned home to our families rather than risk all. Without the help of the spirits I am blind here and I do not like it.”
I turned to Germund, “The other reason I wish to see David is so that I can buy Germund’s freedom.”
“You are kind, jarl but my new master is a good man. As much as I would like to live amongst my own kind I know that I will not be mistreated if I have to remain here. Do not worry about me.”
“Come then, if I am to leave soon I had best spend some of my coin. Let us go to the Forum and see what we can buy.” I spent a great deal of coin. I wished to please my family. They would be happy enough just to see me but I was the head of the family and I had coin to spend.
David ben Samuel did not return for another two days. When he did arrive, he looked gaunt. He went to the bath house first and then Aiden and I joined him at his table. “We were concerned.”
“And you were right to be so. I wished I had taken your ship. I would have been safer.”
“You sailed to Caesarea?”
“No, I sailed to the Hospitable Sea.”
I started, “My ship was there too. They were trading.”
“I wish that I had known. I was on a diplomatic mission from the Regent. I was trying to make an alliance with the Khazars. The Empress wished them to make war on the Bulgars for they are supporting Patrikios Bardas.”
Neither of us said anything but our faces were eloquent.
He smiled, “Yes, I am more than a merchant. I can trust you. In fact, I may need more that just your trust soon. The Khazar leader wanted too much gold and I did not trust him. We will have to come to an agreement with Bardas.”
“We were going to bid you farewell, David ben Samuel and leave this land. I did not wish to go without saying farewell and without asking if I could buy Germund’s freedom.”
He waved a dismissive hand, “He is yours. He cost me little but I beg you to give me half a month.”
I thought back to Erik’s words. We could afford to stay until the start of Tvímánuður. We would beat the storms which often made Syllingar so dangerous. “We owe you that at least. You wish our help?”
He gave us a serious look. “More than that, I may need your swords. Your men may be the only ones that I can trust to protect the Empress and her son, the would-be Emperor.”
Chapter 12
The next morning, we saw evidence of the unrest. There was a riot at the Forum of Constantine. As that was the closest forum to the Great Palace it was disturbing. The Imperial guards seemed reluctant to intervene and contain it. David ben Samuel said, “Jarl, I must go to the palace. I should be safe enough but would you be able to bring some of your men here? We may need them. I know that you cannot help because…”
“I am a warrior. I am almost healed. If my men are needed then I will lead them. How many would you wish?”
“How many can you spare?”
“I can bring thirty-six men.”
“Then I beg you to do so.”
Aiden asked, “But it was just a riot. They are not uncommon, are they?”
“No but it is the coincidence of being so close to the Palace and none of the guards intervening.”
“And will you be safe?”
“I have four guards here in my home. They are discreet. I will take them with me.”
While he summoned his men, we headed for the harbour. I noticed that the streets seemed quieter. It felt like the sea just before a storm. It was too still. It was the brooding still
ness which did not bode well. As the three of us headed for the quay I said, “Well Germund, you have had your answer, you are, to all intents and purposes, a free man.”
He nodded, “Freedom Jarl, is often an illusion. You are free but you serve your people. My freedom means that I cannot be bought or sold. But I am part of you and your world. You have taken me away from a world without hope. I will follow you. Until you tire of me I shall be your lame servant.”
I laughed, “I have sparred with you. Karl One Leg, one of my men, still fights and defends my walls. We will get you a sword and helmet when we reach the ship.”
The men had fashioned an awning over the deck and the quay so that they could lie in its shade. It was convenient for I would be able to speak with them all. I waved Erik over. “If you and Arne would have the ship’s boys stop anyone listening to us then I would like to speak with the men.”
He nodded, “The riot?”
“And other things. What have you heard?”
Joseph told us that there is a great deal of unrest. The Emperor is but a child. Many people want Bardas to rule. He is a strong man. They think that he would rule with an iron hand.” It all began to make sense.
They gathered around and I could feel their anticipation. Since my experience I now felt like I knew what people might say and even do. This was not the time to speak of it but when I reached my home I would speak with Kara about it. I had much to ask. I would have asked Aiden but he seemed distracted. “We will be going home soon.” I saw the relief on their faces. “Before we do that David ben Samuel has asked for our help. I will not command you to follow me. That is not my way.” I had their attention and I saw them all leaning forward to catch my words. It enabled me to lower my voice a little. “There is trouble at the palace. This is not our land but David ben Samuel is our friend. I would not be in this world if it was not for him and his healer.” I saw nods. Some gripped the amulet they wore around their necks.
Olaf Leather Neck snorted, “We have never walked away from a fight yet, jarl. Let us not begin now. It is a bad habit to get into.”