by Griff Hosker
“You have done well, now eat. We are safe for a while. But we need weapons.”
He stopped eating. “It would mean my life if I were to get you weapons.”
“All we need are a couple of daggers. Surely you could lay your hands on those?”
“Possibly but it might be dangerous.”
“Just try.”
Arturus took out some bone dice he had made and we amused ourselves with a game to while away the hours. This room had no fine tapestries and the walls were plain plaster. I suspected it had been a store room of some description.
“What do we do when we need to make water?”
Tostig pointed to a hole close to the wall. “You use that and it gets goes down gullies and pipes and ends up in the sea.” I went over and saw that there was a gap below the hole and the marks on the stone pipe beneath showed its use. That explained the room; it was a store room and a place for the guards to relieve themselves. Although not built as a cell the hole was too small for anything larger than a cat.
The windows were quite high but we saw the light flickering from the setting sun. The door had no lock but Tostig had told us that the two guards still remained. The door opened and two slaves brought in three plates of food and fresh water and wine. Behind them came the Hetaereiarch. The empty plates were whisked away and the door closed.
The Hetaereiarch spoke with Tostig who translated. “I hope you do not mind if I stay with you for a while. I am keen to learn more about you.”
It was at that point that I wished I had paid more attention to Josephus as Aiden had. I would have liked to speak to this warrior in his own language rather than having a translator take my words and make them his own.
“Make yourself welcome. I will eat when these two have finished.”
That proved more difficult than I had thought for Tostig could not translate and eat. The Hetaereiarch realised this before me and he indicated that I should eat. I did so. The lamb was succulent but it also had some of the spices we had encountered in Africa. It gave it a different taste. Aware that he had a job to do Tostig finished his first and, after wiping his mouth stood ready to translate. I had had enough food but I continued to nibble on the meat while we talked.
“You are the first Viking who has survived in the palace this long. That is quite a feat.”
I smiled, “But it is barely a day!”
“I know and that is why it is such a feat. I met some of your warriors while serving in Italy. You surprised me for you had a sword. They had axes.”
“Then they were Danes and not the Norse. Our land is even more inhospitable than theirs. We have snow and ice for almost half a year.”
“And it makes hard and hardy warriors. Your ship is a hunter is she not?”
“Aye, I bet she would have the legs of any of your ships no matter how big.”
“And you have done well to sail this far.”
“The Allfather was with us.”
He shook his head, “You see it comes down to being a pagan again. The Emperor cannot understand it.”
“Will he pay what we ask and then let us trade? It is all we wish.”
“I believe you. I went to your ship and spoke with the one called Aiden. He has our language and is a bright youth. He convinced me that you are a man of your word but the Emperor fears that you are here with an ulterior motive. He has only recently gained the throne and there are those, some closer than is comfortable, who would like to wrest it from him. He will need a longer time to be convinced.”
I nibbled again on the sweet meat and washed it down with the earthy red wine. A sly smile appeared on his face, “Do to try to escape. I know that you could but I would be forced to catch you and, probably, kill you.”
“Many have tried.”
“That I can believe.” He stood, “Anyway the reason I came was to tell you that tomorrow the Emperor wishes you to speak with his council of ministers and tell them of the world beyond the Pillars of Hercules. Our merchants tell us of their ports but you can tell us of the world beyond.” He turned to go and then he put down a leather purse. “Bardanes Tourkos pays his debts.” I was surprised and it showed on my face. “I would be worried rather than excited, my Viking wolf, it means he thinks he will be getting it back soon. My quarters are on this corridor and I have good men at your door but sleep lightly.”
He left. Wyrd. It was what my spirits had said, ‘Beware the knife in the night’. I would heed such sage advice. The slaves did not return for the dishes. Before we went to bed I placed them all behind the door. If anyone tried to open the door in the night then we would hear the metal dishes being scraped along the floor.
“I will sleep just behind the door. I am a light sleeper.”
In the event we had an incident free night and when the guard tried to open the door in the morning he was surprised to encounter resistance. I quickly stood. He came in with his sword drawn but when he saw the dishes he smiled and nodded.
The slaves brought us not only food but bowls to wash ourselves and soft cloths to dry us. After they had finished two nervous looking men came in with some bottles and combs. They spoke with Tostig who ventured, nervously, “They are barbers Jarl. They are here to try to tame your hair and your beards and to make you smell better.”
“Do not worry, Tostig, we understand. Tell them we will not eat them… yet!”
He laughed as he told them and their look of relief almost made me burst out laughing too. They were good at their job and they held a polished piece of metal so that we could see the improvement. Even in the distorted reflection I could see that it was neater. Then they used perfumed oils on our faces and hands to make us smell sweeter. We must have offended them the day before.
We were taken down to the ground floor and a large room which had an oval table and chairs. There were ten Greeks, the Hetaereiarch and a scribe seated around it. Our guards followed us in. We were stood before the table. The guard at the door opened it and Emperor Nikephoros entered. He sat at the middle of the table. We were bombarded with questions. They wished to know how far west we had travelled and how far north. They appeared to have a good picture of the lands to the east of Britannia. The Emperor was most interested in Charlemagne and his hold in Frankia. I told him what I knew which was not a great deal.
Finally we were questioned about the Norse, the Danes and the Rus. I told them that I could only speak knowledgably about the Norse. They appeared happy with that. They were less happy when I told them how we raided their churches and sold their priests. They could not understand our pagan culture. After a morning of intense questioning the Emperor clapped his hands and my sword was brought in. Poor Tostig was grateful for the relief and drank deeply from the water jug.
“This is a fine weapon. As good as one of ours; where did you steal it?”
“I did not steal it. I bought the blank from Frankia and our smith made it.” I saw the doubt on their faces as Tostig translated, “But this one is particularly special for it was touched by the gods.”
For some reason, that seemed to upset them. The Hetaereiarch held up his hand and asked us, “Explain what you mean.”
I told them of the tower and the thunderstorm and the lightning which had struck the sword. The Hetaereiarch smiled as he spoke to them. Tostig said, quietly, “He has just explained that lightning striking a sword would make it stronger and that, as a primitive people we would see that as supernatural.”
I was not certain if I like being called primitive.
The Hetaereiarch led us back to our room. “Where is Bardanes Tourkos?”
“He left the palace last night. Perhaps you upset him.”
I shrugged. “I find I do that with many people like him.”
“You did well there Norseman. I think the Emperor is warming to you.”
“Then we can return to our ship?”
He shook his head as Tostig translated my words, “It will take some time longer I am afraid.”
When we were alone
in our room I hoped that my men would be patient. They would not like to be ship bound.
Chapter 23
The voices of the spirits were rarely wrong. We had had no problems the night before but that did not mean that I could be complacent. “Did you get any weapons, Tostig?”
“I am sorry Jarl. I tried but I was worried. They searched me when I left and when I returned.”
“No matter. I shall sleep behind the door again.”
I could not sleep. Perhaps it was the food. We had eaten a meal with tiny red flakes in it. Although they tasted good they were hot when you swallowed them. My insides seemed to be churned up. I went over to the hole in the wall to try to rid myself of the slight pain. I seemed to squat forever but it saved my life. I saw a sliver of light as the door was opened. The guards had avoided doing so before and I wondered why they were doing it now.
Then I realised it was not the guards. It was our executioners. I had no weapons save my hands. They would have to do. Chopping trees and firewood as a boy, rowing when I was a youth and training for war when I was a man had made my hands like knotted oaks. They would have to do.
The first of the killers slipped through the door. I saw immediately that he was not one of the guards. He had no mail on and he had a blade which was curved even more than a scimitar and he was holding it in two hands. I dared not make a sound; I could not wake the other two. I would have to deal with him myself. He was good. He paused once in the room to allow his eyes to grow used to the dark. By that time I had moved to the wall in which the door had opened. I was behind him. He moved forward to the sleeping forms of Tostig and Arturus. As he did so the second man entered with the same weapon. He paused once inside and I took my chance. I hit him on the side of the head with my fist. I put all my weight behind it and I heard his cheekbone crack. Before he could raise his weapon I grabbed it with my right hand and stepped behind him so that my left hand was around his neck.
His companion turned and sought me out. The man I was holding was using both hands to wrench free his hand and his weapon. So long as I was behind him I was safe. I pulled back hard with my left arm. I heard him begin to choke. The first killer was even closer now and I put my foot against the back wall and pushed us both forward. His curved weapon sank in to the side of the first killer and its design helped it to rip into the man’s body. I pulled back hard on the man’s neck and heard the snap as it broke.
Arturus was awake and on his feet. “Tostig, make sure these killers are both dead.”
I opened the door and saw our two guards dead in ever widening pools of blood. “Grab a sword!” I hissed to my son. “Tostig, stay in the room!” We were warriors; the slave would only get in the way. I picked up a sword and I listened.
I remembered that the Hetaereiarch had said he had a room on this corridor. We headed down. I saw another two bodies and then heard the sound of fighting. We burst into the room which had the bodies outside. There were three warriors attacking the Hetaereiarch with the two handed curved weapons. I launched myself at the nearest one and felt the sword grate off his backbone as it slid into his heart. Arturus lifted his and brought it down two handed just as one of the killers was turning. It shattered his head in two. The Hetaereiarch finished his opponent off. I saw that his left arm had been badly cut. I tore one of the sheets off the bed and ripped a piece with which to bind it. It was a crude job and Aiden would have been unhappy with it but it stopped the bleeding.
He waved us to follow him. I saw his look of anger when he saw the dead guards and he led us down stairs. As we passed the first room we had been taken to I saw the chest. Opening it I took out our swords and handed Arturus his. Ragnar’s Spirit almost sang as I gripped it.
We could hear the sound of combat now and the Hetaereiarch urged us on by waving at us. We moved down the corridor towards the Emperor’s quarters. There were more of the killers now and they were forcing back the ever diminishing number of guards. I could see that they had defended the Emperor with their lives. I saw him cowering behind them. I remembered that he was no warrior. If he had been he would have wielded a sword and sold his life dearly.
Sometimes the power of battle is upon you. I had been frustrated for days and now I had the chance to fight. “Ragnar’s Spirit!”
I leapt forward and passed the surprised Hetaereiarch. The killers at the rear turned to face me. They had the same double handed long curved weapon as the others had. I swung my blade with all my force as I closed with them. As my sword struck the first weapon it shattered it and knocked the second one to the side. I rammed my shoulder into the first warrior and, when he fell to the floor I stamped hard on his neck. I did not wait to see if he was dead. Before the second man could raise his weapon again I swung it horizontally and took his head off.
I felt Arturus next to me. I knew that no one would approach from my right. I changed to a one handed grip and I jumped towards the next warrior. He pulled his arms back to swing his vicious blade at me I stepped in and held his two arms with my left. I plunged my sword through his middle as a blade swung at my head. Arturus’ sword sliced through the two arms and the warrior fell at his feet bleeding to death.
A dead sentry was at my feet and I knelt down to pick up his dagger. I had no shield but I now had something better than my fists to defend myself. Blood lust was upon me and I had the measure of these weapons now. I could see that the Emperor’s guards were now fewer. I swung my sword at a warrior who was swinging his own blade at me while I sank the dagger into the side of a warrior fighting a guard. I pulled out the dagger and ripped it across the throat of the man whose weapon was blocked by Ragnar’s Spirit. I sensed, rather than saw the axe which was swung at my left side. I spun around on my left leg and watched it slide dangerously close to my right leg. I brought Ragnar’s Spirit around horizontally; it cracked through his ribs and sliced into his vital organs. The axe fell to the floor. I saw that the Hetaereiarch was wounded. I could not help him and the Emperor.
I turned and saw Arturus struggling to fight two killers. I hurled the dagger. It spun through the air and buried itself in the eye of one of them. I was on him one stride later and I sliced through his throat as Arturus finished off the other. There was just the captain of the guard defending the Emperor now and he was badly wounded. The three men who were advancing could see that they would soon kill the Emperor.
Arturus and I leapt at them. One turned as he heard us coming at him. His weapon came directly for my head. I barely managed to bring Ragnar’s Spirit to block the blow. I punched him in the right side with my left fist and head butted him at the same time. We fell to the ground as he grabbed my tunic. As I lay on top of him I brought up my knee between his legs while holding my sword horizontally. His head jerked up and he sliced his own throat on my sword.
I saw the last killer raise his weapon to finish off the Captain of the guard. I swung my sword with all my strength and chopped his left leg in two. The wounded Captain of the Guard took his chance and sank his sword into his chest.
I leapt to my feet. “Arturus!”
He stood, bloodied but unwounded. “I am safe. “
“Protect the Emperor.”
I ran back to the Hetaereiarch. He had a wicked looking cut to his leg. I tore one of the tunics from a dead warrior and, after I had bound it, I helped him to his feet. I led him to the Captain of the Guard. Arturus was binding his wounds. The Emperor said something but I did not catch any of it. The Hetaereiarch answered. It seemed the Emperor had been deserted. He had two Vikings and two wounded soldiers left to protect him.
Silence was no longer necessary and I yelled, “Tostig! Get down here now!” As a warrior he might be useless but he could watch the wounded and translate.
I took the opportunity to pick up another sword. The Hetaereiarch weakly smiled at me and said something. I guessed it was ‘thanks’. I inclined my head; we were not out of the woods yet. Tostig raced down the corridor with a sword in his hand. I almost laughed for he looked like
he could barely lift it. “Ask the Hetaereiarch what we should do.”
After he had translated I saw the relief on the face of the Hetaereiarch and his Emperor. His only two defenders could now talk to him.
“These men here are the men of Bardanes Tourkos. They favour the rhompeia. It explains why he is not here in the city. We need to get to my men. They are at the Contascalion Harbour.”
“Is it far?”
“Five hundred paces from the main gate of the palace.”
“That might as well be five hundred miles. Arturus, you guard the Emperor. Tostig help the Captain. Ask the Hetaereiarch if he can walk.”
In answer he picked up a spear and began to use it as a crutch. He pointed down the stairs and I led. This might be the longest five hundred paces I would ever walk.
The evidence for the attempted insurrection was everywhere. Guards and their attackers lay in untidy bloody huddles. My worry was that they would have secured the gate first to prevent reinforcements. I had two of us who would be able to fight and we had neither armour nor helmet. I assumed that our opponents would.
When we had descended the stairs I made everyone wait. I picked up a sword from a dead guard and handed it to the Emperor. He might not be able to use it but it would make the enemy think we had more warriors than we actually had. I slipped silently out of the door and looked towards the main gate. As I had feared there were six warriors there. There were the sounds of battle in the far reaches of the Grand Palace. I assumed that would be the barracks being assaulted. We had to escape now or reinforcements would soon arrive. The odds were bad but they would get worse.
I returned to the others and spoke to Tostig. “Tell them that my son and I will have to deal with the guards at the gate. You will need to watch the gate and when you see your chance you and the Emperor must help the other two to escape.”
Before he translated he said, “I am a slave. I cannot tell the Emperor what to do.”