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.Taking the hem of his garment in both hands, he raised it to reveal the leather bag, its strap slung around his neck and over one shoulder; he was wearing the book on his chest.I resisted the temptation to have him take it out of the bag, to open it and examine its pages once more; but this was neither the time nor the place."Thank you, Ddewi," Brynach said, and he sat down again, once more as far away from us as his shattered thoughts allowed.'Cadoc gave it to him as we stood in the yard that day," Brynach explained; I knew well which day he meant."Poor Ddewi has not breathed a word to anyone since.I do believe that what little wit remains him he owes to the book.""He keeps the book," Dugal observed, "and the book keeps him.""We were to get a new cover made," Brynach lamented, "but that will not happen now.""There are silversmiths enough in Constantinople," I remarked."Whyever did you think to go to Trebizond in the first place?""Did I say we were going to Trebizond?" Brynach wondered."No, Dugal told me," I replied, remembering our brief conversation at the mines."He said you wanted to go there to get a new cumtach made for the book.""Well," Brynach allowed, "it is true we would have made harbour inTrebizond, naturally.But we were on our way to Sebastea; Cadoc wanted to see the governor."A thin chill snaked down my ribs."What did you say?" Although I had heard him quite plainly, I made him repeat it word for word."You are certain--Cadoc wanted to see the governor?""Aye, he did," answered Brynach."It seems the two had met once when this Honorius was a Procurator in Gaul.""And was it before this desire was known," I asked, "or after that Nikos became interested in helping you?"The canny Briton stared at me for a moment."Ah, I see which way your mind is working, brother, but you are wrong," he answered with satisfaction."I know for a fact that the voyage was Cadoc's idea entirely, He was set on going before anyone ever laid eyes on Nikos.Since we were travelling to Sebastea anyway, the bishop merely asked if anyone could be found in that place who might help us restore the book.""Were you with them when they spoke?" I asked, my voice rising to a demand."Did you hear Cadoc say this?""I was and I did," Brynach answered firmly."And that is why I know you are wrong to think the worst of Nikos.He was trying to help us."Despite his insistence, my suspicions remained; but nothing would be gained by hammering at Brynach, so I left the matter for the present.On the face of it, his explanation seemed logical enough: Nikos did not send the monks to Trebizond; Cadoc had it in mind to go therebefore Nikos became involved.Even so, the thing did not sit well with me.Talk turned to the rigours ahead and, as night deepened around us, Gunnar appeared out of the twilight to say that Harald was asking for me.Regarding the Britons a little awkwardly, he said, "Jarl Harald would speak to you, Aeddan.If you are willing.""Of course, Gunnar.""I know you would rather stay with your brothers," he said doubtfully."Nay, nay," I answered, rising, "I should have come to you sooner.Letus go speak to him." As the monks declined to join us, I bade them good night and walked with Gunnar the short distance to the Sea Wolf camp.There, I found men sprawled over the ground where they had fallen, exhausted by the day's exertions.I had seen Danes in similar circumstances before, of course, but this time, at least, they had not drunk so much as a single drop of Of.I looked with pity on their once-hale bodies, now wasted thin from poor food and killing labour.Harald was leaning against a rock with his head back and his eyes closed.At my approach, however, he roused himself and made to rise."Nay, jarl, be at ease," I said."Please, sit and rest.But he would not hear it.Instead, he climbed shakily onto his feetand embraced me like one of his own karlar.What is more, he called to the others and bade them to rise also, but only one or two made the attempt."Ah, Aeddan," he breathed, and smiled, placing his arm around my shoulders.His face was sun-blasted, haggard and lined, and his eyes were dull with fatigue, but the voice he raised still held something of its former bellow when he called aloud for everyone to attend him: "See here, all you Danes!" he shouted."This is our good friend.We are free tonight because he would not see us go down to death in the pit."This brought not so much as a yawn from any of the Sea Wolves who might have been awake to hear it.Turning to me, King Harald said, "I would we had a sea of Of to drink your health.But, hear me, Aeddan.I, Harald Bull-Roar make this vow: half the silver we have obtained, Igive to you.For without you, we would be slaves still and our wealth would avail us nothing.""You are too generous, Jarl Harald." This pleased him and he smiled."As it happens, I cannot accept even so much as a single lump of your silver."This pleased him still more."What I did, I did for reasons of my own.Your freedom is all the reward I seek, and I have that.""You speak well," Harald said, "but I would be less than a king if I did not reward you.Since you will not take silver, I charge you toname the thing you desire most, and, with all the power at my command, I will obtain it for you."We sat down together then, and for the first time I felt an equal in his company.The feeling did not last long, however, for very soon the overtired jarl, lost in a fit of yawning, slumped onto his side and drifted off to sleep.I left the Sea Wolves to their death-like slumber, and crept away unseen to make my bed next to the amir's fire.Although we had planned to move on the next day, we rested instead.The former slaves had spent all their strength in the escape and following march, and few were in any condition to renew their exertions.We might usefully have rested the following day as well, but Faysal, weighing our increased numbers against the rapidly dwindling provisions, suggested that if we did not make some progress,however small, we would soon be going hungry."As it is," he suggested, "we must go to Amida and replenish our supplies."This meant a delay, which Amir Sadiq did not like, but there was no other choice.So, setting forth at a gentlepace, we proceeded down the long, meandering trail to the valley floor, resting often.The next day, we Proceeded west towards the Amida road.Thus, upon reaching the road two days later, we turned not north to Trebizond, but south to Amida
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