he said meaningfully.
'You are not so bad, either,' I told him, and watched him redden with embarrassment. 'Go in peace, Tolar- and see you keep an eye on Gunnar.'
'That will not be hard, for I am buying a holding next to his that we might be wealthy farmers together,' he said, speaking more words than I had ever heard him utter in a single breath.
King Harald was the last to take his leave. He came to where I stood, and presented the small man I had seen him speaking with the previous day. 'This man is master of the Venetian ship,' he told me, pointing to the yellow-sailed vessel. 'He has agreed to take you and your brother priests home to Irlandia. I have paid him to do this, and he has promised to make an easy sailing for you, and to feed you well.'
Harald indicated the man, and made a presenting motion with his hands. The fellow glanced at the big Dane uncertainly, and then turned to me and said, 'I give you good greeting, my friends. I am Pietro. You are, I believe, to accompany me on my return voyage. That, at least, is my understanding.' He spoke fine Latin with a refined, yet easy intonation.
'So it would appear,' I confirmed. 'Forgive me if I seem doubtful, but I knew nothing about this until now.'
'Worry for nothing,' Pietro said. 'My ship I place at your service.' Glancing once more at Harald, who stood beaming at the both of us, he said, 'I leave you to your farewells, but come to me when you are finished and we will make our plans.'
So saying, the elegant little fellow bowed himself away. Harald smiled with satisfaction. 'I brought you here, so it is only right that I should see you home again,' he explained. 'I searched for the best ship, and his is almost as good as my own. He has sailed from here many times, and I think he is a good pilot. But I told him that if ever word should come to me that you were ill treated, I shall come and slit him throat to belly like a fish.'
'Do you suppose he understood you?' I wondered.
Harald's smile broadened. 'Who can say?' He clapped me on the back then, and said, 'I leave you now, Aeddan Truth-Sayer. You were a good slave, I shall be sorry to see you no more.'
'You were a splendid master, Jarl Harald,' I told him. We embraced like brothers, and he turned and hurried to the ship.
Within moments of Harald's climbing aboard, the Sea Wolves took up the oars and pushed away from the wharf. As the ship glided out into the channel, I saw Gunnar standing at the dragonhead prow, waving to me. I waved back, and then came the command in Harald's loud voice to man the oars, and Gunnar disappeared.
I felt a presence, and noticed that Dugal, who had kept himself apart, had rejoined me. 'That is that,' he said, and I sensed some relief in his tone.
'Yes,' I said. 'That is that.'
I watched until the longships had passed from sight down the Golden Horn, then led Dugal to where the Venetian ship lay at anchor, explaining how Harald had arranged for our journey home.
'The Sea Wolf did that for us?' wondered Dugal, much impressed.
The ship's master met us as we approached. He bade us board and satisfy ourselves that his was, indeed, in every way, a splendid vessel. 'We have been many days awaiting the last of our trade goods-silk cloth and pepper, and bowls of glass and silver,' he said. 'We should have left six days ago, but the emperor's funeral caused a small delay. God willing, the ship will be loaded by this evening and we shall be ready to sail this time tomorrow.'
'So soon?' I said, and then thought, Why not? There is nothing to hold us here any longer.
Pietro hesitated. 'The season grows late, and we should not look upon the good weather as a gift that will last forever. However, we could wait a day or two longer, if you prefer.'
I thanked him for the offer. 'That will not be necessary,' I replied, and wondered just how much Harald had paid him. 'We will be ready tomorrow.'
'Very well,' Pietro said, inclining his head as if acquiescing to my wishes. 'I will send a man to collect your things in the morning.'
Returning to the villa, I informed Brynach and Ddewi of the arrangements Harald had made for us, and our imminent departure. 'So soon?' Bryn wondered aloud.
'Pietro said he would wait until we were ready,' I explained. 'But I could see nothing to hold us here. I know it is not much time,' I allowed; 'if I had thought you wanted to stay on-'
'No,' Brynach said quickly, 'no-you are right. There is nothing more for us here.' He paused, looking thoughtful. 'And is it still your plan to return with us? I thought-'
'Where else would I go?' I said, then added quickly, 'So, then, you have one last day in Byzantium. There must be something you wish to do in the city before we leave.'
'I was always hoping to pray in the Church of the Holy Wisdom,' Brynach replied; Ddewi and Dugal nodded their agreement. 'I would like that. The brothers at Christ Pantocrator were going to take us, but then…well, it makes no matter.'
'Go,' I urged. 'All three of you-go now. There are guides aplenty eager to show you the wonders of Constantinople for the price of a loaf.' I gave him one of Harald's gold solidii. They protested such extravagance, but I had nothing smaller to give them and suggested it was little enough payment for their pains and bade them to enjoy the day.
They held quick council between them and decided to do it without delay. 'Will you not come with us, Aidan?' inquired Dugal, regarding me with concern.
'There is nothing more I care to see or do in this city,' I answered. 'Besides, I would only steal your joy. Go and say your prayers, Dugal, and never fear-I will be here when you return.'
No sooner had they left, than Faysal appeared to say that Lord Sadiq desired to speak with me. I had been expecting a summons of some kind, and now that it had come, I found I was unready to face him. Guilt about how Kazimain and I had parted was, I suppose, making me dread a confrontation.
As I expected, he was not happy. After a simple, if somewhat austere greeting, he bade me sit down, and said, 'Kazimain has told me that you two are not to be married. While I doubt neither her word nor her honour, I would hear it from your lips also.'
'It is true,' I replied. 'I have broken my vow, and we have parted.'
Sharp disapproval pursed the amir's lips into a frown. 'That is not how Kazimain put it,' he informed me, 'but as this is a matter between a man and a woman, I will not interfere if your mind is made up. As to that, I offered to persuade you to change your mind, but Kazimain does not wish it.' He paused, trying to read my thought from the expression on my face.
When he spoke again, he said, 'There is a place for you in my court. I have need of a man of your considerable abilities. Stay with me, Aidan, and I will see that you rise to your rightful estate.' He paused. 'You need not marry my kinswoman to gain my favour, you have earned my highest esteem many times over with your exemplary deeds and character.'
'I fear you flatter me too highly, Lord Sadiq,' I said. 'And your offer is tempting, but I cannot accept it.'
The amir nodded silently, accepting my decision gracefully. 'What will you do?'
'Return to Eire,' I answered. I would complete the pilgrimage, see it through. That, at least, I could do.
'Forgive me for saying so, but though you return to your home a thousand times, you will not be happy there anymore,' the amir warned. 'You have seen too much of the world and its ways to hide away in your monastery.'
'You may be right,' I conceded. 'Still, it is my home.'
Sadiq gazed at me, and seemed to soften. 'I wish you well, my friend.' He rose, signalling an end to our talk. 'Still, if you should ever come again to Samarra, you will find me ready to receive you and resume our friendship.'
'I am grateful, Lord Sadiq. But my heart is hungry, and will not be satisfied until I have seen Eire again.'
'Go in peace, Aidan,' said the amir, raising his hands in blessing. 'May Allah, Wise and Merciful, make straight your path and protect you from Satan's wiles, and may the Lord of Hosts grant you peace in his celestial palaces forever.' Placing his fingertips to his forehead, he then touched his heart, saying, 'Sala'am, Aidan, and farewell.'
We ate together for the last time that night; the amir insisted on providing a feast to send us on our way. The rafiq and the monks attended and the talk was light and pleasant-Faysal and I were kept busy translating for everyone. All through the meal, I looked for Kazimain to join us, but the evening ended and she did not
