Summoning two from the score of small boats working the harbour, we departed with a party of ten to fetch bread for all four ships. One of the small privileges of serving in the imperial forces was this allowance of bread which could be obtained from any of several imperial bakeries in the city. Even though all four of Harald's ships were full-laden with provisions, the king was intent on receiving everything due him. Bread had been granted in his bargain with the Overseer of the Fleet and if the emperor decreed free bread for his servants, then Harald wanted each and every loaf.
Despite the fact that we were now in the emperor's employ, we were still barbarians, and so continued to use the Magnaura Gate. This meant returning to Hormisdas Harbour, but the boatmen did not mind for it meant a greater fee for them. We arrived and I wasted no time making for the gate. Leaving Gunnar and Hnefi with the gate prefect to purchase entry disci for the others, I ran over to where the guardsmen stood at their post. Justin was not among them, nor was he anywhere to be seen.
'Where is Scholarae Justin?' I asked, speaking to the nearest soldier.
Glaring, the man appraised me with contempt. 'Move off,' he growled.
'Please,' I said, 'it is important. I was meant to see him here. I must know where he has gone.'
'It is none of your concern,' the guard said, and was on the point of moving me along by force, when one of the others interceded.
'Tell him what he wants to know, Lucca,' the other said. 'It will do no harm.'
'You tell him,' replied the first. He blew his nose at me and turned away.
'If you know where he is,' I said, appealing to the second soldier, 'I would be grateful of your help.'
'Scholarae Justin has been reassigned,' said the soldier. Regarding me more closely, he asked, 'Are you the priest called Aidan?'
'I am.'
The soldier nodded. 'He said to tell you he could be found at the Great Palace.'
'But where?' My heart sank at the prospect of trying to locate him in that warren of walls, halls, residences, and offices-assuming I could even gain entrance. 'Which part of the palace?'
The guard shrugged. 'He did not say. Probably he is at one of the gates.'
I thanked the soldier and left, wondering how I would ever be able to return to the Great Palace, and even if that could be accomplished, how to go about finding Justin.
35
Gunnar and Tolar were waiting for me when I returned to the prefect's booth. 'Well,' Gunnar said, looking down the crowded street, 'we must now find a bread-making place.'
Glancing around, I noticed the people passing to and fro through the gate; many were bearing burdens, and some of these were led by others who walked ahead, clearing the way. On a sudden inspiration, I said, 'Far easier to say than do. We all know what happened last time we went a-viking in this city.'
'Jarl Harald was not so pleased with us as I thought he would be,' Gunnar conceded. Tolar nodded grimly.
'No, he was not,' I agreed. 'The best way to avoid incurring the king's wrath would be to find someone to guide us.'
'You have good ideas, Aeddan,' Gunnar said. 'But I do not think Hnefi will allow us to do this.'
Thinking quickly, I said, 'How much silver do you have?'
Gunnar regarded me warily. 'No more than ten pieces,' he replied.
'Good,' I said. 'That should be enough. Perhaps we will not need them.' Regarding the others waiting a few paces away, I said, 'Now let us ask Hnefi.'
A short consultation ensued in which Gunnar and Hnefi argued over the notion of hiring a guide. 'This Miklagard is a large and confusing settlement, as you know,' Gunnar pointed out. 'If the jarl were here, he would certainly use a guide, I think.'
'Jarl Harald would never use a guide,' Hnefi insisted. 'And I will not use one either. We are Sea Wolves; we will find the way ourselves.'
The Danes looking on nodded their agreement; opinion, I could see, strongly favoured Hnefi's position.
'You are wrong, Hnefi. In this place it is far better to have someone to show us the way,' I insisted.
'We did not fare so well last time on our own,' added Gunnar. 'The jarl was very angry with us. This is worth remembering, I think.'
'You use a guide,' sneered Hnefi, as if this were insult enough. 'I would never consider such an undignified thing.'
'Very well. We will use a guide,' I declared, 'and we will deliver the bread to the ships before you.'
'You speak above yourself,' he growled. 'I do not listen to the gibber of slaves.'
Seizing the moment, I made my challenge. 'Then let us make a wager and see who is right.'
'It was your fault that the jarl became angry,' Hnefi replied carelessly. 'I am not listening to you.'
'You only say that because you do not wish to part with your silver,' I observed, half-fearing he would strike me. 'You know I am right, but it pains you to admit it in front of your friends.' I indicated the Danes who stood looking on with mounting interest.
As expected, Hnefi took the bait. 'I do not make wagers with slaves.' He drew himself up haughtily. 'Besides, you do not have any silver.'
'That is true,' I conceded. 'However, Gunnar's purse is full.'
'Not so full that it cannot hold more,' replied Gunnar grandly. 'Come, Hnefi, let us make a wager if you are not afraid. Three pieces of sil-'
'Ten pieces of silver,' I put in quickly. 'Ten denarii to the first one to reach the ship with half the allowance of bread.'
Gunnar hesitated, peering doubtfully at me.
'Ha! You are not so certain now, Gunnar Big-Boast?' the haughty Hnefi gloated. 'Ten silver pieces is too much for you, heya?'
'I was merely thinking how best to spend my winnings,' replied Gunnar smoothly. 'It is difficult to know what to do with so much silver all at once. A man should plan these things. I am thinking that I may have to buy a bigger purse.'
Tolar chuckled.
'Go your way,' Hnefi sneered. 'We will see who returns to the ship first.' Hnefi turned to the onlooking barbarians. 'You men are free to choose. Who will go with Gunnar, and who will go with me?'
This invitation occasioned a brief discussion of the merits of both sides. A few were intrigued and might have sided with Gunnar, but the safer bet was deemed to lay with Hnefi. The barbarians, it seems, trusted their battlechief more than they trusted a slave and an unknown guide.
'Perhaps you should give me your silver now,' mocked Hnefi, 'it appears you are alone with your slave- friend.'
'Tolar stands with me,' Gunnar replied.
'But the rest go with me.'
'How will you carry so much bread-just the three of you?' called one of the barbarians.
'That is no worry,' Hnefi laughed. 'They will never find any!' He gestured to the shore party to follow him, and they all moved off in good spirits, discussing how to help Hnefi spend his winnings.
'He is right,' observed Gunnar gloomily. 'Even if we find the baking place first, we will never be able to carry so much bread by ourselves. I have made a very foolish wager.'
'Be of good cheer, Gunnar,' I said lightly. 'Worry not, neither be afraid. God stands ready to aid those who call upon him in time of need.'
'Then do so now, Aeddan,' Gunnar urged. 'We are but three against ten.'
Standing in the street I offered up a prayer that God would lead us speedily to the nearest bakery and allow us to prevail. The prayer pleased Gunnar enormously. He told me that a god who helped men win wagers was a god worth knowing.
