The official knelt down, withdrew the priceless cover from its resting place and, still on bended knee, placed it at the feet of the emperor. Basil leaned forward, allowing the imperial eye to rest upon the exquisite silver tracery and jewels of the cover. Then Harald stepped forward and laid the emperor's golden bowl alongside the silver cumtach. "We see by this that you place a very high value on your word, King of the Danes."
The quaestor stared at the treasure incredulously, and I imagined that he was on the point of recanting his version of the events. But the moment passed, and the harbour master kept his mouth firmly shut.
"Magister," the emperor called, beckoning the official to him. He whispered something into the official's ear, whereupon the man nodded once and departed, walking backwards from the room. "Now we may learn the truth," Basil declared and, in afterthought, added, "as God wills."
Emperor Basil commanded that music should be played, and the wondrous organ we had heard on entering began once more. We waited, listening to the heavenly sounds of that most extraordinary instrument. The Danes grew restless; unaccustomed to spending so much time without shouting, drinking, or fighting, they shifted from one foot to the other with growing agitation. "How long are we to be made to stand here like this?" demanded Harald loudly.
"Peace, Jarl Harald," I soothed. "I believe the emperor is working out a plan."
He subsided with a growl and contented himself with scrutinizing the gold on display. Hnefi and Gunnar talked openly of how their fingers itched to be close to such riches, and yet unable to steal any for themselves. I might have been embarrassed by this, but as no one else knew what they said, it made no difference.
The emperor, for his part, deigned not to notice his barbaric guests' coarse behaviour. He sat back in his throne, folded his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes. When I thought he must be asleep, he roused himself and said, "Slave, come here."
There were no slaves near, that I could see. So it took me by surprise when he raised his hand and beckoned me. "Forgive me, basileus," I said, edging a hesitant step forward.
The emperor motioned me nearer, and held out his hand for me to kiss. I did so, and remained standing before him with my eyes downcast-as I had seen the magister do.
"We perceive that you are a learned man," Basil said. "How came you to be a slave to these barbarians?"
"Lord emperor, I was on a pilgrimage with my brother monks when our ship was attacked by Sea Wolves." I explained briefly about surviving the shipwreck and finding the Gaulish village. I concluded, saying, "The settlement was attacked that same night and I was taken captive." Indicating the cumtach resting in the box at the foot of the throne, I said, "The silver book cover offered to you as surety once belonged to us."
"Indeed?" wondered the emperor. "And your brother priests? What became of them?"
"Sovereign lord," I said, "I wish I knew. As it happens, I hoped the emperor might tell me."
Basil regarded me with a look of studied amazement. "We might tell you?" He laughed. "Although the emperor's knowledge of the events in the empire is exhaustive, it is by no means infinite. Why would a man of your learning imagine that we could provide you with an explanation of so obscure an event?"
"Forgive my presumption, basileus," I said, "but the pilgrimage of which I speak was to Constantinople; it was, in fact, to seek audience with yourself, sovereign lord, and present you with a gift both rare and precious."
"Truly?" The emperor professed himself to be fascinated and commanded me to explain further. "You have gained the imperial ear, bold priest-at least until the magister returns. Tell us more of this wonderful tale."
In all my days of captivity, I had never dared think, even in whimsy, that I might stand before the emperor and regale him with the story of my misfortune. But I was keen to learn the fate of my brothers, so up I spoke, casting aside all trepidation. I told the basileus about the abbey at Kells, and the making of the book; I told him about the choosing of the thirteen to make the pilgrimage, the preparations for the trip, and the storm that drove us across the sea and into the Sea Wolves' path. "I assumed the pilgrimage would continue without me," I said. "But unless the emperor tells me he has seen them, I must conclude that my friends turned back, or were killed in the raid as I feared."
Emperor Basil sat for a moment, thinking, and then said, "What is your name, priest?"
"Sovereign lord," I answered, "I am Aidan mac Cainnech."
"Aidan," he said, "it grieves us to tell you that your brother priests have not arrived in Constantinople. They have not come before us here. Devoutly do we wish it were otherwise, for judging by the cover alone, it would have been a gift worthy of veneration, and a tribute to your monastery's devotion. We are truly sorry."
