"Your gold will remain with us," Basil replied. "Wealth of this magnitude would only prove a hazard where you are going. In this, we are showing you far more charity than you ever showed us."
The bronze doors opened and the prisoner was hauled into the anteroom. He made one last attempt to remonstrate with the emperor, but the leading Farghanese silenced him with a sharp blow to the mouth and he resigned himself to his fate and allowed himself to be led away.
Emperor Basil gestured that the gold and broken pottery should be cleared away. Komes Nikos turned to King Harald and presented him with the recovered silver coins. "Your denarii, lord," he said, dismissing the king with a word.
Harald accepted the silver and then, in an act I have pondered often since, he stepped to the foot of the throne and, directing me to translate his words, said: "Most Noble Emperor, I tell you the truth: I came here to plunder your treasure stores and take to myself as much as I could carry back to Skania."
The emperor received this confession with good grace. "You are not the first to entertain such notions, Lord Harald."
When I had relayed Basil's words, the Sea Wolf king continued, "Now I find myself before you, and I look around me," he glanced around with wide-eyed admiration, "and I see such wealth as men in my country cannot imagine." Gesturing to the pile of gold coins on the floor, Harald said, "What is more, I see that men in your service are rewarded far more richly than can be told."
The emperor nodded with satisfaction. "You have had but a glimpse of the wealth and power of the Holy Roman Empire, and you realize the futility of clashing with that power. In this, you show wisdom, Lord Harald."
"It is true," agreed Harald readily, when I had translated the emperor's words. "And I ask myself, if a mere servant can amass such wealth, what may a king do? I have with me four ships and one hundred and sixty men. We have come seeking plunder, but will stay to gain wealth and renown in friendship with you, Great Jarl. Therefore, I place myself, my men, and my ships at your service, Most Noble Emperor."
Even as I conveyed these words, I wondered at Harald's audacity. Was he so confident, so arrogant, as to believe all his men would follow him in this grand gesture? So naive as to believe the emperor would accept his offer, and even reward him for it?
In this, I was the innocent. For, wonder of wonders, the Holy Emperor of Rome, Sovereign Lord of All Christendom, regarded Harald Bull-Roar, barbarian lord and plunderer, narrowly, as a man calculating the value of a horse, and made up his mind at once. "We accept your offer, Lord Harald. You will have seen that men of valour are welcome in my service, and they are indeed paid well. That you are seafaring men argues well in your favour: we have need of swift messengers just now, for the southern waters have become dangerous due to Arab raids.
"Therefore, let us put your fealty to the test. We are readying an envoy to Trebizond which will require an escort. Accept this service, and we will make you part of the imperial fleet. As it happens, the conventions of war at sea allow the victor to keep any spoils he should acquire when engaging an enemy. Naturally, we would extend this privilege to you, and even pray that you prosper."
Harald, when he had heard the cast of the emperor's thought, heartily approved of the plan. "We will meet your test, Lord Emperor," he said. "Your enemies will become our enemies. Our victories will be victories for you. I, Jarl Harald Bull-Roar, pledge this with my life and the lives of my men."
Perhaps Jarl Harald, himself a man of authority, recognizing a power far greater than his own had adopted the most prudent course; perceiving the might of the empire arrayed against him if he pursued the raiding scheme, his shrewd barbarian mind had contrived the best possible solution. Or perhaps God, toiling away unseen and unknown in the fertile soil of Harald's immortal soul, had sown the seed which now bore its unexpected fruit. However it was, the result both astonished and amazed me.
"We accept your pledge, Lord Harald," replied the emperor graciously. "And we will pray the Heavenly Father richly rewards your loyalty. Return to your ships and prepare yourselves." Gesturing to the magister, who produced his wax tablet, the emperor took up the stylus and began to write. "We will send the protospatharius to you tomorrow to arrange for provisioning. The envoy sails in three days' time." Passing the tablet back to the magister sacrum, Basil held out his hand for the king to kiss.
