BooksBarbecue
Back A Burning Sea
Chapters (54)
  1. CAST OF CHARACTERS
  2. PART ONE
  3. CHAPTER ONE
  4. CHAPTER TWO
  5. CHAPTER THREE
  6. CHAPTER FOUR
  7. CHAPTER FIVE
  8. CHAPTER SIX
  9. CHAPTER SEVEN
  10. CHAPTER EIGHT
  11. CHAPTER NINE
  12. CHAPTER TEN
  13. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  14. CHAPTER TWELVE
  15. PART TWO
  16. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  20. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  21. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  22. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  30. PART THREE
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. PART FOUR
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  45. CHAPTER FORTY
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  53. HISTORICAL NOTE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As for him, his heart swelled with new purpose, and for a moment he was overcome with such gratitude to his new lord that it came close to love. And yet, no sooner had he felt this in the depths of his heart than a cold and bitter splinter entered there too. . .

Vassili’s words. You must drink his blood.

Or else be bound by the Watcher’s curse for ever.

A riddle too strange, or too dark, to fathom.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Illustration

After the requisite backslapping and bear hugs when first they were reunited, Einar took the news that he was now in the service of an emperor as he took most things: lubricated with a jar or two of the city’s finest.

‘So you’re saying if I want to help Queen Lilla and get back home before I lose the last of my teeth, then I have to spend the foreseeable future kissing the arse of this golden prince?’ Einar tugged at the braid hanging off his chin and took another massive gulp from his wine cup.

‘Something like that,’ conceded Erlan.

‘Sort of an arse-cheek each, is it?’

‘Hm! You can have first pick.’

‘Delightful. Though I can’t say I’m in a mad hurry to get home. I expect what’s waiting for us back there – that is, if we ever get home –’ he slurred, ‘will be a sight less cosy than what this city has to offer.’

‘Beginning to like the place, are you?’ Truly, the Fat-Bellied looked as happy as a pig in slurry.

Einar wrinkled his nose. ‘It has its diversions.’

‘Long-haired ones, I’m guessing.’

‘A man’s got to eat. So to speak.’

‘Well, Fat-Belly,’ said Erlan, giving him another slap on the shoulder. ‘Personally, I don’t know what to make of this place. But Lilla has her plan. And whatever she thinks she can get out of this Leo fellow, she’s counting on us.’

‘Best not fuck it up for the lass then, hey?’ Einar bashed his cup against Erlan’s and a shard of pottery went flying. ‘Drink up.’

Once they had been equipped with the uniform of the emperor’s personal guard – white tunic, white cloak, white-plumed helm, polished scale armour that would have cost a small fortune in silver back in the north, and white shield – they reported to the commander of the palace guard. A tall, efficient man, as spare of frame as he was with his words, his name was Alexios. ‘We carry spear and shield. Then again,’ he added, ‘we shouldn’t have to fight. Not unless every soldier in Byzantium is already dead.’