‘Maybe not. But from what I’ve seen they’d make firewood of any drakkar that crossed their bows.’ Erlan drew his sword in readiness.

‘I know you’re easily excited, Northman,’ said a sneering voice behind him. ‘But you can put that thing away.’ He gave an ugly snigger. ‘Save it for your royal whore.’

‘What did you call her?’

Arbasdos snorted. ‘Don’t tell me you don’t know.’

‘Know what?’

‘Hah! I mean, I’ve sold slaves before but I’ve never had so much fun doing it.’

Erlan felt the bile rise in his gullet. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Your barbarian queen. Didn’t she tell you? How she preferred to keep her gold and buy you like any whore. A royal whore, as I said,’ he snarled.

‘You lying, shit-eating son of a bitch!’ Erlan’s hand squeezed around Wrathling’s hilt. His arm was rising when Einar’s fist closed on his and clamped it to his side.

‘Am I?’ Arbasdos stepped close, squaring up to him. ‘Go ahead, fat man, let him strike. See how close he gets before he’s skewered five ways through his stinking guts. And one up the arse for good measure.’

Einar shoved Erlan further back, while the other spatharioi closed in front of the general. ‘Just the way your queen liked it,’ he laughed. ‘Didn’t you swear an oath to the emperor, Northman? To obey his every command? And that means protecting me. . .’ His face was an ugly sneer. ‘Back to your post, slave.’

‘Watch your step, Strategos.’ Erlan pushed Einar away and slid Wrathling back into its sheath. ‘You don’t know what Leo’s orders were.’

Arbasdos frowned uncertainly, but then turned his back on the Northmen with a scowl.

‘Leave it.’ Einar’s eyes shifted warily between the other guards arrayed around the general. ‘Now isn’t the time.’

‘Piss on him,’ Erlan spat, and thundered down the stairs to the main deck. Einar followed him, and soon after him, Davit.

‘A word of advice, Northman,’ said the spatharios in a low voice. ‘Keep a leash on that temper of yours. He’s a tricky bastard, I know, but we all need him just now.’

Erlan glared ahead, his gaze drawn to the fire-cauldrons under their wooden shelter in the bows. His mind flashed to thoughts of Lilla and Arbasdos. Together. Is that a price she would pay for him? Is that the price she did pay? The heat in his blood was hot as that oil, but. . . was that what she had been keeping from him?