ARMINIUS AND THE magister’s bodyguards filed obediently out of the room. For a moment Hagan wondered if this could be his chance to kill Aetius. Then the sight of the person who entered the room next surprised him so much he forgot all such notions.
Hagan had heard of dwarfs in folk tales and old legends. They were supernatural creatures who lived in caves beneath mountains and were so skilled at making things their workmanship sometimes appeared like magic.
Sitting near the fire on cold winter nights, listening to stories told by the elders, Hagan had pictured them as child-sized men with long beards and nimble fingers. He had certainly never seen one with his own eyes and doubted they existed.
The man who was ushered into the room next made his eyebrows rise. He was very short, perhaps half the height of Hagan, but his body was not in proportion. It seemed as though his head and torso were average-size but his legs and arms were like those of a child. His face was flat and he had almost no nose, except for two nostril holes in the centre of his face. He had a hump at his right shoulder that made him hunch over. His legs were bowed outwards and his feet looked twisted in his sandals, so he walked into the room with a rolling gait similar to that of an old sailor Hagan had once met. His skin was dark. He wore Roman dress that had been cut to fit him. What age he was Hagan had no idea.
‘Let me introduce Zerco,’ Aetius said. ‘A man who has experienced more in his lifetime than many will not achieve even if they were to live five times over.’
‘I see my appearance disgusts you,’ the short man said. He spoke Latin with an accent strange to Hagan and a pronounced lisp.
‘I am sorry,’ Hagan said, realising his shock had transferred into the expression on his face. ‘I have never met anyone so… unusual as you.’
‘It is no matter to me,’ Zerco said. ‘One such as I needs to learn at a very young age to ignore the harsh looks, cruel jokes, hatred and laughter of his fellow men. If he does not then he will be destined to lead a very miserable existence indeed.’
‘Zerco here was once the jester of the magister militum of Constantinople, my counterpart in the Eastern Empire,’ Aetius said. ‘Though the man is a damned heretic. An Arian.’
He looked sideways at Hagan.
‘You’re not one, are you?’ he said. ‘You Germani all seem infected by that heresy. I’d have hoped the Army would bash that nonsense out of you.’
Hagan did not respond to the question. In truth he did not know what he was any more. Why the different ways men worshipped the same God mattered so much to some people was lost on him. He also found it hard to believe God cared a damn about the world he had created. Where was he the day the pagan Huns had slaughtered his Christian people? In the Army he had met men with many gods and none, and he had found that what really mattered was not a man’s faith but whether he could rely on them in a tight situation or not.
‘There’s another reason why I don’t just send an Imperial messenger to the Burgundars straight away, demanding they join my army,’ Aetius said. ‘And why I’d like someone who can get away with it to make some enquiries for me in their kingdom. There is the matter of the treasure.’
‘Treasure?’ Hagan said.
‘Some years after the unfortunate incident at Vorbetomagus involving your people,’ Aetius said, ‘Zerco here was travelling near the city with his master, Flavius Ardabur Aspar.’
‘Didn’t you say he was Magister Militum in the Eastern Empire?’ Hagan said. ‘What was he doing there?’
‘Aspar was instrumental in bringing the current Western Emperor, Valentinian, to power,’ Aetius said, ‘So the Emperor trusts him. Before Aspar pursued his career in the East he was involved with negotiations with the Huns and we needed him for a similar task on the Rhine. He was delivering their payments to where they were camped near Vorbetomagus, accompanied by a cohort of dragon cavalry. The camp was attacked in the night.’
Hagan recalled the type of horsemen called dragons from his time in the Army. They wore impressive heavy armour and flew long standards that streamed behind their horses like dragons flying through the air. They were elite warriors, well-trained and fearsome fighters, so whoever had managed to best them must have been either very lucky or very dangerous.
‘Who by?’ Hagan said.
‘We don’t know,’ Aetius said. ‘They were taken by surprise in the night by unknown warriors. The entire cavalry cohort was wiped out. Aspar escaped, but Zerco here was left behind. The raiders took the payment meant for the Huns. It was substantial. The Huns, deprived of their payment, decided to loot what they could from the surrounding countryside, including Zerco.’
‘I was their slave for five years,’ Zerco said. His eyes looked empty and Hagan surmised that time had not been an easy one for him.
‘I mentioned the new kingdom of the Burgundars has suddenly become very rich,’ Aetius said. ‘It’s my suspicion that they have the treasure taken near Vorbetomagus.’
‘How?’ Hagan said. ‘The remaining Burgundars were scattered far from Vorbetomagus.’
‘I…’ Aetius began to speak then hesitated. He looked away from Hagan.
‘I have my reasons,’ he finished. ‘The nearest kingdom to where Aspar was ambushed is Santen,’ Aetius said. ‘We may not be able to get spies into the new realm of the Burgundars but we do have them in Santen. A young lord from the city went to the new kingdom of the Burgundars shortly after it was established, when we still had some influence over the place. He was seeking the hand of the king’s sister in marriage.’
‘The king’s sister?’ Hagan said. His heart began to beat faster. ‘Gunhild? She’s still alive?’
‘I think that’s her name, yes,’ Aetius said. ‘She is reckoned quite a beauty. As barbarians go.’
Hagan looked at the floor, hoping that the Romans around him did not notice how his cheeks were flushing. Gunhild was still alive. A strange, long-forgotten ache that had been frozen for many years, scarred over and forgotten, reawakened in his heart.
‘Who is this prince?’ he said.
‘He’s quite a man, by all accounts,’ the Magister said with a sly smile. Hagan knew he had not been successful in hiding his feelings and Aetius now saw he did have a price after all. ‘Hercules reborn, so they say. He and this Burgundar princess must be the perfect pair. Shortly after their marriage the new kingdom began to flourish and became wealthy. Is this a coincidence, do you think?’
‘It doesn’t sound like one,’ Hagan said. ‘So, say I take up your offer. What’s in it for me?’
‘You will be reinstated in the Army,’ Aetius said. ‘You will be one of the milites arcani. A secret soldier, but you’ll be a duplicarius with double standard pay.’
‘Double standard army pay?’ Hagan said. ‘I get three times that working for Arminius. What else?’
He still had no intention of spying on his people but now he knew some of them still lived, he felt a longing in his heart to be among them that was almost painful. Pretending to take up Aetius’s offer would be a way to get away from his lonely life as a paid soldier for Arminius, while also being the fastest way to get to his folk land. He had to be convincing though, and not seem too keen.
‘This new kingdom of my people is like a fledgling bird,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure I like the idea of dragging them into a war that could destroy them for a second time. Do they even have an army?’
‘They may not have much choice in the matter,’ Aetius said. ‘I’ve already outlined one of the reasons but now Arminius is out of the room I can tell you that it’s not just the hand of the Emperor’s sister that has spurred Attila on. Among the treasure taken from the Huns was a particular war sword. Attila wants it back more than all the silver and gold put together.’
‘What’s so special about this sword?’ Hagan said.
‘It’s sacred to the Huns,’ Aetius said. ‘It used to belong to some king of the Eastern Goths who the Huns could never manage to defeat. When they finally did, they won his sword and saw it as a sign from their War God of his favour. I saw it once when I was in Uldin’s court. It’s nothing special.’
‘But Attila believes in this magic sword?’ Hagan said.
‘Attila is a masterful war leader,’ Aetius said. ‘But if he has one fault it’s his superstition. When men put faith in something it can become more than the metal it is made from. The Huns think the sword confers the blessing of Mars, or whatever they call him, on their kings. Attila killed his brother to become sole ruler, so he is desperate to get the sword back. He thinks it will legitimise his claim to be king. If this lord of Santen took the treasure then he also took the sword.’
‘My folk should know of this,’ Hagan said with a sigh.
‘They really should,’ Aetius said. ‘Perhaps you should look at it this way. If Attila defeats me then he will sweep south to claim his bride and finish off what remains of Rome. The only thing that will stand between him and Ravenna will be the new kingdom of the Burgundars. Do you think that small, fledgling realm will be able to stand against the might of a horde that has just defeated Rome? On the other hand… if your people won’t join us, then do you think it would be prudent for me to leave at my flanks a realm that could potentially join Attila?’
‘I can’t see my folk joining the Huns,’ Hagan said. ‘Not after what they did to us in the past. We have no love of Rome but we hate the Huns more.’
‘Sometimes an enemy can become a friend, if faced with a bigger mutual threat,’ Aetius said. ‘And it is more prudent, if they decide not to join us, that I have the legions wipe out the Burgundars on our march north to meet Attila.’
‘You want me to deliver an order to my people,’ Hagan said, his face turning pale as he realised what little choice anyone had in this matter. ‘Their choice is to fight against Attila with Rome or to fight both Attila and Rome.’
‘And I think you know how that will turn out,’ Aetius said. ‘But if you need any more of an incentive, I did not bring you into my confidence just to tell stories of the treasure. Once in the land of the Burgundars you can move around freely and without suspicion. You can find the treasure. And if you do, then you will be entitled to a cut of it, like the rest of us. It’s worth all the wealth of a kingdom. There were three wagonloads of gold, silver and precious gems.’
‘How big a cut?’
‘Enough that you won’t need to worry about working for the rest of your life,’ Aetius said.
‘Where would I go?’ Hagan said. ‘If I help you take the wealth of my own folk I won’t be welcome among them again.’
‘Who cares if you’re rich?’ Aetius said, spreading his arms as if to say he certainly did not. ‘If you want to go back to those Godforsaken places outside the Empire then you’ll have enough gold to buy a whole kingdom of your own. Or you could buy a villa here in Ravenna. Let’s just say there will definitely be enough to keep a Burgundar princess in the manner in which she is accustomed.’
Aetius was tilting his chin back again. He winked. It took all of Hagan’s willpower to stop himself from punching the Roman in the face.
Hagan sighed. He thought for a moment.
‘Alright,’ he said. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘Excellent!’ Aetius said, grinning. ‘Zerco here will go with you.’
‘What!’ Hagan looked at the dwarf with uncertainty.
‘Zerco saw the man who led the attack,’ Aetius said. ‘He can identify if the prince from Santen is the same man. Then you will know the treasure the Burgundars have really belongs to us.’
‘He was a giant,’ the short man said.
‘Everyone to you is a giant,’ Aetius said, a smirk on his lips.
Zerco scowled.
‘Even to you he would have been big,’ he said. Then he cocked a thumb at Hagan. ‘Even to him.’
‘Alright. We’re agreed then,’ Aetius said. ‘We can bring Arminius back in. One more thing.’
He laid a hand on Hagan’s arm and fixed him with his dark eyes.
‘Arminius is getting a flat fee for his part in this,’ he said. ‘He knows nothing of the treasure. Let’s keep it that way. Understand? Just keep your mouth shut about the gold. Think about it: the more people it has to be divided between, the smaller everyone’s cut.’
Hagan nodded.
‘This calls for another drink,’ Aetius said, snapping his finger to the slave with the wine jug. He was grinning now. Hagan was not sure if it was from happiness or relief.
‘There is no time to waste. Attila is on the rampage. Every day counts. It will take me some time to gather my army, so you have perhaps a month or so, Burgundar, to convince your people to join my alliance. But mark my words well: if your people decide they are on the side of Attila then I will not hesitate to strike first. I must take them off the game board. This time our legions will finish the job that was started at Vorbetomagus.’