HAGAN FELT HIS heart sink in dismay. If the Bear Warriors were going to be at the centre of the Hun attack, whoever led them would be the first to enter that storm. He looked around him and saw the various leaders all knew this too. He was not sure but he thought he saw a look of concern cross the face of Aetius, though the Roman changed his expression very quickly to be more impassive. There was a mocking smile on the lips of Sigurd. Gunderic’s jaw was set in a stony expression.
‘King Gunderic,’ Aetius said. ‘I am grateful for your offer of your best warriors but perhaps they would be best deployed elsewhere? Perhaps somewhere they are not likely to incur as many casualties?’
Gunderic’s expression turned to one of triumph. Hagan knew he was congratulating himself that his suspicions of Hagan and the Romans had been proven true.
‘I want my warriors wherever they can gain most glory for our folk,’ the king said.
‘If I may suggest something?’ Wodnas spoke. All eyes turned towards him.
‘The Berh Herjass are excellent warriors, and can fight wherever they are sent,’ the old man said. ‘Perhaps we should think of moving them around? Place them wherever the greatest need is?’
Gunderic smiled.
‘I like the idea of that,’ he said. ‘And the first place they will be most needed is alongside the Alans.’
Hagan rolled his eyes. Of course Gunderic was smiling. If he was not killed in the shield wall he would be moved to wherever the next place of higher peril – and higher chance of his death – was.
‘Very well,’ Aetius said.
Then he dismissed everyone with a final toast of wine to victory. Outside, Hagan and the others were reunited with the rest of Gunderic’s council who had waited there. They tramped back out of the Roman camp to where the Burgundars had set up their own encampment. No one spoke on the journey. When they reached Gunderic’s tent the king began to speak to the councillors, delivering orders. Hagan listened with only half an ear, his mind fixated on the battle to come. His memory flew back to the day he had faced the Huns at Vorbetomagus, except tomorrow he would be in the front, not the third rank of the shield wall. He was not scared of dying, but he had a strong feeling that he was being pushed into this situation.
They gathered around the fire that had been lit outside Gunderic’s tent. Gunhild came and joined them.
‘How did the meeting with Aetius go?’ she said.
Gunderic and Sigurd told her.
‘Victory sounds far from assured,’ Gunhild said, frowning, when they were done. ‘If anything it sounds like Aetius is rolling the dice.’
‘I agree,’ Wodnas said. ‘This alliance too sounds very fragile. I can see why Aetius is desperate to fight now. In a few more days everyone will be at each other’s throats.’
‘You think we should leave?’ Gunderic said.
‘No,’ Wodnas said. ‘If we do, then we will run the risk of revenge from Aetius if he does happen to win. We should still fight Attila, but we need a strategy for if things do go wrong.’
‘I don’t like the way Aetius knows so much about us,’ Sigurd said. ‘You heard them talking about my sword. How does he know all this? If he knows about the sword he probably knows about the—’
Sigurd broke off, though Hagan guessed his next word would have been treasure.
‘Spies,’ Lokke said. ‘He must have managed to get spies into the realm.’
‘We hang all foreigners trying to enter the country,’ Gunderic said.
‘Then it must be someone who isn’t a foreigner,’ Lokke said.
All eyes turned to Hagan. He felt a surge of indignation run down his spine and he straightened his back.
‘I’m not a Roman spy, if that is what you are thinking, Gunderic,’ he said.
‘And why would I think that?’ the king said. There was sarcasm in his voice.
‘Why else would you have put me in a position that means almost certain death?’ Hagan said, blazing with indignation. His skin pale, his eyes wide.
‘What is this, Gunderic?’ Gunhild said. ‘What does Hagan mean?’
‘He means, sister, that I have honoured him with the most sought-after position in our war horde,’ Gunderic said. ‘That of leader of the Bear Warriors. However, it seems that is not good enough for him.’
Hagan realised Gunderic’s statecraft was as slippery as it always had been. For Hagan to deny the honour of the appointment was to insult the honour of the company, something he could not do without causing huge offence to all gathered around him. And if he continued to try to talk his way out of the position it would make him sound like a coward trying to worm his way out of a dangerous situation. Everyone would have nothing but contempt for him. Worse, they might kill him outright. Perhaps there was one more route to try.
‘Lord King,’ he said, fighting to control his breathing. ‘I am flattered to be named the new leader of the Berh Herjass, but surely there are others more worthy of this honour?’
‘Who would be more worthy than you?’ Gunderic said. ‘The warrior band was formed to preserve the memory of the Dagelungs, and you are the last of the Dagelungs.’
The king’s voice was cold. He looked Hagan in the eyes with a steady, unflinching gaze that left little doubt he was as good as condemning the Dagelung to death.
Hagan shook his head.
‘And after Attila’s charge there will be no more Dagelungs,’ he said, his voice sharp with bitterness.
‘Hagan why would you not want to lead the champions of the Burgundars?’ Gunhild said. ‘Just as your father before you did? I remember when you were young and we were all friends. You were always talking about the day you would ride out with the warrior horde, leading it like Godegisil did then.’
Hagan looked at the sky for a moment. He heaved a heavy sigh, then looked at Gunhild once more.
‘That’s just it,’ he said. ‘Godegisil was not my father.’
‘What?’ Gunhild’s face was screwed up with incomprehension.
‘He treated me like a son,’ Hagan said. ‘But he was not my real father. My mother was raped while he was away at the wars.’
‘Godegisil killed the rapist, I am sure,’ Gunderic said. ‘As he deserved.’
‘No,’ Hagan said. ‘My mother never said who he was. She said that was to protect Godegisil.’
Hagan dug his mother’s amulet out from under his tunic and held it up.
‘This is the only clue I have of his existence,’ he said. ‘My mother snatched it from the man as he attacked her.’
Gunhild’s eyes widened.
‘That’s the amulet I told you about!’ she said, looking at Gunderic. The king remained impassive.
‘So for all we know you are not even of noble lineage!’ the king said. ‘And to think we used to all be friends! Well, tomorrow you will atone for everything. Your deeds on the battlefield at the forefront of the Berh Herjass will ennoble you. The Folk will remember you as a great man.’
‘Atone?’ Hagan said. ‘For what?’
‘For betrayal,’ Gunderic said, his teeth clenched and eyes flashing. All pretence on his behalf was now gone. ‘For coming to my kingdom and using our friendship to spy on your own folk and try to steal away my gold!’
‘Our gold,’ Sigurd said. ‘And my sword.’
Hagan shook his head.
‘It was never about that, don’t you see? All I ever wanted was to be back with my own folk again.’
‘Well, now I am giving you the chance to live in their hearts and memories forever,’ Gunderic said. ‘As a legend who died fighting bravely against insurmountable odds. Or perhaps you’d rather just be hanged like a common criminal?’
‘Like Geic, you mean?’ Hagan said.
Gunderic glared at Hagan for a long moment.
‘You think Geic is the only man I’ve ever had put to death?’ Gunderic said. ‘Didn’t I tell you? A king must act with ruthlessness when his position is threatened.’
He let the words hang in the air for a moment. Then he glanced at the others around him and shook his head.
‘I think everyone is getting overwrought. We should all get some rest,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow we go to war. Hagan, I will send some warriors to guard your tent to make sure you have a good night’s sleep.’