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Updated: May 4, 2025
But that's not all; since that fray the other night we Northmen have found friends. Have you heard of the Armenian legions, President, those who favour Constantine? Well, kill Olaf Red-Sword, or kill me, Jodd, and you have to deal first with the Northmen and next with the Armenian legions. Now here I am waiting to be taken by any who can pass this axe."
"Kissing takes two, and I know that you blinded him," muttered Jodd, "for I crucified the brutes you commanded to do the deed to which they confessed." "Olaf, I admit that I treated you ill; I admit that I would have killed you; but, believe me, it was jealousy and naught but jealousy which drove me on. Almost as soon would I have killed myself; indeed, I thought of it."
"And there the matter ended," said Jodd. "It was Olaf who walked the Hall of the Pit, not you. We found him on the brink of the hole." "Olaf, after I regained my power " "By blinding your own son," said Jodd, "for which you will have an account to settle one day." " I dealt well with you.
It comes back to me that there was trouble about the business, but that when Jodd gave out that either she must marry him or that he would sail back to his northern land, bidding good-bye to us all for ever, Martina gave way. I think that Heliodore managed the matter in some fashion of her own after the birth of our first-born son; how, I held it best never to inquire.
Now at each cry of Jodd's men leapt forward from the gathering crowd, and, to the number of fifty or more in all, marshalled themselves behind him, those of each nation standing shoulder to shoulder in little groups before me. "Is my question to be answered?" asked Jodd.
It was my wish that we should leave Lesbos and go to live in this place, as we might have done with safety under Harun's signed firman, but Jodd here refused." "Aye," said Jodd in his big voice. "Am I one to dwell among Moslems and make money out of trade and gardens in however fine a house? Why, I should have been fighting with these prophet-worshippers within a month, and had my throat cut.
"Yes," I answered, "it is true that the two jailers who brought me here did tell me this, though whether those men are present I cannot say." "Very good," said Jodd. "Add them to the other prisoners, who by their own showing heard them set the snare and did not warn the victim.
Then it was that Jodd, with a few Northmen, moved between them and me, and, saluting the Empress, said in his bad Greek, "Your pardon, Augusta, but why are we asked to kill our own general?" "Obey my orders, fellow," she answered. "Your pardon, Augusta," said the stolid Jodd, "but before we kill our own general, whom you commanded us to obey in all things, we would know why we must kill him.
Next instant a soft hand took my own, just such a hand as not long ago had seemed to guide and hold me, and Martina's voice said, "Follow where I lead, Olaf." So I followed eight or ten paces. Then Martina threw her arms about me and burst into wild laughter. Someone caught her away; next moment two hair-clad lips kissed me on the brow and the mighty voice of Jodd shouted,
"And if the lady Martina says so, what then?" asked Jodd. "Then she lies also," answered the Empress sullenly. "Be it so," replied Jodd. "Yet it is strange that, acting on this lie of the lady Martina's, we found the General Olaf upon the very edge of yonder hole; yes, with not the breadth of a barleycorn between him and death.
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