Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson

Author:Tim Hodkinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781804540589
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

THE HUN STOOD in the hall. He had his hands clasped behind his back and his strangely elongated head was tilted back as he looked up at the tree that grew from the floor to the ceiling. He seemed oblivious to the ring of spears levelled at him by nine Raven Warriors.

Four other Hun warriors, likewise guarded by Raven Warriors, stood a little way behind him. They had been stripped of their weapons but the contemptuous smiles and folded arms showed how little fear they had of their captors.

The main door of the hall banged open and King Gunderic, his council and Gunfjaun entered. While the raven warrior joined his comrades, the king strode up the hall, glaring at the stranger the whole way, until he got to the dais at the top where he sat in his high seat. For a long moment he continued to stare at the Hun, who continued to look unperturbed.

‘We do not welcome strangers in this realm,’ Gunderic said at last. ‘But most of all we do not welcome Huns. Why have you come here? Choose your words carefully for they may well be your last.’

The Hun did not reply but looked puzzled.

Gunderic nodded to Gunfjaun, who prodded the Hun with his spear point.

‘Go forward,’ he said. ‘Speak.’

The ring of warriors around the single Hun lowered their spears and he walked closer to the dais. The other four Hun warriors remained under close guard.

‘I am sorry but while I understand the Germanic tongue a little, your accent makes it hard for me,’ the Hun said, speaking in the tongue of the Romans. ‘I am Ediko. I am advisor and emissary to Attila, the Great King of the World and Terrible Punisher of the unbelievers. I have a message from my king to Gunderic, King of the Burgundars.’

‘You are speaking to him,’ Gunderic said.

‘My Lord Attila rides to war at the head of the greatest army ever seen on the face of the earth,’ Ediko said. ‘He rides at the head of an army of Ostrogoths, Vandals, Gepids, Alemanni and Huns that numbers more than fifty thousand men.’

Hagan saw a look of dismay cross the face of Wodnas. It was the first real emotion he had seen the old man express. He could understand why, though. Impressive as the Burgundar War Horde had been, they were tiny in number compared to Attila’s multitudes.

‘I come with a demand and an offer,’ Ediko continued. ‘Attila the Great and Mighty sweeps through the Western Roman Empire like a whirlwind of fire. Everyone who tries to stand in his way perishes like dry grass in a wildfire.’

‘We are ready for war,’ Gunderic said. ‘We don’t fear Attila.’

Ediko smirked.

‘Many have said that before and found they were mistaken,’ he said. ‘To their cost.’

Gunderic started to his feet and opened his mouth to speak, but Wodnas stepped before him and laid a hand on the king’s forearm. To Hagan’s surprise Gunderic sat down again.

Wodnas leaned close to the king and whispered something in his ear.

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