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Anno Domini 828, October-15
"You should have seen how that sarakenoi cried… he almost sounded like a woman… I have never had so much fun. Those men my father brought are intense. It was almost child's play attacking the fortresses when each of those warriors could face two sarakenoi at the same time without trouble," Sigurd told me with a wide grin, recounting his stories of plunder.
"Well, considering they broke his legs, anyone would squeal like an animal when they are crushed with hammer blows. But it must have been interesting to see all that Varangian fury unleashed. If it was already impressive to watch five thousand, veterans and young ones, I imagine twelve thousand hardened warriors must have been quite a spectacle," I replied while peeling an apple with a knife and eating it in slices.
"There was a woman… you should have seen her. Intense green eyes, fine skin, hands soft as silk. Unfortunately someone got ahead of me and claimed her as a prize. Even her screams were soft," Sigurd said, standing up and walking toward me.
"Well, look at what I missed while attacking patrols. Do you know how amusing it was to watch them chase us only to turn their heads and realize half their riders had broken necks or crushed ribs because their horses fell after stepping on a caltrop? I saw it more than once and I could not help laughing. Seeing the horses sprawled on the ground after stepping on those traps had something special," I said, telling my own story.
"I hope next season we find a worthy fight. The ones we faced barely put up resistance. Without armor they were easy prey. I want enemies covered in steel, a duel that not even Odin himself could ignore," Sigurd said with an eager smile.
"With some luck in Bulgaria you will find what you are looking for. The Bulgarians combine Roman tactics with their nomadic heritage. When we face the army of their khan you may have that fight," I replied as I finished the apple.
"And what are we doing again in this dump of Constantinople?" Sigurd said, pouring himself beer from a barrel and drinking in large gulps.
"A victory celebration. Here it is not carved in runestone, but the effect is the same. There will be a parade, prisoners, speeches. Theophilos needs it to consolidate his rule. He must show the people that he is a competent emperor," I said with a slight smile.
"But you did almost everything. You took cities and prepared the ground so that Roman can take the credit," Sigurd said, raising an eyebrow.
"We do not know what would have happened without him. He was the one who gave me the mission to distract the Abbasids. And I am not interested in that prestige. Too much shine attracts civil war, and nothing ruins business more than a war between brothers. If I have to bow my head to avoid it, I will. For the empire and for my family. Though soon I will settle accounts with that Bulgarian," I said with a cold smile.
"The bastard who put chains on you when you were still a milk drinker," Sigurd said.
"The very same. When the campaign in Bulgaria begins I will go to that village. And I will leave nothing standing. After that I will let time do its work. And when age weighs too heavily, I will seek a violent death. To satisfy whichever god proves to be the true one," I said calmly.
"Then there are two of us seeking that end," Sigurd replied, bumping his shoulder against mine.
"We shall see. By the way, did you like the new armor I had forged for you?" I asked.
"Very striking. Those golden details are elegant. It must have cost you dearly," he replied while lifting the gold-engraved plate armor.
"Yes. I hid Nordic runes among the designs. You know how the religious matter is here; better that they are not too obvious," I said, pointing at the hidden engravings.
"I noticed. The hird liked it too. Though this part is rather tight," he commented, examining the sallet.
"With that your armor is complete. With the plate, the mail and the hardened gambeson they could shoot arrows at you all day. The only way to take you out of a fight would be to knock you down and look for a weak point with a dagger. And there are not many," I said, watching the steel shine under the light.
"I hope it does not cause trouble when putting it on," Sigurd said.
"It should not. Unlike heavier and more complex armors this one was designed so that a man can put it on by himself, like a coat. Of course at the cost of being slightly lighter and having some more mobile pieces, but overall it is better than what you usually wear. Being a solid piece it distributes blows better, so if one day someone hits you with a hammer you will thank me… as long as you are wearing it."
"Yes… when must we leave for the palace?" Sigurd asked, looking through the window of the mansion toward the palace district.
"In a short while. We must be present; Theophilos wants all the officers who took part in the campaign to attend his wedding ceremony," I replied calmly.
"Let us hope it is entertaining. We could be training for the next battle," Sigurd said.
"It should be," I answered with a smile.
When the time came we began preparing for the festivity.
Without much ceremony we moved through the city, followed by a large group of my hird wearing the finest armor that could be forged for them, crafted by the best smiths working against time. The pieces were adorned with golden patterns that drew the attention of everyone who watched us.
Many people stopped to stare at us in Constantinople. Theophilos had decreed festivities and part of the war booty financed banquets for the common population, so there was a great concentration of people in the public areas. Crowds were eating the food distributed by the emperor.
It was not uncommon to see thousands fighting for a place at the tables where large quantities of food were handed out, which often ran out before there was enough for all.
In addition to these public banquets, the Hippodrome did not stop celebrating horse races. Prizes had been funded so that the factions could present their best charioteers. The people went mad for those free events paid for by the public treasury.
All the entrances to the Hippodrome were packed with people eager to watch the races. There was not much entertainment in the city beyond that. Gambling was frowned upon by the Church, and street brawls were not something openly encouraged.
We entered the palace through a secondary gate rather than the main one. Our swords and weapons were taken before we were allowed into one of the great reception halls, larger even than the throne room, prepared to host more than mere servants and officers.
The place was crowded with aristocratic families who had brought their daughters veiled in heavy fabrics that barely revealed their faces.
"Strategos, the Basileus Rhōmaiōn summons you at once," one of the scholai said, approaching quickly.
"I am coming… Sigurd, do not kill anyone," I said as I followed the guard.
We passed through several doors and I felt the festive atmosphere shift. Something was wrong.
I found Theophilos standing beside his stepmother. He did not look pleased in the slightest.
"Basil… good that you are here. You are one of the few I can trust in this city," Theophilos said, running a hand through his beard.
"What happened? It looks as if we are preparing for something serious again," I replied, noticing his irritation and the fist he kept tightly clenched.
"Treacherous rats. What else could be expected from the serpents of Constantinople? Tell him, Euphrosyne," he said, gesturing toward his stepmother.
"Indeed, my Basileus Rhōmaiōn. During your absence, several iconodules approached me, hoping to use my limited influence within the palace forces to support a coup. I refused entirely. It would dishonor the memory of my late husband to harm his son, even if we do not share blood," she said calmly.
"While we were at war against the Abbasids, those damned iconodules were trying to persuade the tagmata of the city to desert and proclaim a new emperor," Theophilos said, fury barely contained.
"Whom do we kill?" I asked immediately, instinctively reaching for where my sword should have been… and remembering I did not have it.
"I do not know… yet. I must investigate further. It happened only a few days ago, so the iconodules must be moving carefully. We must remain alert. When I have their names, I will crush them and ensure those vile serpents have nowhere to hide. While one tries to save the Empire, these vermin cling to their foolish religious vision and seek to strip me of what is mine," Theophilos said.
"Though this is an important event, my Basileus Rhōmaiōn, it is even more important that you take a wife and produce an heir as soon as possible. That would resolve any doubts of legitimacy some may harbor. With a son, many voices would fall silent," his stepmother added.
"I know… that is why I allowed you to organize this," Theophilos replied, still irritated but calmer than before.
"And in fulfilling that duty, I have gathered the ladies of the finest lineage, daughters of officers and aristocrats of great beauty and qualities befitting a future basilissa," she said.
"Yes… well… once this is over you will return to the convent," Theophilos said as he began walking back toward the hall. "Come, Basil."
We returned to the reception area where hundreds, perhaps thousands, of notable figures of the Empire waited eagerly to see who would receive the emperor's favor.
I remained alert. There could still be a plot in motion. I watched as several strategoi and tourmarches loyal to Theophilos were discreetly warned to remain vigilant.
I expected something to happen. Nothing did. The tension gradually eased and Theophilos seemed to recover his composure.
"Good. Basil, this is John Grammatikos, synkellos of the Ecumenical Patriarch. A true man of God. He was my envoy to the Abbasid Empire before this war, though he has now returned," Theophilos said, introducing him.
"A pleasure to meet you, strategos. My Basileus Rhōmaiōn speaks highly of you," John said with a respectful bow.
"The pleasure is mine," I replied, surveying the hall.
"I have heard that his majesty plans to grant you custody of the holy city of Jerusalem. I wonder whether that is not a great responsibility. In certain circles it is said that you… well… show excessive sympathy toward the Varangians," John said carefully.
"That honor has not yet been granted to me. But if it is, I will dedicate myself to the protection of pilgrimage. I hope my tolerance toward pagans and my discreet attempts to influence them will not be misinterpreted before the Patriarch. In times of war we require their cooperation. They have proven loyal warriors and excellent soldiers on the battlefield," I replied calmly.
"I shall inform the Patriarch of this. There were suspicions regarding you… and your faith. But the Basileus Rhōmaiōn claims you possess a rare virtue: honor," the synkellos said.
"By the way, where is your cousin? He promised me some plans I wish to review," Theophilos said, scanning the hall.
"At the back, working on them," the synkellos replied.
Theophilos sent for him and the man arrived shortly thereafter. Without much ceremony, he spread plans and schematics before the emperor.
"Is this a hydraulic system to raise… a throne?" I asked as I examined the drawings.
"Yes," the man replied, surprised that I recognized it.
"Do not be surprised. Basil is deeply educated in many fields," Theophilos said with a light laugh.
"My Basileus Rhōmaiōn, once this is concluded, would you permit me to employ this man's services?" I asked, continuing to study the designs.
"A strange request. I thought you would ask for something else," Theophilos said with mild disappointment.
"Such as?" I asked without lifting my eyes from the plans.
"A triumph, perhaps…" Theophilos said with a smile.
"To parade all day in a quadriga with my face painted red? No, thank you," I replied.
"Your majesty, is this the man who provided the designs for that stone-throwing machine?" the synkellos' cousin asked.
"Yes," Theophilos answered, still somewhat surprised.
"Then at last I may meet him. I must admit I was astonished by the ingenuity of that machine. I am Leo of Thessalonica," he said, extending his hand to me.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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