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Anno Domini 828, October-15
I do not know how much time had passed, but I remained speaking with Leo for quite a while as we moved through the hall. The man's mind was overflowing with ideas. Unfortunately for him, Theophilos had already committed most of his treasury to financing the wars he planned, rebuilding cities, and encouraging the colonization of abandoned lands in the Balkans with settlers from newly conquered territories.
Leo did not have the funds he desired to bring his projects to life. He had managed only modest support by appealing to Theophilos' vanity to win imperial favor. The designs for a flying throne sounded magnificent. Even I would have enjoyed one, to converse calmly with someone and then rise above him to observe from on high.
There were also his mechanical lions that could roar and artificial birds that would sing like living creatures. All meant to impress the emperor and secure a well-paid office. Yet behind every spectacle there was real genius. A hydraulic system capable of lifting great weight was no simple contraption, and even less simple to calibrate. Raising such mass was comparable to building an elevator.
"And tell me, Leo. Returning to what I asked of the Basileus Rhōmaiōn, I would like to officially offer you a position as my engineer and scholar," I said with a smile as he continued showing me one of his designs.
"Ah… Strategos Basil, I am honored by your request, but I doubt, with due respect, that you could pay me what His Imperial Majesty does. It has taken me quite some effort to reach this position, and the Basileus is considering opening a university and granting me an important post within it," Leo replied, lowering his head with a nervous smile.
"How much?" I asked, folding my arms and fixing my eyes on him.
"How much… what?" Leo asked.
"How much does His Majesty pay you? I will improve it," I said plainly.
"His Majesty Theophilos pays me five hundred nomismata a year for my services and…" Leo began with a hesitant laugh.
"I will triple it," I interrupted.
Leo fell silent, staring at me. "Ah… well… I would have to think about it. That post in the University of Constantinople will be very prestigious and I would very much like…" he said, still uncertain.
"If you accept, I will give you a city in Crete. You will govern it and we will turn it into the beacon of research and education of the Empire. We will humble the House of Knowledge in Baghdad. I will assign you an annual budget of fifty thousand nomismata so that you may create the greatest university and attract the brightest minds. You will be its dean," I said without breaking eye contact.
"I… do not know what to say, Strategos. It sounds marvelous, but I did not take you for a man of letters. Unlike Theophilos, whom I know to be highly educated and well informed," Leo replied cautiously.
"I lack what they call formal education, but I am a patron of the sciences, if that is what you mean. You have already seen my creation, the trebuchet. No engine surpasses the good stone; it is the oldest weapon known to man. I am funding naval research and have given complete freedom to the master of my shipyards in Heraklion to build larger vessels, capable of carrying greater cargo and better harnessing the wind. Moreover, I personally translate books from Arabic into Greek. I possess an extensive collection of sarakenoi texts that I intend to study and preserve," I answered with confidence.
"Well… I like that idea. I would very much like to see this collection of books you mention. It could be most interesting to read them," Leo said more calmly now, and I saw his eyes brighten at the thought.
"Then we have an agreement. I already have the city prepared for you, and you do not know how much potential it holds. It is a coastal settlement with few inhabitants, but it can become an important port. There is little infrastructure yet, but you may shape it as you wish. It is called Chania. It is yours if you accept immediately," I said with a smile.
"I am grateful for the honor, Strategos, but I must speak with the Basileus Rhōmaiōn. Your offer is undoubtedly superior, yet I cannot simply abandon the emperor. It could be interpreted as an affront to his honor. I will speak with him and request permission to resign my service, unless he wishes to improve his offer," Leo said, grasping my hand firmly.
"See what you can extract from Theophilos. Perhaps he will prefer to continue investing in equipping his armies. Though we avoided a great pitched battle against the Abbasids, many imperial forces remain poorly equipped due to their numbers and recent recruitment," I replied with satisfaction.
"With your permission," Leo said as he moved toward Theophilos, who sat upon his throne with his stepmother beside him, whispering into his ear.
"Who was that bony bearded man?" Sigurd asked, watching Leo depart.
"Someone who reads books the way you kill men," I replied.
"A fine reader, from what I heard," Sigurd said before biting into a roasted chicken leg.
"Where did you get that? They have not even begun serving food yet," I asked, staring at the large piece he was devouring.
"One of the servants gave it to me. I did not quite understand what she said. She spoke softly and with all the noise I heard nothing," he replied, tearing off another bite.
As the gathering prepared itself, we watched as a great number of maidens were arranged in line by their families. My hird and I were positioned where we could see clearly. Many of my men began recounting their war stories, laughing loudly as they ate.
I felt the gaze of the aristocrats upon me. Some looked at me with displeasure, even hatred. They did not like the presence of Varangians at the ceremony. I saw several frown and whisper when they heard me speaking in Norse.
"And what of Roman women, Basil? Why such strange garments that reveal nothing? One cannot even distinguish their faces," one of my hird asked while drinking beer and pointing at the daughters of the aristocracy.
"It is a way of protecting their honor. Families guard them as treasures. This is the most important moment in the life of their parents. If one is chosen, she will become the wife of the Basileus Rhōmaiōn and her family will gain great power in the Empire. That is why they guard their virtue with such zeal," I answered calmly.
We continued talking. For some reason, the Varangians were especially loud that night. Perhaps because they had only been given small jugs of beer and the food was being held back until the ceremony ended. I noticed a few of them fighting over my jug, knowing I did not drink alcohol and would leave it untouched.
At last, Theophilos rose, and his stepmother placed a golden apple in his hand.
"Silence," I told my hird, who would not stop asking questions and making comments.
Finally, Theophilos began to walk, and the entire line of maidens of the Empire lifted their veils, revealing their faces.
"By Freyja… what beautiful women," Sigurd murmured as he saw them standing in formation.
Theophilos advanced slowly before the row. His eyes stopped on the one who stood out above the rest. He smiled like a man intoxicated by beauty. He leaned toward her and spoke in a low voice. I could not hear what he said, nor her reply, but something changed in his expression. The dazzled look became serious, almost suspicious. He hesitated for a moment and moved on.
Then he stopped before another young woman, equally beautiful. They spoke quietly again. This time his expression did not change. On the contrary, I saw his smile widen. Without hesitation, he took the golden apple and offered it to her.
The family's joy was immediate. Some were nearly in tears with pride. Other aristocrats watched with a mixture of anger and resignation. The political game had been decided. That lineage would now be joined to the imperial one, to an emperor who had proven competent in war and who promised expansion.
After receiving the fruit, the chosen woman's family withdrew to an inner chamber, likely to begin arranging the details of the marriage. Shortly after, servants flooded into the hall and began distributing luxurious dishes among the guests.
While the emperor handled matters related to the ceremony, I observed how the aristocrats who had not won the greatest prize reorganized themselves quickly. Groups formed and reformed. Daughters presented to sons of strategoi, to officers, to palace administrators. Politics never rests.
"Oh… ah… hot," Sigurd growled while devouring an entire chicken in a matter of minutes. A group of servants had practically stationed themselves beside our table, as it was the one that emptied trays the fastest. My hird ate like three men when they were hungry.
"If you chewed and let it cool, you would not be burning your tongue," I remarked as I watched him force food into his mouth.
"Just eat… it is very good," he replied, mouth full.
"Strategos Basil Makedon?" said a voice at my side.
One of my hird immediately stood and blocked the aristocrat who had approached, still chewing and with greasy hands.
"It is not necessary. Return to what you were doing," I ordered. My man returned to his seat without protest and resumed eating.
"They take their work very seriously," I said, looking at the aristocrat, who swallowed before continuing.
"I am Nikēphoros Melissenos. Surely you have heard of me," he said.
"No… not in the slightest," I replied honestly.
"Eh… I am the Kritēs of Constantinople, appointed by His Majesty Michael, may he rest in peace. I oversee civil judgments in the city, or part of them. Or perhaps you know me through the wines of my family's estates, very popular among high society," he added stiffly.
"A judge… I am not well informed about the city's judiciary, so I ask your pardon. And since I do not drink wine, I was unaware of that part of your business as well. Sigurd, does the name mean anything to you? Any wine you have tasted?" I said first in Greek and then in Norse.
Sigurd shook his head.
"Well, he prefers beer and mead. So… why are you standing before me?" I asked, glancing at what stood behind him, which appeared to be his family.
"We have heard of your great successes under the Basileus Rhōmaiōn and of your closeness to His Imperial Majesty. I would like… to present to you my daughter Kassia," he said, gently pushing the young woman forward as she lifted her veil.
"Ah… yes. I saw her. The Basileus Rhōmaiōn rejected her for some reason," I commented as I examined her. Her brows were perfectly shaped, her skin white as milk, her eyes somewhere between green and blue, and her lips full. It was all that could be seen beneath the heavy garments she wore.
"Yes, and for that reason I would like to speak with your father in order to arrange a union between our dynasties" the aristocrat said.
"My father has no reason to come to this nest of serpents. He has no need to speak with anyone in this city" I replied without softening my tone.
"It is tradition" he said nervously.
"My father is a peasant who knows nothing of the intrigues of the capital. He is not a rat like those here. So no. If you wish to negotiate something, you do it with me," I said, holding his gaze. His eyes showed a mixture of contempt and unease. His daughter's were the same.
Sigurd made a gesture, ready to push him away."Do not bother" I told him.
"Well… then, where might we…?" the aristocrat tried to continue, but a scholai approached swiftly.
"Strategos, the Basileus Rhōmaiōn requests your presence," the guard said.
"I am coming" I replied, rising. "If you will excuse me, I have audience with the Basileus Rhōmaiōn."
I walked toward one of the inner chambers of the palace. There I found Theophilos smiling, holding his betrothed's hand.
"Basil, my good and loyal strategos… do not give me that look" he said when I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Forgive me, but it seems suspicious" I answered, observing the family of his fiancée, who were watching me with excessive attention.
"Very well… choose" he said, pointing to three ladies. "Sophia, Maria, and Irene. They are Theodora's sisters."
"Choose what?" I asked, looking around.
"Your future wife. Our children will be kin" Theophilos replied with a broad smile.
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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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