Chapter 68
Their faces showed a mixture of curiosity and vigilance, for it was not every day that they saw a mounted procession led by two foreign women escorted by dozens of fully armed Prefect's soldiers, soldiers whose posture and equipment clearly differed from ordinary troops, more trained, more lethal, closer to the circles of palace power than to the dusty streets of the city.
An officer from the city guard stepped forward, his posture upright yet not arrogant, his eyes moving swiftly to assess the newly arrived party, from the two women on the front horse to the dozens of Prefect's soldiers behind them, then returning to the calm faces of Nirma and Arya who regarded him steadily from atop their mounts.
His right hand, the one not holding the spear, signaled his men to spread out slightly, forming a semicircle before the procession without fully blocking the road, a standard tactic to halt someone without appearing overly aggressive.
His voice, when he spoke, was that of a man accustomed to dealing with all kinds of people in public spaces, firm yet not harsh, carrying the tone of one merely fulfilling his duty rather than seeking trouble.
"Halt here, procession. I am Komenos Skleros, officer of the Mesomphalos District guard assigned to the Forum of Theodosius this afternoon. In accordance with procedures established by the city prefecture, every armed group intending to enter the forum area must first be inspected and identified. Moreover," his eyes flicked toward the Prefect's soldiers who remained mounted with heightened vigilance, "this procession carries an unusual escort. The Prefect's soldiers, if my eyes do not mistake their uniforms and equipment, are special troops who usually serve around the palace or accompany high-ranking imperial officials. Seeing them escorting a young pair who appear unfamiliar in this city, I must ask, for what purpose do you intend to enter the Mesomphalos District?"
Without hesitation, without pause for lengthy thought, one of the Prefect's soldiers who had been sitting silently upon his horse suddenly leapt down with a swift yet controlled movement, his steps steady as he approached Nirma and Arya with the bearing of a soldier accustomed to taking initiative in tense situations.
The soldier, a man with a thin scar along his left jaw and eyes sharp as an eagle's, offered a brief salute to Nirma and Arya before speaking in a low yet clear tone that could be heard by everyone standing around them.
"Lady Nirma, Lady Arya, allow me to explain this situation to the city guards in a more formal, swifter, and more protocol-appropriate manner. Sometimes words spoken from a soldier's mouth are more readily trusted by district guards than lengthy explanations from civilians, even when those civilians carry a warrant issued directly by the Emperor."
Nirma studied the soldier for a moment, reading the sincerity upon his face, then nodded softly and handed the still-unrolled parchment scroll into his hands.
The soldier received it with both hands, a gesture of respect, then turned to face Komenos Skleros and the other city guards, raising the document high so that its purple ribbon and red wax seal were clearly visible to all beneath the increasingly blazing daylight.
The Prefect soldier's voice echoed among the marble porticoes now gradually draped in shadow, his tone firm and filled with authority, the authority of one who had sworn loyalty to the Emperor and would defend that honor to his last drop of blood.
"Hear this, guards of the Mesomphalos District. By a warrant sealed with the imperial ring itself, His Majesty Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, Autokrator of the Eastern Romans, enthroned by the will of God and the people of Constantinople, has commanded these two wise investigators, Nirma and Arya, to resolve the murder case that befell a thirty-four-year-old man, Étienne d'Arques."
He paused briefly, allowing the name to settle in the air, then continued in a slightly lower yet equally firm tone.
"The victim was no ordinary man. He was a soldier of the crusading forces soon to be dispatched to Jerusalem to liberate the Holy Land from the hands of the infidels.
Moreover, this letter also states that the victim maintained favorable relations with high officials in this Byzantine city, relationships built during his service and his association within the inner circles of the empire.
Solving his murder is not merely a matter of identifying the killer, but of preserving the fragile political balance within Constantinople, the balance between imperial interests, the interests of the crusading forces, and the interests of nobles who may feel disturbed by the presence of foreign soldiers upon their soil."
When the soldier finished speaking, he bowed briefly, folded the letter carefully, then turned and returned it to Arya, who had already extended her hand.
Without awaiting further orders, he stepped back several paces, returned to his position beside the horse, mounted with efficient and silent motion, and resumed his upright seat with unwavering vigilance.
Komenos Skleros and the city guards exchanged glances, their faces, once tense, now shifting into relief, relieved that they did not have to choose between enforcing procedure and facing the Emperor's wrath, relieved that everything had been explained so clearly and officially by a soldier who evidently knew imperial protocol better than they did.
The officer nodded deeply and respectfully, followed by his men who bowed their heads in unison, a gesture of obedience that required no spoken words.
"We understand now, Sir and Ladies," Komenos Skleros said in a tone far gentler than before, a tone that conveyed that he and his men would no longer obstruct them.
"The Emperor's command is the highest law in this city.
If you are tasked with resolving this murder case, then we, the guards of the Mesomphalos District, shall obey that command and assist you with all the capabilities we possess.
Please continue your journey, and may the truth soon be revealed."
Without wasting time, the officer pointed toward the northwest of the forum, toward a long building with a marble portico still standing firm despite its age of more than half a millennium, a structure locally referred to as the Portico of Georgios, an administrative complex serving as the center of bureaucratic activity in the Mesomphalos District.
"That is your destination, Sir and Ladies.
That portico is where Georgios Palaiologos usually receives official guests, especially those whose matters involve city administration and relations with foreign forces.
The building to its left is the district archive, where important records are kept concerning who enters and leaves this area, including crusader soldiers who frequently stop in Constantinople before continuing their journey to Jerusalem.
If you wish to meet Georgios, proceed straight past the row of marble columns, then turn left after the small fountain, and you will see the main door with two guards standing at either side."
They had only traveled several dozen meters past the row of marble columns now draped in the lengthening shadows of late afternoon when suddenly, from behind the two largest columns on the left and right sides of the road, eight fully armed soldiers emerged with swift and coordinated movements, forming a line that cut off the road leading to the portico where Georgios Palaiologos awaited.
To be continued…