A Flame in Byzantium

herself. The men watched her with admiration and other emotions.

'They are paying the price for their foolishness now,' said Belisarius. 'And what little we can do, I fear, comes too late. If we had come a few months earlier, or if the supplies had been adequate, or if the Bishop of Roma had not left the city when he did, we might have a better chance of defense, but the way things stand, there is nothing left to do but to insure that the least damage possible is done while Totila holds the city.'

'You believe he will succeed, then?' asked Olivia, her calm not as complete as she would have liked.

'Unfortunately, yes; for a time. And then we will roust him, for we are the stronger forces and we are not barbarians.' Belisarius looked over his men. 'Occasionally one of the men will forget this and then there is much cause for—'

Stamos, a powerful man with scars seaming his face and hands, looked suddenly flustered. 'They were under orders not to harm anyone,' he protested, although no one had accused him of anything.

'They were also without adequate care and advice, and for that if no other reason, there is much for you and the rest of those officers who have had similar incidents to answer for. You have your men submit to proper punishment, and see that it is carried out where those who were the most harmed may witness it for themselves so that they will not regard us as little better than those we are here to fight.' Belisarius turned to Olivia and the harshness of his attitude faded at once. 'I do not mean to distress you, great lady. These matters are for more private times, and you must forgive us for being so uncaring.'

Olivia, who had heard much worse than this over the long decades of her life, waved her hand to show that she was not distressed by what she had heard. 'You must attend to your work, General, as must all of us in such times as these.' She clapped her hands sharply and two slaves appeared in the doorway. 'Is the dining room ready?'

'Yes, mistress,' said the older of the two. 'And there are cup bearers waiting with wine.'

'Cup bearers!' cried out one of the Byzantines. 'How Roman!'

'This is Roma,' Olivia reminded them all. 'And I am a Roman.'

As they went into the dining room, none of the men thought it strange that Olivia did not have a couch of her own, and that she did not eat with them. In Constantinople, most women did not dine with men except on very special occasions; even then, they often dined apart from their fathers, brothers and husbands, watching them from terraces and balconies instead of sitting or reclining beside them.

Only Drosos, who watched Olivia closely while he ate honied kid boiled in milk with onions, fish stuffed with garlic and poached in wine, and spiced pork baked in a bread, noticed that she showed no outward signs of hunger, treating the lavish feast with indifference. Curious, he rose while the slaves removed the platters that had held the pork buns, and walked to her chair—for unlike her guests, she did not recline on padded couches—holding out a second cup to her. 'Great lady, let me pour some of this excellent vintage for you. In your generosity, you have given all to us and spared none for yourself.'

Olivia looked up at him. 'You are most gracious,' she said with a trace of amusement that Drosos could not identify in her fascinating eyes. 'But I do not drink wine.'

Before Drosos could pursue the matter, Belisarius motioned him back to his couch as the slaves brought out three long spits of roasted ducks stuffed with nuts and raisins.

While Drosos went on with the banquet, Olivia watched him, a speculative lift to her brows the only indication of her thoughts.

* * *

A bill of sale sent by military courier to Belisarius outside Roma.

On the Feast of the Patriarchs, I, Andros Trachi, acknowledge the receipt of the amount of twenty-two grains of gold and thirty-seven grains of silver in total and complete payment for a domicile of nineteen rooms, with kitchen and larder attached, from the Roman lady known to General Belisarius as Olivia Clemens, a widow, who for the safety of her goods and her person has taken the advice of the General and agreed to come to the city of Konstantin.

I formally relinquish all claims on this property to the General, who has acted as sponsor of the said widow, since she is lacking in husband or father or brother to act for her in this matter. All further negotiations are agreed to be directed to her majordomo, one Niklos Aulirios, who is empowered to carry out all contractual arrangements for her, and to have the sanction of the General Belisarius for such actions. It is agreed that no member of my family, nor my heirs, nor their kindred and heirs may make claim to this property and that the transference is a permanent one.

Regarding the alterations that this widow requires, it will take the workers a period of five months to accomplish most of the construction, and until it is complete arrangements may be made for this great lady to be the guest of the family of her sponsor, that is, the General Belisarius, and this will allow the majordomo Niklos Aulirios to oversee the construction to the satisfaction of his mistress.

Witnessed by the Pope Phillipos and the Pope Alexis at Konstantinoupolis in the presence of myself, Andros Trachi, and the freedman Thalkas, who will be the one in charge of the construction to be done on the property changing hand.

Prosperity, long life, and the favor of God to our great Emperor Justinian, who defends the honor of God on earth.

An appended note, addressed to Olivia.

Great lady,

For the time you are in Konstantinoupolis, you may find that some of the customs are strange to you, and so that you do not fall into error, I, Andros Trachi, offer the advice of my wife to guide you in your first ventures here. Doubtless, since Romans are more lax than we, you have grown accustomed to a level of license that might ill-prepare you for the more decorous and dignified life of this great city. Doubtless you will not want to make yourself conspicuous with actions that are repugnant to those of breeding and distinction. What can be thought charming and eccentric in Roma could give offense in Konstantinoupolis, and lead to unpleasantness which you must wish to avoid.

I look forward to being of service to you in this matter, and I am honored to have so great a lady purchasing the property that the General Belisarius has arranged for you to own.

In Christian friendship,

Andros Trachi

3

Each footfall produced echoes, and both Olivia and Niklos had to resist the urge to tiptoe through the vast, empty rooms of the house that Olivia had purchased.

'And I did purchase it,' she insisted to Niklos after they had endured the obsequious greeting of Andros Trachi. 'It's barbaric, their insistence that all negotiations be done by men.'

'You mean, it isn't Roman.'

'Not that Roma is much better, now,' Olivia said quietly. 'Even a century ago, it was not so bad.' She looked around the great gloomy vestibule. 'I suppose I'll grow accustomed to it.'

'It is austere,' said Niklos with a trace of amusement.

'It is tomblike,' she said, her nose wrinkling. 'I expect it to smell of mold.'

'But it doesn't; it smells of paint,' said Niklos, indicating one of the walls where work had already begun.

'I trust that they will be finished soon; as much as I am grateful to Belisarius' cousin, I don't know how much longer I can endure to remain under the same roof with her. At least I had the opportunity of her hospitality so that I would not have to accept the kind offer'—her voice was sweet with sarcasm—'of that unctuous Trachi. I can think of few things I would have wanted less.'

'And there are other considerations, are there not?' said Niklos with genuine sympathy.

Olivia did not answer at once; she paced down the room, peering at the ceiling as she went, then stopped and turned to Niklos again. 'Yes. Yes, there are.'

'And you are not prepared. You have done nothing to prepare yourself,' said Niklos in his most blunt manner. His warm brown eyes, almost reddish in cast, bored into hers.

'There was not much time,' she began, then sighed. 'That's my excuse, of course, nothing more.' She stared, unseeing, at the empty room. 'I had such hopes for Drosos. The first time he came to me, I remembered what it was I wanted most, and for a time, I had it again.' Now her face softened and she laughed once, sadly. 'How rarely