have heard many things. Some say one thing, and some say another, and they cannot all be right. I think no one really knows what happened. Therefore, it is perhaps best to say as little as possible.'
'A wise course,' I agreed. We talked about the possible funeral preparations and the various imperial ceremonies, and when I judged we had learned what we could from the potters, I bade them farewell.
Leaving the enforced procession, we made our way back to the ships. Dugal led the way, and I followed, heedless of the muck and stink, mindful only of the scheme taking shape in my mind.
70
Your plan possesses the elegance of simplicity,' observed Lord Sadiq approvingly when I told him. 'A proper splendour will make it irresistible.'
Accordingly, the amir chose a villa on the Golden Horn, a magnificent house-even larger than that of Governor Honorius' in Trebizond-with dozens of rooms on two floors, and a central courtyard which boasted a fountain. Even by Constantinopolitan standards it was an opulent, if not ostentatious, abode. The amir explained, 'Only the most alluring bait silences the shriek of the trap.'
'Lord Sadiq, you are the bait in this trap,' I reminded him.
We took residence and, under cover of darkness, spirited thirty Sea Wolves and three Armenian pirates into the house. The next morning we sent Faysal and all eight of the rafiq, arrayed in fine new clothes, to the imperial palace to place Lord Sadiq's petition before the Imperial Prefect, requesting an audience with the new emperor.
'There was no mistake,' Faysal said upon his return. 'The fellow knew the house well. He told me many foreign emissaries make use of it while staying in the city.'
'And he said he would send someone to interview the amir?' I asked. Faysal nodded. 'When?'
'Tomorrow, or the next day,' Faysal replied. 'The prefect was quite upset that we have arrived unannounced. But I explained that, owing to the emperor's untimely death, we were unable to make our presence known until now.'
'And he believed you?'
Faysal smiled. 'I gave him no reason to believe otherwise.'
'What of the soldier?' wondered Sadiq. 'Did you have any difficulty locating him?'
'None whatever, lord,' Faysal answered. 'All was as Aidan said it would be. I spoke with the man-'
'Did anyone see you?' I interrupted.
'It is difficult to say,' Faysal said. 'But I took pains to be as discreet as possible.'
'Will he help us?'
'He said we could trust him to take whatever actions necessary to see justice accomplished.'
'Then it is in Allah's hands,' Sadiq observed.
The trap was set. That Nikos, now bearing dead Nicephorus' title must come to pay a visit to the amir, I doubted not at all. Visiting foreign dignitaries had long been part of his court function, after all, allowing him to remain close to the throne. Also, no one knew better than Nikos himself what had been done to destroy the peace treaty between Byzantium and the Sarazens. He could not risk having that treaty come to life again at such an inappropriate moment.
Thus, when Nikos learned that Amir Sadiq had arrived and requested audience with the new emperor, he would certainly make it his concern to deal with the matter personally. We had but to wait for Eparch Nikos to come to us, and when he did, I would be ready. I steeled myself for that meeting, and I told myself that soon, soon it would be over.
I ate little and slept ill, my mind whirling with thoughts of what I would do when I finally saw him. Time and again, my hand strayed to the Qadi knife for reassurance. I am no warrior, and considered that I might be killed, but I no longer feared death. Nikos, I vowed, would never leave the house alive. If I could not accomplish his death, Harald and the Sea Wolves would.
Every possibility had been anticipated, save one: the speed with which Nikos sprung the trap. His arrival was so quick on the heels of Faysal's petition that I feared he had penetrated our deception.
Two mounted komes, dressed in their distinctive yellow and blue, arrived mid-morning, rapped respectfully at the door, and informed Faysal of the eparch's imminent arrival.
I had barely enough time to alert Lord Sadiq, hasten the Danes into position, and take up my own hiding place before the eparch himself appeared. He came with ten of the imperial bodyguard, the Farghanese-five of which took up position outside the house; the remaining five entered with him, watchful, bristling.
My heart, already pounding with an excitement of anticipation, beat even faster at my first glimpse of Eparch Nikos. His dark hair was longer, more closely observant of the moment's affectations at court, I suppose, and he was more richly clothed than when last I had seen him: wearing flowing black trousers, a long black tunic with voluminous white sleeves, held at his slim waist with a wide black belt which boasted a huge silver buckle in the shape of a spearblade. His manner was smoothly superior as always, his quick eyes just as keen, his smile tight and cold.
Faysal, ever the perfect servant, conducted the three officials to the courtyard which, in the eastern manner, had been furnished with a wide low table and cushions under a striped canopy. He brought them to the table and bade them to sit, then departed, saying, 'I beg your pardon to inform the amir of your arrival.'
After a suitably decorous interval, Lord Sadiq appeared, regal in his flowing robes of creamy white and turquoise. The three courtiers rose in a show of respect, receiving a slight bow from Sadiq, who then invited his guests to sit with him at table, and offered them refreshment of fruit, cake, and sweet drinks. This they did, under the vigilant eyes of the imperial bodyguard who had ranged themselves at the courtyard portals.
'How enjoyable to see you again, Amir Sadiq,' Nikos said, beginning the proceedings. 'Your journey was pleasant, I trust.' Without waiting for a response, he added, 'I must say, your arrival, agreeable though it is, has taken us somewhat by surprise.'
'Truly?' The amir inquired, mild concern crossing his brow. 'Eparch Nicephorus and I agreed that I should come to arrange suitable lodging for the Arab delegation prior to the arrival of the khalifa. Indeed, Khalifa al'Mutamid is eagerly anticipating his meeting with the emperor in the spring.'
'As it happens, recent events have rather overshadowed affairs at court just now. The palace has been in turmoil, as you might imagine,' he suggested delicately.
'The imperial funeral, of course,' Sadiq responded with equal tact. 'Appropriate gifts of condolence will be despatched to Emperor Leo at once, of course. And if our inauspicious arrival has disturbed the emperor, I will make official apologies.'
'Please accept my assurance that apologies will not be necessary,' replied Nikos with a thin, dismissive smile. Upon hearing this, it occurred to me why he had responded to our petition so promptly: the emperor did not yet know of the amir's arrival. If Nikos had his way, the emperor never would.
'Indeed,' Nikos continued, 'it is I who must beg your pardon, for I see now where the problem has arisen.' He placed the palms of his hands together. 'It is with the greatest regret that I must inform you that Eparch Nicephorus is, I fear, no longer living.'
Sadiq stared for a moment. 'I am sorry to hear it,' he said at last, and with genuine feeling. 'He was a good man. I was proud to call him my friend.'
'Naturally, as happens in these situations,' Nikos resumed placidly, 'his unfortunate death has left various matters unattended. I myself have been struggling to shoulder many of the burdens he bore so effortlessly.'
'Was it a long illness?'
'He passed quickly,' Nikos replied. 'But then, his age was against him, I suppose.' Consummate liar that he was, I almost believed him when he paused sorrowfully, and added, 'Poor Nicephorus, I truly miss him. It happened shortly after our return from Trebizond. In many ways, I am still trying to come to terms with his death. It has left something of a void in imperial affairs-and now that his emperor has followed him, so to speak…' He paused, as if reflecting on the impossible hardships of his position. Then, appearing to brush all the unpleasantness aside, and taking up his staff of office once more, he said, 'Well, the affairs of the empire go on. That is why I have come, Amir Sadiq. How may I help you?'
