Destiny's shield

That ambassador, I am certain, will be bringing what you need.'

Everyone stared at Garmat. The surprise was obvious on all faces-except those of the other Ethiopians.

'You know something,' stated Holkar.

'Nothing specific,' said Ezana. 'Only-'

Garmat cleared his throat.

'The Kingdom of Axum has maintained a small but quite effective espionage service in the Roman Empire. For well over a century, now.' He made a small, half-apologetic grimace. 'There has been no trouble between us and Rome, mind you. Ever since the Roman Emperor Diocletian set Elephantine as the southern limit of Roman territory in Africa, the border has been quite tranquil. Still-'

He shrugged.

'Rome is a great empire, ours is much smaller. It always behooves a less powerful kingdom to keep an eye on its more powerful neighbor. Regardless of their current intentions or attitudes. You never know. Things might change.'

The Indians in the room all nodded. Common sense, that. And they had their own memories of the long and turbulent history of India.

'Most of our attention, naturally, is given to their province of Egypt. There, we have the advantage that most of the population is Monophysite. Our own creed is very similar, and many of the Egyptian Monophysites look upon us as their religious brethren. Any number of Monophysite religious leaders have taken refuge in Ethiopia, over the years, when-ever the orthodox persecution became-'

He broke off, seeing the incomprehension in the faces of the Indians. Only Dadaji Holkar, he realized, understood anything of what he was saying.

Garmat had to restrain himself from muttering 'Damned arrogant Indians!'

'Never mind,' he sighed. For all that he genuinely liked and admired many Indians, Garmat was struck again by their peculiar insularity. Even the most broad-minded Indians-with a few exceptions like Holkar-tended to look on the whole vast world beyond their own culture as an undifferentiated mass of semi-barbarians. The divisions within Christianity were quite beyond their ken-or interest.

'The point is this,' he drove on. 'We discovered some time ago that the Roman Empress is sending a military and political expedition to Egypt. The official purpose of that expedition is to quell an incipient rebellion and reestablish tight imperial control over their richest province. But who did they send to command this force? Belisarius' own wife, Antonina.'

He shrugged. 'We are speculating, of course. But, knowing Belisarius, I think the speculation is quite sound. Antonina's expedition is real enough on its own terms, of course-the Romans do need to keep a firm hand on Egypt. But we are quite sure that there is another purpose hidden within that public objective. We think Belisarius is sending his own wife in order to open a second front against the Malwa. It would be astonishing to us if that strategy did not include providing support for Andhra.'

He gave Shakuntala and Holkar a quick, knowing glance. The young Empress and her peshwa, understanding, nodded in reply. In order to maintain her prestige, Shakuntala had never publicly explained where she obtained the large fortune which served as her imperial war chest. Her Maratha officers, who rallied to her after her escape from Malwa, had never even thought to ask. Empresses are rich. Everyone knows that. It's a law of nature.

In reality, the hunted young girl had been given that treasure by Belisarius himself, on the eve of her escape. The vast treasure with which Emperor Skandagupta had tried to bribe Belisarius into treason, the Roman general had turned over to Shakuntala in order to finance a rebellion in Malwa's rear.

'Would that man have forgotten you?' asked Garmat quietly. 'Would that man not have continued to develop his plans?'

Shakuntala's eyes widened, slightly.

'You're right,' she whispered. 'He is sending someone to us. Belisarius has thought of it already.'

Her shoulders slumped, just a bit. From relief, it was obvious. It suddenly dawned on everyone how hard a decision it had been for her, to send Kungas away.

'You will stay, Kungas,' she announced. 'You will stay here, with me.'

The Kushan commander nodded. Then, with a sly little smile, murmured, 'How quickly fortune passes.'

Shakuntala frowned, fiercely.

'Nonsense! I did not remove your titles-except that of ambassador to Rome. You are still Maha-dandanayaka. Still, my Bhatasvapati.'

Her eyes softened, gazing on the man who had once been her captor, and always her protector.

'As you have been since Amaravati,' she whispered. 'When you saved me from the Ye-tai beasts.'

Later, as they filed out of the cabin, the Maratha commander Shahji remarked to Garmat:

'I wonder who the Romans are sending to us? A general of renown, no doubt.'

Fighting down a smile, Garmat made no reply. He glanced at Ezana and Wahsi, and saw that his two Ethiopian compatriots were fighting the same battle.

Shahji moved on.

'Poor fellow,' murmured Wahsi.

'What a shock, when he discovers,' agreed Ezana.

Now, Garmat found himself fighting down an outright laugh. Ezana and Wahsi had accompanied him, three years earlier, in his mission to Rome. They knew the realities of the Roman court. They knew the Empress Theodora's foibles.

But he said nothing. Not until after the three Ethiopians had clambered into their small skiff and begun the trip back to their own ship. Only then did he burst into laughter. Ezana and Wahsi joined him in that gaiety.

'It's bound to be a woman!' choked out Ezana.

'Theodora wouldn't trust anyone else,' gasped Wahsi. 'Shahji'll die of horror!'

Garmat shook his head. 'That's not fair, actually. He's Maratha, don't forget. They recognize the legitimacy of female rulers. They even have a tradition of women leading armies. Still-'

He fell silent. He was not sure, of course-it was pure speculation. But he thought he could guess who Theodora and Belisarius would send.

Not Antonina. Garmat was quite sure that Belisarius had bigger plans for her. Of the Empress Theodora's inner circle of advisers-female advisers-that left only-

Ezana completed the thought aloud.

'They may have those traditions, Garmat,' he chuckled. 'But not even the Maratha have a tradition of sarcastic, quick-tongued, rapier-witted women who've read more books than they even knew existed.'

'Poor Shahji,' concluded Wahsi. 'He's such a stiff and proper sort. I foresee chagrin in his future. Great discomfiture.'

Chapter 22

The Eastern Mediterranean

Summer, 531 A.D.

'Be careful!' hissed Antonina.

'I am being careful,' growled Irene. 'It's the stupid boat that's being careless!'

Hesitantly, gingerly, the spymaster stuck out her foot again, groping for the rail of the little skiff bobbing alongside Antonina's flagship. The sea was not particularly rough, but Irene's experience with climbing down a large ship into a smaller one was exactly nil.

Her foot touched the rail, pressed down, skidded aside. Frantically, she clutched the rope ladder. A stream of vulgar curses ensued. Coarse phrases; unrefined terms. Aimed at the world in general and boats in particular.

Above, Ousanas grinned down.

'Witness, everyone! A miracle! There is a book which Irene has never read, after all! I refer, of course, to On the Transfer of Personnel From Craft to Craft At Sea, by the famous author Profanites of Dispepsia.'