'Yes.' Krispos thought of his nieces carried off into captivity as he had been—if they were lucky. He thought of what could happen to them if they were unlucky ... and to his sister, and to everyone in his old village, and to countless people he'd never heard of. 'How can we get Petronas to hold up again and reinforce the north?'
'
Krispos grinned back. 'You thought you'd take advantage of it.'
'Of course I did. That's what having friends in high places is for, after all.'
'I'll see what I can do,' Krispos promised.
'Good,' Iakovitzes said. 'I'd kiss you to show how pleased I am, but you'd probably go and use that notorious influence of yours to get me sent to the mines if I tried, so I'll just take my leave instead.'
'You're incorrigible.'
'By the good god, Krispos, I certainly hope so.'
Krispos was laughing as he escorted his one-time master from the imperial residence. The laughter faded when Iakovitzes was no longer there to see. Apprehension replaced it. If he tried to stop the war with Makuran, Petronas would not be pleased with him. And no matter how much influence he had with the Emperor, the Sevastokrator was far more powerful than he, and he knew it.
'Your Imperial Highness,' Krispos murmured, eyes on the ground as he went to one knee before Petronas.
The Sevastokrator frowned. 'What's all this in aid of, Krispos? You haven't needed to be so formal with me for a long time, and you know it. That's all a waste of time, anyhow, and I have no time to waste right now, not if I'm going west once the rains ease up. So say what you have to say and have done.'
'Yes, illustrious Highness,' Krispos said. Petronas' frown deepened. Krispos took a deep breath before he went on, 'Illustrious Highness, when you were gracious enough to help me
'Are you indeed?' Had Petronas been a lion, his tail would have lashed back and forth. 'Very well, esteemed and eminent sir, you have my attention. Continue, by all means.' Now he, too, was formal; dangerously so.
'Illustrious Highness, is it truly wise to use all the Empire's forces in your war against Makuran? Are you sure you've left behind enough to keep the northern frontier safe?' He explained Iakovitzes' concerns about what Malomir was going to do.
'I've heard this myself,' Petronas said, when he was done. 'It does not concern me.'
'I think it should, though, your Imperial Highness,' Krispos said when he was done. 'Iakovitzes has had dealings with the Kubratoi for twenty years or so now. If anyone can divine what they plan, he's the man. And if he says they're likely to attack-would you risk the north for the sake of the west?'
'Given the choice, yes,' Petronas said: 'The westlands are richer and broader in extent than the country between here and the Kubrati border. But I say to you what I said to Iakovitzes—the choice does not arise. Malomir is being paid well to leave us at peace, and the border is not altogether denuded, as you seem to believe.'
Krispos thought of the thousands of soldiers who funneled through Videssos the city on their way west. Those were the men whose presence made the Kubratoi stay in their own domain. Surely Malomir could not fail to notice they were gone.
When he said as much, Petronas answered, 'You let that be my worry. I say to you that the Kubratoi will not attack. And if I am wrong and they do harass us, their bands will not be able to penetrate far past the frontier.'
'I am reassured to hear you say it, illustrious Highness, but suppose you are mistaken?' Krispos persisted. 'Could you stop fighting Makuran and send soldiers back to the north? That might not be easy.'
'No, it might not,' the Sevastokrator said. 'But since it is not likely to become necessary, either, I do not intend to worry overmuch about it. And even if everything you describe should come to pass, ways remain of bringing the Kubratoi to heel, I assure you of that.'
Krispos raised a skeptical eyebrow. 'Would your Imperial Highness please explain them to me?'
'No, by the Lord with the great and good mind, I will not. Listen to me, esteemed and eminent sir—' Though never a servant, Petronas had learned the art of using titles to cut rather than praise. '—and listen well: I need explain myself to no man in Videssos save only the Avtokrator himself. And I do not expect to have to do that in this case. Do I make myself quite clear, Krispos?'
'Aye, illustrious Highness.' Petronas did not want him to raise the issue with Anthimos, Krispos thought. 'I will have to think on what to do, though.'
'Think carefully, Krispos.' Now Petronas spoke in unmistakable warning. 'Think very carefully indeed, before you seek to measure your influence with his Majesty against mine. Think also on the fate of Skombros, and on whether you care to spend the rest of your days in the bare cell of a celibate monk. You would find that harder to endure than a eunuch does, I assure you, and yet it is the best fate to which you might aspire. Anger me sufficiently and you may know far worse. Remember it always.'
'Believe me, I will, illustrious Highness.' Krispos rose to go. He did his best not to show how his heart pounded. 'But I will also remember what I think best for the Empire.' He bowed his way out. If nothing else, he thought, this marked the first time he'd ever had the last word with Petronas.
Leaves glowed green under the spring sun's cheerful rays. The chatty trills of newly returned wagtails and chiffchaffs came through the open windows of the imperial residence along with the sunbeams and the sweet scent of the cherry blossoms now in riotous pink bloom all around the building.
Krispos fetched a tray of wine and sweet pastries in to Anthimos and Petronas, then contrived to hang about in the hallway outside the chamber where they were talking. He had a dust rag and every so often made a swipe at one of the antiquities there, but no one would have thought he was doing anything but eavesdropping.
