Belisarius turned to Antonina. "The two of you have never met, I believe. Antonina, meet one of my finest generals. Agathius, this is my wife. She is also, I might mention, Theodora's best friend."
Agathius extended his hand. "Well. It's certainly a pleasure to meet you."
A regret and a cheer
Much later that night, after Khusrau and his entourage left, Belisarius stretched lazily.
"There's something to be said for having Persians as allies," he announced. His admiring eyes roamed about the lavishly furnished pavilion which the Aryan emperor had provided for them.
Antonina grinned. "Cut it out, soldier. Since when have you given a damn about luxuries? You just like the idea of dehgans hammering away at somebody else, that's all."
Belisarius returned the grin with one of his own. "True, true," he admitted. "Fills me with pure glee, it does, thinking about the Malwa trying to retreat with those mean bastards climbing all over them."
After a moment, his amusement faded. Within a very short time, it was gone completely.
"It's not your fault, love," said Antonina gently.
Belisarius blew out his cheeks. "No. It isn't. And if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't hesitate for a minute. But-"
He sighed. "Most of them are just peasants, Antonina. Not more than twenty thousand will ever make it back to their families in India. Khusrau and Kurush will harry them mercilessly, all the way to the Indus valley." He rubbed his face. "And if Eon's new warships can keep the Malwa from landing supplies on the coast, there won't even be ten thousand survivors."
It's not your fault, said Aide.
Belisarius shook his head. "That's not the point, Aide. Antonina. I'm not concerned with fault. Malwa is to blame for the death of their soldiers, just as surely as they are for the crimes those soldiers committed while they were in Persia. No one else."
His hands curled into fists. "It's just-"
Belisarius turned his head, staring into the flame of a lamp. "It's just that there are times when I really wish I could have been a blacksmith."
Silence followed. A minute or so later, Maurice came into the pavilion. The chiliarch gazed on his general, still staring at the lamp.
"Indulging in the usual triumphal melancholy, are we?" he demanded.
Belisarius, not moving his eyes from the lamp, smiled crookedly. "Am I really that predictable?"
Maurice snorted. He advanced into the pavilion and placed a hand on Belisarius' shoulder.
"Well, cheer up, lad. I've got some good news. I'm expanding your bodyguard. You'll be leading a huge allied army on your next campaign. Got to have a more substantial bodyguard. Nothing else, the Persians will be miffed if you don't."
Belisarius scowled. "For the sake of Christ, Maurice. If you give me a Persian-style bodyguard I won't be able to see my hand in front of my face."
Maurice chuckled. "Oh, I wasn't thinking of anything that elaborate. Just going to add one more man, to give Anastasius, Isaac and Priscus a bit of a break. The new man's here, by the way, right outside the pavilion. I'd introduce you, except that it would be purely ridiculous. And I don't want to have to listen to him muttering about stupid formalities."
Belisarius was out of his chair and gone in an instant.
"See?" demanded Maurice. "Didn't I say I'd cheer him up?"
An accusation and a reproof
"He just let me go, General," said Valentinian. The cataphract hooked a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of the Persian camp. A wild revelry seemed to be going on. "He let all the Roman prisoners go. He told me to tell you that was in exchange for the Rajput prisoners you left in the qanat."
Belisarius scratched his chin. "That I can understand. But why you? I offered him a fortune for your ransom."
Valentinian's narrow face creased into a grin. "If I survive long enough, General, I'll be asking you to remember that ransom. When you decide on a suitable retirement bonus."
Belisarius smiled, nodding. "That I will, Valentinian. You can be sure of it."
There was still a question in his eyes. Valentinian shrugged. "I really don't know, General. But he did say something strange, when I left."
Belisarius cocked his eyebrow. Again, Valentinian shrugged.
"Meant nothing to me. Kind of silly, I thought. But the last thing Damodara said, just as I was getting on the horse, was that he hoped you were a man with a proper respect for grammar."
Belisarius laughed, then. The laughter went on so long that Valentinian started muttering.
That sounded like "cryptic fucking clowns" to me, pronounced Aide.
Me too, replied Belisarius, still laughing. But I'm sure we must be mistaken. Be terribly disrespectful of the high command!
Certainly would! The facets flashed. The crystalline rooster reappeared, its beady eyes filled with accusation. Speaking of which-
The laughter went on and on. Maurice and Antonina emerged from the tent.
"We're in trouble, girl," announced Maurice. "Deep trouble. That drooling idiot's supposed to lead us all to final victory."
Antonina stiffened. "Watch your mouth! That's my husband you're talking about." She frowned. "Even if he is a fucking clown."