What Eunapius had brought out, in one tangled thread of rage and bitterness, was a fair summary of all that I’d already impressed on the Emperor, or was nudging him, a step at a time, to consider. With a bit of rearrangement and softening, I could easily have worked a transcript of all he said into a manifesto.
‘So it’s pretty young Alaric who’s pissed your people off!’ Shahin said in a voice of grave mockery that I doubted Eunapius was calm enough to notice. ‘We had our own taste of his reforms last spring, when a mob of farmers stopped our advance into the Home Provinces. We certainly shan’t forget the time he spent with us in Ctesiphon.’ He sniffed and stretched again.
Eunapius stopped walking up and down the room. ‘I’m told you had the piece of barbarian shit in your power all yesterday afternoon,’ he did his best not to shout. ‘Can I ask why you didn’t kill him on the spot?’
Shahin gave way to openly mocking laughter. ‘If I’d done that,’ he sneered, ‘can I suppose you and your friends would still be so keen to do business with me?’
The room was silent. At last, Simon struck up in his role as mediator. ‘If you please, My Lords, I will outline the agreement that has been made. The best people in Constantinople will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Senate and declare Heraclius a public enemy. Those ministers who do not recognise the Senate’s decree will be removed from office. The people will be promised the full return of their ancient privileges. The new Emperor will be Nicetas. The army will obey his order to arrest Heraclius. He will then open frank and open negotiations with the Great King for a fair settlement of what all agree has been a long and exhausting war. This settlement will include an acknowledgement of those conquests of Imperial territory already made by Chosroes, and a granting of such other territories as may be requested. At the same time, the Lord General Shahrbaraz and his deputy Shahin will provide whatever armed support the new Emperor may require.
‘Can I ask My Lords to confirm that this is an accurate overview of what has been agreed?’
‘Absolutely!’ Shahin said with what may have been a slapping of his thigh. ‘I couldn’t have said better myself. Peace and a renewal of friendly cooperation between the two Shining Eyes of the World. What more could any man want?’
I’d again forgotten that Antonia was beside me. ‘What about Cappadocia and Syria?’ she whispered. I dug my elbow in her side, and she was quiet again. So many silly questions — and hadn’t this one just been answered? I may not have had much regard for their value but I was buggered if I’d let the Persians keep Syria and have Egypt handed over on a plate. Certainly not Cappadocia. That was undeniably ours, even on my map of a remodelled Empire.
‘Then why are we waiting?’ Eunapius asked in a low mutter. ‘Heraclius has been out of the City a month. We were ready to make our move on Easter Monday. Delay has got Alaric sniffing round. Much longer, and support will drain away. I’m already having problems with some of the key people we need.’
‘But, Eunapius,’ Shahin said, still in jolly voice, ‘have you forgotten a certain object that is much desired by the Great King? My orders are to do nothing until I have that in my own hands.’
‘My Lord is aware that Alaric has possession of the Horn of Babylon,’ Simon said. ‘He beat us to it a few nights ago and we have not so far been able to take it from him. However, once Nicetas has control of the City, it will be a simple matter to break into his palace. .’
I could almost hear Shahin wag his finger. ‘Oh no, my dear but shifty Greeklings!’ he cried. ‘You produce my silver horn and my ships will sail into your Golden Horn. If you think this a harsh condition, please bear in mind what our experience of the Empire has been in the three centuries since the weakening began of its Latin element. I wouldn’t trust you people to tell me it was dark outside.’ He laughed coldly and pushed his chair forward. Now fully in view, he got up and pointed at the window. I got Antonia back just in time to keep her pale face out of view. ‘I must have the Horn of Babylon,’ he said. He sat down again and rocked on his chair. ‘No Horn of Babylon, no Persian support.’
There was another long silence. It was broken by a muffled argument in the corridor outside. Below me, Shahin swore viciously in Persian and his legs disappeared. I heard the rasp of a drawn sword. ‘Peace, My Lords, peace!’ Simon cried, trying to keep alarm from wholly taking over his voice. I think it was he who pulled the door open. It was his voice that did now give way to alarm. ‘What are you doing here?’ he demanded. ‘How did you find us?’
‘I am the City Prefect!’ Timothy answered in his plumiest, nastiest voice. ‘It would be a sad dereliction of my duties if I weren’t aware of your dastardly plot against the Empire.’ He laughed and stepped through the door. ‘Your men can take their hands off me,’ he said with a turn to the menacing. ‘They have already searched me.’ He moved almost directly under my window. ‘Ah, Cousin Shahin!’ he boomed. ‘I thought you’d be here. Delighted, of course, to see you again after so many years.’
Chapter 37
After the slightest pause, Shahin spoke. ‘My dearest Timothy,’ he called, ‘it is an absolute treat to see you again.’ He giggled, and there was the firm smack of a kiss I was rather glad I didn’t have to see.
‘Cousins?’ Eunapius asked. ‘How can you be cousins?’ I heard the scrape of a chair. Had Eunapius sat down in shock?
Timothy laughed. I heard the groan of a chair beneath his immense bulk. ‘My dear Eunapius,’ he said with pitying contempt, ‘that question disproves the whole claim you keep making that you are one of us. Beneath the squabbles of our rulers, the governing classes of both empires are really one big happy family. We’ve been marrying each other since time out of mind. You really aren’t one of us. Like our current Emperor, you’re a man from the provinces. If we have so far allowed you and your associate to speak for us, I am here to tell Shahin that our patience is worn out. From now on, I will deal with the Persians. You will take my orders.’ His voice brightened. ‘Be in no doubt, Shahin, that I speak for the old nobility. Whatever Eunapius has told you is probably wishful thinking.’
‘Would you care to elaborate on this?’ Shahin asked, a scowl in his voice.
‘Well,’ said Timothy, ‘I think we can rule out Nicetas as next Emperor. This little provincial here may have been telling you the same as he’d told us — that the Emperor’s cousin is in the plot. From what I saw of his behaviour this evening, he’s as ignorant of things as young Alaric was until yesterday. And Alaric, I have reason to believe, is a couple of days at most from rumbling us all. We never wanted Nicetas. We’ve now decided that we’ll not lift a finger to make him Emperor.
‘But it’s all arranged!’ Eunapius cried, horror in his voice. ‘You can’t go back on your word.’
Timothy cut straight in. ‘Do correct me if I’m wrong, dear boy, but I was under the impression that Nicetas was to lead the revolution. You never told me he’d have to be dragged squealing from behind a curtain, like Claudius after Caligula got it in the neck.’ He laughed. ‘Do try to see reason. When you change emperors, it’s a good idea to make a clean sweep. Now I mention Claudius, wasn’t his first act to round up and kill everyone who’d been in the plot against his nephew? Don’t suppose Nicetas will stay grateful longer than it takes to drape the Purple about his shoulders. Even if he doesn’t have the heads off our shoulders, the armies may not obey him. Also, he’d never dare get rid of Sergius as Patriarch, or purge Alaric’s men from the upper reaches of the Church.’ He laughed again. ‘These are general considerations, I know. But after tonight’s display of underlying concord between him and Alaric, we’re not having Nicetas.’