‘So, who is to be next Emperor?’ Shahin asked. ‘We’ll need someone to seal the peace agreement.’
‘It may be an ambition that has come on late in life,’ Timothy yawned, ‘but I do have several emperors in my blood line. And there can be no doubt the nobility is with me, and that the bureaucracy would obey me. Oh, and I’ll repeat that I am the City Prefect. That’s a fine base from which to launch a revolution.’
‘And you would still consent to our peace treaty?’ Shahin asked.’
‘I see no reason why not,’ Timothy rumbled. ‘You give us Alaric’s head on a plate, and you can keep Syria with my blessings.’
Shahin leaned forward in his chair so I could see his bald patch. ‘Then it’s a pity you didn’t catch our earlier conversation,’ he said. ‘We don’t actually care who is Emperor. But the deal we offer is the same. You give us the Horn of Babylon and we’ll fall in with whatever you decide among yourselves. Until you give us that, you’re all on your own.’
There was yet another silence. Then Timothy spoke. ‘I believe Eunapius did mention a certain object of ritual importance to Cousin Chosroes,’ he said grandly. ‘I have still to know, however, what exactly it is. Can you enlighten us, Shahin?’
‘No,’ was the answer. ‘I don’t ask questions of Shahrbaraz, nor of the Great King. I can simply repeat my orders. You’ll get nothing from us until you put the Horn of Babylon into my hands. At the moment, Alaric has it. Have you any idea of how to get it from him?’
‘I have an idea,’ Simon broke in, plainly and comically desperate to pull the conversation back in order. Timothy grunted very loudly. Simon ignored him. ‘The barbarian boy’s taken up with a girl who seems to have turned his wits. I spoke briefly with her yesterday morning. She’s from Trebizond.’ He paused to let the significance of that trickle into every mind. ‘She must have relatives there. Perhaps we can use that when the Persians move in.’
Shahin laughed. ‘Oh, I saw that for myself yesterday. The poor boy is utterly smitten. I couldn’t resist having a little fun over it. If you can find a use for that, good luck to you. However, must I repeat that we shan’t move against the Black Sea cities until we have the Horn of Babylon? That’s all that matters to us. You give me the Horn of Babylon and I’ll make anyone of your choice Emperor.’ He got up. ‘Now, much as I’ve enjoyed my first visit to Constantinople since the outbreak of war, I am alarmed that Timothy knew I’d be here. If he could find out, Alaric might. You obviously have much to discuss among yourselves and it isn’t for me to involve myself in that conversation.’ He moved towards the door. ‘Please don’t feel obliged to stand on ceremony. I can find my own way out.’
Shahin went out, leaving the room in the longest silence yet. I was aware once more of Antonia beside me. Simon had spoken as if he didn’t know who she was. Yet it had been my impression that he did know. Was he trying to be more in this than a middle man? Worth thinking about when I had the time. For the moment, I turned my attention to the continuing silence below. It was broken by a quiet laugh from Timothy. ‘Now you’ve gone and done it,’ Eunapius cried bitterly. ‘You’ve muddled everything.’
‘On the contrary,’ Timothy said with evident pleasure, ‘I’ve saved my people the trouble of hearing more of your lies. This Horn of Babylon, I now learn, is not some incidental token of good faith. It is the only thing that Shahin actually wants. I therefore propose to leave aside the matter of who is to replace Heraclius. Our present task is to prise the Horn of Babylon from Alaric’s grasp.’
‘It has magic powers,’ Eunapius said quickly. ‘Whoever knows how to use those powers can make himself master of all things. Isn’t that so, Simon?’
‘My Lord,’ Simon came straight back, a nervous tone in his voice, ‘the Persians believe any number of things at variance with the teachings of Holy Mother Church. .’
‘Shut up unless you’re spoken to,’ Timothy snarled. ‘What’s this about magic powers, Eunapius?’ Even someone brighter than Eunapius would have had trouble evading the brief but effective interrogation that followed. It ended in more silence. Timothy broke this with one of his long and appreciative burps. ‘Well, this being the case,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘why are we giving the thing to the bloody Persians?’ he burped again. ‘Magic powers?’ he asked again, now wonderingly. ‘That might explain why Shahin took the risk of coming ashore. Magic powers, eh?’ He paused for thought, then: ‘Very well,’ he said, now brisk, ‘I say we keep Shahin dangling, just in case we need Plan B. The new Plan A, though, is that we put all effort into getting this Horn of Babylon for ourselves — and before that bastard savage works its powers out for himself.’
He stopped and grunted his way through various workings of his mind. ‘Now we’ve seen that Nicetas isn’t committed,’ he began again, ‘getting my people to act is out of the question. Without Nicetas to back me, I can’t arrest another member of the Imperial Council. I suppose we could have another go at waylaying the little shit as he goes unguarded about his business. Or, since we’ve tried that now more than once, there is the girl. I believe I saw her this evening. She’s a pretty enough creature, and I could well understand how he was almost squirting into his leggings every time he looked at her. Perhaps Eunapius could use his own connections in Trebizond to see what pressure may be imposed from that direction.’ His voice brightened. ‘Yes, we’ll get the Horn of Babylon, and then we’ll see if it can make me Emperor — and then what sort of Emperor!’ He laughed, and there was another alarming creak of his chair.
‘You can’t be Emperor!’ Eunapius said, aghast. ‘It has to be Nicetas. Without him to take over at once, Heraclius can’t be arrested in Cyzicus.’
‘If you must reopen the matter,’ Timothy snapped, ‘I can and will be Emperor. There’s nothing more to be said.’
‘There’s a great deal more to be said,’ Eunapius replied. ‘Everyone knows your brother was deprived of his governorship for heresy. The Church would never stand for you.’
‘Do I hear right, that Nicetas has offered you his daughter in marriage?’ Timothy asked with a sudden sneer. ‘I wouldn’t take his word on anything. Everyone knows how he just “forgets” promises. Otherwise, don’t count on staying alive long enough to step into his purple boots once he is Emperor.’ He went into a long and wheezing laugh. I glanced quickly into Antonia’s face. It had the dead look a fine lady is trained to put on for a chariot race in the Circus. All else aside, why was Simon keeping her identity to himself?
‘Just stick with me, Eunapius,’ Timothy said with a return to easy humour. ‘How about the Lord Treasurership — and Alaric’s palace, of course?’ Eunapius said nothing. ‘Oh, but let’s call on the Will of God,’ Timothy sighed. His chair creaked again. ‘I’ve one of Alaric’s new coins here. The reverse, for some reason, has a motto in Latin.’ He read slowly and with a misplaced accent: “Deus Adiuta Romanis.” I’m told it means: “May God Help the Romans.” Heads, and you can have Nicetas, and Shahin too. Tails, and it means God wants me.’
There was yet another silence in the room, this time ended by the ring of silver on marble. ‘Fucking thing bounced,’ Timothy snapped. ‘The result doesn’t count.’