…?’
‘I used the name of that reptile to bring you here to my house.’
Unease seized Nicander. What on earth could she want with two such humble persons?
‘I am at a loss, Lady, to understand …’
Antonina purposefully straightened an ornate emerald ring on her right hand, then looked directly at him. ‘To be strictly correct, I have no great wish to, to … but by your actions you have interested me.’
‘We—’
‘I’m a woman and cannot bear a mystery. And this one is particularly deep. I want the answer, and all Constantinople knows I’m not to be denied. Do you understand me, or must I …?’
‘My Lady, anything I can—’
‘Then tell me this. Why is it that in the last few days you have been seen with both that loathsome John the Cappadocian and the slimy pig Peter Barsymes? Not only are they the two most powerful money men of the age but they hate and detest each other to a degree.’
‘It’s nothing really,’ Nicander mumbled, desperately trying to think. ‘We—’
‘Don’t waste my time, or you’ll rue it! I make it my business to know everything of consequence, everybody’s petty plots, secrets and crimes – that way I’m not to be surprised when things happen.’
A look of cruel calculation came on her face. ‘Or shall I make a guess andyou’ll tell me if I’m right? Very well – I say that the Cappadocian is plotting to restore his place before Justinian by a clever false betrayal of Barsymes, for which he needs information from the inside, and you’re the one to feed it to him?’
‘N-no, My Lady, that’s not—’
‘So. It’s the other, and more serious for all that. These two are colluding in a master plot, some wicked design that requires them to join their forces together. They loathe each other so you are the go-between, and therefore know everything. Right?’
Nicander flashed a helpless glance at Marius.
‘Great lady. May I explain everything?’
‘Do so.’
‘We’re holy men from a far desert kingdom and …’
He stumbled through his story.
‘A fine tale. And all lies.’
‘No, no, My Lady. This is the truth!’
‘Don’t insult me!’ she spat. ‘I know the world more than most, and holy men you’re not! Where’s your doleful look, snivelling whine, begging manner? And for one born and bred in the desert you’re as milk-white as a babe!’
‘I-I …’
‘And all that dog vomit about silk seeds. Even I know silk comes from spiders, and you’re not going to keep those in a bag all the way from Sinae!’
‘But—’
Her voice dropped. ‘I don’t think you quite understand your situation,’ she said slowly. ‘I’ve only to lift that bell and the general’s men will rush to my rescue, you having talked your way into my room. When he hears of this, you’ll be begging for a crucifixion as the more merciful. Yes?’
Nicander nodded helplessly.
‘So let’s begin again. Just what are you doing with those two vultures?’
They were cornered like rats with no alternative but to confess the full extent of what they planned, and hope for mercy.
Stony-faced, she heard him out, down to the final twist.
‘Now, let me get this right. You two plotted to defraud the Emperor with a wild scheme, then let Peter Barsymes take it over? In some colossal sum as would see either in some difficulty?’
‘Yes, Lady,’ Nicander admitted miserably.
Antonina stood transfixed for a moment, then shook her head in wonder.
Suddenly her body convulsed, and she screamed with laughter. ‘Oh, merciful God, but I’ve not heard such a merry tale in all my life!’ She bent double, choking back tears of mirth. ‘It’s priceless! That I could see their faces when—’
‘My Lady, you’re not—’
‘Good God, no! I wish you well of your … enterprise.’
Her face suddenly tightened. ‘Screw those rat-faced fuckers for every obol you can get and you’ll have my great thanks for it. You know it was that prig Justinian who recalled my
‘I used the name of that reptile to bring you here to my house.’
Unease seized Nicander. What on earth could she want with two such humble persons?
‘I am at a loss, Lady, to understand …’
Antonina purposefully straightened an ornate emerald ring on her right hand, then looked directly at him. ‘To be strictly correct, I have no great wish to, to … but by your actions you have interested me.’
‘We—’
‘I’m a woman and cannot bear a mystery. And this one is particularly deep. I want the answer, and all Constantinople knows I’m not to be denied. Do you understand me, or must I …?’
‘My Lady, anything I can—’
‘Then tell me this. Why is it that in the last few days you have been seen with both that loathsome John the Cappadocian and the slimy pig Peter Barsymes? Not only are they the two most powerful money men of the age but they hate and detest each other to a degree.’
‘It’s nothing really,’ Nicander mumbled, desperately trying to think. ‘We—’
‘Don’t waste my time, or you’ll rue it! I make it my business to know everything of consequence, everybody’s petty plots, secrets and crimes – that way I’m not to be surprised when things happen.’
A look of cruel calculation came on her face. ‘Or shall I make a guess andyou’ll tell me if I’m right? Very well – I say that the Cappadocian is plotting to restore his place before Justinian by a clever false betrayal of Barsymes, for which he needs information from the inside, and you’re the one to feed it to him?’
‘N-no, My Lady, that’s not—’
‘So. It’s the other, and more serious for all that. These two are colluding in a master plot, some wicked design that requires them to join their forces together. They loathe each other so you are the go-between, and therefore know everything. Right?’
Nicander flashed a helpless glance at Marius.
‘Great lady. May I explain everything?’
‘Do so.’
‘We’re holy men from a far desert kingdom and …’
He stumbled through his story.
‘A fine tale. And all lies.’
‘No, no, My Lady. This is the truth!’
‘Don’t insult me!’ she spat. ‘I know the world more than most, and holy men you’re not! Where’s your doleful look, snivelling whine, begging manner? And for one born and bred in the desert you’re as milk-white as a babe!’
‘I-I …’
‘And all that dog vomit about silk seeds. Even I know silk comes from spiders, and you’re not going to keep those in a bag all the way from Sinae!’
‘But—’
Her voice dropped. ‘I don’t think you quite understand your situation,’ she said slowly. ‘I’ve only to lift that bell and the general’s men will rush to my rescue, you having talked your way into my room. When he hears of this, you’ll be begging for a crucifixion as the more merciful. Yes?’
Nicander nodded helplessly.
‘So let’s begin again. Just what are you doing with those two vultures?’
They were cornered like rats with no alternative but to confess the full extent of what they planned, and hope for mercy.
Stony-faced, she heard him out, down to the final twist.
‘Now, let me get this right. You two plotted to defraud the Emperor with a wild scheme, then let Peter Barsymes take it over? In some colossal sum as would see either in some difficulty?’
‘Yes, Lady,’ Nicander admitted miserably.
Antonina stood transfixed for a moment, then shook her head in wonder.
Suddenly her body convulsed, and she screamed with laughter. ‘Oh, merciful God, but I’ve not heard such a merry tale in all my life!’ She bent double, choking back tears of mirth. ‘It’s priceless! That I could see their faces when—’
‘My Lady, you’re not—’
‘Good God, no! I wish you well of your … enterprise.’
Her face suddenly tightened. ‘Screw those rat-faced fuckers for every obol you can get and you’ll have my great thanks for it. You know it was that prig Justinian who recalled my
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