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Pov of Sigurd
Anno Domini,833-February-24-March-4
''Basil's nerves are tied in knots. Ever since his men acclaimed him emperor, he hasn't been himself. He keeps turning over what might happen in Miklagard. He's even delayed our plans, and you know how little he likes sitting around waiting'' I said, folding my arms as I looked at the other members of the hird, who shared my concern for Basil.
''Yes, all that resolve he showed when dealing with the priests and the Carolingians has vanished overnight. Why is he so afraid of his own men wanting him as emperor? Shouldn't he be glad to have them on his side?'' asked one of the hirdmen as he watched Basil pace back and forth across the deck, trying to decide what to do.
''Not when there's already another man sitting on the throne. From what he told me, the emperor's envoys saw thousands of soldiers acclaiming him, but they left before we punished those responsible and stripped a few officers of their rank. They heard the shouting, but they didn't see us shut their mouths. Now someone could use that to turn the emperor against him. That court is a nest of vipers, and more than one would like to see him fall. That must be what's eating at him, though… By Thor, I've never seen him so uneasy. Either we can't see the danger, or he's seeing more swords than there are'' I said, leaning back against the rail.
''Is that why we've delayed sending the Roman soldiers back to their provinces?'' asked another of the hirdmen, watching with me as Basil chewed on his glove while pacing back and forth.
''I think so. Moving thousands of men when someone might be whispering in the emperor's ear that you're a traitor… All it takes is one courtier saying they're marching to seize the throne, and you've got a blade at your neck. But we can't keep them here as long as we please, either. They're soldiers of the themata; they must return to their lands once their year of service is over. If we break our agreement, they could mutiny. That's why Basil let a couple of days pass: he wanted to give the messenger we sent to the capital a head start, so he could explain what happened before word arrived that we were moving the army'' I said, scratching my beard.
''And could this end with the Romans going to war against each other?'' asked one of the hirdmen.
''We wouldn't be short of work if it came to that. There are a few Romans whose skulls I'd gladly split… But Basil doesn't want that kind of war. Rome is in his very bones. Being called a traitor after everything he's done for this Empire must hurt him more than a spear thrust. He's one of the few men in that court whose word is worth anything, and yet those vipers get to decide how his name reaches the emperor's ears. I won't deny there are some I'd welcome with an axe in my hand, but for Basil's sake, we'd better hope this ends with words and we can keep our steel sheathed'' I said, pressing my lips together.
''Well, let's hope the Romans don't do anything stupid, then'' said one of the hirdmen.
''SHIP SIGHTED! SHIP SIGHTED FLYING THE IMPERIAL STANDARD!'' shouted one of the lookouts from the masthead.
''WHAT KIND OF SHIP?!'' Basil shouted back.
''A HEAVY DROMON OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY!'' answered the lookout, still peering into the distance.
''To arms… There may be no need to spill blood, but if they've come to take Basil away, they'll have to go through us first'' I said, gripping my polehammer as I approached him.
Basil had hurried to the bow to watch the approaching ship.
''Take in the sails! Have the rowers slow their pace! Pass the order to the rest of the fleet! We need to know whether they're carrying envoys from the emperor'' Basil ordered.
The captains obeyed, and the hundreds of ships carrying the troops back to Anatolia and Greece began to slow, holding their formation. Soon we could make out three Roman dromons: two small ones and a larger vessel, which manoeuvred to approach Basil's ship.
''I take it you'll want to parley, BASIL!'' someone shouted from the other ship, denying him his proper title.
I caught the way Basil's eyes widened when he heard it. The man had spoken his name as though he were calling out to some common sailor.
''Yes. I presume the emperor has received my message. It should have reached the capital recently, with an explanation of what happened in Rome'' Basil replied after swallowing.
He approached the rail as the sailors threw lines across to bring the ships alongside each other.
''The basileus has been informed of the contents of your letter concerning the supposed rebellion in Rome'' said the imperial emissary.
As soon as the sailors laid a wooden gangplank between the two vessels, the man crossed onto our deck.
''It was not a rebellion. It was the foolishness of drunken soldiers, their blood still hot from victory. I have no intention of claiming the crown of the Romans'' said Basil, looking at the emissary.
''You will have to prove that before the court. Orders have been issued summoning you to appear, though those I have received are different… You still have people in the palace who are concerned for you, magister of the scholae. The emperor has ordered your supporters in the capital imprisoned. They are being held in custody as we speak, awaiting your arrival. As for me, I am to proceed to Crete and take your family prisoner'' said the emissary.
Basil clenched his fist so tightly that the leather of his glove creaked. His eyelids trembled, but he kept his eyes fixed on the man.
''Did Theophilos order this?'' Basil asked, holding his breath.
''Yes. It is a direct order from the emperor. It appears that those at court have managed to convince him that the acclamations in Rome heralded your claim to the throne. There is already talk of stripping you of your offices, confiscating your property, and blinding or castrating you so that you cannot lay claim to the imperial dignity'' the emissary replied without looking away.
''I don't believe it… I cannot believe it. Theophilos would not betray me like that'' said Basil, shaking his head.
''Believe it or not, there is an order for your arrest'' the emissary replied, holding out a letter bearing the imperial seal.
Basil snatched it from him, broke the seal and began to read. He went over the lines several times, as though searching for something he had missed. Then he brought a hand to his mouth.
I didn't need to know those letters to understand that he had found nothing good.
''Now you must decide what you will do. For my part, I shall take a detour before continuing to Crete. If you choose to return to your family, you can arrive before me and get them to safety, if that is what you wish. If you continue to Constantinople, there are still men willing to help you resolve this matter'' said the emissary with a faint smile on his lips.
''I will not betray the Empire'' Basil replied before bringing his glove back to his teeth.
''Then you may appear before the court and submit to the punishment awaiting you. Or accept the help of those still loyal to you and try to speak directly with the emperor. As I told you, he is ill-advised. Someone has filled his head with lies, and perhaps your presence will be enough to bring him to his senses. But if I were in your place, I would make certain I had armed men at my back when requesting that audience. For now, those awaiting you intend to mutilate you so that you can never aspire to the throne of the Romans'' said the emissary.
Without another word, he turned and crossed the gangplank to his ship.
The sailors withdrew the wooden gangplank and cast off the lines. As the dromons began to pull away from us, Basil stood motionless, the letter in his hand and his gaze fixed on the deck planks.
''What are we going to do, Basil?'' I asked my friend, who was still staring out to sea. The decision before him seemed to be breaking him.
''The truth is… I don't know what to do. If I flee, those rats whispering in Theophilos's ear will bring the Empire to ruin. And your family won't be safe either. They won't honour the agreement with your people, knowing I was the one who settled them on those lands… But if I go, I risk starting a civil war. And God alone knows what might happen if we try to force our way into Constantinople'' said Basil, leaning against the bow.
''Only you can decide. But whatever you choose, I'll go with you. You're my friend, and I swore before the Allfather to follow you. I won't break my word now'' I said, bringing my fist to my chest.
''Everything I've fought for… Everything I've suffered…'' he muttered through clenched teeth, gripping the wooden rail with both hands. ''Have one of my ships return to Heraklion. A group of you, my trusted men, will take my parents and my brother under your protection. Take as much gold from my coffers as you need, and be ready to flee if word reaches you of my downfall. If I die, all I ask is that you look after them and keep them safe… The rest will make for Constantinople. If necessary, we'll force our way through by sea. I will have that audience with Theophilos'' said Basil, who seemed to have recovered his resolve.
''You heard him. You'll return to Crete. Get his family to safety, and don't let anyone lay a hand on them'' I ordered, pointing to a group of hirdmen, who began preparing to transfer to another ship.
''We won't take the Queen of Cities by surprise with a fleet this size. We'll have to force our way through, and perhaps fight the imperial navy before we reach the harbours. If we can enter through the palace harbour, we can reach Theophilos quickly, though we must be ready to meet heavy resistance'' said Basil, already planning his next battle.
''Then we'll get the men ready to fight their way to that palace. Let's see if we can open the emperor's eyes and make him stop listening to the vipers around him'' I replied before turning to organise my men.
Our fleet was considerable, for we had a good portion of the Empire's warships under our command. Even so, I made sure to station some of our northern men aboard the most important vessels. If any captain decided Basil was a traitor before he could speak with Theophilos, I wanted loyal men aboard to stop him from turning his ship against us.
We reorganised the hundreds of ships and prepared them for battle. Many were Basil's transports, but they had enough room to carry large numbers of archers and crossbowmen who could sweep the enemy decks. We also had a few ships fitted with those siphons the Romans used to spit fire across the sea. If there was no other choice, we would have to turn their own weapon against them to force our way into the imperial palace harbour.
What worried me most were the chains that could bar our way into the harbours. We could kill the men defending them, but that alone wouldn't get the ships through. If Basil still had supporters inside the city, perhaps they could stop the chains from being raised.
Over the following days, we sailed with our weapons ready and the men watching for any sail on the horizon. We spotted many Roman warships passing through the area, but they either ignored us entirely or fled outright when they saw the size of our fleet.
At last, we sighted the shores of the strait and, shortly afterwards, the capital of the Romans.
''Where's the imperial fleet?'' I asked, scanning the sea and the harbour entrances, where barely any warships were stationed.
''Perhaps their crews have mutinied'' ventured one of Basil's naval officers.
''We're at the gates of the heart of their Empire. They can't have left it without ships to defend it'' I replied, looking towards the lookouts.
''It seems I still have supporters in the city… I hope this all ends with an audience'' said Basil as he finished fastening his armour and prepared to disembark.
We sailed on without anyone barring our way. Our fleet began taking up positions while the Roman warships remained where they were, making no attempt to stop us. The chains had been raised across several harbour entrances, but the one at the harbour of Boukoleon, beside the palace, was still lowered. Basil steered towards it, and we followed without delay, along with almost all the ships carrying our northern men.
As soon as we disembarked, we encountered numerous guards of the noumeroi. They closed ranks at the sight of us, though they left the way to the palace clear.
''Block them off. Don't let them fall on our backs when we move on. The rest, with Basil'' I ordered one of my men.
A couple of hundred warriors broke away from the group and formed up facing the guards, while the rest of us advanced towards the palace entrance.
''The hikanatoi'' said Basil, looking down one of the streets within the complex, where a cavalry tagma was forming up before us.
''Cataphracts… Bring stakes. I don't want those horses coming down on us with that whole street to build up speed'' I said, pointing to the approach they could charge down.
''Secure this crossing. The domestikos of the hikanatoi is Basil's enemy, and he may try to attack as soon as he sees an opening. Keep watch on them'' I ordered another of my men before hurrying to catch up with Basil.
When we reached one of the side doors of the imperial palace, we found it unbarred. No one had even placed an obstacle in our way.
''I don't like this at all'' said Basil, stopping for a moment before the entrance.
''Neither do I'' I replied, tightening my grip on the shaft of my hammer before following him inside.
''No scholai… What the hell is going on here?'' said Basil as we ventured deeper into the palace.
We made our way through the corridors, not knowing what awaited us. Every so often, we encountered one of those eunuchs, who took to his heels the moment he saw us. We tried to stop them to find out what had happened, but they fled before we could get a word out of them.
Then we found the first dead guards.
''They're scholai… Judging by how they fell, the attack must have come from that direction. And those over there… Excubitores. The guards have been fighting each other'' said Basil as he examined the bodies.
''They've turned against their own?'' I asked, scanning the corridor.
''Shit… It was the iconodules'' said Basil.
He straightened and set off towards the emperor's chambers. We found more dead as we pushed deeper into the palace. Numerous excubitores lay along the way; some were still dying among their comrades.
''They've used me… They've used me…'' I heard him mutter.
He walked faster and faster, and we quickened our pace to keep up.
When we entered the throne room, we found a group of scholai who looked as though they had been fighting for a long time. Their officer spotted us and turned to face us.
''LOOK WHO'S HERE… THE TRAITOR!'' shouted the second-in-command of the scholai. ''YOU MAY HAVE ALLIED YOURSELF WITH THE ICONODULES, BUT WE WILL NOT LET YOU NEAR THE EMPEROR! WE WILL FIGHT TO THE LAST MAN!'' the officer roared.
The scholai closed ranks, blocking our path with shields raised and swords ready.
As I prepared to advance with my men, I saw Basil remove his helmet and let his sword fall.
''THEY'VE USED ME… THEY DECEIVED ME… I NEVER WANTED…!'' he cried as he approached the guards with empty hands.
''YOU WILL NOT DECEIVE US, TRAITOR! YOU ALMOST KILLED THEOPHILOS IN THE HIPPODROME WITH YOUR CONSPIRACY! WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL…!'' the officer shouted.
He broke off as a group of eunuchs appeared, carrying a basket.
We all stared at those beardless men. They passed through the ranks of the scholai, who let them through amid bewildered glances, and approached Basil.
''A token of the iconodules' loyalty'' said one of the eunuchs, kneeling before him and offering up the basket, which was covered with a purple cloth.
Basil's hand trembled as he reached for the cloth. He had barely lifted a corner when he fell to the floor and began scrambling backwards, pushing himself along with his hands as though trying to get away from what he had just seen. He was struggling so hard to breathe that I could hear him from where I stood.
At last, he stopped and covered his face with both hands.
The scream that tore from his throat froze me in place. He doubled over as tears ran between his fingers.
One of the scholai approached the eunuch and lifted the cloth. He recoiled, knocking over the basket as he did.
Theophilos's severed head fell out and rolled across the palace floor.
Basil lowered his hands from his face and began crawling towards it. I spotted a sword lying beside him and hurried over, with several of my men following close behind.
Around us, the scholai began falling to their knees. Swords struck the floor as their hands released them. Some screamed; others wept, their eyes fixed on the remains of their emperor.
Basil picked up Theophilos's head and clutched it to his chest.
I knelt beside him and heard him murmur between sobs.
''Forgive me… Forgive me… Forgive me… I was a fool…''
Without stopping to think, I seized the two nearest eunuchs by the throat and began strangling them. Both struggled desperately, trying to break free of my hands, while the rest of my men fell upon the other eunuchs.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
-------------------------------