Chapter 76

A Fifth Wager

Mariapitkee waited in the kasthima for Emperor Andronikos’ arrival, but she did not wait alone. Also present to greet his elder cousin was young Emperor Alexios II and his betrothed Anna. They wore ornate robes of state and perspired in the day’s heat. Mariapitkee was clad in the cool cotton drape which Andronikos preferred to see her wear. It was light, clung to her curves in the front, and flowed in the back when the slight breeze caught it.

Unobtrusively, to the left of the rear archway stood Alexios the cupbearer, with a side board of wine, oysters, pastries, and other refreshments. The Imperial box was not a large space and no more than ten people could crowd in comfortably. After the Basileus’ triumphant arrival, one by one, or in small controlled groups, as their station (or bribe) permitted, visitors would be briefly allowed in to congratulate and petition. To the right of the archway stood the leering verangian captain Mariapitkee did not like. He was always trying to pinch, squeeze, and spank - not only her, but all the concubines - when Andronikos was not looking.

Mariapitkee sought to catch the eye of the cupbearer, but he avoided her gaze. Was he now embarrassed by his earlier confidence in her in the garden, or merely vacantly regaining sobriety? She could not tell. She wanted to scream for him to warn his brother (or half brother) of his imminent doom. Why could the masters not be open and honest with one another? Why must they always conspire and connive? Why must she stand silent and unmoving, with no place to address any of them beyond a demure curtsey and “Thank you, your Majesty” (or ‘your Grace’, or ‘Most Noble One’, as the situation required.)

At the bottom of the circular stairs, in the octagon courtyard, more hulking varangians, with double headed great axes held port arms, barred a press of greybeards. Men with high office elbowed and scrummed along with toadies, eunuchs, supplicants, and functionaries of station. After even only a few months away many sought the approaching Emperor’s attention. Some had dire concerns, some only wanted to be seen smiling and cheering. (‘Please notice me. I support you. I am not your enemy. I wish to congratulate you on this auspicious day.’) The sound of their hails preceded Andronikos’ arrival up the stairs. The handsome officer of the guard, the one she had come to think of as ‘loyal to the boy,’ led a scowling Andronikos followed by his sons Manuel and Ionnes. Yes, the box would be crowded today, Mariaptikee thought.

“Oh you’re here.” Andronikos seemed surprised to see his co-ruler. His countenance darkened further.

“I greet you coz, on your victorious return.” The teen Alexios looked unsure, but extended his arm.

Mariapitkee watched closely. Did a slight shudder pass over Andronikos before his countenance brightened? Was that a sly smile now partly hidden by his fantastic mustache?

“Thank you coz, it was a very simple victory - hardly worthy of the triumph - over foes who were fighting for…? Remind me. For whom were they fighting? Why, you my coz. These rebels were fighting to kill me. In your name.”

The teen was speechless. Awkward silence and tension filled the kasthima.

Eventually Alexios stammered “I - I nuhknew nuhnothing of their uprising. They have abused my nuhname.”

“I know coz, you are innocent of their over zealous persecution of what they mistakenly thought were your interests. They thought that by killing me, you would become beholden to them and thus fall under their sway. The nobles will always seek to divide and overthrow the Imperial family. You must learn this, if you are to rule. I am here to instruct you.”

Andronikos sat on the larger of the two thrones, and directed his attention at the twelve year old girl on Alexios’ right. “My dear, you look like a rosebud about to blossom.” In terms of color, the comparison was apt given Princess Anna’s seafoam green silk robes accented with pink lace. Her fashion was accessorized with a feathered fan and parasol of the same hue. “You have come along so nicely in the few months while I have been absent. How you have grown. It is delightful to see you again. You must do us the honor of dropping the mappa.” Little Anna smiled and her cheeks turned the color of her fan. The Emperor’s grown sons took their seats as the attendant page ushered forth the first notable to be presented, “Most Noble Sebastocrator, Ionnes Ducas.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Oh look boys,” Andronikos said to his sons, “Here is old farmer John, your erstwhile cellmate. Tell me farmer John, how did you keep the city in my absence?”

“Most gracious Basileus, your confidence in me is all too kind.”

“No invasions, no fires, no riots, the earth did not tremble, and it is exactly where I left it. I could not ask for more, do have a seat for the first race.”

Mariapitkee moved aside from her place and sat on the railing of the box offering her seat to the small grandfatherly man in his tall miter of office.

“Thank you, young lady.” the magistrate smiled.

“Many will come, Noble One. I will perch on the ledge.”

“Farmer John, you have until the end of the first race to tell me about all that has transpired in our absence.”

“I shall be concise, most regal Basileus. One important matter has presented itself…”

“Princess Anna, have the charioteers taken position? No. As soon as the official gives you the signal, drop your mappa. You have brought some? You have done this before haven’t you? Is she not a delicious vision, farmer John? A ripe sweet peach, the sort you would seek in one of your orchards?”

“Emperor Alexios’ betrothed is most gentle and well loved by the people.”

“Yes… well loved. Who do you fancy in the first race, farmer John, I’ll let you choose.”

“I am one of your majesty's few subjects who does not follow the races. You know me. ‘Practical farmer John.’ Horses? I am more likely to curry a horse’s mane or check their droppings for worms than bet on them.”

“Just so… but surely, for entertainment, a flirt with fortuna between gentlemen? Allow me to tempt you. This has just been struck at the mint, an electrum aspron. It has my likeness. What do you think?”

John Ducas took the proffered coin and examined it. “It is not the best likeness of you, it being so small and yourself so grand. It is like that statue of brooding Hercules at the far end of the spina. Up close you could scarce wrap your arms around his thumb, but at this distance, why - it looks as if you could crush him between your own thumb and forefinger.”

“But you can see it is me? Being crowned by Christ?”

“Of course it is clearly you, Basileus, the forked beard is unmistakable. And the obverse?” the bureaucrat flipped the coin over.

“The Virgin.” Did Andronikos’s gaze turn to the princess again? Mariapitkee felt cold despite the August heat.

“A superb coin, may they flow out to the merchants and back thricefold in taxes.”

“Well put farmer John, so you will take my wager?”

“I believe I can stretch my finances to an aspron to keep the contest interesting. What is it they say, ‘otherwise you are simply watching livestock exercise?’”

Andronikos took back the coin and handed it across the slight aisle between thrones for his equal and co-ruler to admire. Did the teen ponder the absence of his own likeness on the currency of the realm? Mariapitkee wondered.

“Of course, you understand that this coin is precious to me, the master of the mint presented it to me at the bottom of the stairs just now and assured me that it was the first of its pressing. This is not any aspron. You must wager something equally important to you. Your estates in Anatolia? Or Thrace? I pick Anatolia. Your turn to choose, Blue or Green?”

A confused look crossed the sebasotcrator’s face. “Imperial Majesty?”

“Your estates in Anatolia against my aspron. Would you prefer the Blues or the Greens?”

The bureaucrat was pale. “I defer to your selection, Most Augustus one.”

“Right then. I’m for the greens.” The mappa fluttered, the caceres opened and the biriga chariots sprang forth. Here we go. Come on you, Parasenoi! You were talking about affairs in the city? A concern?”

Mariapitkee noticed that farmer John’s hands gripped the arm rests of the consort’s chair with white knuckles. Mariapitkee hid her own smile at the unfortunate man’s discomfort. He was a fan of the Blues now.

She looked out at the crowd. Was he there? Was he watching her even now?

“Affairs in the city have been calm and restoration of the Church of the Forty Martyrs proceeds apace. No, the concern is from without, in Cyprus. The entire island has fallen to a pretender and usurper.”

Like a white dove on a windowsill, Mariapitkee listened.