Richard Blake - The Curse of Babylon

‘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.’

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.’

‘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.’