Adora, her council, and the laborers all worked hard. The weeks sped by, and Alexander’s plans for the city began to take shape. Three districts which had contained wooden tenements were now completely rebuilt. The public buildings were now under renovations, with the city’s ancient Hippodrome to be the first completed. There were plans to celebrate the reconstruction with a series of games, as had been held in earlier times.
But suddenly one night the countryside about Mesembria erupted into flames. From the city walls the burning villages and fields could be seen for miles. The following day Mesembria’s gates remained closed, and Adora stood with her soldiers on the city walls staring out into the silent land. Nothing moved, not man nor beast. Even the birds had stopped singing. Within the city the people moved quietly, nervously, about their tasks. Their queen refused to leave the walls-but stood watching. Then, on the winds came the frightening booms of the war drums, the steady tramp of marching. Boom! The drums resounded through the city.
“Bulgars! Christos! Bulgars!” swore Basil.
“War?” asked Adora.
“I do not know, Highness, but do not fear. They have not taken the city since the year eight hundred and twelve, and we were not fortified then as we are now. And we have the sea. The Bulgars are not sailors.”
“What must we do, Basil?”
“Wait. We will wait to see what it is they want. I think, however, that you would be safer in your palace. Now, Highness, do not argue with this old man. You are Mesembria’s hope, and you must be protected at all costs.”
Theadora patted the old man’s cheek. “Basil, were you young enough to give me sons, I should name you my consort.”
He chuckled. “Nay, Highness, I should make a poor one. You need a strong hand, and I have not one where you are concerned.”
She laughed. Blowing him a kiss, she climbed into her litter and returned to the palace. Several hours later an explosion shattered the city. At almost the same time a white-faced Basil arrived in Theadora’s private chamber.
“What has happened?”
“I cannot explain it, Highness. The Bulgars arrived at our outer gates. They sent no heralds with messages, they did not even fire upon us. Of course our archers held their fire.
“A strange looking little man-his skin yellow!-was escorted to our gates. We could not see what he was doing but he stepped back, dragging what looked like a soft rope with him. A torch was set to the rope, and there was this terrible explosion. When the smoke cleared our great bronze gates were open. Fortunately, I was on the upper walls, and leapt upon my horse to hurry here. There is little time. Whatever magic they used to get through the outer gate they will use to get through the inner gate. You must flee now, my princess! The sea is your best escape!”
At that moment another explosion rocked the city, and they could hear the triumphant shouts of the invading army, the screams and shrieks of the frightened people. Fires began to spring up, the flames pointing toward the palace.
Adora shook her head. “I will not leave my people, Basil. The Bulgars will not harm me. I am the ruler of this city and the emperor’s sister. They seek only to pillage and loot. We will pay whatever ransom they demand, and then they will go.”
“Nay, my princess. They want the city, and with Alexander gone they feel you are easy prey. I know not by what magic they gained entry through our bronze gates, but it is a stronger magic than we possess. You must leave!”
They argued, not even hearing the approaching Bulgars until the screams of the women in the outer chamber alerted them. Anna burst through the door and shielded Theadora with her big body. Between Anna’s tall body and Basil’s, Adora could see nothing, but she could hear the shrieks and moans of her abused women, and the cruel shouts of laughter from the Bulgars who attacked them. Then, as if they had been struck by the hand of God himself, both Anna and Basil crumbled to the floor leaving Adora visible.
She stared, horrified, at her two friends. Their murderers were casually wiping their bloodied swords on Anna’s skirts. Adora’s senses returned at the appearance of a huge bearlike man. He stood close to seven feet tall with arms and legs like tree trunks. He had a huge head and dark red hair, with a full red beard.
“Princess Theadora?” said a harsh voice. “I am General Symeon Asen.”
She did not know where her own voice came from.
“Why have you attacked my city?”
“Your city? No, princess, my city! However, I fancy it will be a lot easier to subdue the people with you at my side, so let us say I have come courting.” He nodded almost imperceptibly at his two men. Before she realized what they were doing, her gown was being torn off. In seconds she was naked, and when she sought to cover herself her arms were brutally pinioned back. The look in General Asen’s eyes terrified her, and she struggled not to faint. “By God!” swore the Bulgarian, “Even naked you can tell she’s a princess. What skin!” He reached out and squeezed one of her breasts. She struggled, which only seemed to amuse the men. Asen licked his lips. “See if you can find a priest left alive in this city. He’ll marry us in the morning. And get those bodies out of here. They disturb my bride-to-be.”
The two men released her arms and dragged the lifeless Anna and Basil from the room. Adora was left alone with her captor.
She backed away from him, and he laughed. “There’s no place to run, Theadora. But you are right to fear me. I am not an easy man to please. But somehow,” his voice became soft, “I think you’ll please me well. Come and give me a kiss now. I must see to my men before we can take our ease. Who is to criticize if we celebrate the wedding night before the wedding? Rulers, after all, set the fashions.”
Wordlessly she shook her head, but the general simply laughed. “A shy widow? It speaks well of your virtue, Theadora, and that, too, pleases me.” He reached out and drew her struggling body to him. His chain mail cut her breasts, and she cried out. Ignoring her, he pressed his open mouth on her lips and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She gagged at the taste of sour wine and garlic. His mouth was wet and slimy, and his lips moved swiftly to race over her shrinking breasts. One arm about her waist, he bent her body this way and that as suited him, his other huge paw clasping one of her buttocks, kneading it more frantically as his excitement grew. She fought harder and, to her growing horror, felt his engorged maleness butting against her thigh. He laughed huskily. “Would that I could bury my giant’s spear in you right now, Theadora. But alas, duty first. That is why I am a good general.” He released her so suddenly that she fell to the rug. “Yes,” he murmured, “that is a woman’s place-at a man’s feet. I will be back shortly, my bride. Do not grow overeager,” he laughed uproariously as he left the room.
She did not know how long she lay there, but suddenly she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. Raising her head, she stared into the blue eyes of a Byzantine captain of the Imperial Guard. He put a finger to his lips to indicate silence, then helped her up. He wrapped a dark cloak about her swiftly and led her through the terrace doors. They ran through the gardens, down the terrace steps, and onto the beach where the silent captain lifted her into a waiting boat.
In total silence he rowed out into the dark of the imperial yacht basin. Theadora saw a ship looming in the blackness. It showed no lights. The small boat bumped the sides of the ship softly, and the captain noiselessly shipped the oars. He pointed to a rope ladder hanging from the ship. Silently Theadora climbed up into the dark and was lifted over the ship’s rail. Her rescuer came up behind her. Taking her hand, he led her to a large cabin. Inside, he checked to be sure the porthole was covered, then lit a small lamp.
“Welcome aboard, Princess Theadora. Captain Paulus Simonides of the Imperial Guard, at your service.”