The young man stared at Joannes as if he had just witnessed the Archangel descend before his eyes, bearing a message from the Pantocrator Himself. ‘Yes, sir.’
‘Gregory!’ Haraldr stood and gestured for the little eunuch to join him and Maria at the table.
‘I cannot stay, Hetairarch, Mistress. The duties of the Grand Interpreter of the Varangians are manifold. I have come to you in my capacity as chief intelligence secretary in the offices of the Hetairarch.’ Gregory smiled and then composed himself. ‘This was sufficiently important to arrest your dining.’
‘At least sit while you tell us.’
Gregory allowed the serving eunuch to seat him to Haraldr’s right, and he looked for a moment at Maria, who sat opposite him. ‘I do not wish to jeopardize the Mistress with this,’ he said.
‘Don’t worry, my friend,’ said Haraldr. ‘I would have to tell her, anyway. I don’t know half of what she does of this palace and its curious machinations.’ He looked at Gregory quizzically. ‘This doesn’t sound like an ordinary intrigue.’
‘It may be nothing, Hetairarch, but as recent history has shown us, even the most insignificant seed can grow untended and eventually attack the great roots of an entire Empire.’ Gregory smoothed the embroidered tablecloth before him, almost as if he were going to write his information on it. ‘I have made the acquaintance of a Secretikoi in the office of the Sacellarius who has been assigned to the records bureau in the Magnara basement. I need not tell you of the importance of that location. This man has become friendly with the Orphanotrophus Joannes’s secretary, and of course is well placed to monitor the comings and goings in the Orphanotrophus’s office as it is. Yesterday he saw a young man – a young man whose only distinguishing characteristic seemed to be his utter mediocrity – visit the Orphanotrophus’s offices for a private interview. He inquired of Joannes’s secretary, and learned that the man was a young relative of Joannes’s from his home in Paphlagonia theme. My acquaintance also learned that Joannes has provided this young man a comfortable lodging outside the city. Quite ironically, these lodgings are the same as those occupied by our Emperor during the time when he was merely our Caesar.’
Haraldr looked at Maria and then back to Gregory. ‘An island going,’ he said in Norse.
‘Island going?’ asked Maria in her own increasingly fluent Norse. ‘I don’t know that kenning.’
‘Single combat,’ said Haraldr in Greek. ‘It sounds as if Joannes has obtained the shield he needs, and from what I have seen, our Emperor is honing the sword he intends to wield to a fine edge. I think it is only a matter of time before they challenge each other.’
Gregory stood and bowed. ‘That is my inference as well, Hetairarch. I will allow you to digest this information further while I return to my duties. And to the collection of more information on this matter.’
After Gregory had departed, Haraldr and Maria stared at each other for a long moment. Finally Haraldr sighed. ‘I guess we are going to have another argument.’
Maria’s blue eyes ignited. ‘Of course we are.’
‘Well, you do agree with my interpretation of this information, don’t you?’
Maria nodded. ‘Of course. It is obvious. Michael has not proved to be as malleable as Joannes had hoped, and now Joannes has begun to carve himself a new puppet.’ She signalled for the eunuch to remove her silver plate. ‘I don’t know why he has even troubled himself with that formality. He already fancies himself an Emperor, with his private guard now, and the Senate always following behind him like a herd of sheep with golden fleece.’
‘I think that is good,’ countered Haraldr. ‘It makes Joannes’s power evident to everyone. If he abuses the people, they will hold him accountable. He can no longer hide behind his monk’s habit or the Orphanotrophus’s office. And I think he knows that.’ Haraldr leaned forward earnestly. ‘He is making serious concessions now. Under Joannes’s auspices the Imperial Treasury has financed the reconstruction of twenty square blocks of the Studion. Food distribution in the Studion is now a regular state programme, vastly expanded beyond what I started. Joannes is even studying the thematic tax ledgers to find cheaters and absconders who are placing an unequal burden on their fellow villagers.’
‘And the Imperial Orphanotrophus can also reverse these reforms with several strokes of his pen.’
‘No. Once the people have received a lightening of their burden, they will be considerably more resistant to having that burden placed back on their shoulders. If Joannes wants to survive, he will have to continue his reforms.’
‘I think Michael is every bit as capable of managing these reforms,’ countered Maria. ‘Look at the Imperial Court judges he has removed, and those he has appointed. And what about his demotion of both that idiot Strategus and his corrupt Chartalarius in Opsikion theme.’
Haraldr spread his hands with mock incredulity. ‘I have always respected Michael’s abilities when he is motivated to employ them,’ he said. ‘You will recall that I was the first to bring those abilities to your attention, and at that time you argued that I was wrong about that.’ Maria stuck out her tongue. ‘Both men are capable of ruling Rome. The issue is, which one will rule Rome? I simply do not believe that Michael will be able to challenge Joannes sufficiently to rule on his own. That would require a courage that is clearly not one of his abilities. Having been almost killed in battle myself, I can see how his experience against the Seljuks might have stripped him of his courage. It took years for me to recover mine. But for whatever reason, Michael does not have the backbone required to win this sort of combat. At best he can rule over an Empire with disastrously divided allegiances.’
‘So you are saying that because Michael cannot win, you are going to support Joannes in this combat? I cannot believe that!’
‘No. I do not wish there to be any combat. What I would like to do, in fact, is prevent this combat, and preserve Michael’s lesser, but important, role in the government of Rome. Once Michael has been defeated, I will be unable to do that.’
‘You forget the real issue of who rules Rome.’ Maria thumped her fist on the table. ‘Zoe is the government. The rest come and go. And of the two men who currently rule Rome, Joannes is a far more serious threat to Zoe. This is why I cannot countenance Joannes’s participation in the Imperial Administration in any form.’
‘I certainly have not forgotten Zoe’s welfare and safety,’ protested Haraldr. ‘That is my entire point. The more visibly Joannes is identified with the rule of Rome, the more imperative it is for him to come to a public, binding and lasting agreement with Zoe. I believe I can negotiate such an agreement myself.’
Maria put her hand on Haraldr’s arm. ‘Be careful. You think you have become expert in the Roman arts of guile and cunning, but you are still merely a novice. I think you are too naive and trusting ever truly to fathom the Roman mind. I suppose that is why I love you.’
‘What if I can bring about this agreement?’ said Haraldr with a somewhat wounded edge to his voice. ‘A public pledge by Joannes, which it would be suicidal for him to deny later.’
‘I would say that in that case I would be satisfied that my Mother was well taken care of.’ Maria leaned forward and blasted Haraldr with her acute stare. ‘But consider this, esteemed Hetairarch. You say you hope to prevent this single combat from taking place. What if you cannot? Are you prepared to prevent Joannes from winning?’
Yes. I have been talking with the new Grand Domestic Camytzes, and he is no Dhynatoi stooge like Dalassena. I believe he will defend his Emperor against Joannes.’
Maria conceded the argument with a shrug. ‘I think that is the kind of persuasion Joannes would understand. Good. Now we can start worrying about your throne.’ She got up and put her arm around Haraldr’s neck and kissed his forehead. ‘I think I am ready for that long northern night.’