Nikos and the two komes turned as one towards the sound just as I stepped into the doorway. His eyes met mine, and suspicion turned instantly to hot rage. For my own part, however, I felt my heart grow very cold. This was proceeding far, far easier than I could have imagined.
"You!" Nikos snarled. "How dare you!" His eyes darted from me to the amir, and back. "Do you know who I am?"
"Oh, I think we all know you very well," I replied, stepping into the room. "You are a liar and a murderer, a very serpent in the guise of a man. Today, however, the doom which you so richly deserve and have so long evaded has ensnared you, Eparch Nikos."
Harald and six Sea Wolves appeared behind me at that moment, just as we had planned. "The guards are resting peacefully," he told me, and I passed this information along to the others as the Danes took hold of Nikos and his aides.
The komes, frightened by the disaster overtaking them, began shouting and clamouring to be released at once.
I directed Hnefi and Gunnar to remove the two quaking komes, and they were hauled, white-faced and shaking, from the room.
Nikos, livid with rage, glowered hatefully at me. "I thought you dead."
"Then consider this revenge from beyond the grave," I told him.
"Revenge-for Nicephorus, that wizened little turd of a man? That is absurd."
"For Nicephorus, yes," I told him. "But no less for the Danes in the eparch's bodyguard, and all the merchants, and their women and children."
"You are insane," Nikos retorted indignantly. "Merchants and children? I have no idea what you are talking about."
"I am talking about the ambush on the road to Sebastea which you arranged," I said.
"Which I myself narrowly escaped," Nikos corrected smoothly.
"Is that what you told the emperor?"
"This is what the emperor believes, and you cannot prove otherwise," he said, and the sneer was back in his voice. It was all I could do to keep from seizing him by the throat then and there.
"Perhaps not," I conceded, trying to keep my voice level. "But there are other crimes to answer." Turning my head, I called over my shoulder: "Brynach! Dugal! Ddewi! Come here."
A moment later, the three monks stepped into the room. Nikos stared; clearly, he had not expected to meet them again, much less in my company. I stared, too, for they had devised for themselves monkish robes similar to those they had worn at the abbey; moreover, they had shaved their beards, cut their hair, and renewed their tonsures so that they now looked much the way they would have when Nikos had last seen them.
I suppose I had grown used to their shaggy appearance, but seeing them in their priestly garb brought me up short; it reminded me that I had once been of the Cele De.
Nikos recovered his composure instantly. Oh, he was subtle and he was sure. "Who are these men?" he demanded.
"Like the others in this house," I replied, "they are men who would make accusation against you. Indeed, we have all been eagerly awaiting this moment for a very long time."
"I have done nothing," he insisted. "I will not listen to your accusations."
"The emperor will listen," Brynach said stoutly. "And may God have mercy on your soul."
"Of what do you accuse me? Poor weather and pirates?" Nikos said, spitting the words maliciously. "The emperor will laugh at you and your ridiculous complaints."
"I doubt the emperor will laugh," I told him. "Indeed, when news of your death reaches him, I expect he will shed a fleeting tear before appointing another to your place."
"Spare me your tiresome threats," Nikos scoffed. "If you can make good your accusations, then take me to the emperor and we will see who laughs-and who dies."
Brynach, alarmed by my intention to kill Nikos, interceded, "Brother, you cannot kill him like this. We must take him before the emperor, and let God's Vice-Regent on Earth be his judge."
Lord Sadiq also interposed. "Do not stain yourself with his killing, my friend. It is better that the basileus should learn what manner of man has been serving him." He gazed at me earnestly. "If not for your own sake, then for the sake of the peace, and all those who will suffer if it is not achieved."
I hesitated, and Nikos thought he saw his chance. "Come then," he demanded, snapping his fingers imperiously. "Take me to the emperor at once!"
Nikos's easy mastery of the situation should have sent a warning tingling through me. Oh, but I had waited long and endured much in pursuit of my vengeance; I was so anxious that it might slip away, I rushed headlong towards the confrontation, blindly heedless of the end.
71
Hold out your hands," I commanded. Nikos, hatred burning from every pore, slowly extended his hands. Indicating the coil of rope, I called to the Danes, "Tie him."
Harald himself took part in trussing Nikos securely. Nor was he gentle with the windings and knots. When he was finished, he drew Nikos's gold-handled sword and put the blade to his ribs. "He will not be escaping this time, I think."
Thus we departed for the Great Palace, eighteen barbarians, ten Sarazens, and a handful of monks, leading one baleful eparch and three Armenian pirates through the streets of Constantinople: a strange procession, perhaps. But no more strange than that which had brought the thieving quaestor to justice.
The imperial guards and the two komes remained at the villa, bound hand to foot, where they were watched over by a dozen disgruntled Sea Wolves, who would rather have been among their comrades going to the palace.
Nikos walked along, head down, eyes on the ground, neither speaking, nor struggling. He knew well enough when to keep his mouth shut; I reckon he was biding his time and saving his breath for when it would serve him best. Once he stumbled and would have fallen, but Harald reached out a hand and steadied him. Had Nikos's look been a blade, Jarl Harald would have lost his hand. As it was, Nikos turned his eyes once more to the ground without a word.
The only time he spoke was to confirm his name to the scholarae at the gate, who was understandably reluctant to allow our party into the palace precinct without better authority than he possessed. This difficulty had been anticipated, of course. "We are an official delegation," I declared. "Please summon the Chief of the Palace Guard."
The soldier stared, uncertainly. "But I-"
"All is well," I assured him. "We will wait here until he can attend us."
With a last backward glance, the soldier departed, leaving us in the company of his fellow guards. He was gone longer than I imagined it would take-enough time for me to begin thinking our ruse had been discovered. Patience, I thought, smiling at the staring, suspicious scholarii; brazen it out and we are soon finished.
My resolve was soon rewarded when, a few moments later, I stood looking into the face of my friend, Justin.
"So," he said, his aspect solemn as his voice, "you have returned at last." His eyes flicked from me to those with me, taking in the Arabs and barbarians at a glance. "What do you want?"
I felt a sudden queasiness ripple through my inward parts. Had I misjudged my old friend?
"It is good to see you, Justin," I said. "You helped me once-"
"And now you expect me to help you again," he observed, his voice hard.
Nikos, seeing his chance, announced, "They have taken me against my will. I demand you seize them at once."
Justin turned his face slowly towards the disturbance. "Who are you to make demands of the emperor's men?"
"I am Nikos, Eparch of Constantinople," he snapped in exasperation. "Make them release me at once and I will see you rewarded."