Siege

'Thank you for your kind words,' Sofia told Neophytus as she rose. 'I see that you have the empress-mother's communion cup.' She took it from the desk, and Neophytus put out a hand as if to stop her. 'It was one of her favourite possessions, a gift from her father,' Sofia continued. 'Did the empress-mother ask you to keep it for me?'

'The empress…' Neophytus began, haltingly. 'That is she… After she died she…'

'No matter,' Sofia said. 'I am glad to find it here. It will be a precious keepsake for me. Had you not protected it, it would no doubt have been melted down for the imperial coffers by now. Thank you.' Sofia headed for the door, taking the cup with her. Neophytus jumped up and followed her. He looked ready to wrest the cup from her hand. 'And thank you for all of your kindness, to myself and to Helena. I will leave you in peace now.'

'But you cannot, the cup is…' Neophytus began, and then stopped. 'That is, I hope the cup brings you some comfort, Princess.'

'God keep you, Neophytus.'

'And you, Princess,' Neophytus replied, making the sign of the cross. 'Halias will show you out.'

The acolyte was waiting for her in the hallway. 'Halias,' Sofia enquired as they walked side by side back to the narthex, 'do you often deliver letters for Father Neophytus?'

'Yes.' The boy nodded.

'Might I ask to whom?' Halias hesitated. 'I am simply curious,' Sofia said, stepping close as she put her hand on the boy's arm.

Halias flushed red. 'M-many people,' he managed. 'The empress-mother, Patriarch Mammas, Father Gennadius.'

Gennadius. Sofia had not known that Neophytus was connected to the monk. 'Thank you, Halias,' Sofia said, releasing the boy's arm.

As she rode back to the palace in her carriage, Sofia raised Helena's cup to her nose. It smelled of almonds. Odd, she thought. She ran a finger along the bottom of the cup and placed it in her mouth, but she tasted nothing unusual, only the faint bittersweet tang of wine residue. That evening Sofia grew nauseous and then vomited repeatedly late into the night, long after her stomach had emptied out all its contents. Finally, exhausted, she lapsed into a fevered sleep. She dreamed of Helena's golden communion cup, its rim blazing red. In the dream, she took the cup and drank from it, only to find that it was filled with blood. Neophytus appeared and told her to drink her fill. The dream ended as she drained the cup, blood spilling down her cheeks. When she awoke, the cup sat on her bedside table, where she had left it. She fumbled for the cup, knocking it over. To her relief, it was empty. Sofia shuddered and turned away, but the dream stayed with her.

The next morning she awoke with a thundering headache, her limbs heavy and tired. She felt certain that her dream had been a message and that she knew its meaning: the cup was poisoned. That was the explanation for her illness and for Helena's untimely death. And if Helena had been poisoned, then there could be only one man responsible. Not Neophytus: he had nothing to gain from Helena's death. No, it had to have been Gennadius.

Confirming her suspicions would not be easy. She would have to blackmail Neophytus to get to Gennadius, and she could not do that on her own. There was only one person to whom she could turn: Lucas Notaras, her husband-to-be. Constantine had decreed that they would marry in September, and as her fiance, Notaras was the only man other than her confessor that Sofia was allowed to receive. She wrote a quick message, requesting that he present himself at her quarters the following morning. Involving Notaras was risky, she knew. He was a proud opponent of union and an ally of Gennadius. Still, he was her only hope if she were to avenge Helena's death.

The next day Notaras arrived punctually at her chambers. 'Princess Sofia, I am pleasantly surprised by your invitation,' he said with a bow. 'To what do I owe this honour?'

'I must speak with you about matters of some importance,' she told him. 'We must speak in private.'

'In private, Princess?' Notaras asked with a rakish smile.

'Yes, we will speak in the garden.' Notaras nodded and followed her to a small rose garden in the palace courtyard. There they could talk in private under the watchful eyes of Sofia's maid. They began to walk the gravel path around the garden, and when Sofia was certain that no one was within earshot, she spoke in a low voice. 'I need your help.'

'By all means, Princess.'

'I know that you are supporting Gennadius's bid to replace Mammas as patriarch,' Sofia said. 'You must cut whatever ties you have with him. Gennadius is dangerous.'

'What do you mean, dangerous?'

Sofia stopped. 'What I tell you now, you must swear to tell no one,' she said. Notaras hesitated. 'I promise that it will not compromise your honour.'

'Very well then, I swear it.'

'Good,' Sofia said. 'I believe that I have discovered the cause of the empress-mother's death.'

'The empress-mother? She was sick for months. She died of old age.'

'No, she was poisoned,' Sofia said and continued walking.

'Who told you that?' Notaras demanded as he caught up to her. He did not express surprise.

'No one told me.' Sophia took the golden communion cup from a small bag that she was carrying and handed it to him. 'This was Helena's communion cup. I believe that her confessor, Father Neophytus, used it to poison her.'

Notaras was wary. 'What makes you think that?'

'Smell it.'

'It smells of almonds.'

'Why would a cup that has held only wine smell of almonds?' she asked. 'I merely tasted the residue left in the bottom of the cup and became violently ill.'

'But why would Neophytus want Helena dead?'

'He would not, but Gennadius would,' Sofia said. 'Neophytus is in contact with him, and Gennadius would do anything to stop the Union, even kill.'

'I see,' Notaras murmured as he examined the cup. 'What would you have me do?'

'Tomorrow, we will confront Neophytus together,' Sofia replied. 'You will do whatever is necessary — threaten, bribe or torture — to persuade him to turn on Gennadius. When he does so, we will go to Constantine. You will turn Gennadius over and tell Constantine that you no longer oppose the Union.' Notaras began to protest, but she cut him off. 'I do not ask you to accept the pope's decree, but at the very least work for compromise. You have given your oath to Constantine. If you truly believe in honour, then keep your oath. Rally the nobles behind your emperor.'

'And if I refuse?'

Sofia stopped and met Notaras's gaze. 'Your friendship with Gennadius is widely known. If you support the practices of those who fight the Union, then you will share in their punishments as well.'

'Is that a threat, Princess?'

'Yes, Megadux, it is.'

Notaras paused for some time, staring silently at the cup. 'I will do as you ask, Princess,' he said at last. 'And if what you say is true, then I will turn Gennadius over to Constantine and give my support to the Union. But know that I do so only because I believe it to be best for Constantinople. I do not take kindly to threats.'

'So long as you help me, your reasons are your own concern,' Sofia said. 'Until tomorrow, then. Good-day, Notaras.' She turned and walked away, leaving him holding the cup. Sofia and Notaras left for the Haghia Sofia early the next morning, accompanied by Sofia's maid. Notaras did not wait for someone to greet them in the narthex. He headed straight into the great hall of the church, and Sofia followed, her maid trailing. They crossed the nave and emerged into a dining hall, where Notaras grabbed a young acolyte and ordered him to guide them to Neophytus's chamber.