Even her daughter Theodora had thawed enough towards him to offer to take him to the schools she went to, buried in among the buildings of the Great Palace. His fascination with the city evidently appealed to her, and thus it was that she became something of a guide. She took great pride in showing him the churches that seemed to be everywhere. Often he heard bells chiming a light sound that rang with a high note. It was quite different from the quiet of the mosques he was familiar with, and the other thing he noticed was the lack of people calling men to prayers. He had become so used to Adhan, the call to prayer, sung out by the muezzin in the mosques of Cairo five times a day that he actually noted its absence.
He observed too that the churches did not have the cool squares and archways that characterized the mosques, where the imams and students could sit in the shade of the trees and discuss the laws and codes of Islam in the calm atmosphere of the enclosed courtyards. However, they more than made up for this lack of comfort with their exquisite frescoes and the stunning images of the saints and the various Emperors depicted in pious stances with more gold leaf than he had ever seen before. He understood that these were a very pious people despite their wide assortment of dress and their freedom of expression.
*****
Alexios was determined to help Talon improve his Attic Greek and kept him working on the language by challenging him to chess, which they played in the mornings under the shade of the olive trees that dotted the gardens of the villa. Theodora once came by and challenged him to a game. He found it unnerving as she took him to pieces very quickly, much to his chagrin and the vast amusement of Alexios, who later admitted that she could beat him too, more often than not.
While walking with them in the garden one day Talon felt they had become friendly enough to ask, as he turned to Alexios and Joannina, “Tell me, why does the Senator dislike the Franks so?”
Joannina spoke up. “His opinion of them is not high. The Franks appear to be ignorant of most things other than fighting and have little wish to learn from anyone. They and the Germans came through here twenty years ago on their way to the Holy Land and left a swathe of destruction. We could not believe how barbaric their ways were! They quarreled with everyone, and each other, and the whole city was in fear lest they plunder Constantinople instead of going on their way.”
“You will have noticed, Talon, that we Romans have certain…refinements that do not sit well with Franks,” Alexios said. “No one doubts that they can fight well, but that seems to be all they can do. Even their fighting prowess was not enough for them last time, because they were defeated by the Turks. The Germans had to scuttle home, and the story is that the French King blundered about all over the countryside before he finally made it to Jerusalem. That crusade was a debacle!”
“Hmm, what you are saying is that the Latin people, we Franks, do not believe in ‘Diplomacy’ as you call it?”
“Exactly, Talon! When faced with a superior force, diplomacy and negotiation are often the answer, although Manuel might disagree with me on that point from time to time. He has used the bludgeon more often than diplomacy lately.”
“What do you mean?”
“You might not have noticed, but the area designated as the Venetian quarter is empty. The emperor Manuel arrested every one of the Venetians a few years ago on suspicion of treachery and threw them all into prison. Our jails are full of those people; only a very few got away.”
“Why would he do this?” Talon asked, puzzled. “I thought you told me that he liked the Latin ways as they call them here.”
“He is a man of contradictions. But the Venetians were very much disliked. They had special trading privileges that no one else had, not even the Genoese. They paid only seventeen instead of the usual thirty solidi for each ship that sails into Constantinople. As a result the Venetians became richer than anyone else very quickly. Furthermore, the Venetians were arrogant; they rioted and clashed with the other Latins, the Genoese and Pizans, then with the Greeks of Byzantium. It vexed the citizens no end, I can tell you. Eventually they put pressure upon the Emperor to do something to curb their excesses.”
As they were walking up to the loggia, they were joined by Theodora, who linked her arm with that of her brother. She had just overheard the last remark.
“They were pigs!” she stated as though that explained it all. Talon had to control his laughter at her decisiveness.
“Theodora! Mind your tongue, young lady!” her mother said sharply. Theodora scowled, quite unrepentant, then directed a cheeky quirk of her mouth at her brother who pretended to be looking elsewhere.
“Were the Venetians very important to the empire to have gained so much in the way of privilege before they fell into disfavor?” Talon asked when he had recovered his composure.
“They were and perhaps are still very important to the empire, as they have the ability to muster large navies. But they are always looking out for the Venetians and they caused many problems. They, and most of the other Latins, are disliked by the local merchants in the city. None of us like them very much.”
“We are not merchants, my dear,” Joannina admonished her son.
“Aristocrats do not deal with those mucky people,” Theodora stated; it was clear she was pretending to sound pompous.
Alexios looked exasperated. “True, Mother, but we, like many people, invested in trade with the Venetians through agents, and some lost all they had when those people were arrested. Merchants we might not be, but Papa still invested heavily with them, as you know. We stand to lose even more if they stay in prison much longer. Makarios is desperate; he does not know how to dispose of what we have in our warehouses.”
Joannina looked pensive and looked over to Talon. “You must understand, Talon, that our family used to own large estates in those areas now under the control of the Turks which they call Rum. We were fortunate in that we were able to bring a lot of that wealth out with us. But here one must place one’s money somewhere, so we employ agents. We could still lose much because there have to be ships to take our goods to other countries to sell. The Venetians used to do this for us.”
“In what sort of things do your agents invest, My Lady?”
“I have no idea whatsoever. Alexios can tell you, I am sure,” she responded with a vague wave of her delicate, ringed fingers.
“I can tell you,” Theodora said with a smug look on her face. “The agents collect the silk and the olive oil that comes from our estates in the west and buy the spices that come in huge caravans of camels from far away to the east. Isn’t that right, brother?”
“I told you she was bright.” Alexios looked at his sister with pride. “Yes, and more, but without ships we cannot send it to destinations in the Middle Sea and sell it.”
“I know of these caravans,” Talon said. “I remember seeing them while I was in Isfahan. I had no idea that they came this far west.”
“You know of these things!” Theodora was clearly warming to him.
“Yes, My Lady. Isfahan is a lovely city on the edge of a great desert called Dashte Kavir, which means the desert of salt.”
“How is it that you were there?” Joannina asked.
“I was taken there by a man to whom I owe much,” Talon said, evading the question. “He was a doctor, and he passed along what skills I could understand in medicine.” He briefly allowed his mind a glimpse of his ‘uncle’ Far’jan and ‘aunt’ Fraiba.
“What about the Genoese and the Pizans?” Talon asked after a pause, to take keep the conversation where he wanted it to remain.
“I would trust a Genoese even less than a Venetian!” Alexios said bitterly. “They are now the cock of the coop and are crowing loudly about it. They don’t have reliable agents and you never know if you will be paid back on your investment or cheated. As for the Pizans, they are upstarts and barely know how to sail a ship according to Makarios. How could I entrust a cargo to them?”
Talon thought about all the slaves and staff needed to run this
villa and wondered how they managed when the trade was so poor; slowly the germ of an idea began to take hold in his mind.
The sun had set and he could see the servants lighting candles and oil lamps. To Talon there seemed to be more candles in the dining room of this house than he had seen in all the churches of Acre combined. Here was wealth despite their protestations to the contrary.
“We have guests for this evening. Talon, would you not stay and share our meal?” Joannina asked.
Before he could protest Theodora unexpectedly joined her mother’s plea.
“You will stay, will you not, Sir Talon?” she asked with a coy look and with emphasis on the ‘Sir.’
He glanced at her brother, who grinned. “I shall join with my mother and my sister and ask you to stay, Talon. We enjoy your company.”
“That is settled then,” Joannina stated with satisfaction. “Senator Spartenos and his wife will be here but Pantoleon will not, as I hear he is practicing for a chariot race, though how he does that in the dark I do not know. Theo, your sister will be here, so you can ask her to help you with your hair. It looks as though…well, never mind; please just try to look as though you have tried.”
She departed, holding her daughter’s arm tucked into hers, while the two men sat on the loggia and watched the evening draw in. Talon enjoyed the the view as he could see right across the Golden Horn to the hazy landmass on the other side. He glanced down the garden and observed the bee hives placed in a corner near to the fruit trees. It was a far cry from Acre, he thought to himself.
“Don’t pay any attention to my sister, Talon.” Alexios said, surprising him out of his reverie. “She has inherited all of my father’s ill graces, but one has to make allowances. She is very bright.”
“She is remarkable, Alex, quite remarkable,” Talon said with a grin.
“Is this the same Pantoleon of the chariot races?” he asked.
“Yes, he is the son of the senator who is coming to dinner. I know very well that he is not practicing this evening; he is probably in one of those high-end whore houses and I am sure that his father knows this, but, well, Pantoleon is a little spoiled. It is a rare thing for Senator Spartenos to want to come and visit, as he and papa are usually at one another’s throats in the Senate. I don’t entirely trust him. My guess is that he has heard of you Templars and wants to find out more about why you are here. I shall be circumspect, I promise.”
A servant appeared and announced that the guests had arrived. Alexios got up and went inside, telling Talon to remain where he was and that he would come and collect him after he had performed his duties.
*****
The guests arrived in litters, with torch bearing runners alongside and to the fore to guide the bearers to the front steps. Talon kept out of the way while the guests were greeted by the Senator and his wife, with Alexios standing by. But then Alexios came to fetch him and took him to the ante room where several newcomers were standing. One of them was a man almost as old as Damianus but less stooped and in possession of a muscular frame despite his advanced age, his greying hair cut in the tight curled manner the Greeks favored. His features were strong and showed a determined jaw but with a sensuous mouth, while his deep-set brown eyes seemed just a little close together on either side of a fleshy nose. He wore a full-length white tunic, with silver and gold thread woven into the fabric on the sleeves and hem, over which he wore a traditional toga denoting high rank. His whole bearing denoted a man accustomed to power and unafraid to use it.
The other man was clearly a member of the Greek clergy. He wore dark vestments, embroidered with small crosses, that came down to his feet; the cloth looked expensive, as did the white silk shawl and the huge silver cross formed in the Byzantine design set with rubies and precious stones on a long chain around his neck. His long greying beard resembled those of several Templars Talon had encountered. The features behind the beard were kindly, although the deep-set dark eyes were enquiring and sharp. The rounded, silk-embroidered hat with no brim that he wore on his head gave the impression of height.
Both the churchman and the senators were in the middle of a discussion when Alexios brought Talon forward. “Preoteasa Anthony, Senator Spartenos, may I present Sir Talon, who is one of the Knights Templar we have as our guests in the city.”
The Senator greeted Talon with a nod and a cool look. “We know of the Templars, Sir Talon. What is it that brings you to our fair city?”
“It is a mission from King Baldwin that my superior Sir Guy is better suited to tell you, Sir. I am here merely as his escort.”
The Preoteasa addressed Talon next. “We have heard much that is good of the Templars, Sir Talon. We respect your Order, although it is lamentable that our Byzantine church and that of Rome seem to be at odds all the time.”
“You will have to forgive me Sir,” Talon responded. “I am a mere soldier of the Order and unacquainted with the complexities of the dispute, if that is what it is. Surely we are all meant to face the same way if we are to defeat the Seljuk and retain the Holy Land.” He knew he was falling back upon an easy way out and wished Sir Guy were here to further the discussion, as the Priest seemed eager to talk a without rancor.
Anthony smiled.” It is most probable that there is more for us to agree upon rather than disagreeing, Sir—”
The conversation was interrupted by Senator Damianus, who seemed irritated to see Talon and did not waste any time in calling his guests away to discuss some item or other. He left with a glare at his son as he took the senator’s arm and steered him and Father Anthony off towards a corner. Alexios seemed to give a mental shrug and walked Talon over to where Joannina was standing with another woman. She appeared to be older than Joannina, somewhat frail, with very delicate bones. Her small oval face was covered with some white powder and her eyes made up with something dark, while her lips were painted redder than they needed to be. But her smile was friendly enough and her greeting warm.
“We hear of the Templars, Sir Talon. They are a bastion of defense against the Saracen and guardians of our sacred places. I pray every day that God will smite the enemy and bless his soldiers in their mission.”
Talon bowed politely. He was uncertain as to what to add to this pious statement, but Joannina came to the rescue by looking up and saying, “Now that is an improvement.”
Talon turned to see what she meant.
Theodora made a grand entrance, with her sister just behind her. She had clearly made a considerable effort to bring her unruly hair under control and wore a little make-up that had been administered by someone with understanding of its effect. She was dressed in a fashionable ankle-length tunic of many colors that shimmered, held with a slim belt around her waist and some gold on her arms. She looked self-conscious and awkward and held her arms straight down at her sides.
But behind her walked an apparition and Talon stared.
“Be careful, there are flies around and you will gulp one down if you do not shut your mouth, Talon,” Alexios whispered gleefully. “But I think my little sister is seeking to impress as well. I have not seen her looking self-conscious in my lifetime. You must have had an effect upon her. Beware!” He chuckled. “Now I shall introduce you to my elder sister.”
The lovely young woman glided up to them with her eyes respectfully lowered to greet her mother and brother with a kiss on either cheek that barely touched.
She was even more beautiful than her mother, Talon decided. Her lustrous dark hair was carefully coiffed and curled to show off a perfect oval face while the make-up, which most women in the city seemed to over use, was carefully applied and served to enhanced her large dark eyes and her wide sensuous mouth. She had the family nose, but not as pronounced as that of her younger sister, while her cheekbones were just a little more prominent making for regular and very attractive features.
She turned to observe Talon and her brother said, “Eugenia, this is Sir Talon, about whom we have talked before. Eugenia is a Lady in Waiting at the
palace. She is not here as often as we would like, as her duties take her away too often.”
She gave a dimpled smile and a curtsy, offering Talon a cool wrist to lean over. He was learning and did not touch the alabaster skin with his lips. He was reminded of the stone nymph leaning over the pond.
“I am honored to meet with you, Sir. I have heard very much of you and look forward to hearing more of your country,” she said. Her voice was well modulated and although it was an automatic reply her eyes stared into his for a moment longer than perhaps intended.
The senators must have finished their discussion, as they began to walk towards the small group. Joannina took this to be a signal for them to all move towards the dining area where the servants had laid out a feast on the large table.
As they were seated Senator Spartenos eyed Talon sharply from his position almost opposite, next to Alexios. The men were seated at one end of the table while the women at the other. Talon was conscious of Theodora watching him and on one occasion caught her look and smiled at her. She dropped her eyes immediately and concentrated on picking at her food. Gone was the slightly brash, confident girl with whom he was acquainted, replaced by a bashful young lady with nothing to say.
Her sister was seated next to her and she too, while listening politely to the conversation between her mother and the visiting lady, seemed to be preoccupied with something else. Talon noticed her glance more than once at Senator Spartenos, who was involved in an intense conversation with Damianus and his son and Father Anthony.
Talon realized that they were discussing a hunting expedition. Alexios looked over at him.
“Can you understand what we are talking about, Talon?” he asked.
“Is it a lion hunt, Alex?”
“Yes, it is, and one that went badly wrong for someone,” he returned, and then concentrated upon what Senator Spartenos was saying.
Greek Fire Page 18