Greek Fire

by James Boschert

  Sir Guy finished with comments on the terms of the agreement that he had written for the emperor’s advisers. He expected a response as soon as Talon was able to send one.

  Talon read the instructions carefully, as they referred to the offer of marriage to the emperor’s son. The dowry was beginning to look impressive. The Greeks were apparently hard negotiators. Sir Guy was keen to know if there was anything to learn about the suggested crusade through the emperor’s lands. As Talon was a de facto ambassador from Jerusalem he realized that he had more duties to attend to than he had bargained for.

  He had had the faint hope that there might have been a response to his letter to his parents. Then he reminded himself that even if the letter had arrived by now a reply would not arrive before the spring of the following year. The season for sailing was fast closing this October.

  *****

  The next day Talon hastened to the villa to talk to Alexios, who had sent a messenger to attend him. He knew that Alexios would be well aware that the ship had come in by now; Joseph would have informed him almost the moment the ship had been sighted. Talon arrived at the villa in time to have moment with Joannina, who greeted him warmly and kissed him on the cheek.

  “God’s blessings. Good morning, Joannina. It is a beautiful day, but a little cold,” Talon said, looking at the finely embroidered woolen tunic that reached her feet and the fur stole that was draped over her shoulders. Indeed, the cool wind from the north had swept any lingering clouds from the sky, leaving it azure blue. He noticed a small fire in the entrance hall and realized that winter was just around the corner.

  “God’s blessings to you too, Talon. Alexios is almost back to his old self and I am right glad of it. Do be careful not to tire him out too much, won’t you?” She gave his arm a squeeze and a smile.

  He hastened along the corridors to Alexios’ room and knocked.

  “Come in.” Alexios’ voice sounded stronger. Talon breathed a sigh of relief. His friend was on the road to recovery.

  “God’s Blessings, Alex.”

  “Ah Talon! God’s Blessings to you!”

  Talon sniffed. “That smells like cloves,” he said.

  “The physician has been using some kind of smelly paste that deadens the feeling around my knee,” Alexios said. “He does not want me to stay on the sap of the poppy.”

  “He is right, Alex. You can become addicted to the poppy. So how is the pain these days?”

  “It is a heavy ache and sometimes it itches badly.”

  “I think you are healing by the sound of it. Praise God!”

  “It is about time. I am sick of lying about in this room,” Alexios responded.

  Another man was in the room respectfully standing near to Alexios. At the side of the bed in a loose pile were many papers, some of which had even slipped to the floor. It was clear that they had been going over them together as Alexios was sitting on the edge of the bed with a blanket over his knees and a quill in his hand.

  “Talon, you have not met before. This is Makarios, my family’s agent for our estates and our warehouses. Makarios, meet Sir Talon. You two are going to be working together.”

  Makarios was a small man in a plain tunic with a belt but no sword. He was balding on top but wore the greying hair that was left in a queue tied at the back of his head, unlike many Greeks who favored short curls. He sported a large bulbous nose with pits in it and sprouted hair from his ears. His light colored eyes were sharp but the glance he gave Talon was polite, and it was clear from his tone that Alexios respected him.

  “You arrived in good time, Talon. We were just discussing the cargo and how we would get it aboard. How did the crew take the news?” Alexios asked.

  “Need you ask,? They are delighted and eager to serve you well,” Talon replied. He noted the reserved look that Makarios gave him and was briefly irritated, but then he realized that a great deal of trust was being placed in him going into this venture, and should it fail not only would he be responsible but the Kalothesos family would be ruined. He became very attentive.

  They discussed the type of cargo and its destinations. Makarios told Talon that one of his men who knew the agents on both islands would be sailing with them to make sure that they did not have trouble with customs and that the agents stayed honest. Time passed very quickly to the point where Talon noted that Alexios was getting tired. Talon recognized the now familiar white lines at the corner of his mouth and sunken eyes.

  “We must close this meeting and allow Alexios to rest,” he said firmly after an hour of discussion.

  Makarios glanced at Alexios, noted his condition and nodded. They helped him back onto the bed and made sure he was resting comfortably before leaving. His eyes were shut before they left the room.

  “Makarios , I think it is important for you to meet my captain. When could you be free to do so?” Talon said to the agent as they walked down the corridor.

  “The best thing for all of us is to get your ship around to the port of Prospharion where I can come aboard and meet him. When can this be done?” His tone was curt but not rude.

  Talon assumed he was a busy man who valued his time. He had been impressed with the knowledge he displayed regarding the kind of cargo and the places where they could discharge it. His knowledge of the islands in the Greek seas south of Constantinople was very detailed.

  “I shall ask permission to do so at once.”

  “And I shall see what I can do to get the cargo to you as quickly as possible. The season for sailing is almost gone so we have little time and must use it well,” Makarios said. They parted at the entrance to the villa. Talon watched the man leaving with the rolls of papers under both arms, his short sharp stride carrying him speedily toward the gates.

  Talon turned back to pay his respects to Joannina and possibly also the senator.

  Joseph guided him to the back of the house and pointed out Joannina standing among the shrubs with her servants in attendance.

  She saw him and waved, said something to her serving girl and then floated up to him.

  “You have not exhausted my son, Talon?” she said her tone severe.

  “I fear that I have, Joannina, but we left in time, I think. He is resting now.” Not for the first time Talon caught himself admiring her fine features.

  “What do you think of his condition?” she asked in a direct manner, which was unlike her.

  “I think that it will not be long now before he is demanding to get around.”

  She laughed and he smiled back. Her eyes were merry and she linked her arm in his and said, “You will stay and eat? It is almost noon and I would have you tell us of your ship and how your men fared.”

  “Willingly, my Lady.”

  They made their way to the dining room and were just about to be seated when Theodora arrived. Her look was shy as she greeted him, and Talon wondered if her observant mother might notice.

  “I hear that your ship has arrived, Sir Talon,” she said with emphasis on the title.

  He smiled at her and replied, “That is right, my Lady Theodora. It arrived today and before very long we will be sailing again.”

  She looked at him with large eyes. “You mean…you are leaving us…again?”

  “What is this about leaving us?” Joannina asked, also concerned. “We had all thought that you might stay the winter. It is dreary enough, but better than Acre surely?”

  Talon laughed. “My Ladies, I am about to embark upon a voyage into the unknown. Places with names like Cyprus and Rhodes,” he intoned, pretending to look afraid.

  “You are going to Cyprus and Rhodes? Those are not unknown, Sir Talon?” Theodora snorted. “At least not to us. Perhaps the Franks have never heard of them but they have been part of our empire for a very long time.” Her tone was scathing.

  “I so wish I could go to these places one day,” she added with a wistful glance at her mother.

  Talon grinned. “To me they are strange places, my Lady. I have never been to t
hem and I pray that my captain knows what he is about when we set off.”

  “Does Father know of these plans? We have to tell Papa about what you are doing, Talon,” Theodora said.

  “What do we have to tell Papa?” said the senator.

  They all looked up in surprise. The senator was standing at the doorway with the eunuch John supporting him. He waved his stick in the air and repeated,“What is this that I need to know?”

  Joannina looked startled and Theodora glanced at Talon. “I shall tell him, Mama,” she said after a hesitant pause.

  “Papa, come in and join us please,” she said and hurried over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “We can talk when you are seated. Look, Mama has ordered the cook to make your favorite almond cakes for us.”

  Theodora and John assisted the old man to sit next to Joannina at the head of the table and made him comfortable. A plate of pork pate with thin slices of bread along with a glass of watered wine was placed in front of him. The plate of cakes was moved near by.

  He peered at Talon and said, “I remember…Talon isn’t it? How have you been, my boy?”

  Talon smiled and said, “Very well, Sir. I hope you are well too?”

  “Passing well, passing well. What is going on? You tell me. The girls will muddle it all up and then I will get confused.”

  Theodora snorted and began to protest but her mother gave her a look and said, “I agree, my dear. Talon should explain.”

  “With an apologetic look at the women Talon cleared his throat then spoke.

  “Sir, your son and I have decided that as I have access to a ship and he…you, have goods in warehouses to sell, it would be a good thing if we combined our efforts and worked together.”

  Damianus gave him a sharp look and Talon realized that old he might be but his faculties were still very much intact.

  “My son has not shared this with me,” he said; his tone was sharp.

  “It is a passing thing, my dear. He will recover and go back to the army. You will see,” Joannina said, her tone placating.

  “We are a great family and not merchants!” Damianus said, his voice louder and color rising to his neck.

  “Yes, we are aristocrats, Papa, but we have no fortune. The Venetians are in prison and Talon is offering his ship,” Theodora said, trying to sound confident, but she shot a wide-eyed look at Talon.

  “You have a ship? I did not know this!” Damianus was genuinely surprised.

  “He told us how he won it, Papa. You would be proud of him,” Theodora said with a sly look at Talon from under her thick eyebrows.

  “You must tell me sometime, but now tell me all about this plan you and my wayward son have hatched. I am not sure that I approve, and indeed I might not permit it.”

  “Sir, there was no intention of going behind you. I have a ship that is unemployed and I am able to use it as I will, while you have goods that are going bad in warehouses, so it made sense to discuss it with Alex, I mean Alexios,” Talon said. His tone was polite but he was becoming nervous. The senator could nix the whole arrangement if he disapproved.

  Talon set out to convince the senator. He was so preoccupied with his explanations that he barely tasted the food placed in front of him. The others listened, and Theodora burst in with ideas of her own, which made Talon wince as he had no idea whether Damianus had decided in advance to shut the whole enterprise down or not.

  They were on the last course of berries and cut grapes, which Theodora was spooning down in a hurry while Joannina only picked at her food, by the time he had finished. They all watched Damianus in the tense silence that ensued as he finally put down his own silver spoon and wiped his lips with a napkin.

  “Do you think he is ever going to soldier again with that wound?” he demanded.

  Joannina put her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide. Talon looked across the polished surface of the table at the stiffly erect man in front of him and knew he should not lie.

  “No, Sir, I do not think so. He will ride again…one day, but he will not play tzykanion any more.”

  “The old man nodded, his lined face was sad. “I wondered, but you would know, I suppose. So what is to become of him?” he asked the table at large.

  There was a disturbance at the entrance that made them all look up. Alexios was standing at the doorway supported by Joseph and another servant. He looked weak and drained but there was a determined set to his mouth and he motioned the two men to help him to the table.

  “Joseph told me that you were grilling Talon about our plan, Papa. I decided that I needed to be here to explain.”

  Joannina had risen and rushed to help him, exclaiming, “Alex, my darling, you really shouldn’t be wandering around the house like this! What will the physician say?”

  “Mama, I am tired of lying around in bed, and besides it is time to talk frankly about the future of this family,” Alexios said with some asperity.

  He was helped to sit next to Talon so that the two of them could look up the table at the two women and Damianus. Alexios was breathing heavily by this time and he took a sip of water. Damianus regarded his son with sharp eyes that could not altogether hide the sympathy he felt. All the same it did not look like he was going to make it easy for him.

  “You have been making plans behind my back and I disapprove of that. What have you to say about it? You are supposed to follow me into the senate at some time.”

  “Papa, you have always insisted that we are not merchants and should not be involved in trade. But we’re becoming impoverished for several reasons, not least because the emperor jailed all those Venetians.”

  “Pshaw! They’re arrogant Latins and needed to be taught a lesson. And do not underestimate the influence of being a senator,” Damianus said.

  “That may be, Papa, but while the Venetians are being taught this obscure lesson, Makarios is sitting on many bales of silk that are rotting in our warehouses and we have lost much in the way of the spices. Those are hard to replace and costly. We do not have the resources to weather this ‘lesson’ much longer.”

  “Manuel will release them soon, I am sure of it. And we are members of the nobility; my ancestors put us there and I have maintained us in this position with my military service and now as a senator. You, on the other hand, have offended the emperor and your career is in jeopardy. How do you propose then to maintain our position in society?”

  “Papa, how can you say that!” Theodora burst out. “Alex fought bravely and nearly died. That is unfair! We have an opportunity to regain our fortune using Talon’s ship and our goods. It makes all the sense in the world!”

  “Be quiet! Let him speak for himself,” Damianus said, his tone harsh.

  She subsided with a scowl and sent a look of appeal to her mother who opened her eyes wide and gave a tiny shrug in helpless sympathy.

  Alexios had tried to rise, anger written all over his face. “I did not come here to quibble with you over our position in society, Sir. If that is all you care about then there is nothing else to be said.” He sat back as though he did not care any more and glared at his father.

  “There is much to be said! But you must stop going behind my back and have the courage to speak to me honestly and to my face!” the old man almost shouted. “Talon over there tells me that you showed much courage in the face of death and battle, yet you fear to talk to me about trade?”

  Alexios glanced at Talon then stared across the table at his father, his mouth a tight line. The room was deathly silent for a long moment. Finally he took a deep breath and spoke.

  “You are right, Father. I was wrong not to talk to you first. It is just that…you have always denigrated the merchants and made it clear that we should not dabble with them, so I saw no reason for you to change your position in that regard.”

  “I have changed toward this young Frank, have I not? Perhaps I can be persuaded to discuss the enterprise you two have hatched.” Damianus glowered at his son, but there was a look in his eyes that no one
missed.

  Theodora was the first to react. She almost threw herself on her father and kissed him. “Papa, you are such a curmudgeon! Listen to them! I know you will love what they have to tell you. I know it!”

  Damianus patted her on he arm. “Is there no respect left in this house? Stop smothering me, child, and sit down.” His voice was gruff. “They have work to do this afternoon. I shall listen and give my verdict.” His tone had lost its bite, however. “How does this child of mine understand all this stuff about trade?” he asked the world at large.

  “She is a wizard with numbers, Papa,” Alexios said.

  Talon let out his breath. He knew in his bones that the old man was going to agree to the plan, but they were going to have to put a good argument before him. Joannina gave an exaggerated sigh of relief and said firmly, “The physician is coming this afternoon. You men had better get on with it. I do not want my son fainting from exhaustion, my dear,” she addressed her husband.

  Talon and Alexios spent the next hour with the senator explaining what they wanted to do. Theodora sat next to him now, Joannina having left to talk to the servants.

  Finally the senator motioned for water and sipped it, his face pensive. “I am interested in the long term aspects of this plan, Talon. Tell me, will Sir Guy permit you to work with us for a year or two? Do you know if he will?”

  “The ship is officially mine to use as I will, Sir. He made that plain, so I think that the answer is yes.”

  “That is good to know, as there is no telling what is going to happen between the Venetians and our emperor. I would prefer to know that we have a reliable means to ship our goods. You will have to have written permits from the Grand Palace if you do continue with this enterprise. Those are hard to obtain,” he added.