Greek Fire

by James Boschert

  *****

  The next day Talon rose early, but not so early that Joannina did not intercept him. She greeted him with a wan smile and kissed him on both cheeks.

  “I trust you slept well, Talon, despite the events of last night?”

  He looked into her red-rimmed eyes and drawn features and saw the pain. Rather than rushing off, which was his inclination, he decided to stay for a while.

  “I slept, but I fear that perhaps you did not, my Lady?”

  “It was difficult, Talon. I am so grateful…”

  He put up a restraining hand. “Come, my Lady. I have found that gardens are the most precious of remedies for calming the spirit. Why do not we walk outside? It is a beautiful day and you have a lovely garden.”

  She nodded and placed her hand on his arm then they walked out onto the loggia pausing, for a brief moment, to look over the Golden Horn and the glittering sea now full of sails of all manner of ships, which had taken shelter from the storm the night before but were now free to sail again.

  “How is it that you, a warrior, and my son tells me a formidable warrior, love gardens so much, Talon?” she asked him as they descended the steps of the loggia and walked along a pathway that led among the shrubs and olive trees that glistened with rain drops not yet burned off by the early sun.

  “It seems like a long time ago, my Lady Joannina, that I was introduced to a garden in a land where they are especially prized because water is not so freely available. They are known as paradise and men and women value them highly as places to reflect and find peace.”

  “I come often to this garden, but alas, my two daughters do not…did not always often join me. I fear the young are always impatient to do other things that preoccupy them. Do you find peace here in my garden, Sir Talon?”

  Talon smiled. “Your garden is one of those paradises and I love to walk in it. I know full well why your husband likes the vines too. He explained it to me and it made good sense.”

  “My husband is a good man, although he can be very prickly at times. You are aware that he has become very fond of you?”

  Talon smiled at her. “I am one of those terrible Franks. How could this be?”

  Joannina laughed and he was pleased that she could. There was much grief, but this one time she could.

  Then she became serious and said, “My little daughter spent the night with me.”

  Talon said nothing.

  “If you are not aware of this, then you should be. She is head over heels in love with you, Talon. She cried a lot, as I think she knows that you are not interested.”

  He stopped in surprise and stared at her. Joannina smiled. “Oh yes, I have noted it, and since the first day too.”

  “As I recall, she spent some time treating me like something the dog had dropped at the door,” he said with a grin.

  She laughed again. “Ah, but I am a woman, and last night it was confirmed. Talon, you do know that this is a family that would welcome you as a son. You have proved a staunch friend and comrade to our Alex and all of us. We are forever in your debt for that. But…”

  “My Lady?”

  “You carry many deep secrets and my instincts tell me that Theo will not be lucky where you are concerned. Am I right? Is there another woman in your life?”

  “Yes, my Lady, there is. But you must know that I am very fond of Theo and would not hurt her for the world. She is amusing, resourceful and very intelligent, and will I hope one day be a formidable physician, but…there is someone…I left behind a long time ago.”

  “Where is this woman? Is she in Acre?”

  “No, my Lady. She is in Persia, although I do not know if she is indeed still alive. I dreamt of her only last night and it left me very confused.”

  Joannina touched him gently on the arm. “Ah, Talon, it is as I feared. I imagine she is very beautiful. They say some Persian women are exquisite. I shall have to tell Theo before too long. Gregaros was making sheep’s eyes at her last night. He is from a very good family and might be able to deal with that complicated girl of mine.”

  It was Talon’s turn to laugh. “Complicated she is, but she is a truly wonderful girl, Joannina. I wish to be her friend. If Gregaros can woo her and hold her, then he is a lucky man indeed. But I am not leaving you for good when I depart for Acre, which I must do very soon. Sir Guy will be wondering what has delayed my arrival and I have urgent dispatches to deliver. But now that we have a trading license from his Majesty, I hope to be a frequent visitor to your house in the future.”

  “None of us would forgive you were you not to visit us, Talon. You will always have a family here with us.” She had tears in her eyes as she kissed him on the cheek. “Look, my husband is bullying the gardeners in the vineyard again. We must go and defend them.” She took his arm and they made their way down to the rows of vines where the senator stood holding up a small bunch of grapes while he harangued the long-suffering gardeners.

  *****

  Having spent the better part of the early morning with the Senator and Joannina, Talon quickly paid his respects to Alexios. He was evasive when Alexios asked him if he knew why his sister had been attacked, pleading ignorance, but it was clear from his face that Alexios was dissatisfied with his answer.

  “I understand that Eugenia was attacked by a footpad, and I came too late to save her, Alex.”

  “But Theo said he spoke to you before he died. She also told us about a visit you paid to the Senator Spartenos’ house some time ago, and she was certain that you went there again last night,” Alexios said, indicating that he wanted to hear more.

  “Yes, I did go there the first time, because I noticed someone I knew from a long time back go there in the night.”

  “Since when does a Templar go around visiting houses at night and uninvited?”

  Talon spent some time explaining who Caravello was and what had transpired in Alexandria.

  “Now I can understand something of what this is about,” Alexios stated, “but what does he have to do with the senator?

  Talon went on to explain what had occurred with the Greek Fire, which Alexios knew about, but not the source. When he had finished Alexios was silent for a long moment. Finally he looked at Talon.

  “I do not want my father to know what you have told me, Talon. He might not have liked Spartenos, but he would be very disturbed to find out that he was a traitor.”

  “I agree, Alex. It will do no one any good to look further now. It is difficult enough for all of you to lose Eugenia.”

  “What did my sister have to do with him, Talon?” Alexios asked, his tone insistent.

  “Before she died she told me she had delivered a message from the palace; that is all I know, Alex.”

  Alexios looked at him hard. “You are not telling me everything, but I think that you are protecting my sister, Talon. If her honor was at stake, then so be it. As far as I am concerned she died without dishonor and I shall mourn her.”

  Talon placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I knew her for but a very short while, but I too mourn her with your family. Alex, the danger is past and you can look forward to the future without looking over your shoulder. May her soul rest in peace.”

  *****

  He made his excuses then left the villa with Guy and his men to go back to the harbor. The storms had moved away. The sun was well over the low hills of Galata on the other side of the Golden Horn and the day promised to be warm and sunny. There was even steam rising from the hillside as it began to burn off the moisture on the trees and grass along the avenue. As they walked down the hill to the harbor of Prosphorion Talon could smell lingering smoke from the burnt wreckage of the villa. They had seen a small crowd of curious onlookers gathered about the back wall, but they could not see much as the door was firmly shut and surly guards were posted outside to stop people climbing the wall to take a peek.

  “Were you part of that, Talon?” Guy asked him with a nod in the direction of he smoldering ruin.

 
“Yes. That man had Eugenia killed, but it was much larger than that, Guy. In the end the fire was for the best. God rest their souls.”

  Guy gave him an intense look but said nothing, and then led the way down the hill without further comment. As they continued Talon stared across the Golden Horn. There were almost no ships in the harbor. The fleet had gone to sea. He wondered where it would meet the Arabs and what the outcome would be.

  Makarios and Giorgios met them at the gates. They were there for the purpose of negotiating for a berth alongside the quay. Makarios greeted Talon warmly, which was a change from the last time they had met, when he had displayed distinct concerns as to Talon’s capabilities. That attitude was gone, replaced by a pleasant smile and discussion as to what came next.

  The soldiers at the gates, however, were on high alert and not about to let them in on just their word, so they had to wait while an officer was found. These were not the same men who had been there before. While one of them marched off to find his officer Talon had a moment of apprehension, as he thought this too might have been something the senator had arranged. Had the ports been taken over, he wondered? He was relieved a moment later to see a familiar figure in full chain armor stomping along the flagstones toward them. He had a slight limp to his gait.

  It was Cuthberht, and accompanying him were other Varangian soldiers. He grinned when he recognized Talon.

  “The Frank Templar, by God! I hope you are well?” They clasped hands.

  “I am well, Cuthberht. I was not expecting to see you here guarding the port. What is happening?”

  “Ah, Talon! Much happened last night while you were abed. We discovered a plot to depose the emperor, and scotched it in the making. We, the mighty Varangians, had a big fight on our hands rounding up a bunch of Cilicians and either chasing them out of town or throwing them into the dungeons!”

  Talon looked shocked. “A coup against the emperor, you say? Dear God, I trust you crushed it completely? How are we to sleep in our beds peacefully otherwise?”

  Cuthberht roared with laughter. “Oh yes, you missed a good fight. Well I know how you and Max like a scrap. It went back and forth for a while, I can tell you, for those Cilicians were determined fighters, but it is all under control right now. What can I do for you?”

  Talon smiled. “I have my ship here, Cuthberht. Do I have your permission to bring it alongside the quay to unload its cargo?”

  “Of course, Talon! By all means, and may your profits far exceed your costs!”

  “Thank you, Cuthberht. Please give my sincere best wishes and deepest thanks for our deliverance to all your comrades.”

  A small bribe to the harbormaster and they were able to signal to the ship that it could come in to tie up. An alert seaman called to Henry, and soon they could see the anchor stone being pulled up, and then the oars went out and the ship began to maneuver through the crowded shipping toward the quay.

  Talon stood and watched it coming in with an unexpected sense of pleasure. He found that to his surprise he was beginning to like the smells of the harbor and the noises that came with it, the wheeling seagulls and their shrill cries and the almost constant sound of water slapping against the stone walls, the bustle and activity. There was some kind of promise here, as though this was where adventures began. As soon as the ship was tied up Henry came ashore and greeted them. “What has been going on in the city, Talon? Guy, do you know anything?”

  “There was a small group of people who wanted to burn a palace down, that is all we know, Henry,” Talon said with a look at Guy.

  “Then that must have been the fire we could see on the hillside up there.” Henry pointed to where the villa had once stood high on the hill above the harbor.

  “Henry, you and Guy should work with Makarios and Giorgios to unload the ship and prepare her for sea again.”

  “Where are we going, Talon?”

  “There is a ship that I want to follow, Henry. Neither of you are to say anything to the others, but I want you to be ready at a moment’s notice to sail out of here. Do you see that ship over there?” Talon pointed.

  Henry and Guy shielded their eyes from the sun as they faced east.

  “The Genoese galley?” Guy asked. Then he gave a start. “Is that not the one that you and Max have such an interest in, Talon?”

  “It is, Guy, and I need you and Henry to keep a sharp eye on her, as I believe she is about to fly. If Makarios has a cargo for Acre, then we will take what he has, but it is secondary to keeping that ship under observation. We might even leave beforehand so that the captain does not get suspicious.”

  “Do we not need some cargo to pay for ourselves, Talon?” Henry asked, ever the practical seaman.

  “Do not worry about that, Henry. It is all taken care of; we are no longer poor men.”

  Henry beamed. “I like the sound of that, Sir Talon,” he said.

  “Hurry with the unloading, or Makarios will get impatient,” Talon laughed. “They are very pleased with us. We can come back to this city any time now.”

  Henry rubbed his beard with a pleased look on his weathered face and Guy grinned frighteningly.

  “What about the prisoner?” Guy asked.

  “He stays below if he knows what is good for him. This is not the time for him to show up on the deck.”

  “Very good, Sir.”

  As Talon walked away to talk to Makarios the two men looked after him.

  “You once told me that Talon was a strange and dangerous man, Henry, but now I know that he is not at all a man to cross.”

  “Why? Were you thinking of it, Guy?” Henry asked with a chuckle.

  Guy gave him a reproachful look and said, “You know better than that, Henry. I am loyal to the death for Sir Talon. He saved us from a fate worse than death in Egypt. You cannot repay that with anything less than complete loyalty.”

  “You are right, Guy. I was joking, but you are right. I do not ever want that look he sometimes gets to ever be directed my way. That is truly a look that can kill. Now tell me what happened last night. Do you know anything about that great fire on the hill?”

  “Oh yes, I think so,” Guy said, his tone that of a conspirator.

  *****

  It was already quite late in the afternoon when Talon arrived back at the villa with the aim of packing his belongings. He had intentionally stayed away because he felt that the family needed time to grieve and his presence might be an uncomfortable reminder of the night before.

  He was engaged in packing his meager belongings when there was a knock on the door and Theodora walked in without waiting. Talon smiled to himself; the girl was not one for convention.

  Her greeting to Talon was subdued. The first thing she did was to go up to him and put her arms around him and stay there for a few long moments. He put his arms around her and waited, smelling the clean scent of her tousled hair.

  “I am so glad that you are safe, Talon. My brother says that you have avenged the death of Eugenia and that we must grieve, but not with vengeance on our minds.” Her voice was muffled.

  “He is right, Theo; it is time to grieve, but not to allow old wounds to fester. It will be difficult, but it is time to begin the healing.”

  “Will you be staying now, Talon? It is almost winter and not good for sailing.” She sounded hopeful.

  “There is another ship in Abydos that I need to attend to, and then I am going to have to go back to Acre before winter, Theo. I have documents to deliver to Sir Guy for the King of Jerusalem and cannot delay any longer. But I promise I shall be back in the late spring.”

  There was a discreet cough from outside. “I did not mean to disturb you, Sir Talon, my Lady,” Joseph said from outside. “But my Lord Alexios told me to inform you about something going on that you should know about.”

  Talon immediately thought of what Cuthberht had told him, but Joseph sounded excited.

  “A messenger came to tell us that there is a wondrous sight to see from the top of the hills faci
ng west. The fleet is there! Lord Alexios said we must hurry, as the light is going.”

  Talon and Theodora looked at one another in alarm. “Come,” he said. “I think we are about to see something momentous. I fear it is the attack of the Arab fleet.”

  They left the room immediately to find Damianus and Joannina with Alexios in the dining room waiting for them.

  “Ah! There you are, Talon. Alexios says there is something up and we have to leave immediately to see it. Come with us, Theo, my girl. I have ordered John and Joseph to call for litters to take us there. You will go with Joannina. Hurry!”

  Talon hastened to get his sword and join them outside the house. The small procession left within a few minutes, only to discover that the street outside was already filling up with people, all of whom were making their way toward the top of the hill. Word had gotten out that there was a spectacle and people were murmuring to one another with excited anticipation.

  Talon walked with the bodyguards that Gregaros had left behind. Gregaros was no longer with them, having been recalled to the barracks that morning.

  “If we want a good view we must move to higher ground,” Alexios called out to the bearers and the eunuchs. “John, tell them to make for the Nymphaeum; we can see for a great distance from up there.”

  The procession hurried along, and the crowd made way for the litters as the bearers trotted by. By the time they were halfway up the slope to the Nymphaeum the bearers were panting and sweating in the evening air, but finally the western side of the city was laid out below them. An already sizable crowd was gathered on the crest of the hill. People of all walks of life were standing in small groups or families, talking excitedly and pointing out to sea. Talon sensed the tension in the air. All of a sudden they heard distant cheering and the people nearby exclaimed and pointed to the walls of the Nymphaeum. “The Emperor is here!” they whispered. “He is here to see the fleet.”