The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [227]
“You sent word to my Drungarios. We agree. It shall be done. And when your galley returns, the same precautions will apply?” said the Emperor.
“Of course. Assuming it returns safely, Basileus,” Nicholas said. “Should the Empress so desire, my galley can transport a large party. She might wish her remaining children, the other young people of your family, to accompany her. It must be long since they saw their sister.”
The pink lips smiled below the narrow nose. “The bonds of family! What is more important?” said the Emperor David. “We shall consider such a congress but later, perhaps, in the year. We should not like it thought that the Imperial family had reason to leave Trebizond. Now you have many concerns, and must wish to return to your business. You have finished your wine?”
“Basileus,” Nicholas said. He laid his cup by, and rose. John did the same.
A finger rested at his lips, the Emperor was considering him. He removed the finger. “We take great pleasure, Messer Niccolò, in what you have brought us. I am conscious of it, and of the service you and your men are performing, and have performed: purchasing our goods, and escorting them safely from Erzerum. The lord Amiroutzes will fulfil our obligations. We have instructed him to be generous.” He turned his head, inviting their attention. At the edge of the pleasance, men had been busy. Instead of the elephant clock, the cart now bore stacked upon it a number of objects. The largest might have been a saddle. There were certainly cloths, or garments in many folds, and a chest. The chest, of modest size, looked perhaps the most interesting. The Emperor said, “There. Your servants may take it. We are pleased with you. We expect, in the weeks to come, to lean on you and your men.”
The men who had brought the cart took its handles. Nicholas spoke his thanks, and he and John embarked, busily, on a series of prostrations and backed themselves out. Rising, Nicholas allowed himself to be led to the Palace by the Treasurer. John le Grant and his men, predictably, were left on the path to the gate with the cart.
Amiroutzes said, “I shall not detain you. I had orders to pay you, and I trust, when you see what you carry, that you will have no reason to feel disappointment. Here is an inventory of what it contains. It struck me that you might prefer a prompt settlement. In case, when your galley returns, you feel impelled to load your cargo and leave?”
“Would you suggest that I do?” Nicholas said. “The Emperor seems more than confident.” He signed a paper. The inventory, when he glanced at it, turned him cold.
“It is the blood of the Comneni,” said Amiroutzes. “Warriors all; servants of the Incarnate God. He sees no danger, and if he did would die here, in his glory, as Vice-Regent of Christ. As did his kinsman Constantine Palaeologi, who perished for Constantinople.”
Nicholas thought. “Then could one do less,” he said, “than die at his side?”
Returning, he saw John without recognising him, and was brought to himself with a start. They fell into step, walking down to the gates with their escort and servants.
John said, “D’you have any idea of the worth of what is on that one cart? It isn’t money. It’s pearls.”
Nicholas said, “They like paying in jewels.”
“It was a nice clock,” said John le Grant. His face displayed morose pleasure, as usual. “I see they got to steal your dinner as well.”
Nicholas turned and looked at him. Under the red hair, the freckles, running together, had produced a skin like a glaze on a ham. He said, “It’s altogether time you got out of my sight. Take the stuff on the cart and put it on the manifesto for going on board.”
“With the letters?”
“With the letters,” Nicholas said. “Or Julius won’t know what to do, will he? Or anyone else.”
Thinking of Julius, of whom at least he could speak to John le Grant, led to thinking of Gregorio, about whom he wished to speak to nobody. He began talking at random, and passed the rest of the journey back to the fondaco in a contentious discussion about nitre.
Chapter 33