The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [265]
So what, now, did he think, watching Doria the traitor? Doria, who must have arrived after dawn and already made his presence known, for the Sultan was saying, “We have taken note of the message you sent, and of the meeting you have had with our Vizier. You know that a further communication was carried this morning to the tekvour of Trebizond?”
“To the Emp—Yes, illustrious lord,” said Pagano Doria.
“One will read you its terms,” said the Sultan. He balanced a sliver of peach and began, with red lips and tongue, to consult it. His teeth were ill-shaped and white. The same clerk’s voice began to intone, in bad Greek.
To the Emperor of Trebizond of the Imperial Family of the Hellenes. Mehmet the Great King declares: You see how great a distance I have travelled to invest this your territory. If you now surrender your capital, I shall present you with lands, as I did Demetrius, prince of Morea, on whom I bestowed riches, islands and the beautiful city of Aenos. He is now living at peace, and is happy. But if you do not, know that annihilation faces your city. For I will not leave until I have levelled the walls and killed all who live there, with ignominy.
The voice ceased. The Sultan said. “And you, master Genoese consul, were in the City when my envoy arrived? How was this received?”
“With cries, my lord; and expressions of fear and of grief, and supplications for mercy.”
“It became known to the people?”
“Immediately,” said Pagano Doria. “I fear, before the Emperor himself had so much as heard the words of your secretary.”
“And the Emperor?”
“Was shaken by your lordship’s dread name. His advisers have already told him resistance is useless, and your message confirmed it. He is preparing his answer.”
“Which will say?”
“Who but his closest advisers could tell? But it is known that the letters, the further letters promising safety from the mother of the Emperor’s nephew have greatly affected him. He is thought to be framing a reply that will offer your illustrious lordship all your lordship desires. He will relinquish his empire. He will ask your lordship to take in marriage his younger daughter, an exquisite virgin called Anna.”
Nicholas flushed, and Tobie straightened. Without looking, he felt for the other man’s arm and closed around it the grip that could draw teeth from camels. Without speaking, he held it.
“Perhaps,” said the Sultan. He dispatched the peach, without interest.
Doria said, “Or there is a charming child Alexios. A nephew. Who has a beautiful mother.” Tobie tightened his grasp.
“Perhaps,” said the Sultan again. He dipped his hands in a bowl. It was gold, rimmed with rubies. “You spoke of arms?”
Doria’s face, already bright, brightened further. He was happy to speak further of arms. He was ready and willing to give a detailed report of the arms he had brought with him from Flanders: their type, their number, their quality. His Turkish was almost as good as his Greek.
“And you wish us to have them. A gift,” said the Sultan.
“Naturally,” Doria said, smiling still. “Who else could be worthy?”
“You have buried them outside the walls, Mahmud tells me. And since, in these dangerous times, it might be unwise for you to return now to Trebizond, you would not object to our sending ourselves to recover them? By the time they are here you will be free to go where you wish. If we do not possess the City by then, our entry cannot be long deferred. This is agreeable?”
“My lord!” said Doria; and kissed the carpet with rapture.
“It is well. Tursun Beg will find quarters for you. You