Videssos Besieged by Harry Turtledove

Author:Harry Turtledove [Turtledove, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780345402998
Google: jQDQAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0345402995
Barnesnoble: 0345402995
Goodreads: 101544
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 1998-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

VIII

Maniakes, his father, and Philetos stared at one another. The Avtokrator said, “I never imagined having anything so big fall into my lap. It’s almosttoo big. How do we use it to best advantage?”

In a dry voice, the elder Maniakes said, “We’ve been looking for something that would pry Abivard loose from Sharbaraz. If an execution order won’t do it, to the ice with me if I know what will.”

Philetos said, “Might it not be best to refrain from interfering? The natural course of events, so to speak, would then remove Abivard from matters concerning us.”

“And put Romezan in his place.” Maniakes shook his head. “I’ve fought against Romezan. He’s very good, and the soldiers like him. The Makuraners would be as dangerous with him in command as they are now.”

“That’s so,” the elder Maniakes agreed. “By what I’ve seen, this Romezan is as nasty as Abivard commanding troops in battle, maybe worse, because he presses harder. Abivard is better at seeing past the nose on his face, though.”

“Every word of that is true, Father, and it tells me what we need to do,” Maniakes said. “If Abivard gone hurts Makuran only a little, what we have to have is Abivard angry at Sharbaraz.”

“Like I say, showing him that letter ought to do the trick,” the elder Maniakes rumbled.

“Just what I intend to do,” the Avtokrator said. “I’ll invite him into Videssos the city on the pretext of discussing a truce between his troops and mine. When he’s in here—out comes the parchment.”

“Will he not fear to come into Videssos the city?” Philetos said, being worried lest you treat him as in fact his own sovereign intends to do?”

“I think he’ll come,” Maniakes said. “No matter what Sharbaraz has done, Abivard and I have fought hard but fair: no treachery on either side I can think of. And he must know we know how good Romezan is, and how little we’d gain by murdering him.”

Philetos, still looking shaken at the magnitude of what he’d discovered, sketched Phos’ sun-circle above his heart. “The good god grant that it prove as you desire.”

A shield of truce at her bow, theRenewal bobbed in the chop within hailing distance of the beach at Across. Before long, a Makuraner soldier came forward and hailed the dromon in accented Videssian: “Who are you, and what do you want?”

Maniakes, gorgeous in full imperial raiment, stepped forward to show himself to the Makuraner. “I am Maniakes son of Maniakes, Avtokrator of the Videssians. I would speak with Abivard son of Godarz, your commander here. I want to invite him into Videssos the city, that we may confer on ways to end the war between us.”

The Makuraner stared at him. “How do I know you’re really Maniakes, not just some guy in a fancy suit?”

“Sharbaraz is the one who keeps imposters around his court— all the false Hosioi he’s trotted out, for instance,” Maniakes answered tartly. “Will you take my words to your commander? Tell him I promise his safety in the city and his free and safe return here the instant he requests it from me.

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