He thanked me and I took my leave, going straight-away to find Harald and arrange for the guard. Taking the eparch's concern to heart, I also remained out of sight that night, behaving as a dutiful slave and staying close to Harald. But nothing happened, and the house remained quiet. I went to sleep thinking: Nikos departs tomorrow and we will not have to worry about him any more.
The next day, Nikos prepared to leave, leading a group of thirty barbarian guards and a dozen opportunistic traders desirous of an escorted journey to Theodosiopolis. He spoke briefly to the eparch and left the villa, where-upon Nicephorus went in to break fast in his customary fashion. I served him at table whenever I could so that I might remain privy to his affairs.
Thus, the eparch was just sitting down when Nikos returned. "A matter of urgency has arisen," he said, striding quickly into the courtyard. "It requires your attention."
The eparch's expression of anger gave way to bewil-derment when the magister and another man appeared in the doorway behind Nikos. The eparch rose to his feet and bade the men to enter.
"Forgive my intrusion, eparch," the magister said quickly. "I am glad to have arrived before it was too late."
"Too late?" wondered Nicephorus.
"Ah," said the magister, glancing at Nikos, "too late to prevent the komes from leaving."
The eparch frowned. "Why should that cause you concern, I wonder?"
"I will explain," offered the magister.
"It would be a kindness," allowed the eparch.
"Consul Psellon," he indicated the man beside him, "has just come from the governor with a message for you."
"I see. May I have it, please?" Nicephorus held out his hand.
Magister Sergius nudged the man, who put his hand into a fold of his cloak, and withdrew a thick square of parchment tied with a black silk band and sealed with a red spot of wax. "It is the exarch's seal, you see," volunteered Sergius.
"Thank you for that observation, magister," intoned the eparch. "No doubt I would have failed to appreciate that detail. I am, as always, indebted to you."
Sergius coloured and made to further his explanation, but Nikos cut him off, saying, "Thank you, magister. I think we are fully capable of assessing the importance of this document without your assistance."
"Of course." The magister subsided gratefully.
Eyeing the magister and consul in turn, the eparch took up the bundle, untied it, broke the seal, unfolded the heavy parchment and began to read, his lips moving over the words as he scanned the document. "This is most interesting," he observed upon finishing. "Most interesting, indeed."
Without waiting to be asked, Nikos snatched up the parchment and began to read. "It is from the governor," he observed, still reading.
"So it would appear," mused Nicephorus, staring at the magister and consul with an expression of rank scepticism.
"He is asking us to join him in Sebastea," Nikos continued. "He says there is word of-" he broke off abruptly, glancing at the eparch. "It is a matter of extreme urgency," he finished lamely.
"Apparently," conceded the eparch, still staring at the two before him. "When did this message arrive?" he asked.
"Just this morning," declared the magister. "I came directly to you the moment Psellon arrived."
"I see." The eparch's eyes narrowed. "So you knew the contents of this message, did you?"
"By no means, eparch!" The magister all but shrieked at the implication. "But I knew it to be important-Psellon told me that much."
Consul Psellon nodded vigorously. "It has come directly from the governor's own hand," he confirmed.
"Oh, most certainly it has," agreed the eparch sourly. "Yet, knowing nothing of the message-save its importance-you travelled night and day to bring it to me."
"Of course, eparch," Psellon replied.
"How many travelled with you?"
Psellon hesitated; his eyes shifted to the magister, who stared straight ahead.
"Come!" said the eparch sharply. "The question is perfectly simple. How many travelled with you?"
"Four others," answered Psellon uncertainly.
"I see. You may go, both of you." Nicephorus dismissed Sergius and Psellon with a disdainful gesture, and watched them until they left the room. "What have you to say of this?" inquired the eparch of Nikos when they had gone.
"I think it fortunate that I was detained," the komes replied. "Since I am ready, very little additional provision need be made. We can leave the city by midday. I will make the arrangements."
"I take your answer to mean that you believe this communication to be genuine?"
"Certainly," said Nikos, "I think it safe to say Exarch Honorius seeks only the good of the empire."
"Of that I have no doubt," agreed the eparch, "no doubt whatever-if Honorius wrote it."
"I see no cause to question the veracity of the document," said the komes mildly. "It is in the governor's hand, and carries his seal after all."
"Yes, it does. I see that it does." The eparch, his expression one of doubt and bafflement, sat down slowly in his chair.
