We found our way to the forum quickly and easily; the many-pillared colonnade in the heart of the city could be seen from any of several approaches. Once there, locating the street Hadjidakis had mentioned posed no greater difficulty. The governor's house was large, with a single door opening almost directly onto the street, save for two steps rising between two ornate columns. A guardsman stood outside in the street, spear in hand, a shield slung over his shoulder. People passed him without a glance, however, and from this I deduced that he was a familiar feature of the place. Leaving Faysal to watch the house from across the street, I strode to the house.
"I was told the governor is in residence," I said upon greeting the guard, who regarded me with bored suspicion.
"He is receiving no one," the guard replied in a tone that suggested he had said this too many times for his own liking.
"That is truly unfortunate," I sighed. "I have travelled a very great distance to see him. Perhaps you might allow my name to be put forward."
Without bothering to reply, the guard motioned me on with his spear. Clearly, his was not the final authority. Once inside however, I was met by another, more formidable obstacle in the person of an official in a robe and mantle of faded green; he wore a braided thong around his neck on which was affixed a large metal box, and sat at a table in the centre of a spacious vestibule, writing on a vellum roll. He deigned not to notice me as I came to stand before him. Two more equally bored-looking guards stood either side of a door directly behind him.
"If you please," I said, "I was told the governor is in residence."
The official raised his eyes from the document before him and all but yawned in my face. "He is seeing no one. Leave your name and come back tomorrow."
"I have travelled a very great distance." Leaning close, I confided, "It is a matter of some delicacy involving a very great deal of money." Reaching into my sleeve, I pulled out one of the silver coins Faysal had given me and placed it on the table. "I would be most grateful if the governor could be notified."
Obtaining no response, I placed another coin beside the first. The official finally lay aside his pen. His lips curled in a smile, but his eyes remained cold. "Perhaps I may be of service. My name is Casius; I am Proconsul of Sebastea. What is the nature of your business with Exarch Honorius?"
Thinking quickly, I said, "It concerns property belonging to my betrothed wife."
"Property, you say?"
"Yes, it is a delicate matter, and I should not like to say too much about it to anyone except the governor. When do you think he might see me?"
"This is not a matter for the exarch's arbitration," Casius informed me flatly. "I suggest you place your matter before the magister or, better still, your local apographeus."
"Ah, yes, well, it was, in fact, the magister who suggested I come here." Once given to the lie, I became brazen. "He said that inasmuch as Honorius was a friend of my father's, the governor would want to advise me personally."
The proconsul-if indeed he was the proconsul-hesitated; I could see him calculating his next response. "Why did you not tell me the governor was a friend of yours in the first place?"
"A friend, as I say, of my father's," I corrected. "Would that have made a difference?"
"I will put your name forward," he said, taking up his long reed pen once more; he dipped it in the ink pot and scratched something on the vellum. "Perhaps the exarch will see you."
"All the better if that could be arranged," I said, laying a third coin on the table. "There have been rumours that the governor is ill, you know. I am certain Honorius's friends in Trebizond will welcome reassurances of his health."
He stopped writing and tapped his teeth with the pen. "These rumours-what are they saying?"
"Oh, one thing and another," I replied casually. "They think it strange that he should remain so long in Sebastea when he has such a splendid residence in Trebizond."
Casius made up his mind at once. Pushing back his chair, he rose. "Wait here." With that, he stepped to the guarded door, opened it, and disappeared into the room beyond-returning a few moments later. "This business," he said, "I believe you told me it concerns your betrothed also?"
"Yes," I lied, "so it does."
"Fetch her," the proconsul said. "Return with the woman, and the governor will see you."
I knew I had gained a prize. "Very well," I said, "I will do as you suggest." Thanking the man, I told him to expect us shortly, then departed before he could change his mind.
In the street once more, I hurried from the house, motioning Faysal to follow. "The governor is there," I told him as he fell into step beside me. I explained how I had convinced them to let me see him, and said, "I thought Kazimain might assist us."
"Undoubtedly," he agreed, "but will they allow you to speak to him alone?"
"That remains to be seen," I said, "but I have a plan."
