We took residence and, under cover of darkness, spirited thirty Sea Wolves and three Armenian pirates into the house. The next morning we sent Faysal and all eight of the rafiq, arrayed in fine new clothes, to the imperial palace to place Lord Sadiq's petition before the Imperial Prefect, requesting an audience with the new emperor.
"There was no mistake," Faysal said upon his return. "The fellow knew the house well. He told me many foreign emissaries make use of it while staying in the city."
"And he said he would send someone to interview the amir?" I asked. Faysal nodded. "When?"
"Tomorrow, or the next day," Faysal replied. "The prefect was quite upset that we have arrived unannounced. But I explained that, owing to the emperor's untimely death, we were unable to make our presence known until now."
"And he believed you?"
Faysal smiled. "I gave him no reason to believe otherwise."
"What of the soldier?" wondered Sadiq. "Did you have any difficulty locating him?"
"None whatever, lord," Faysal answered. "All was as Aidan said it would be. I spoke with the man-"
"Did anyone see you?" I interrupted.
"It is difficult to say," Faysal said. "But I took pains to be as discreet as possible."
"Will he help us?"
"He said we could trust him to take whatever actions necessary to see justice accomplished."
"Then it is in Allah's hands," Sadiq observed.
The trap was set. That Nikos, now bearing dead Nicephorus' title must come to pay a visit to the amir, I doubted not at all. Visiting foreign dignitaries had long been part of his court function, after all, allowing him to remain close to the throne. Also, no one knew better than Nikos himself what had been done to destroy the peace treaty between Byzantium and the Sarazens. He could not risk having that treaty come to life again at such an inappropriate moment.
Thus, when Nikos learned that Amir Sadiq had arrived and requested audience with the new emperor, he would certainly make it his concern to deal with the matter personally. We had but to wait for Eparch Nikos to come to us, and when he did, I would be ready. I steeled myself for that meeting, and I told myself that soon, soon it would be over.
I ate little and slept ill, my mind whirling with thoughts of what I would do when I finally saw him. Time and again, my hand strayed to the Qadi knife for reassurance. I am no warrior, and considered that I might be killed, but I no longer feared death. Nikos, I vowed, would never leave the house alive. If I could not accomplish his death, Harald and the Sea Wolves would.
Every possibility had been anticipated, save one: the speed with which Nikos sprung the trap. His arrival was so quick on the heels of Faysal's petition that I feared he had penetrated our deception.
Two mounted komes, dressed in their distinctive yellow and blue, arrived mid-morning, rapped respectfully at the door, and informed Faysal of the eparch's imminent arrival.
I had barely enough time to alert Lord Sadiq, hasten the Danes into position, and take up my own hiding place before the eparch himself appeared. He came with ten of the imperial bodyguard, the Farghanese-five of which took up position outside the house; the remaining five entered with him, watchful, bristling.
My heart, already pounding with an excitement of anticipation, beat even faster at my first glimpse of Eparch Nikos. His dark hair was longer, more closely observant of the moment's affectations at court, I suppose, and he was more richly clothed than when last I had seen him: wearing flowing black trousers, a long black tunic with voluminous white sleeves, held at his slim waist with a wide black belt which boasted a huge silver buckle in the shape of a spearblade. His manner was smoothly superior as always, his quick eyes just as keen, his smile tight and cold.
Faysal, ever the perfect servant, conducted the three officials to the courtyard which, in the eastern manner, had been furnished with a wide low table and cushions under a striped canopy. He brought them to the table and bade them to sit, then departed, saying, "I beg your pardon to inform the amir of your arrival."
After a suitably decorous interval, Lord Sadiq appeared, regal in his flowing robes of creamy white and turquoise. The three courtiers rose in a show of respect, receiving a slight bow from Sadiq, who then invited his guests to sit with him at table, and offered them refreshment of fruit, cake, and sweet drinks. This they did, under the vigilant eyes of the imperial bodyguard who had ranged themselves at the courtyard portals.
"How enjoyable to see you again, Amir Sadiq," Nikos said, beginning the proceedings. "Your journey was pleasant, I trust." Without waiting for a response, he added, "I must say, your arrival, agreeable though it is, has taken us somewhat by surprise."
