A Burning Sea by Theodore Brun (snow like ashes series TXT) 📗

lifelike she could almost hear their laughter. At last they came to a huge set of golden double doors that rose to a vaulted ceiling, flanked by two guards in white.

‘This is the Chrysotriklinos,’ said Katāros. ‘It means something like the Golden Meet-Hall in our tongue.’

She nodded silently, throat tight with nerves.

‘A word of advice, my lady. When you enter, you will see many things. Ignore them. Focus on him only. He has little time for pomp, despite what you see.’

‘I’m ready,’ she said.

He was not as she had expected. Although what was that? A man like the heroic statues adorning the city? A man of beauty? A man more like a god? Certainly it was not this man. A man this. . . ordinary. Yet his gaze was direct, unwavering.

He was set in his throne like one of the rubies set in his own crown: one piece of a larger whole. The purple of his robes surrounded by a blast of gold, quite unlike the carved oak of her own royal seat. Behind him rose a semicircular recess adorned with an image of their Christ-God with his symbol of the cross. She had counted eight such recesses coming in, and above them a circuit of windows filtering sunlight onto gilded mosaics. She dared not glance around to take in more than that as Katāros announced her, then stood aside to serve as translator.

The first of the emperor’s words he translated were these:

‘It sounds almost as though we are equals, Queen Lilla, daughter of Sviggar. And yet I have never heard of such places. Sve—ahl—and. . . Dee—un—mark.’ His voice was unusually deep. It was strange to hear the lips of a man so powerful forming the name of her homeland for the first time.

‘There is a world between your lands and mine, Your Majesty,’ she replied.

‘So the lord chamberlain tells me.’ He brushed a thoughtful thumb across his lips. ‘One day you must tell me of it. And of your own lands and customs.’

‘At your leisure, Majesty.’

He glanced at Katāros and back at her. ‘You understand our time here must be brief.’

‘It was gracious of you to see me at all, Majesty.’

‘That is to say, Queen Lilla – why are you here?’

His directness disarmed her momentarily. Suddenly the whole venture seemed absurd. A fantasy concocted in the mind of a drunkard. Or a fool. But then she remembered the metal taste of earth in her mouth and drew herself up.

‘I came here to form an alliance, Your Majesty.’

‘An alliance?’ The emperor chuckled. ‘Well, we are in need of good allies at present, Lady.’

‘You will find none better. Mine is the most powerful kingdom in the north.’

‘Yet the north is far away. And unless my spies have failed me, you did not bring your armies with you.’

‘True, Majesty. My retinue is small. We were forced to travel discreetly.’

‘Pity,’ Leo replied. ‘My need is rather pressing, as you may have heard.’

‘What I have heard, Majesty, is that in you, your people have the answer to their prayers.’

‘You flatter me.’

‘Is it not hard truth? As solid as the famous walls of this city?’

The Emperor Leo didn’t answer for some time. Perhaps she had gone too far and he thought she was mocking him. ‘Christ willing, the city will stand,’ he said at length. ‘The infidel will be defeated and this dark tide will recede. In the meantime, you should not underestimate the danger we are all in, whoever sits on this gilded seat.’

‘As you say, Majesty.’ She bowed her head.

‘Now,’ he sighed. ‘For my part, I am curious about what you hope to gain from an alliance with me.’

‘I, too, have an enemy, Majesty. One who has taken much from me.’

‘I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘Not as sorry as he will be when I return to my homeland.’

‘And so. . . return with what?’

‘An edge, Majesty, over him. . . I know not what exactly. Whether fighting men, or gold and silver. . . or perhaps something else entirely.’

‘And supposing I had any of those things to spare for you – what would I gain in return?

‘We have many things of value – furs, oil, honey, whale ivory, tin, timber, leather hides—’

Katāros began listing these goods to his lord in Greek but the emperor suddenly raised a hand for silence. ‘Trade goes hand in hand with peace, Lady,’ he answered. ‘But the empire is at war and in a battle for its very survival. A few pots of honey aren’t going to help us.’

‘Men, then,’ she said abruptly. ‘Fighting men. When I can spare them.’ At this Leo nodded, showing a degree more interest.

‘And you?’ he said.

‘Me, Majesty?’

‘You are a queen. Is there a king of these northern lands? A lord husband?’

‘There was. He is dead.’

‘Oh. I’m sorry.’ His gaze grew a little keener. ‘Although, of course, that creates its own opportunities.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘You are too modest. You have omitted from your list the most valuable treasure of all.’

Lilla was not stupid. She held the emperor’s gaze, her expression as guileless as she could make it. ‘There are many ways to seal friendship between two great kingdoms.’

She noticed two small spots darken on his cheek. Perhaps this ordinary man did feel something after all. ‘The empress,’ he said, a little too pointedly, ‘would doubtless welcome your friendship. Alas, she is presently unwell. In any case, I must think on this. But I cannot give you the answer you desire now. I fear your stay here will be longer than you intended. The Arab fleet is already in the Sea of Marmara. We expect to see their sails to the south at any moment. Once we do, there will be no leaving this city.’

‘I understand this, Majesty. And I pledge to do whatever I can to help you achieve victory.’

‘Indeed?’ Leo snorted. ‘I mean it as no insult, Lady, but from what you say you are powerless to do very much for me at all.’ Leo tipped his head at Katāros. ‘All the same, you are