"Therefore, we can but share your sorrow at the loss of your brothers, and offer our heartfelt condolences."

With that, Leo turned away again. Brynach and the others looked on in startled confusion at the emperor's abrupt rejection. Seeing that the emperor meant to terminate the audience anyway, I determined there was nothing to be lost by pushing the matter further.

"With all respect, lord and basileus," I remarked, speaking up once more, "it was not the natural predation of seawaves or the dangers of the trail that led these holy men to their deaths, but the wanton actions of a depraved and ambitious man who traded on the authority granted him by the throne you now possess."

"That man," replied Leo quickly, "as we have been so pithily reminded, has been summoned to the Eternal Judgement Seat to answer for his crimes, which, we have no doubt, were deserving of the punishment exacted. We are persuaded that the manner of his death, while unlawful, has secured a rough equity. Therefore, we are content to leave affairs as they stand." He regarded me sternly. "If you are wise, you will follow our example."

Returning his stern gaze, I replied, "Wise Lord, I pray you do not mistake me. These men ask no compensation for their loss, but will bear it for the sake of the petition that compelled them to seek audience with the Lord and Emperor, Elect of Christ, God's Vice-Regent on Earth. That petition remains to be heard."

"If that is so," replied Leo curtly, "it must be placed before us through the organs of state which exist for such purposes. We will, of course, consider it in due course."

The emperor's manner baffled and provoked me; it seemed extraordinary, especially in light of his willingness to dispose of the other claims so efficiently. Harald's settlement would cost the imperial treasury dearly, but the monks were not asking for so much as a single denarius. Why, then did he resist so?

It occurred to me then that of the three debts presented to him, this was the one for which he could make no restitution. The Arabs would be happy to see the treaty restored, and the Danes could be bought off with silver-but the monks would only be satisfied with justice, and Leo knew he could not offer that.

Sure, I had my answer. Even so, I resolved to hear the truth from his own mouth.

"Sovereign Lord," I said, fearless now, having neither self-respect nor honour to lose, "before leaving for Trebizond, the basileus took me into his employ also-to be, he said, his eyes and ears in that foreign place, and to bring him word of all that happened there. In short, I was to be his spy."

Leo, wanting to leave, regarded me distractedly. "As the basileus is dead, and the peace treaty is to be rewritten, we can see no value in resuming an occupation whose purpose has ceased."

"With all respect," I replied quickly, "I have information regarding certain matters which would reward careful consideration."

This intrigued Leo, I could see; he was curious to learn what I knew, but could not allow anyone else to hear. He made up his mind at once; declaring the audience ended, he ordered his visitors to wait in the outer hall, and his bodyguard to remove themselves a discreet distance so that we might talk together without being overheard.

"We find you an obdurate emissary," he said, resuming his seat. "What is your purpose in pursuing these matters?"

"Lord and emperor," I answered, "in light of the recent tragedy which has overtaken the empire, I could in no wise remain easy in my mind if I did not tell you that Basil's suspicions regarding betrayal were not unfounded."

"The former emperor was a very suspicious and fearful man," Leo allowed, and I noted that he never referred to Basil as his father. "Which of his many fears did he confide to you?"

"That men were plotting to kill him," I answered. It was not true, of course; but in light of Basil's murder, he might have been.

"And were they?" inquired Leo. The question was asked casually, but the keenness with which he regarded me gave me to know that I had pricked his interest.

"Yes, lord," I answered bluntly. "The conspiracy was discovered by Exarch Honorius, for which knowledge the governor was also murdered. I carry his sealed letter," I touched the parchment beneath my siarc, "which testifies to this fact, and was meant to serve as a warning to the emperor. Unfortunately, we arrived in Constantinople too late to prevent the consummation of the hateful act."

"The emperor died in an accident," Leo replied coolly. "I am told he rode too far ahead of the hunt-always an ill-advised thing to do in any circumstance-and it ended in the disaster for which the empire is still in mourning."

I had hoped he would be curious to know what the letter contained, but Emperor Leo was too canny to be caught like that. Still, I had but one more chance and nothing to lose, so I took it: "Eparch Nikos left no doubt about the veracity of these reports involving wild stags and runaway horses."

Leo folded one hand into the other and looked at me over the fist. "The eparch," he said slowly, "may have wished to create suspicions of his own, for purposes of his own. While his crimes, as you suggest, may once have demanded answers, he is now beyond questioning. We must be satisfied with the end which Heaven, in its infinite wisdom, has ordained."

That was all he said, and I understood that it was over at last. Not only had I failed to gain even so much as a hint of wrongdoing, much less a confession, Leo would simply lay all blame for every wrong on Nikos' head. I had provided him with the perfect scapegoat; dead, Nikos provided exoneration and absolution. Sick at heart, I stood looking on in despair.

Leo shifted, as if he would leave, but something held him. Regarding me with a sour expression, he said, "As you have not answered, we will ask you once again: what is it that you want?"

"Sovereign lord," I replied, almost desperately, "I came to Byzantium a monk with nothing save the faith that sustained me. Now even that poor possession has been taken from me. I have seen the innocent slaughtered in their hundreds-men, women, and children whose only wrong-doing was to cross Nikos's path. I saw the blessed Bishop Cadoc torn apart by horses and his body hacked to pieces. I myself have endured slavery and torture, but that was nothing beside the dissolution of my faith."

I paused, swallowing hard, knowing that the next words I spoke might well bring about the fulfillment of my darkling dream, my death in Byzantium. I stumbled on, heedless of consequences. "I came here today seeking justice for those who died; yes, and revenge for myself, I will not deny it. When I learned there could be no justice, I undertook revenge lest that, too, escape me."

Leo accepted this without remark, and without the slightest indication of concern or anger or even surprise. So, I pushed ahead.

"Before he died, Nikos gave me to know that he killed Basil, and that the one who now wears the crown endorsed his crimes and conspired with him. You have asked what I want, and it is this: was he speaking the truth?"

Leo sat for a long moment, gazing at me with his dark, deep-set eyes as if at a problem that resisted every solution. Drawing himself up, he spoke at last. "We see that you have endeavoured good on behalf of the imperial throne," he told me, "and this at fearful expense to yourself. Would that you had asked us to restore your silver; we would have given it you a thousand times over. But you desire a thing even the basileus cannot bestow: the renewing of your faith." An expression of regret softened his features. "I am sorry," he said, one man speaking to another.

He rose from his chair, slowly unfolding his long form to stand tall and slender before me-so unlike Basil in every way. "Truly, I am sorry," he said again.