“So?”
“So—this Garmat, by all accounts, is quite a canny fellow. And, I’ve heard, he’s been dropping hints here and there of the desire of the Axumites to forge closer ties to Rome.”
She paused, savoring the little bombshell.
“I didn’t think much of it, when I first heard. But it seems the Axumites are concerned over developments in India. Which, they are suggesting, pose long-term problems for Rome. And Garmat is quite frustrated that he’s getting no reception to his message. Apparently, he’s already announced that he’ll be returning to Axum shortly.”
She allowed the silence to continue for a moment.
“So, I have reason to think that the Axumites would welcome a friendly overture from some notable Roman figure. Such as a famous general who’s invited them to tour Syria on their way back to Ethiopia. A tour which he would present to Emperor Justinian as the first leg of a very lengthy mission which would eventually take him to India. After spending a few months visiting Axum, which, conveniently enough, is located right on the way to India.”
“The perfect place to wait for the monsoon,” mused Belisarius. “Out of sight, out of mind. Axum’s as remote as India, as far Justinian cares.”
He rose and began pacing again. His eyes narrowed, and he peered sharply at Irene.
“There’s more.”
Irene nodded. “Yes. First of all, such a tour would give you and Antonina a chance to return to your estate and spend some time there before you went on. I imagine that would be useful, for your armaments project.”
“And?”
“And—in light of what I’ve learned today, I think Rome should take Axum’s warning very seriously. And Axum itself. The truth is, we don’t really know much about them. Other than the fact that they’ve always had good relations with us, and that they’ve been Christians for two centuries, and that they have a naval capability.”
“Aren’t they at war in Arabia now?” asked Sittas.
“Yes,” replied the spymaster. “They invaded southern Arabia three years ago. They overthrew the King of Hymria, Yusuf Asar Yathar. The ostensible reason was that King Yusuf had adopted Judaism and was persecuting the Christian Arabs.” She chuckled harshly. “That does not, of course, explain why they conquered the rest of southwestern Arabia.”
“You think they might be allies?” asked Belisarius. “Against India?”
Irene shrugged. “That’s for you to find out, General. On your way to India.”
Belisarius was silent, for a time. Pacing.
“I think that’s it, then, for the moment,” he said at length.
He turned to Antonina.
“See if you can arrange a meeting with Theodora, love. I think that would be the best way to broach the subject to Justinian.”
He took Antonina’s hand and helped her to her feet. Then, before turning to the door, looked at Sittas.
“Well, there’s a couple of other small points. The first, my oversized and overconfident friend, is that I will expect you tomorrow at the practice field of your army. In full armor, mind. You’ll need it.”
Sittas grunted. “And the other?”
Belisarius nodded toward Irene.
“Whatever you’re paying her, double it.”
Chapter 11
The next morning, watching Belisarius approach him on the training field, Sittas decided that his friend had spent too much time in the Syrian sun. His brains were obviously fried.
Belisarius’ challenge had been idiotic in the first place. On foot, with swords, Sittas suspected that his friend would carve him like a roast. But on horseback, in full armor, in a lance charge—well! The shrimp didn’t stand a chance in hell.
Sittas was not guessing. Facts were facts. Sittas did not have Belisarius’ speed and reflexes, but that mattered little in a lance charge. In a lance charge, wearing full armor atop a huge war-horse that was itself half-armored, weight and strength were what mattered.
Sittas almost slapped his great belly in self-satisfaction. He’d jousted with Belisarius before, several times, and always with the same result. Belisarius, on his ass, contemplating the futility of matching skills with the best lancer in Byzantium.
And now! The fool wasn’t even holding his lance properly! Belisarius was carrying his lance cradled under his arm, instead of in the proper overhand position. Ridiculous! How could he expect to bring any force into the lance thrust? Any novice knew the only way to drive a lance home, on horseback, was to bring the whole weight of the back and shoulder into a downward thrust.