Chapter 57 – Hero to Zero
Chapter 57 – Hero to Zero
April 6, 905 AD
Theodosia
A rider in a dark cowl quickly made his way through the encampment that the two thousand soldiers and their entourage had erected, close to the location where the Ashina clan had resided for over ten years after Zachariah's ascension.
Upon reaching the command center, he was let through without further questions after a simple showing of his insignia to the guards. They were used by now to confidentiality. Since the change in leadership, the exchange of messages with the court – in contrast to the usual orders from the Marshal – had increased by a whole lot.
Earlier...
When the battle of Marash was finally concluded for good, with devastating losses for the Duke of Edessa and the door wide open for victory, General Simsam and his men dutifully had begun their way back to the heartlands of Khazaria while the larger bulk of the troops was to stay in Edessa and finally wrap up the war. The harsh conditions they had to endure while making their way through the Armenian highlands and avoiding the ubiquitous raiders and rebels took their toll on the men. Just as they escaped the freezing cold and the sparse supplies in the mountains and reached the coast of Abkhazia, General Simsam, the old warrior who had lead them through all this, was found lifeless in his hammock one morning.
While his mortal remains were consecrated on the spot and hurriedly transferred to his homelands, the troops had to wait for a new commander until they passed through Tmutarakan on their way to the Crimean peninsula. When the replacement for General Simsam took over, he was a familiar face still to many soldiers, although not all of them were sure he could be trusted. That changed when Khagan Zachariah himself spoke to them about how their new (and old) superior had sought and found repentance from his earlier wrongdoings, how he had shown the responsibility for the Khaganate to deserve a second chance.
In the end, all soldiers had once again sworn their allegiance to General Tarkhan, who then proceeded to lead them across the Strait of Korchev. They had arrived in Theodosia about two weeks ago and set up camp within sight of the Byzantine exclave of Cherson.
The spies had already determined that only a small garrison was still present beyond the border. Cherson had been left in peace for a long time, and with the growing troubles within the Empire, few eyes were directed on the three brigades of 750 men each settled right beyond their border. The local count was off fighting Armenian secessionists in the mainland, and Basileus Bardas was drowning in inner quarrels. There were always new rebellions to fight, and not all of these fights went well for the Emperor.
To his unspeakable humiliation, Constantinople itself had fallen to a large mob of angry peasants in the beginning of 905. The divide that a Catholic Emperor caused ran so deep into society that even the fabled Theodosian walls could not prevent the unspeakable – the gates were opened from within at the most decisive moment, no doubt because parts of the garrison conspired against the Basileus as well. Bardas and his kin had to flee from the bastion that had hosted the Emperor for centuries. The city of the world's desire, the impenetrable heart of the Bzyantine Empire and its vast riches – now it was independent and ruled by a certain Count Ioseph, the son of a pig breeder. Rumour had it that the mayors under him did now effectively make the calls.
The fall of Constantinople sent shockwaves not only through the Empire. The now so apparent weakness of the Basileus posed a significant shift of conditions all throughout Europe, Arabia and Central Asia. Would the Empire break apart entirely, and would some other power take its place? Would it recover, maybe under another Emperor? The future of the region was more unsure than ever.
Until now, no greater powers had thrown their hat into the ring, but at least according to Tarkhan it would only be a matter of time. That was the main reason they were keeping themselves ready to strike, although the council couldn't be brought to declare another war before the mission in Edessa was finished and the horde back in friendly grounds.
***
"God be with you, General Tarkhan" said the mysterious man upon entering the yurt and took a deep bow.
"And with you, Khan Böri." replied Tarkhan and returned the gesture. "What an unexpected pleasure to see you in these lands."
"Being unexpected is an integral part of my trade, General." Böri of Khwaliz smirked. "I am sorry I cannot bear you the news you're so eagerly expecting – the war will have to wait. Yet there's some progress, not only in Edessa but also on the...home front. If you know what I'm speaking of."
Tarkhan raised an eyebrow. "I'm curious as to what you could mean."
"Well, as you already know two months ago we could identify and take down Tarmaç, the man who was after Khatun Irge for reasons unknown at the time.
While that was an important step for the security of the realm, the Khagan is still convinced he's only a tool and the actual powers behind the threats to his family still roam free. Tarmaç is exactly the type that you'd send to take the blame – an insane, sadistic brute with no family or friends to speak of."
"A threat roaming free hasn't bothered him a bit in case of my brother. On the contrary." Tarkhan commented laconically.
"That would be something you have to discuss with him personally. As long as Baghatur is off in Antioch, you won't have to fear a lot from him, that much can be said."
"I was merely thinking aloud. Baghatur has different priorities right now than going after me, and I have better things to do than constantly bother with him. You were speaking of Tarmaç if I remember correctly."
"Yes, indeed. Now while we didn't know much about him initially, the man lately happened to pass some vital information about his motives under my...special treatment."
Tarkhan involuntary had to chuckle. It was well known that Böri had a knack for creative interrogation methods, and Tarkhan found a twisted amusement in imagining the 'special treatment' he was referring to.
"This information in turn has convinced a lot of important people to finally finish the business that your father and we Khans have been working on for years", the spymaster went on. "Only a few links are missing still...which brings me to the reason of my visit."
"I've already been wondering what all this has to do with me", Tarkhan replied, sounding less than convinced. Yet when Böri started to explain the plan to finally get rid of Shimon of Monte Cassino, his eyes grew wider and wider.
Shimon was a crafty man and aware of the danger, thus the Khagan and his spymaster had derived an insanely convoluted plot, involving dozens of people and covering what seemed to be every eventuality. Even Glitterhoof had his part, undoubtedly due to the Khagan insisting on it. And despite the extent of the web spun around Shimon, everything would look like an accident afterwards.
In the end Tarkhan accepted, admiring the amount of detail and elaboration of the scheme Böri presented to him – and he had little reason to go against his now terminally ill father again, only for an outcast of whom no one knew why he was even in Tmutarakan anymore.
Yes, this was of no further consequence. Zachariah would get his will, but the war in Edessa would soon be concluded. His moment would come.
June 9, 905 AD
Tmutarakan, Council Hall
Summer showed its first signs once again on the shores of the Black Sea, and for the first time in years the council was meeting in full attendance. Even Khan Itakh, himself being diagnosed with cancer only a month earlier and rapidly withering away, made the voyage. Too important were the discussion points concerning the developments in Antioch for the Khans to keep to their own business. Khagan Zachariah, similarly enfeebled by his illness but determined to stand tall until the very end, opened the meeting.
"I bid you welcome, my Lords. It pleases me greatly to see all of you in one place again. It's been too long. But this shall not discourage us to mark this glorious day before God himself. I suppose the news from Antioch have reached every one of you one way or the other: our invincible horde has finally brought Duke Hethum of Edessa to his knees. When his capital fortress fell, the bulk of his court including his sons was still in there and fell into our hands.
He had no choice but to surrender to Baghatur to get at least his heirs back. An Ashina son ruling over one of the most legendary sites of history! It is unprecedented, and truly a great gift from Adonai himself to Khazaria. It is with full right that his men call him 'the Conqueror' by now. Rejoice, my Lords – once more the world learns of our power!"
The councillors gave a half-hearted toast. Everyone knew that this was unlikely to be the end of the story. Baghatur's host of adventurers was worn out, and it would take some time until he got a proper grip on his new lands far away from home – especially since everyone still considered him a vassal to the same Duke he had just bested with the help of the Khazarian horde. The persistent smallpox in Antioch and the camp fever epidemic continuing to spread throughout the Levant didn't help either.
Khan Böri was the first one to take up word. "As you mention it, your majesty – the other people in our custody have remained there, a total of twelve souls. The Duke's three wives are among them, the rest seems to be the families of the Barons that Baghatur butchered in the war..."
"Women and children, all of them", added Zakkai of Bartenstein, the East Francian steward. "Not exactly a catch you would want to get all too prominent amongst the other Khaganates. We should be able to get a ransom at least for his wives though."
"I trust you will take care of that as of immediately, my friend", the Khagan said directed towards Glitterhoof, who stood in his specially designed notch in the table and gave him an understanding look.
"Very well." said Zachariah, visibly contented. "Now what's with the rest of the bunch?"
"As I was saying", Khan Böri replied with a reproving gaze towards Zakkai, "they are by and large the families of nobles who have deceased in the war and thus had nowhere to hide when our troops stormed the fortress. I've done some background checks on them, and there's little money to be made with them, but there might be....other uses for them." The spymaster gave his typical grin.
"Or there might be grace to be shown", Khan Yilig of Bulçir pointed out. "If we Khazars are aiming to gain acceptance in the Holy Land after all, we cannot behave like barbarians and slaughter children as we please."
"Adonai himself would not look kind upon such actions either", Rabbi Azariah concurred. "The Book of the Covenant explicitly protects the weak. This obviously includes widows and orphans, but also...strangers." Azariah swallowed hard and thought about what was supposed to happen to Shimon of Monte Cassino under everyone's eyes.
Zachariah nodded and stood up with noticeable toil. "The laws of the steppe, in contrast, punish the weak ones. Yet I cannot suppose that being young and in the wrong place counts as the kind of weakness they're referring to. It's not of matter which code or tradition you adhere to – an act like this would almost naturally be heinous.
Release the children at once, see that they are brought back to Edessa safely. The women will stay here for once, at least the ones that Duke Hethum isn't willing to pay for. There's never a shortage of nobles looking to get married, and they are young and virile. They shall be treated with all decency and given full accomodations until we find a solution."
The councillors were surprised, but they were content with the result - with the obvious exception of Khan Böri who would have preferred more freedoms in dealing with the prisoners personally, but reluctantly promised to see the Khagan's orders fulfilled at once. Although none of them was a stranger to violence, there was little desire for more of it after the war had already taken more than enough of its bloody toll.
Zachariah sunk back into his throne. Zakkai of Bartenstein gave him a questioning gaze, and the Khagan nodded and briefly closed his eyes.
"This is beyond doubt a demonstration how deserved the reputation is that you, my Khagan, enjoy among the European royalty. There is another joyous occasion I have the honor to inform you about – or, to be exact, two of them."
Zachariah, attentive again, looked at him quizzical but Zakkai carried on: "As I was talking of Europe, let me start with the freshly approved betrothal of the youngest Ashina son. Only this morning, the positive reply from King Dietpold Karling of East Francia arrived. He will grant the hand of his eldest daughter to Simsam, creating the first alliance of all times between a descendant of Muhan the Great and one of Karl 'the Hammer', the alleged founding father of the Franks."
No one could quite figure out why King Dietpold chose "levelheaded" of all compliments.
The reaction among the councillors wasn't quite as Zakkai would have imagined it, considering that the Ashina Clan was about to marry into the most influential dynasty in Europe and what this signified. Khazaria had grown mighty and prosperous under Zachariah's reign, and this betrothal meant this was recognised in Europe too. Although Zakkai had suspected that the name alone wouldn't carry as much weight in these latitudes, he couldn't quite figure why the other Khans seemed so indifferent.
"You mentioned another issue..." groaned Khagan Zachariah, seemingly annoyed by the others' ignorance.
The whole time Zakkai had been fully confident that today would be the right moment to let the cat out of the bag. Ever since the Khagan's absence, he had pulled the right strings and never committed a mistake. Now everything looked as if it worked out. Baghatur had his own castles and an enemy more powerful than him, Tarkhan was fully rehabilitated and posed an important influence on his father again. It could hardly have gone better.
And still suddenly Zakkai's palms started to sweat when the Khagan asked about his other point, the one no one else knew about. Only now did he realize that there was one final piece of the puzzle missing, one final thing to possibly go wrong, and if the always vigilant and still sometimes short-fused Khagan drew the wrong conclusions, Zakkai would be in tremendous trouble. But Zachariah was already looking at him, pervasive and impatient.
Zakkai swallowed. "Glitterhoof and me have conducted some research. Apparently there are ancient provisions to prevent machinations of foreign rulers to overtake the traditional Khaganates... Now that Baghatur is in possession of two feudal counties, he is by all possible interpretations no longer eligible to inherit the Khaganate or the leadership of the Ashina Clan. As of now, Tarkhan is your heir again."
Everyone was silent for a moment. Only a few minutes ago, they had thought Baghatur to be a hero, just for it to turn out he was a fool who had most likely squandered his chance to the Khaganate. Then everyone started talking simultaneously, questioning Zakkai's sources and motives - except for Zachariah who just leaned back, breathed deeply and looked almost complacent.
"Then it's going to be Tarkhan after all." the Khagan said gravely, but steadfast and without grief, when the chattering died down again. "I know that he has grown a lot and learned from his mistakes. And so will Baghatur, if Adonai wills it. In the end, it's his call to make, not mine and not yours. We shall not forget this."
Zachariah closed his eyes again. "I will need to speak with Tarkhan. If there are no more surprises...you all have business to tend to. Azariah...I might need a bit more poppy tonight."
April 6, 905 AD
Theodosia
A rider in a dark cowl quickly made his way through the encampment that the two thousand soldiers and their entourage had erected, close to the location where the Ashina clan had resided for over ten years after Zachariah's ascension.
Upon reaching the command center, he was let through without further questions after a simple showing of his insignia to the guards. They were used by now to confidentiality. Since the change in leadership, the exchange of messages with the court – in contrast to the usual orders from the Marshal – had increased by a whole lot.
Earlier...
When the battle of Marash was finally concluded for good, with devastating losses for the Duke of Edessa and the door wide open for victory, General Simsam and his men dutifully had begun their way back to the heartlands of Khazaria while the larger bulk of the troops was to stay in Edessa and finally wrap up the war. The harsh conditions they had to endure while making their way through the Armenian highlands and avoiding the ubiquitous raiders and rebels took their toll on the men. Just as they escaped the freezing cold and the sparse supplies in the mountains and reached the coast of Abkhazia, General Simsam, the old warrior who had lead them through all this, was found lifeless in his hammock one morning.
While his mortal remains were consecrated on the spot and hurriedly transferred to his homelands, the troops had to wait for a new commander until they passed through Tmutarakan on their way to the Crimean peninsula. When the replacement for General Simsam took over, he was a familiar face still to many soldiers, although not all of them were sure he could be trusted. That changed when Khagan Zachariah himself spoke to them about how their new (and old) superior had sought and found repentance from his earlier wrongdoings, how he had shown the responsibility for the Khaganate to deserve a second chance.
In the end, all soldiers had once again sworn their allegiance to General Tarkhan, who then proceeded to lead them across the Strait of Korchev. They had arrived in Theodosia about two weeks ago and set up camp within sight of the Byzantine exclave of Cherson.
The spies had already determined that only a small garrison was still present beyond the border. Cherson had been left in peace for a long time, and with the growing troubles within the Empire, few eyes were directed on the three brigades of 750 men each settled right beyond their border. The local count was off fighting Armenian secessionists in the mainland, and Basileus Bardas was drowning in inner quarrels. There were always new rebellions to fight, and not all of these fights went well for the Emperor.
To his unspeakable humiliation, Constantinople itself had fallen to a large mob of angry peasants in the beginning of 905. The divide that a Catholic Emperor caused ran so deep into society that even the fabled Theodosian walls could not prevent the unspeakable – the gates were opened from within at the most decisive moment, no doubt because parts of the garrison conspired against the Basileus as well. Bardas and his kin had to flee from the bastion that had hosted the Emperor for centuries. The city of the world's desire, the impenetrable heart of the Bzyantine Empire and its vast riches – now it was independent and ruled by a certain Count Ioseph, the son of a pig breeder. Rumour had it that the mayors under him did now effectively make the calls.
The fall of Constantinople sent shockwaves not only through the Empire. The now so apparent weakness of the Basileus posed a significant shift of conditions all throughout Europe, Arabia and Central Asia. Would the Empire break apart entirely, and would some other power take its place? Would it recover, maybe under another Emperor? The future of the region was more unsure than ever.
Until now, no greater powers had thrown their hat into the ring, but at least according to Tarkhan it would only be a matter of time. That was the main reason they were keeping themselves ready to strike, although the council couldn't be brought to declare another war before the mission in Edessa was finished and the horde back in friendly grounds.
***
"God be with you, General Tarkhan" said the mysterious man upon entering the yurt and took a deep bow.
"And with you, Khan Böri." replied Tarkhan and returned the gesture. "What an unexpected pleasure to see you in these lands."
"Being unexpected is an integral part of my trade, General." Böri of Khwaliz smirked. "I am sorry I cannot bear you the news you're so eagerly expecting – the war will have to wait. Yet there's some progress, not only in Edessa but also on the...home front. If you know what I'm speaking of."
Tarkhan raised an eyebrow. "I'm curious as to what you could mean."
"Well, as you already know two months ago we could identify and take down Tarmaç, the man who was after Khatun Irge for reasons unknown at the time.
While that was an important step for the security of the realm, the Khagan is still convinced he's only a tool and the actual powers behind the threats to his family still roam free. Tarmaç is exactly the type that you'd send to take the blame – an insane, sadistic brute with no family or friends to speak of."
"A threat roaming free hasn't bothered him a bit in case of my brother. On the contrary." Tarkhan commented laconically.
"That would be something you have to discuss with him personally. As long as Baghatur is off in Antioch, you won't have to fear a lot from him, that much can be said."
"I was merely thinking aloud. Baghatur has different priorities right now than going after me, and I have better things to do than constantly bother with him. You were speaking of Tarmaç if I remember correctly."
"Yes, indeed. Now while we didn't know much about him initially, the man lately happened to pass some vital information about his motives under my...special treatment."
Tarkhan involuntary had to chuckle. It was well known that Böri had a knack for creative interrogation methods, and Tarkhan found a twisted amusement in imagining the 'special treatment' he was referring to.
"This information in turn has convinced a lot of important people to finally finish the business that your father and we Khans have been working on for years", the spymaster went on. "Only a few links are missing still...which brings me to the reason of my visit."
"I've already been wondering what all this has to do with me", Tarkhan replied, sounding less than convinced. Yet when Böri started to explain the plan to finally get rid of Shimon of Monte Cassino, his eyes grew wider and wider.
Shimon was a crafty man and aware of the danger, thus the Khagan and his spymaster had derived an insanely convoluted plot, involving dozens of people and covering what seemed to be every eventuality. Even Glitterhoof had his part, undoubtedly due to the Khagan insisting on it. And despite the extent of the web spun around Shimon, everything would look like an accident afterwards.
In the end Tarkhan accepted, admiring the amount of detail and elaboration of the scheme Böri presented to him – and he had little reason to go against his now terminally ill father again, only for an outcast of whom no one knew why he was even in Tmutarakan anymore.
Yes, this was of no further consequence. Zachariah would get his will, but the war in Edessa would soon be concluded. His moment would come.
June 9, 905 AD
Tmutarakan, Council Hall
Summer showed its first signs once again on the shores of the Black Sea, and for the first time in years the council was meeting in full attendance. Even Khan Itakh, himself being diagnosed with cancer only a month earlier and rapidly withering away, made the voyage. Too important were the discussion points concerning the developments in Antioch for the Khans to keep to their own business. Khagan Zachariah, similarly enfeebled by his illness but determined to stand tall until the very end, opened the meeting.
"I bid you welcome, my Lords. It pleases me greatly to see all of you in one place again. It's been too long. But this shall not discourage us to mark this glorious day before God himself. I suppose the news from Antioch have reached every one of you one way or the other: our invincible horde has finally brought Duke Hethum of Edessa to his knees. When his capital fortress fell, the bulk of his court including his sons was still in there and fell into our hands.
He had no choice but to surrender to Baghatur to get at least his heirs back. An Ashina son ruling over one of the most legendary sites of history! It is unprecedented, and truly a great gift from Adonai himself to Khazaria. It is with full right that his men call him 'the Conqueror' by now. Rejoice, my Lords – once more the world learns of our power!"
The councillors gave a half-hearted toast. Everyone knew that this was unlikely to be the end of the story. Baghatur's host of adventurers was worn out, and it would take some time until he got a proper grip on his new lands far away from home – especially since everyone still considered him a vassal to the same Duke he had just bested with the help of the Khazarian horde. The persistent smallpox in Antioch and the camp fever epidemic continuing to spread throughout the Levant didn't help either.
Khan Böri was the first one to take up word. "As you mention it, your majesty – the other people in our custody have remained there, a total of twelve souls. The Duke's three wives are among them, the rest seems to be the families of the Barons that Baghatur butchered in the war..."
"Women and children, all of them", added Zakkai of Bartenstein, the East Francian steward. "Not exactly a catch you would want to get all too prominent amongst the other Khaganates. We should be able to get a ransom at least for his wives though."
"I trust you will take care of that as of immediately, my friend", the Khagan said directed towards Glitterhoof, who stood in his specially designed notch in the table and gave him an understanding look.
"Very well." said Zachariah, visibly contented. "Now what's with the rest of the bunch?"
"As I was saying", Khan Böri replied with a reproving gaze towards Zakkai, "they are by and large the families of nobles who have deceased in the war and thus had nowhere to hide when our troops stormed the fortress. I've done some background checks on them, and there's little money to be made with them, but there might be....other uses for them." The spymaster gave his typical grin.
"Or there might be grace to be shown", Khan Yilig of Bulçir pointed out. "If we Khazars are aiming to gain acceptance in the Holy Land after all, we cannot behave like barbarians and slaughter children as we please."
"Adonai himself would not look kind upon such actions either", Rabbi Azariah concurred. "The Book of the Covenant explicitly protects the weak. This obviously includes widows and orphans, but also...strangers." Azariah swallowed hard and thought about what was supposed to happen to Shimon of Monte Cassino under everyone's eyes.
Zachariah nodded and stood up with noticeable toil. "The laws of the steppe, in contrast, punish the weak ones. Yet I cannot suppose that being young and in the wrong place counts as the kind of weakness they're referring to. It's not of matter which code or tradition you adhere to – an act like this would almost naturally be heinous.
Release the children at once, see that they are brought back to Edessa safely. The women will stay here for once, at least the ones that Duke Hethum isn't willing to pay for. There's never a shortage of nobles looking to get married, and they are young and virile. They shall be treated with all decency and given full accomodations until we find a solution."
The councillors were surprised, but they were content with the result - with the obvious exception of Khan Böri who would have preferred more freedoms in dealing with the prisoners personally, but reluctantly promised to see the Khagan's orders fulfilled at once. Although none of them was a stranger to violence, there was little desire for more of it after the war had already taken more than enough of its bloody toll.
Zachariah sunk back into his throne. Zakkai of Bartenstein gave him a questioning gaze, and the Khagan nodded and briefly closed his eyes.
"This is beyond doubt a demonstration how deserved the reputation is that you, my Khagan, enjoy among the European royalty. There is another joyous occasion I have the honor to inform you about – or, to be exact, two of them."
Zachariah, attentive again, looked at him quizzical but Zakkai carried on: "As I was talking of Europe, let me start with the freshly approved betrothal of the youngest Ashina son. Only this morning, the positive reply from King Dietpold Karling of East Francia arrived. He will grant the hand of his eldest daughter to Simsam, creating the first alliance of all times between a descendant of Muhan the Great and one of Karl 'the Hammer', the alleged founding father of the Franks."
No one could quite figure out why King Dietpold chose "levelheaded" of all compliments.
The reaction among the councillors wasn't quite as Zakkai would have imagined it, considering that the Ashina Clan was about to marry into the most influential dynasty in Europe and what this signified. Khazaria had grown mighty and prosperous under Zachariah's reign, and this betrothal meant this was recognised in Europe too. Although Zakkai had suspected that the name alone wouldn't carry as much weight in these latitudes, he couldn't quite figure why the other Khans seemed so indifferent.
"You mentioned another issue..." groaned Khagan Zachariah, seemingly annoyed by the others' ignorance.
The whole time Zakkai had been fully confident that today would be the right moment to let the cat out of the bag. Ever since the Khagan's absence, he had pulled the right strings and never committed a mistake. Now everything looked as if it worked out. Baghatur had his own castles and an enemy more powerful than him, Tarkhan was fully rehabilitated and posed an important influence on his father again. It could hardly have gone better.
And still suddenly Zakkai's palms started to sweat when the Khagan asked about his other point, the one no one else knew about. Only now did he realize that there was one final piece of the puzzle missing, one final thing to possibly go wrong, and if the always vigilant and still sometimes short-fused Khagan drew the wrong conclusions, Zakkai would be in tremendous trouble. But Zachariah was already looking at him, pervasive and impatient.
Zakkai swallowed. "Glitterhoof and me have conducted some research. Apparently there are ancient provisions to prevent machinations of foreign rulers to overtake the traditional Khaganates... Now that Baghatur is in possession of two feudal counties, he is by all possible interpretations no longer eligible to inherit the Khaganate or the leadership of the Ashina Clan. As of now, Tarkhan is your heir again."
Everyone was silent for a moment. Only a few minutes ago, they had thought Baghatur to be a hero, just for it to turn out he was a fool who had most likely squandered his chance to the Khaganate. Then everyone started talking simultaneously, questioning Zakkai's sources and motives - except for Zachariah who just leaned back, breathed deeply and looked almost complacent.
"Then it's going to be Tarkhan after all." the Khagan said gravely, but steadfast and without grief, when the chattering died down again. "I know that he has grown a lot and learned from his mistakes. And so will Baghatur, if Adonai wills it. In the end, it's his call to make, not mine and not yours. We shall not forget this."
Zachariah closed his eyes again. "I will need to speak with Tarkhan. If there are no more surprises...you all have business to tend to. Azariah...I might need a bit more poppy tonight."
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Also, I did not expect the only thing I tweaked in the game rules - peasant revolts are four times stronger to give them somewhat of an edge at all - to have such a delightfully profound effect. Stories from the Peasant Republic of Constantinople would probably make for an AAR of their own.
