Chapter One, part VIII
Svend entered the small anteroom to the Council chamber, since the Emperor wouldn’t be there, it had been decided to dispend with the aides and only council members would be present, making the formal chamber to large and cumbersome to use.
The small room was usually used as a waiting area for visitors that needed to appear before the council. It was small, with a round table and just enough chairs to seat everybody. The Emperor had in his wisdom sent his personal scribe to cover the proceedings and the poor man was sitting at a rickety table in the corner.
As the table was round there was no real need to fight over the seating and soon everybody had found a chair. The important members, or perhaps members who found themselves important, and members that for some reason carried more weight with the Emperor had spaced themselves as much as possible from each other, leaving empty spots for the lesser council members to fill out.
Without the Emperor present, there was no direct leader of the meeting, but after a bit of shuffling and dispute it was decided that, Nikolos, the chief advisor, was the most senior man and Dimitrios reluctantly granted him the honor to preside the meeting.
Nikolos patiently waited for the members to quite down before he slowly and dignified rose.
“Gentlemen, honored members, we have before a task that we cannot take lightly, in the next few days we are to select the men that will help decide the future of the Empire. The Emperor has decided that diplomacy alongside a stronger military is the way of survival. I believe he is right in choosing a delegation to Italy, friends and allies are our path out of the darkness.”
The old advisor looked sternly at the other members. “The Emperor has in his wisdom chosen to put faith in us, let us not let down his trust.”
Trust the old fox, never to gainsay the Emperor when there is a scribe present. He also managed to sidestep the fact that the Emperor ordered a new army without a leader. I wonder if he or the commanders are planning to tie these two together?
Svend kept his face impassive, he had nothing to add, but slowly let his eyes wander across the faces of the real players in the room. None of the faces betrayed anything, but he was certain that several of them had already laid plans and committed alliances, alliances not likely to survive the contact with today’s meeting.
A short silence followed Nikolos’ speech; nobody wanted to venture their opinions. Finally the head of the city administration, Vincenzo, stood,
“I suggest we start by selecting the envoy, that way we will be guided by that choice in choosing the members of the delegation,”
A very sound advice, Svend thought, but before the Councilor could continue, Dimitrios interrupted, without even bothering to rise,
“And who do you suggest? Somebody wise, all knowing and experienced in city management perhaps?” The bishop’s voice dripped with irony and contempt and several of the other members looked slightly startled. Vincenzo flashed crimson, but bravely stood his ground.
“I believe, honored member that I had the word, I saw no indication that you wanted to speak first? You, perhaps, have an alternative way of starting, or perhaps you have already decided on a candidate? In that case I suggest that you stand up and announce it and we can all be home before noon.”
Svend kept his peace, wondering if the young man had inadvertently signed his own political death warrant with that speech. Why does Dimitrios feel the need to trample him like that, as far as I know they have not had any serious clashes before, perhaps Vincenzo refused to support Dimitrios? Whatever the reason, it looked like it would be an interesting meeting.
“As to your question, Reverend Bishop, no I have no suggestions, I merely stated that it would be wise to organize this selection, I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to tell the council who it should choose.”
The thoughts twirled in Svend’s mind Something is definitely going on, not that it surprises me, but what?
Dimitrios looked haughtily at Vincenzo but refused to rise to the bait, instead Nikolos once again rose and called the meeting to order,
“Vincenzo’s suggestion has merit, I propose we suspend with the individual members of the delegation and focus on the envoy, the man who shall have the honor of representing the Empire in the city of merchants, the center conspiracy and decadence, Venice.”
Nobody spoke up, speaking too soon could ruin your chances and for some the mission entailed both political opportunities and threats. Should the mission succeed they would be covered in glory, but it also meant being out of touch with the seat of power for months, perhaps a year. Svend sighed, this was getting nowhere, he rose,
“I suggest we look first to the diplomatic needs of our beloved nation, I strongly feel we need to sweet talk these Italians and we to negotiate, they are all merchants, they will have to be haggled with. We also need somebody with experience, as Nikolos said; this is not a city of honor, but one of deceit and double meanings. I suggest, for an opening argument that we look upon our esteemed foreign service.”
Svend deliberately didn’t look at the foreign advisor, but his words nonetheless stirred up a hornet’s nest. No one questioned his motives. He had over the years made it quite clear that he wouldn’t abandon his command for political status. He was therefore in many ways a nonentity in these political proceedings; he would wield his influence carefully, but never jockey for a position himself, only concerned with what he perceived to be the well-being of the Empire. And that made him very dangerous to the political creatures around the table.
Theodosius snorted, “the foreign service? Ha, that’s what got us into this mess in the first place. Had they done their job in the first place we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Had you crushed the rebellions, Athens wouldn’t have succeeded in declaring their independence.” Dimitrios hated the military commander more than the foreign advisor and for a short moment forgot his own agenda. “Would you suggest yourself perhaps? Do you think you can convince the Venetians at sword point?”
“Easy gentlemen, let us hear what Svend has to say before we start throwing blame around, Athens exist, not much good will come of debating why it is so. Svend, do you have any specific member of the foreign service in mind?” The old chancellor once again brought the debate back on track, this could easily be long meeting.
“I have nothing further, my lord, but this is a diplomatic mission after all, I therefore suggest we hear what Stefanos has to say.”
“Stefanos?”
The foreign advisor didn’t respond at once, but threw a quizzical glance at Svend. The Captain didn’t respond, but his position as a neutral somehow assured the advisor and he slowly stood and rested his hands on the back of his chair.
“Honored members, I agree with the overall premise presented by our valiant Captain of the Guard that this mission requires the hand of an experienced diplomat and negotiator. The Council of ten will not look favorably upon neither soldiers nor clerics. As implied by my esteemed colleagues, honor or Christian charity will not move the Venetians. I have in my service several experienced diplomats and negotiators and I will gladly offer their service for the Council to use as it sees fit.”
“Are they the same diplomats you used to convince the Italian states that they should not ally themselves with Athens?”
Svend smiled to inwardly, Theodosius was not having a good day, first his outbursts had been neglected by Nikolos and only succeeded in angering Dimitrios and now the council had more or less been told that despite their honor the Commanders were unfit to the role as envoys. Not that settled their position, nothing was decided yet.
Stefanos has actually managed in no uncertain terms to question that honor, off course the Venetians respect a professional soldier, they live only by the grace of their Condottieri, they may not trust them, but they know their worth.
“I think, General, that you would find that that was inevitable, the alliances of Athens and the Italian minors was as much an affront to Venice as it is to us. I believe we will fare better at the city of canals now than before the other Italians meddled in what the Venetians consider their pond.”
The general didn’t answer. You have always been better at brute force and the internal squabble at headquarters than you have at analyzing a situation before you act. Svend shifted slightly in the chair, before he caught the old chancellors eye, with a nod from Nikolos, he stood,
“That is definitely a worthy observation and one the delegation would be ill advised not to heed once they get to Venice, but for now, we need to find a leader. Does any one at this table have further comments? If not then I‘d like to suggest that we agree on letting Stefanos be nominal leader of the delegation.”
A murmur rose from the table, but Svend raised his hand, “Let me finish, please, I do not mean as a final choice, I want to submit that diplomatic skill should be given a high priority and therefore give Stefanos time to look closely at his services and come up with possible candidates.”
By default and through his position as neutral, Svend had inadvertently taken over the control of the meeting. While this had not been his intention from the beginning it nevertheless suited him well. He looked at the assembled faces and thought that perhaps he had both foiled and aided several plans at the same time. A couple of the minor advisors, including Vincenzo looked slightly disappointed, but the overall feeling was one of approval.
I wonder what it was Theodosius had planned? He doesn’t look displeased. And Dimitrios looks quite satisfied.
“I do not support the choice of a leader without proper debate and discussion, I’m certain that I among the members of the Patriarchs staff can find suitable and diplomatic candidates.” Dimitrios voiced his objections, but Svend felt that it was for show only. “I will however bow to the will of the Council if that is indeed what will serve our Emperor best.”
“If there are no other objections, I will inform his Imperial Highness of our decision and suggest that we reconvene one hour after the noon bell to hear what Stefanos has to say. Dimitrios you may also select one candidate for the post to submit for the approval of the council.”
The bishop shot one angry glare at Nikolos but bowed his head in acceptance. The meeting lasted another half an hour as the different members voiced their opinions on the matter and often suggested members for the delegation, but Nikolos stood his ground and stuck to his original plan of not committing to any members of the delegation before the envoy was chosen. As Svend pushed back his chair he couldn’t help wonder if the old fox was doing it deliberately or on the Emperor’s orders.
When he reached the door he tried to make a beeline for the foreign advisor, but was cut off by the two Generals once again. Amazing abilities, perhaps they do have some sort of military qualities after all?
With a wry smile and a hidden sigh, he allowed him self to be dragged away by the two commanders.
should I abandone while I still can?
