Chapter Two, Part XI
Another couple of weeks passed without word from Carmagnola or any significant breaks in the negotiations.
Stefanos had met with Petrini a couple of times but nothing significant had come of it. The rest of the delegation was becoming restless as they had less and less to do and the weather got worse.
They were now well into the autumn and Venice had become a dreary and damp place, plagued by rain showers and high winds, only occasionally interspersed with sun.
Only Benedict still seemed to have some purpose, he left a couple of times a week to meet with different contacts, mostly Renaud, though only Stefanos truly knew that. Finally Renaud had delivered and Benedict now had a complete overview that would allow Stefanos to know which houses could be persuaded.
That left Benedict free to pursue the odd presence of Carmagnola in Venice, but he had to thread lightly as this was an area less prone to sell its information at a Tavern.
One morning when the sun finally peeked through the clouds for the first time in days, Stefanos finally felt he had the background to pressure Petrini, he ordered several delegation members to join him in the dining hall and asked Arn and Sif to witness it all. As the small group seated themselves around the table Stefanos stood up and held up his hand for silence.
“All, I’ve come by some information and it now time that we get to work and earn our pay.” The small group smiled, they all knew that the waiting was part of the game, the Envoy continued, “I have asked Petrini to meet me here an hour after noon and then I will broach the true subject of this delegation, the alliance against Athens and the Turks.”
A hush followed his statement, they all knew off course that this was the goal, but so far nothing substantial had been placed on the table and thus the usual tactic of offering something and then slowly escalating the stakes until the true matter could be presented was being tossed out the window. Stefanos looked at their faces.
“I know this it not the way we usually do it, but I have confidence we can pull it of, I have something else to tell you. I front of you there are a number of lists containing small and not so small merchant houses, some of them on the Council of ten, some not, some of them looking to become members, some of them influencing members.”
As one the men looked down over their lists and Stefanos could see recognition and surprise drift across their faces as the names revealed themselves to them.
“Each of the lists contains details as to their transactions in the eastern trade. You are to seek them out and make sure that they understand the following. We are going to tie their trade concessions and favorable tariffs to the success of the upcoming alliance, not only gaining the alliance but also honoring it. You will threaten those already in the trade and wave the promise of admission to those who are not. You can discuss altered number of trade concessions and traders and higher and lower tariffs. You are not to promise anything substantial, I will change matters when we get back, but make no promises.”
A murmur rose among the men, and more than a few delegates smiled at the prospect of being on the offensive for once.
“You will have two days to complete this,” he raised his hand to still the objections, “You don’t have to succeed in convincing all of them, just make sure the word get out.” He looked down the table and nodded to one man, “You, you have different task, that’s why your list is so short. You will have to go to Genoa.” The man looked surprised but nodded.
“You will take this letter, addressed to the Genoese Doge and his Council, it has no real content, so do not be overly concerned should you loose it.” The man was about to object, looking indignant that Stefanos could suggest such a thing, but the foreign advisor merely smiled, “off course you can bring it securely to its destination, but I don’t want you to. Your job is the hardest of all, you have to pretend you go in secrecy, but at the same time make sure the Doge’s men know where you are going, and hopefully who you are to see.”
The man nodded catching on, “You want them to know we talk to the Genoese, so that we may be able to use that as a pressure as well.”
“Yes, I’m sure the Doge has spies in Genoa as well, so I would like you to seek audience with the Genoese council and deliver a message. Another message than the one in the letter, you are to tell them that I am considering opening a closer relation between Pera, Kerch and Kaffa and our beloved city. For far too long we have relied on only one partner, it is time Byzantium woke up and began feeling the power.”
One of the other delegates looked up curiously, “What is the content of the letter then? I mean, if its empty and they steal it won’t they know its a trap?”
Stefanos nodded, “it is a discreetly formulated request for opening correspondence regarding the trading right of the Genoese on terms very alike the Venetians. Enough, hopefully to make them worry.”
The delegate nodded his thanks.
“If nobody else have any questions, then I‘ll adjourn the meeting, Petrini will be here in another hour or so and I would prefer if most of you where gone by then. Make sure nobody gets access to the information on that list, it has costs us quite a lot of money and is likely to be of use later in the detailed trade negotiations with those families.”
*****
Petrini walked into the study Stefanos had claimed as his own, his usual arrogant attitude tempered by curiosity over the unusual summons he had received.
“Milord, so good to see you again, I gather you have some important news, perhaps from the latest Galley from Corfu, since you asked me to joined you?”
“Please Petrini, have a seat, some wine perhaps, dried fruit?”
“Wine yes, that would be nice, the sun is finally shining, no I have just dined, lucky that I had time today, my days are full of the Doge’s business.”
“So Petrini, I have come to a conclusion on our earlier discussions...”
“Ah, yes the trade concessions, we feel that there is an important need to look at the quotas for when the tariffs are imposed, the recent figures clearly indicate that..”
Stefanos waved off the interruption, “I don’t think you understand, Petrini, I‘m not here to make concessions on trade or discuss lowering the level of tariffs, I’m here to discuss how we easiest manage to return the status of Venetian traders to normal trade relations like the rest of the world.”
The Greek could almost hear the Italian’s mouth clamp shut. He had not seen that one coming.
“You see my dear Petrini, we have come to the conclusion that we are not getting enough out of the trade with you, compared to what we could get elsewhere and we need more money if we are to support an army large enough to stand against the Turks.”
“But you have an agreement with the Turks?”
“Ah, yes, but then there is the matter of Athens allying it self to most of Italy, and”
“Now wait, it is only to allies, not really..”
“That is not the matter, we do not feel we can in all honesty indulge such a lenient attitude towards Venetian traders and have come to the conclusion we need to normalize the relationship. Could you please inform the Doge of our decision?”
Stefanos knew he was playing a dangerous game, if Petrini didn’t offer up the idea of alliance, then the window of opportunity could very well be closed.
Petrini looked flustered and Stefanos allowed him self a sip of wine to give the Italian time to think.
“All right then what do you want?” Petrini had a clear feeling that Stefanos was fishing for something and he had to get it out in the open.
“Funny you should mention it, we would like to offer Venice a chance to join an alliance with the Byzantine Empire, a mutual military alliance of support and defense of course.”
Petrini looked taken aback, the Duchy of Athens was a simple thing, but the other Italian states and most importantly, the Ottomans lurked in the background and he knew it.
“And for that you would keep the trade concessions and lowered tariffs?”
“Let’s just say my report to the council would be far more favorable than it is right now,” Stefanos glanced at a pile of papers on his desk, indicating the unfinished and nonexistent report.
For once Petrini seemed at a loss for words, he looked searchingly at the Greek as if looking for signs that this was a joke, that the Envoy was out of mind, or trying to bluff, but no such signs appeared, Stefanos appeared as cool and calm as ever. Finally the Doge’s assistant managed to find his speech.
“An interesting idea, my good friend, I’m sure the Doge will be intrigued, we have no prior commitments that will conflict with such an alliance and I’m sure we can find a way to compensate the Venetian traders for the hardship any wars might impose on them.”
Stefanos shook his head, “No you misunderstand, I’m going to report that the special concessions to Venice should be removed or reduced. If on the other hand you join our alliance, I just might reduce that wording to a more lenient reconstruction of those concessions.”
Petrini stood up a tad too fast and bowed stiffly at Stefanos, “I see, I will report this to the Doge, I trust you will give us a few days to ponder your generous offer?”
Stefanos nodded, a couple of days were exactly what he needed for his plans to take effect. “Off course my dear friend, we are not leaving right away, though a winter in Venice is not of the most pleasant experiences? Or so I’ve heard.”
Petrini merely nodded his farewells and headed out the door.
As he left, his arrogance had been replaced with uncertainty and insecurity, a touch of the earlier anger still visible in his face.
.
