((Written in collaboration with Zim and Deguerra))

Encounters at the Mavrozomis estate, Part II: The Comes scholar

The room was sparsely furnished otherwise, with a plain hardwood floor, strongly worn in one section in the shape of an oval, presumably from the owner’s constant pacing. In the center of the room Anna could see a large table, haphazardly covered with scrolls and books. There were several chairs at the table, with Comes Kosmas in the center one. Kosmas was a man of medium height and nondescript appearance. He was thin but not extraordinarily so, had dark brown hair, brown eyes that were always half-lidded as if he had not slept well, and a complexion just dark enough to hint of ancestry from the days of Alexander’s campaigns when Hellenes ranged far to the east. He had an odd tendency to drum his fingers on tables and desks, which habit he was currently indulging himself in, and almost always seemed to smile halfway, without showing his teeth. It was one of these smiles he showed to the Princess as he stood up and bowed.

“Princess, forgive me for this mess” Kosmas exclaimed as he hurriedly attempts to clear off a spot on the table. “I was comparing a few copies of a contemporary biography of Epaminondas. There are some discrepancies in more modern biographies of him I wish to...” Kosmas fell silent abruptly. Although her face remained unreadable, he realized the minutia of how mistakes slowly crept into copies of ancient texts was probably not of interest to Anna. He bows again and changes the subject. “Please sit down. I understand I may have a manuscript you have been looking for?” Kosmas drummed his fingers nervously as he awaited a response.

Anna glided to his table, she faltered for an instant as she neared him, her gaze drawn to the scrolls lying haphazardly on it. Regaining her senses, she focused on the Comes and arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "Did you not expect me? Perhaps my runner did not reach you?" She let the last question hang in the air with a hint of an accusation.

Kosmas looked up languidly at the Princess, his expression surprisingly impassive. The tapping of his fingers against the table ceased immediately, and he actually seemed calmer than before he was confronted. “I did receive your runner a little while ago, but allowed myself to get distracted by a particularly engrossing section of text. I will not make that mistake again.” Kosmas smiled again.

“Now, how may I help you, Princess?”

Her attention now solely on the multitude of scrolls in front of her, Anna replied calmly. "I was told you might have some commentaries on Aristotle's works, dating from before fifty-sixth century."

Kosmas walks over to one of the bookshelves behind him and starts sifting through scrolls. “I believe I have a few from that century. Was there one in particular you were looking for?”

"Do you have the one by Euphaxis? I've never had the pleasure of reading it, although several scholars have told me it is quite enlightening."

“That is a good one. Let me see…” Kosmas pulls two scrolls from the shelf. “I have two copies. One is contemporary but sadly missing parts, and the other is a more complete copy from later in the same century.”

"I would very much like to compare them." Her tone left little place for denial.

She certainly knows what she wants. Ah well, I can easily part with these manuscripts for now. Kosmas smiles pleasantly, as if he would like nothing better than to lend them both. He walks over to the Princess and hands them to her. "I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I find them to be one of the best commentaries of Aristotle, specifically the section on The Politics. It's quite unfortunate that not many copies have survived.”

"Rest assured, they are in good hands." She gave him a disarming smile as she reached for the scrolls handed to her. Once they were in her possession, she wheeled around and gently made her way towards the exit. Yet, after a few steps she seemed to have reconsidered, as she turned to face the Comes once more. Seeming to have forgotten something, Anna addressed him in her most innocent voice.

"There was also something else. I was wondering... Does my brother keeps your company out of literary interest?"

Before Kosmas could open his mouth, a quiet but icy voice out of the shadow of a bookcase to their right answered: "And you, Anna, are you truly here to learn more of Aristotle? From what I hear, your knowledge of the old texts is nigh unrivalled in the city."