Antioch 1098
Iakovos sat at his desk pouring over the records for the reconstruction of the building and the letters between him and several distributors about the buildings materials that had to be shipped to Antioch for the construction of the University.
Anna had been kind enough to supply Iakovos with her patronage, so money was not a real worry, only making sure it went were it was supposed to. Iakovos sighed to himself, and leaned back in his chair. Everyday he felt more and more like an administrator, and every day he had less and less time to himself.
Rubbing his tired eyes, Iakovos stood up from his seat and went in search of a cup of tea. His head continued to swim with facts, measurements, and figures, and he hoped the tea and a little break would calm his mind.
A few minutes latter, Iakovos returned to his study, pushing over the door and suddenly stopping dead. His desk was a mess, and it was obvious many of his documents were missing.
Candles dimly illuminated the room as the sun slowly faded from the darkening sky over Antioch. Sitting at an opulent oaken desk, Anna wove words upon a parchment with calligraphic care. So intent was she on her task, she had lost track of time and was mostly oblivious to her surroundings.
A quiet knock came from Anna's door.
It went unanswered as she poured her undivided attention on the words she committed to paper.
The knock came again, much louder this time, and was accompanied by a voice. "Your Highness?"
The quill halted its unrelenting progress as Anna lifted her head, irked at the interruption.
"What is it?" She answered in an annoyed tone.
The voice answered. "It's a message your Highness. One of the servants came by and handed to me, said it was urgent and from the Capital."
Storing her quill, she rose and settled her self beside the desk. "Very well, come in."
The door creaked open and a guard entered, one of the newer ones it appeared. He held out a scroll with the Imperial seal on it.
Anna held out an expectant hand.
The guard quickly handed it over and with a bow ducked out of the room, closing the door after he left. A sudden stillness descends on the room.
Breaking the seal, she unfurled the letter and read it.
"A message to the Princess Anna Komnenos. Meet me at the University Fountain."
Anna dropped the letter on the desk and took out cloak and a head scarf. Moments later she was exiting the building with two guards in two. Cautious about the dimming light in the streets, the three attempted to keep a low profile as they made their way to the University.
The streets were extremely quiet, only the nearby gurgling of the fountain could be heard at all. A slight breeze picks up, and a disembodied voice is carried with it. "You two, leave us."
"No" Anna's firm tone was all the answer he got.
A slight chuckle echoes through the courtyard. A man of slightly shorter height then Anna emerges from the shadows, covered in a dark cloak with a hood, completely obscuring his face. He walks with only a slight limp. "Forgive me, I had not expected guards, or my letter to arrive so late."
The two men instinctively went for their weapons, but did not draw them. Anna did not move. "You'd best explain why you dragged me out here and at this time, lest I find myself aggravated."
The cowled man bowed low. "Of course! I am sorry for not explaining in the letter, but I would not chance it. There are two things you must know: First, is a mere information exchange."
She crossed her arms. "And second?"
The man seemed to shrink back and took a second to take in his surroundings. Turning back to Anna, he spoke in softer tones. "Second is part of the information exchange."
She motioned for him to go on.
"Tonight, a man dressed as a guard was to walk into your room, and would have killed you." The cowled man let the words sink in.
Anna chuckled lightly. "My, what a fantastic story." She continued with a sardonic tone. "However shall I repay you for saving my life?"
The cowled man stood straight. "Take it as you will, it is not my life that is in danger. I am sorry for disturbing you your Highness."
At the word "danger" the two guards tightened their grip on their weapon. The words failed to illicit any kind of reaction from her. "It is not that I disregard my safety, but I cannot believe the word of every stranger who meets with me in dubious circumstances and warns me of impending doom without a shred of proof to back up their claim."
The cowled man nodded his head, his cloak rustling. "Proof?" The cowled man reaches into his robes and throws something at Anna's feet, backing further away as he does so. "A gift: the contract between the assassin and the employer, who has used the very funds from the building of the University to pay for your own murder."
Anna immediately signaled one of her men to pick up the package. As soon as he handed it over to her, she inspected the contents.
Inside are several letters and a contract, each more incriminating then the last, each signed with the ek Kallipoleos family seal.
Her now somber expression was hard to decipher. "It seems I have erred in my judgment. This information is most appreciated. Now, name your price. For surely, this carries a cost." She lifted the package into plain view at these last words.
The cowled man seems to consider for a moment, before turning back to Anna. "Those who work for House Asteri...they interest me. I wish to know of the what goes on behind the curtains, and, if I am not mistaken, you seem to be in a perfect position to gather such information."
She shook her head. "You are mistaken, the man who leads Asteri hates me, he would sooner see me dead than share his secrets with me."
The cowled man seemed to slump slightly. "Surely you do not need permission. I did not ask the ek Kallipoleos family for what you now hold."
Anna gave a brief sigh, annoyance crept in her voice. "I am no spy and it would not be proper for me to divulge the secrets of the nobles houses of the Empire. I cannot take sides. What I can offer is coin, access to certain places and introductions to certain people. That is the best I can do."
The cowled man happily nods his head, his clothes rustling again. "That is acceptable, and forgive me for demanding to much in return, I let my eagerness get the better of me. But you need not worry about mere coin malady."
Anna tacked away the package in the folds of her cloak. "I assume we are done then?"
The cowled man nodded. "All but to know how to contact you acceptably next time M'lady, and how you may contact me as well."
"A letter will do fine." She looked him over. "As for you, how do you wish to be contacted?."
The cowled man chuckled. "Go the Hippodrome, I will know of it."
Ann frowned. "What if I am required to enter the Kathisma for other reasons?"
The cowled man crossed his arms. "Ask for a man named "Balatro" to serve you."
Anna nodded and turned to leave, taking her tense escort with her.
When Anna returned to her room, she found something out of place. It seemed someone had taken the liberty of going through her papers neatly and precisely, and wedged in between tow of them was a letter.
It read "Dearest Anna, I am sorry for the trouble this has caused you, but I am sure you would never tell a stranger the information I seek. In a few hours, you will find that the letters and contract presented to you will have lost all it's lettering, and the seal itself will melt into nothing. I do hope you had no intention of harming my brother."
-Yours truly, Aleksander ek Kallipoleos, Guardian of the Empire
Anna's features became distorted in anger and outrage. Nevertheless, she remained clear headed; she could retain at least one piece of evidence. Rushing to her desk, she took out her quill, her weapon, and transcribed the letter with calligraphic expertise.
Later that night, Iakovos had nearly ransacked his own room, interrogated a few of the workers and the foreman, and yet he still could not find out where the documents had gone. Sighing to himself, Iakovos wearily headed for his bed. Unlocking and pushing open the door, Iakovos is shocked for a second time that day. The missing papers sit nicely stacked upon his sheets, with a letter on top.
"I thank you for the use of your records Iakovos, they proved to be very useful. I hope we may work together even closer in the near future."
-Yours truly, Aleksander, Guardian of the Empire
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