Antioch, 1105
The last few days, Makedonios has felt a near presence, following him just as surely as his shadow does. Each day it has drawn closer, but whenever he would attempt to catch this would be pursuer, he finds only empty air.
Finally after days of mind numbing waiting, Makedonios returns to his rooms late at night only to find a dark figure sitting in a chair in the corner. The dark figure speaks with a voice that is melodic, feminine, and soothing.
"Come, sit Hypatos, I am sure you are wondering why I have been following you."
Revitalized by finally being free of that dreadful sickness, Makedonios lunges to a fighting stance and draws his sword. Yelling for his shieldbearer Nick, and his bodyguards, he moves forward to the corner while men rush into the room with weapons drawn.
The figure continues. "Please, do not force my hand, nor underestimate me. I wish only to talk, and I had to be sure that the situation was firmly in my own hands before I moved, to avoid having myself so quickly killed. I understand your dislike of...my profession, but let us put that to the side for the moment, please, and talk to me as if I were human."
Makedonios just stands there sword at the ready. The room is filled with people now. Nick, the large hulking Greek, stands next to his lord with a small axe in his hand. Makedonios turns to one of his guards and says, "get the militia regiment to turn out and surround this building."
As the man runs out, he turns back to the figure in the chair. "You are not in a position to make threats. There are over a dozen men in this room and in the hallway. If I sound the alarm, the other Order members will turn out with their own retinue and bodyguards. In a matter of minutes, the regiment that guards this city will form up and will surround this building with over a hundred men. So, unless you have an army marching this way, you will find that your position is quite precarious. If you want me to listen, your going to have to try a different track than threatening someone who has far greater power than you."
The voice takes on a more apologetic tone. "I am sorry if you took my words as threat Grandmaster, they were never intended that way. May I start with a question with your permission?" The cloaked figure stares at the drawn weapons for a moment. "And may I ask that the weapons be lowered...I am unarmed, and will indeed do what you ask to prove my claim."
The Grandmaster stands there and evaluates the situation. Finally he nods. "Alright, the men will leave the room but will be right outside the door." Makedonios gives an order and the men file out. Makedonios sheaths his own sword but doesn't sit. He just stands there with his arms folded and waits for the woman to speak again.
The figure seems to breathe for easily now. "Thank you." After a pause, she continues. "What do you know of the Organization?"
Makedonios's brow furrows as he tries to recall if he had ever heard anything about the group. "No, never heard of them."
"I am a member of the Organization, and it also another part of that Organization I am here to discuss. Sometime ago, one of our own operatives went rogue. His name is Symeon, and he is a serious threat to the well being of the Empire, as well as a threat to the security of the Imperial family and the Order of St. John. I came to warn you of him, and to let you know I have been assigned to you as personal liaison to the Organization, if you so desire."
A grim smile crosses Makedonios's lips. "What are you? A den of thieves? If there is a threat to the Imperial family, then it seems more appropriate to bring this up to the Emperor. I must say I am amused by the idea of a rogue going rogue. I apologize, but when you get to my position, you get all sorts of people coming to you claiming to represent one group of people or another."
The smile fades. "Before I decide this has all been a complete waste of my time, how about you tell me a little more about this 'Organization' and why I would need a liason."
The woman's voice takes a hurt note. "Please...we are not thieves, nor are we rogues, we serve the Empire loyal, just as you...and we cannot approach the Emperor with this, he would never take us seriously. We come to you...forgive me...we come to you because of Iakovos. It has to do with Iakovos brother...Aleksandros, the current head of the Organization. He believes you would be more receptive to our offer, because of your relationship with Iakovos. We do not speak to Iakovos though, since Aleksandros does not even want his brother to know he is alive, and Iakovos wields little power."
The woman waits, and one could almost feel her anxiety.
Makedonios's eyebrow raises at the mention of Iakovos. "Iakovos certainly has a... colorful family. You do realize that if you had sent Iakovos to me, instead of trying cloak and dagger tactics, I would have been more receptive. Plus, I have never heard of Alexsandros. I'm going to do my own digging. If I find some of what you say, then I would be open to more conversations in the future. But I warn you here and now, that if I find something I don't like, the results will be quite... dramatic for those in your 'Organization.'"
The woman sighs, somewhat relieved.
"We would have, but Aleksandros feared detection. Is there another time and place we may meet, without the cloak and dagger? You may impose whatever terms you like, we are willing to accommodate to bring Symeon to justice."
Makedonios, still with his arms folded, nodded. "Anywhere but here would suffice. The number of people that can simply appear in my bedroom with me knowing, without causing me to become annoyed, is very small. And you are not one of those people. I'll talk to a few people that I trust and see just what has been going on in this city while I've been stuck in bed. If I find anything out, I will contact you. I can either write a letter and send it to an address of your choosing, or I can do something cloak-and-dagger and leave my curtains drawn a certain way or something." With that last, he allowed himself a small smile at the joke.
The woman shrugged. "As I said, I would prefer that we meet openly. It is better then Aleksandros deciding to have me one of your servants again." She seems to chuckle at that. "Is there some place you frequent?"
"There is a market I frequent that serves the kind of tea I like. I try to happen by there every day when I'm in town. You'll find me there." His tone turned more serious. "But let Aleksandros know that if he causes trouble around here, even being Iakovos's brother won't save him. My patience for these kind of games is quite short."
The woman nods in agreement. "I understand, and will convey your message to him." She gets up to leave, but stops for a moment. "And, please, do not tell Iakovos his brother lives...it may create unnecessary complications."
His face takes on hard features. "That depends on what my investigation finds. If it's bad, I will have no choice but to have a conversation with Iakovos. Aleksandros would do well to keep that in mind. If he knows I am going to find something I do not like, then it would behoove him to talk to Iakovos and come clean. I will try to be sensitive to family matters but I can not let that get in the way of a possible threat to the royal family or the Order."
The woman bows to Makedonios. "Till we meet again M'lord. It was a pleasure meeting you."
A few weeks later:
Makedonios sits in Antioch at his favorite market sipping mint tea.
A woman of with dark, short hair and a mild complexion sits down next to the Senator. She wears a veil to obscure her face, and is dressed as a noble woman, but it is obviously her, for she carries the same voice as before.
"You wish to speak to me M'lord?"
Makedonios sits and sips his tea. Finally, he addresses his guest.
"I wish you to know we are surrounded by my men at this moment. See the bum, wandering down the alley? He is one of my men. The man serving trinkets in the next stall? One of my men. The group of travelars walking up this aisle? All my men. The man at the table to my left? One of my men."
Taking another sip, Makedonios calmly continues.
"Now that we have established that you are quite trapped, I have a question for you. Your honest answer will ensure that you get out of this alive. Why was the Princess's daughter threatened by someone in the 'Organization'?"
The woman seems taken aback. "I believe you speak of the recently deceased Ignatios Angelus, a prominent arsonist and assassin? He was a good man, and it is sad he passed away, and I honestly don't see why he would make such a threat, especially against a child...that would be most unusual of him."
Makedonios's eyebrow rose. "Well, I got this information from someone I trust. Apparently, this man threatened the royal family. I have a hard time believing all of this is the actions of some rogue agent. The Princess herself had her apartment broken into when she was staying here. And my Marshall tells me that she was assaulted in an alleyway here."
He took another sip and then stared at her with hard eyes. "I want to know why the Princess has been attracting such attention. And I want to know right now. I consider her a close and dear friend of mine. She suspects that your whole 'organization' is out to get her. If this is true, I will tell you here and now that I will overturn this whole city to root your group out. Do not test me on this."
The woman nodded. "Initially, Symeon made use of our own agents in his plotting. But now he acts alone, or with others we are unaware of. Symeon has some vendetta against the Komnenos family, and now he is trying to put that into action, all the while shifting the blame to us, his only real rivals."
The woman pauses a moment before continuing. "As to the Princesses assault here, I do not know what you speak of. Is the person that assaulted her taken care of? Do you wish for us to take care of it?"
Another tea sip. "As far as I know, it is taken care of. But it disturbs me that the Princess has been bothered so much while visiting here. And you have failed to convince me of your organization's innocence. I fear your group is playing a very dangerous game..."
The woman's voice takes on a more serious tone. "Do you wish for us to insure her safety? We would gladly accept such an offer if it would ease your mind. I would offer myself as...collateral, if you so desire. I assure you, the Organization is much in the mood to prove it's innocence, yet at the same time, we must not compromise ourselves. It is a difficult task..."
Makedonios allowed himself a small chuckle. "No, I seriously doubt that the Princess would take well to your group 'protecting' her. In fact, you would do well to stay away from her. If you truly wish to help us, then give us the information we need to catch the person who is after her."
Yet another sip of tea. "Keep in mind that I seriously doubt as to the innocence of your group. Even if you are in fact innocent of this specific crime, then your likely guilty of many others. Your group's very existence seems to be a threat to the Empire since it trains and supports men to go and cause trouble. If you want redemption, you better produce results. Your group made this mess. I expect you to clean it up."
The woman nodded her head. "Then it is done. The Princess will no longer be bothered by anyone from the Organization. If you want information on Symeon though, I ask for your cooperation with me."
It is Makedonios's turn to nod. "Then it is settled. I warn you though, I have very little patience for your group. I want results. And I want them soon. Or I will turn this whole city upside down and bring your whole group before Kalameteros in chains."
The woman smiles at Makedonios. "Then I shall stay with you, and be on hand at all times, to aide you in anyway you desire, and act as collateral. In return, I ask you do not reveal my identity. Is this acceptable?"
Makedonios shakes his head no. "Sorry, I have no need of a keeper. We'll keep meeting like this. Good day m'lady." Makedonios gets up to leave.
The woman gets up as well. "Then I will report to Aleksandros of our agreement. You will know if he accepts or not. Good day M'lord."
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