The Magnaura

[_Tristan_]

A man in a dust-powdered cloak walks into the Magnaura and delivers a rolled parchment to the Senate scribes. After having it read by the Protoasecretes, who simply nods, the scribe walks to the Senate floor and begins to read.

Basileos, Caesar, Fellow Senators,

It is with great joy that I hereby announce that Alexandria, flower of the Fatimid Sultante has fallen to Byzantine arms. Under the joint command of Annios Solomon and myself, Alexandria has fallen.

Our brave Crusaders have suffered few losses. Nevertheless, some gruesome sight which we happen to behold when we launched our assault deserved that we deliver a fitting punishment to the population of the city.

I, and I alone, took upon me to unleash my men upon the filthy rabble that inhabited the city. Men were rounded and one out of five was put to death, his assets seized for the good of the Empire and in payment for the death of Kosmas Mavrozomis. This resulted in 2000 deaths.

I know full well that in acting in such a way I violated an Edict voted by this august body in the two last terms. I am ready to submit myself to the judgment of my peers upon this violation and await the decision of our most revered Basileos.

I wish the best in this term to our Megas and hope my fellow Crusaders will have the same success under the walls of Cairo.

Signed : Methodios Tagaris.
Captain-General of House Ilios Korakas.

The scribe rolls the parchment back and hands it to the Protoasecretes to file it in the Senate archive.