After many years Theo enters Magnaura. He is brought here on a chair by some of his servants...

I don't have much to say. For a crippled man like me it's hard to fight against our enemies, the Turks, and it's even harder to come here, Constantinople, from Levant. But what hurts me the most is how some of you act.

At the moment I'm willing to sign peace even with Erotikos! And the reason would be our foreign enemies - Venetians and Turks. Once all of you have decided who becomes the Basileus you may not have an Empire to rule! The Turks will over run our, the Orders, last defences in Levant if they keep sending those armies against us and Venetians might soon attack our holdings in Greece. We have already lost 3 provinces because of Methodios Tagaris' actions. He was a good man in his heart I think but it can not be ignored that his small 'rebellion' is the cause of our current financial situation!
I don't know what kind of man you are, Ioannis Tagaris, but if the lives of Byzantine people are important to You then You will help me getting back Damascus and if you return it to the Order then you will earn not just my gratitude but also my loyalty.

Loyalty... it's a word that have lost it's meaning to many of you! Kousinos, or Constantine, what you did was nothing but simple theft. You, and your partner, stole from the Order like those lowly thieves that you can see here in Constantinople! Why should anyone follow you even if you might become a Basileus? A thief, bastard and a rebel?

Theo spits to the ground...

I go back to the Levant now and just hopes that it's not too late to save the Empire!!! At least 'real' Romans would do it!!

His servants take the chair and take Theo, who mumbles about stupid Senators, out...