Re: House Ilios Korakas
Nikiphoros Manouelitis, having left the Magnaura earlier, enters the chamber of House Ilios Korakas. Once again, he is not alone. In addition to his bodyguards, there are a couple more scribes from the Magnaura with him, and surprisingly, half a dozen armed men. They are dressed exotically, giving the appearance of being mercenaries. Judging from the loud clinking noise coming from them, they are just that. These men are professionals, as two stay to bar the exit, and the four others deploy in a manner that secures the place.
The occupants of the chamber, that is to say Methodios Tagaris, two of his retinue and some scribes of House Korakas, raise an eyebrow at this; one of Tagaris’ men starts to unsheathe his sword, and one of the scribes starts sweating a bit.
Nikiphoros walks to the centre of the hall, and after checking the situation, addresses Methodios Tagaris.
“Lord, first of all I wish to apologize for what I will do. If others will not move, then I shall. If those others find my actions lacking in honour, then so be it. I do this to right a wrong, and men like that are often viewed with distrust. If what I do brings me that, then so be it.
Recent times have tested us all. The sacking of Alexandria, the Caesar’s near open treason, the Organization… Those are the events that have shocked me the most, and I must say that in the case of the latter two, the unmaking of which have been most commendable. The Basileus himself has realised his son and heir was dangerous for the Empire, and resolved it with one swift stroke. The Organization’s destruction was just as admirable, and I marvel at the Patriarch’s work.
However, you will notice that of those three events, one of them has not yet been resolved. Alexandria.
Methodios Tagaris has done it to avenge Kosmas Mavrozomis. Noble? Yes, of course. Chivalric? Naturally.
But in spirit only. 2000 men have died for one man. Other senators have died, yet did we avenge them in the same manner? No! Why? Because it is horrendous! If I were to die at the hands of infidels, I would not want to be remembered as the catalyst of such a monstrous act! And I do not believe dear Kosmas would want to either. The fact that it is on the occasion of a Holy Crusade makes it worse; I believe the Lord preached peace. That we deliver death to men is bad enough; but what kind of person would extend that death to women and children?
There is another matter at hand. Two laws have been broken; a public edict strictly, and a private rule of the Charter Methodios wrote himself. Both express the same idea: Alexandria should have been occupied.
Some would say that this doesn’t matter. Laws have been broken before. Cities were exterminated; the Caesar himself focused his term as Megas on his allies, and not on the whole of the Empire. The criminals in both cases were maybe judged, but not punished. In this case as well, the perpetrator appears to be getting away with this act. I will not let that happen. I will take a stand. If nobody does that today, then some day in the future the Empire will be betrayed, a Caesar will be assassinated, and all the traitor will get is a slap on the hands. Do any of us honestly wish for this? I do not.
Methodios is not without resources, though. He has admitted his crime, and believes that will reduce his sentence. He has given the examples of other law-breakers. And most interesting, when I clearly said I would think of bringing him down, he threw me out of the House. Cunning man though he normally is, he was foolish enough to let me back. This is what I wish first and foremost to apologize for – the fact that I have lied and cheated to later punish a man. Once more, if dishonour is to be mine, I will bear that sentence.
So this is it. Lord Methodios Tagaris, Comes of Alexandria, I make a motion for your punishment by House Ilios Korakas. The sentence I am putting forth is expulsion from the House until the beginning of the next Senate Session, the one starting in 1140. As I am the only other member of House Korakas, and you cannot vote for your punishment, I declare you expulsed from the House.
For the record, this implies that he is demoted and gives his lands, in this case Alexandria, to the House. Since I am the sole member of the House, I will take that province and administer it personally. And I am also no longer his vassal.
There it is, Methodios. I order you to leave now. If you will not cooperate, then my men will make sure you do."
Finally finished with his speech, Nikiphoros rests his hand on the pommel of his sword, ready to act. It is clear that he is anxious. Tagaris is a cunning man, much more experienced than Nikiphoros, and he might have an ace in his sleeve still… Nikiphoros can only wait until his former lord replies.
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