Alexios Komnenos yawned a long, comfortable yawn and sat back in his chair. The soft patter of rain against the window and the cool stones on his bare feet served to relax him further. A perfect day..., Alexios sighed.
The Emperor closed his eyes and leaned back further. This day had been just what he needed. Though only thirty-seven, he felt much older, a consequence of his constant efforts to heal the wounds his extravagant father had inflicted on the Empire. Not to mention the constant pressure from the Bulgarians or the Turkish tribes or-
No, stop it! Not today, Alexios admonished himself. He had declared today to be a governmental holiday, hoping to rest his overworked ministers, not to mention himself.
Forcing himself to relax, the Emperor had just begun to picture a meeting with the basilissa when an insistent knocking came to the door.
"God damn it.." Alexios muttered under his breath, then spoke "Enter". The Emperor stood to face the entrance, as the logothetes tou dromou entered and bowed before him.
"Rise, Isaac Angelos. What matter is urgent enough for you to come before me today?" spoke the Emperor, a bit more forcefully than would be proper.
"Forgive me, my lord. I bear a message from the Albanians, personally addressed to you."
The Emperor scowled viciously. "What do those scum want?" The Albanians had been one of the nations to gain from the Empire's instability in the mid-1300s, attacking and annexing the region of Epirus. As such, they were a constant thorn in the Emperors' sides.
Isaac read the letter, conveying it to his sovereign.. "My lord, they... they seem to desire conflict. They have called into question your parentage...repeatedly, as well as asserting your cowardice and the weakness of your rule." The diplomat stepped backwards at the anger clear on the Emperor's face. Alexios' fits of rage were common knowledge and the diplomat did not want to become a victim of one.
Alexios snarled. "The impudent fools. Well then, if they desire a war, they will have one. Isaac, inform my sons and call General Iakobos Barys to Adrianople. We march on Albania!" he bellowed.
Isaac bowed deeply. "As you command, my lord." The diplomat turned and strode quickly from the room, his face unreadable. Barking buffoon...
The Emperor closed his eyes and leaned back further. This day had been just what he needed. Though only thirty-seven, he felt much older, a consequence of his constant efforts to heal the wounds his extravagant father had inflicted on the Empire. Not to mention the constant pressure from the Bulgarians or the Turkish tribes or-
No, stop it! Not today, Alexios admonished himself. He had declared today to be a governmental holiday, hoping to rest his overworked ministers, not to mention himself.
Forcing himself to relax, the Emperor had just begun to picture a meeting with the basilissa when an insistent knocking came to the door.
"God damn it.." Alexios muttered under his breath, then spoke "Enter". The Emperor stood to face the entrance, as the logothetes tou dromou entered and bowed before him.
"Rise, Isaac Angelos. What matter is urgent enough for you to come before me today?" spoke the Emperor, a bit more forcefully than would be proper.
"Forgive me, my lord. I bear a message from the Albanians, personally addressed to you."
The Emperor scowled viciously. "What do those scum want?" The Albanians had been one of the nations to gain from the Empire's instability in the mid-1300s, attacking and annexing the region of Epirus. As such, they were a constant thorn in the Emperors' sides.
Isaac read the letter, conveying it to his sovereign.. "My lord, they... they seem to desire conflict. They have called into question your parentage...repeatedly, as well as asserting your cowardice and the weakness of your rule." The diplomat stepped backwards at the anger clear on the Emperor's face. Alexios' fits of rage were common knowledge and the diplomat did not want to become a victim of one.
Alexios snarled. "The impudent fools. Well then, if they desire a war, they will have one. Isaac, inform my sons and call General Iakobos Barys to Adrianople. We march on Albania!" he bellowed.
Isaac bowed deeply. "As you command, my lord." The diplomat turned and strode quickly from the room, his face unreadable. Barking buffoon...
