Chapter One, part XI
The two men walked into the meeting room and found their seats, Svend looked at the two Generals and nodded slightly. Then he leaned back as the room slowly filled and looked at the other delegates, wondering how many minor deals had been struck in the meantime.
Dimitrios and Nikolos finally arrived together as the last and Svend idly wondered if that had any significance, Dimitrios had most likely been unable to strike a deal with any of the other important members, since Svend had been meeting with most of them. Dimitrios was a politician first and foremost and the Captain was never in doubt that the bishop had some sort of agenda for this meeting, the question was what it was and whether or not Svend had inadvertently thwarted that agenda, there was no doubt in his mind that the Cleric was aware that Svend had been meeting with the other council members, or at least the Generals.
He shrugged, he would find out soon enough.
Finally as all the members found their seats and the quieted down Nikolos once again stood and raised his dry old voice,
“Gentlemen, I take it you all spend the time constructively? Stefanos, have you considered the proposition put before you by the Council?”
The foreign advisor shot one look at Svend, as if seeking reassurance, before he stood up.
“Honored chairman, fellow members of the Council, I have spend the past hours pondering how I best can serve the Empire, how we can most likely ensure success to this most vital mission for the Emperor.” He stopped and looked closely at the assembled, all of them some of the most influential men in the city. “How do we ensure that the envoy work his best to support the Empire? How do we avoid that he falls into temptation so far from home and without guidance? How can we be convinced that the Venetians will listen?”
He looked around again at the faces of his peers, or at least what was supposedly his peers, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be considered one of them all the time, but nobody rose to the challenge.
“I have no easy solutions, no miracle cure that will ensure our success. I do believe that this is a crucial moment for the Empire and I feel it is time for us to put aside our minor squabble and unite in finding the right person for the post. Stop all that political infighting and let us all pull together to bring the Empire safely home.”
Svend sat in his chair listening to the younger man’s speech while discretely studying the faces of the other members. Most of the junior members looked surprised and the Generals both looked slightly pleased. It was however on the faces of the bishop and the chancellor that Svend would have to find out whether his plan was working or not.
Nikolos, the chancellor, was looking approvingly at the young advisor, obviously not caught up in the moment like the minor advisors, but approving of the speech nonetheless. Dimitrios on the other hand smiled ironically as if he knew it was all an act to convince the Council of something yet to come, he was indeed right, but Svend hoped that the savvy bishop this time would be caught of guard.
“Therefore my fellow councilors I humbly and after long consideration suggest myself as envoy. I will lead this delegation if it pleases the Council and his Highness and will do my uttermost to uphold the ideals that once made our Empire great. I will try hard to follow whatever directions my fellow members of this Council and our Emperor wish to supply me with.”
Svend was watching the bishop very carefully and was able to catch the minuscule changes in his expression, first one of surprise, then one of calculation and finally a pleased smile spread across the clerics face.
He feared that Stefanos was going to do something else, then he was surprised at the offer and now, now he thinks he has eyed a chance at getting up the ladder, from standing in for the Patriarch to a full membership on the Council.
Svend looked across the table to the generals and as Stefanos seated him self and a murmur rose from the other members, Filipo winked slowly at him and smiled.
If he only knew what we have in store for that seat, and for Dimitrios for that matter.
Svend looked at Nikolos with a silent question on his face and as the old head of the Council nodded in accept the Captain rose and lifted his hand for silence,
“Honored colleagues, I’m glad that our foreign advisor consider this a matter of such urgency that he volunteers to go himself. I feel that the mission is now far more likely to succeed, now that we know a competent man is leading it, if nobody has any objections I would like to nominate Stefanos for envoy and leader of this delegation.”
For a moment nobody spoke then the Bishop, without bothering to rise, slowly droned from his chair,
“If the Council really believes that the Foreign Service can correct their own wrong doings then they will have my support, I will not stand in the way of the Council’s decision.”
“If our esteemed members would please observe the speaker? I wholeheartedly support the suggestion of our Captain and support Stefanos’ candidature and sacrifice wholeheartedly. If nobody else has anything to say, then I suggest we turn our attention towards the members of the delegation to ensure that Stefanos gets the best possible support.” Nikolos frowned at the bishop, who halfheartedly made an apologizing bow in Svend’s direction.
Svend noticed the approving looks from both the Generals and the bishop and wondered if he could swing the next part as easily as this.
Now I’m committed, to defend Stefanos’ chair, to the deal with the generals, to see if I can get Dimitrios out of the way. For the first time in my time on the Council, I’ve truly chosen sides. I wonder what Sofia will say, I haven’t even discussed it with her.
He looked at some of the minor advisors; he could almost feel their eagerness in the air. This was their chance, a place in the delegation if it went well was a great lever and if it failed, then Stefanos was going to take the blame and leave other options open for them. He took a deep breath and looked at Nikolos for approval, as the old advisor nodded he once again stood.
This is were I jump in at the deep end and find out if I can swim. He allowed himself a small smile before he lunged into his speech.
“Dear colleagues, I am glad that Stefanos feel the need of our nation is so great that he is willing to offer himself as envoy. I am glad that the Council so readily agrees to the need of our Empire and send what we perceive to be our best man as envoy. I am however also worried that he may not be up to the task alone.”
Out of the corner of his eye Svend caught a discreet nod from Stefanos, indicating that the foreign advisor knew what Svend was playing at and didn’t take offence.
“We need to strengthen his position against the Venetians, we need to show them that this is serious business, without showing how desperate we are. We need to provide Stefanos with the best possible group of people to feed him with information and support. He will need it in the months to come.”
Svend paused briefly and looked around at the faces, the generals looked nonplussed as expected, but Dimitrios was beginning to look vary.
“I feel this delegation needs more than just a group of guards and diplomats, it needs experts in various fields and it needs guidance. Guidance on the Venetian merchants, on the doge and on the catholic church. We should always remember that though they are Christians they hold us in contempt.”
Dimitrios nodded sagely, but Svend could see that his mind was churning as he tried to figure out where this was going.
“We need military men, to tell Stefanos what to ask for, we need merchants to deal with the Council of Ten, and we need spiritual guidance.”
He could se that the Generals were aware of his plan now and that Dimitrios caught between his own importance and his suspicions.
“I agree with the honored Captain, our delegation will need the guidance of our father, the Patriarch, and God.”
Svend continued, ignoring the interruption, “I agree wholeheartedly, I therefore suggest that we appoint Dimitrios to the delegation, who could be more suited, an experienced cleric with years of service on the Council, what better combination to see that the well being of our nation and the wishes of our Emperor is carried out alongside the spiritual needs of the delegation in a foreign land.”
Svend could almost hear the bishop’s mouth clamp shut as he fervently tried to find a way out, as the rest of the Council eagerly seized the idea.
“I don’t know if I’m the right person for this, I’m sure on the Patriarch’s staff there is someone more suited..”
“Nonsense, Dimitrios,” Theodosius grasped the opportunity with both hands, “not moments ago you expressed serious doubts about the choice for envoy here is your chance to make sure we succeed.”
Filipo chimed in, “You said in the morning that the Diplomats had underestimated the Italians, here is your chance to prove your self how to deal with them.”
Vincenzo was not above getting back at the bishop from a safe distance, “It will take an experienced and senior Orthodox Christian to help the delegation with the treacherous areas of Catholic practice, you your self, if memory serves me correctly, was once in Italy to study the differences between the Catholic liturgy and ours?”
“That was years ago and I was only a minor member in a delegation. I don’t think I have...”
“So you’ve tried being a delegate in Italy before? Theodosius bore in, “What a boon, I’m sure you can safe many a possible embarrassment for the less experienced delegates then.”
“I really must object, my position here, the voice of the Patriarch, I’m certain that or Father will be most disappointed...”
For the first time in the time he had been on the board Svend saw the bishop at a loss for words and well planned arguments. For some reason he had been unable to see this coming, perhaps because he didn’t expect it from Svend and Stefanos. The Captain almost felt sorry for the bishop as he floundered and protested. The soldier thought back and tried to recollect what he knew of the bishop, before his own ascendance to the Council.
As far as he could recall, the bishop was originally from one of the areas in Anatolia that the Turks had conquered were he had been first a minor priest then fast moving through the rank until he became bishop. It was a dangerous place to be bishop and perhaps that accounted for his fast rise in the clerical world as well as his more cynical outlook. He had returned to the mother church in Constantinople and had worked in the Patriarch’s staff dealing with the more mundane parts of the church. As Vincenzo had correctly pointed out he had been a minor part of the delegation to Rome some years ago and finally been appointed to substitute the Patriarch on the Council. A strange position, wielding power that was not his own.
He was rumored to be an experienced manipulator and negotiator, well versed in both church and secular matters and Svend could only testify to his abilities on this board as a fast thinking politician. It was further rumored that his real ambition was a permanent seat on the Council hopefully at the head of the table.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Svend was snapped out of his thoughts by the dry voice of Nikolos calling the meeting to order. “I find many truths in this debate and I will recommend the following to the Emperor,” Dimitrios looked like he was about to object, but the chief advisor shot him a withering glance, “and to the Patriarch. I recommend that Stefanos head the delegation with the full backing of the Council, but that we appoint Dimitrios as second in command should anything befall Stefanos.” A sound emanated from the room as several members gasped in surprise, or perhaps pain, at the announcement. That constellation would place Stefanos at a precarious position. Nikolos however seemed aware of this and continued. “I do not wish to continue these debates over every single member of the delegation, I therefore decree that Stefanos appoint the necessary members, subject to confirmation by the Council by the day after tomorrow at noon. Further is Dimitrios to appoint two assistants for himself to bring with him to Italy. This is my command if God and the Emperor see fit to approve it. So be it, this meeting is adjourned.”
The old Councilor gathered his robes around him and left the room taking the scribe with him. As soon as the doors closed behind him the room burst into talk. Everybody was speaking at the same time trying to figure out what had happened.
That sly old fox; was this was he intended all along? I haven’t seen him this decisive in years. Both he and the Emperor seems to have awaken, it is if the entire country has been shaken by the events and awoken anew.
Dimitrios rushed past the Captain to get to the door, either to escape the rest of the Council or to report to the Patriarch, just as the two military commanders came up to congratulate.
“Well, Svend that went even better than expected. Brilliant move to include Dimitrios in the delegation, that’ll make our move to appoint one of ours as army commander even easier.”
Filipo chimed in, “We’ll even be able to influence two additional seats on the table, Stefanos’ and Dimitrios’”
Svend held up a warding hand, “easy gentlemen, let’s wait and see what the next meeting brings, I’m sure both Councilors has experienced aides that will cover for them. Besides, Stefanos’ seat is not for sale.”
The two officers was momentarily taken aback by his tone, then the real import of Svend’s words hit them and they somberly looked at Stefanos across the room, “You made a bargain there as well?” It was Filipo who first understood the implications.
Svend nodded, “How else could I convince him to go and bring Dimitrios with him?”
Theodosius nodded, “I see, still we get to influence whomever Dimitrios send and I think we can work with your agreement with Stefanos. It leaves open the army spot. Astute thinking my dear Captain.” The two Generals moved on as Stefanos moved across the room.
Svend looked after them. The new army? Perhaps, perhaps not, we’ll see general, we’ll see.
The foreign advisor grabbed his arm, “Nice speech my friend, I almost believed you meant it.” He grinned. “Let me guess the Generals wanted my seat as well and congratulated you on vacating it alongside Dimitrios’?”
Svend grinned, “Well almost correct, they also promised to leave you be, if I support their army and their choice for Dimitrois’ spot.”
“That I’ll see before I believe it. You’ve really become the focal point of these proceedings.”
Svend nodded grimly, he wasn’t too proud of what he had done.
“Either way, the old man also saddled me with the task of appointing delegates. You wouldn’t happen to have a few ideas?” The younger man looked ironically at the Captain.
“Well, I think maybe I can rustle up a few names, if you buy me a wine.”
Stefanos laughed and together the two councilors left to find a tavern and celebrate their successful scheming. Svend’s last thought before he left the Palace was to his wife and what she would think of her husband playing politics like this.
