Chapter 16: The Spectre of Death
Battle commenced on the 11th of February at Zagreb, in the Kingdom of Croatia; causing alarm amongst the Croatians. The Imperial army was superior in everyway; but on the 19th, grave news reached the Emperor.
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Only in the turbulent world of Byzantine politics can a lunatic rise from nobody to Doux and Marshal
The oldest general of the Imperial army, Meletios Athrun of Oultrejourdain, died. He had served as a general for Alexios II and had finished his career serving Philippos. His value had been questioned though; he had recommended outrageous plans involving moving the imperial court to Iceland, resurrecting the dead to create an army, and was prone to believing anyone who voiced dissent against one of his opinions was "out to get him". He also sometimes forgot to wear clothing in public. Nevertheless, he was still one of the great generals of the army, though his skill had waned in recent years. His son, Zenobios succeeded him as both Marshal and Doux of Oultrejourdain.
The Battle of Zagreb ended with an Imperial victory on the 24th of February, but when the news reached the court the Emperor cared little. He had fallen ill and taken to bed.
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"I can see the spectre of death before me, oh God, oh, oh, why me, why..."-Philippos
Theodora continued to come to her father for her education, though he could provide little; as he talked, his nose would suddenly explode in a burst of wet waste, desecrating his blankets. He destroyed all of Theodora's pencils in a fit of rage, annoyed by the sound of the pencils scratching on the parchment. Yet he continued, though it was noticed that when she needed help, Theodora went to others for help, and not her frightful father.
The event of Philippos sickness brought memories back of his father's sickness and death eleven years ago. Without consciously realizing it, all those who remembered Alexios II started preparing for Philippos own death.
However, these preparations were premature. Though his illness was a sign of his age, this would not be the illness that killed him. By the 25th of March he was feeling better again, though he had missed both the funerals of Marshal Meletios and also of the court chaplain, Bishop Pyrros of Edessa.
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It's quite the feat to live to such an age in Byzantium
Old Pyrros had been a target of jokesters for some time. First it had been because of him having been born a commoner, and then for his grotesque facial scars, and then finally for his advanced age. A common joke, was that Pyrros scars came from his service under Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars. He was also known to be very ambitious and dreamt of becoming the Ecumenical Patriarch. Despite this, he had been one of Philippos most trusted and loyal advisors, surprising considering that Philippos mocked Pyrros the most of all; in fact, many of the Bishop's worst bullies believed that sometimes Philippos went to far in his mockery. He was replaced by the Patriarch of Alexandria Ioustinos Enochos, a masterful theologian and a competent diplomat and economist. More importantly, he was absolutely loyal to the Emperor.
On the 9th of May the now ex-Duchess of Ungvar surrendered Usora to the Empire, and was reduced to a member of the unlanded nobility. In an attempt to save face, King Gaspar I send a condescending letter to the Imperial Court, requesting support for increasing the power of the King, stating that the Emperor was a dejure vassal of himself. The letter was thrown aside and soon became an often heard joke at formal dinners.
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Gaspar should be worried that he might end up like Silvija
June of 1166 saw the beginning of the Byzantine-Pisan Dejure War for Brendesion(known as Leece to the Italians), a war that would have a surprising result. In July the capitol of Brendesion was captured, and word was sent back that the Contessa of Leece was nowhere to be found, having presumably fled some time ago. But then a young footman came in with surprising news: the Contessa was waiting outside the Council Chambers and was requesting an audience with 'her sovereign lord'.
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Visconti? I wonder if the Serene Doge has a knight named Michael(or Mike for short) in his court.^
The doors opened, and in strutted a beautiful and richly dressed young woman, with raven black hair and intelligent green eyes; Philippos noticed she moved somewhat clumsily. As he inspected the rest of her body he realized it was because she was carrying a child. A step behind her followed an uneasy looking old man with a beard.
"Her father, perhaps?"
"Your Imperial Majesty, I have a proposal to present to you. "
The Emperor, the Countess, and the Council stood around a map of Sicily laid out on a elaborately carved table. The Contessa had proved invaluable, providing detailed information to them; she had also convinced a number of her serfs and her court to defect from the Pisans, leaving the castles scarcely defended. The Emperor had also gone to the bedchambers provided to her multiple times(she had since given birth), but each time had left, as his conscious had taken over, admonishing him over considering infidelity as his own wife lay pregnant (again).
The Imperial forces assaulting Bari were on the move again, heading back to Brendision; the Pisans had moved a mercenary force there in hopes of retaking it.
As they watched the Contessa, or pretended not to, the Spymaster, Patriarch Matthaios of Antioch came in.
"Your Imperial Majesty, may I have a word with you?" he whispered.
Once they were out of earshot from the others, Matthaios broke the news to Philippos. "Our co-conspirator Beatritz d'Ivrea* has managed to sabotage the Baron's carriage, Your Imperial Majesty. He is dead." Philippos mind disparaged him for this murder, reminding him of the 6th Commandant. He quickly pushed this from his mind; after all, he was 'the Apostle' and if he wanted to do God's work some people had to die. What's good for the Empire is good for God.
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Nothing personal, just business
^ This is a reference to mike the knight's AAR,
The Pale Serpent: A Visconti AAR .
* I forget what Beatritz actual surname was, and I cannot find where she is now (very suspicious) so I decided to make her into a reference to Mithfir's AAR,
Anscarid d'Ivrea, the Free Count of France.
Next chapter will probably be next week, I shall update later.