SUENIK THE BELEAGUERED
CHAPTER 70 - THE HEATHENS ARE SPLINTERED...
(1171-1172)
I hate warfare and all the needless suffering it inflicts (in addition, of course, to the fact that it also always brings with it a distinctly real chance that I'll end up in a shallow grave in some God-forsaken foreign hell hole) but I'm still Emperor, and that means I must defend my people from the foreign aggressor.
Reluctantly I send out my forces, all the while praying to God for peace.
At home I'm faced with the problem that my youngest brother has taken father's death
really badly and is playing up constantly.
Yesterday he was caught writing on his chamber walls in what appeared to be his own faeces. It was all rather disturbing - at the highest point on the wall he had daubed "Ruben's List" and underneath he had put "Whoever took my daddy from me" and beneath that "Everyone else".
Your guess is as good as mine as to what that was all about!
Back at the front, it appears my show of force is bearing fruit. The Bey of Merv offers to make peace!
Unfortunately I cannot afford to accept such humiliating terms - I'm still trying to win the trust of my vassals - so I decline.
Hopefully he will see sense before there is any bloodshed!
It is then that a bunch of heavily armed Turks show up in the capital.
Not as invaders - thank God! - but offering to join my "crusade" against the heathen "Mervians".
Firstly, it's not a "crusade" - I'm not into the whole "killing people who believe differently from you" thing. That's all very Catholic.
Secondly, my father dedicated the latter years of his life to ensure that the Turks were spent as a military force - I'm not going to dishonour his memory by hiring the self same people he sought to disarm!
They are sent away with a firm "thanks but no thanks".
As I tentatively wait to see if the sands of Merv are going to be stained red with the blood of brave Suenikians my wife comes to me to discuss our daughter's upbringing.
A lot of rulers are keen to foist their offspring on someone else, or else to spoil them by simply spending lavish sums of money on them, but not me. I take a good look at my child and realise that even at this tender age she is cautious and thinks things through before acting.
She will make a fine steward one day, so I send her to the monks for education.
May they teach her wisdom, patience and tolerance.
I am also made aware of a scandal brewing in my court. Mleh - a cousin of mine - and a potentially gifted diplomat, has been seen cavorting with a fifteen year old girl. I explain to him that this displeases me, and immediately I arrange a marriage for him to Antusa - a silver tongued and wily woman three years his elder.
She should tame his lust for young girls!
This clearly works, because soon after he comes to me, thanks me for my wisdom, and declares the dalliance with Arina finished forever!
She doesn't take it too well, but such behaviour is to be expected of a girl her age.
Time will cure her broken heart I'm sure.
As I am congratulating myself on unravelling such a potentially thorny issue, I receive the news I have been waiting for - namely that the Arabs powers arrayed against me have fallen out, and that they wish to make peace!
Naturally I accept, and my brave soldiers return home without having to have risked their lives!
There's less cheering than I would have expected, but I feel good none the less.
It is then that I am visited by the Abbot of the monastery where my daughter is being taught. He is visibly nervous, and explains to me that my daughter is not developing as quickly as they had hoped.
I thank him for his news, but explain that he should not intervene - she will find her own way in time. Children can often surprise you how quickly they pick things up...
...like how quickly young Mira here learned to pick up knives...
One of her tutors was heard remarking "It's just like the old Mira has been reincarnated!"
Ha! Not bloody likely! She's still downstairs - enjoying a nice sulphur bath! Aren't you darling sister?
Arina, the ex-object of cousin Mleh's affection, has now turned sixteen and can marry. So as to remove any future temptation and finally pour water on any simmering fires of resentment, I pack her off to Cyprus to marry the Byzantine Emperor.
I don't think that this is a bad pay off for keeping quiet about the cousin of the Emperor's indiscretions, do you?
Plus, it's about time we built bridges with the Romans. As Orthodox neighbours we should be united in a common purpose - not needlessly fighting!
I also begin to court the Prince of Thessalonica, who has recently ceded from Byzantium.
My ancestors may have thought that advancement through bloodshed was the way forward - I intend to prove that it is just as possible to build a powerful Empire on the principles of peace, friendship and co-operation!
Is Krikor right? Is he wrong? Is he even thinking like a Suenikian ruler? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Suenik - Land of the Beleaguered!
