The Rise of the Great Bear
“Quickly Igor, get me those latest reports from Commander Shenja. Things are happening very fast and I must stay ahead of the whims of fate if we are to be victorious. We are well into the middle of a war and the ambassador from Denmark says that a royal marriage could be arranged between our two nations. That is the last thing I need right now, to be spending my time marrying off one of Ivan’s pockfaced young nephews. Cursed be the sands of time Igor, where are those reports!”
Igor had long ago learned to distill Dmitri’s diatribes into their most basic components, in this case it was ‘find, grab, give’ and the whims of fate had little to do with it. It wasn’t that Igor was a stupid man, he was just economical of thought. Igor knew it and Dmitri knew it and they were quite happy with the arrangement all things considered.
The fact that no one else could figure it out bothered them not one bit. All the other court ministers and nobles merely viewed Igor as a rather stupid extension of Dmitri and only Grand Duke Ivan seemed to know the truth of it. His knowledge was gained at a cost though. The Grand Duke had just bested Dmitri at chess and was rather full of himself at the time.
“Really Dmitri, the threat to your Bishop was so obvious that I was surprised when you didn’t take her.”
“I was a more concerned with the designs your Knight might have for my Queen.”
“Just a feint Dmitri, just a feint. I am getting rather good at this game aren’t I? No one in the court can challenge me and even you are no longer the challenge you used to be. I may have to start offering coin to any who might be able to beat me just to get them to make a challenge.”
“If you are offering coin My Lord you might as well start with Igor over there. He has watched a game or two and fancies himself a player.”
“A player? Igor? The man has trouble shuffling two papers on a clean desk. It wouldn’t be a fair fight at all.”
“No my Lord, I don’t suppose it would be.”
“However Dmitri, there IS nothing pressing at the Palace and I do know for a fact that you brought back TWO bottles of Burgundian wine from your recent visit to the Lowlands. Less the one we drank tonite I am willing to wager that you still have the other.”
“I do still have another bottle, it was good, yes?”
“That settles it then. I will demolish Igor while we drink. Igor and myself can play, I will win, and you will watch, it will be a fine time for all. Go get the bottle Dmitri and I will set the board myself. The least I can do.”
“I will get the bottle, but I do have one quick question – what is the amount of the coin you are offering?”
“The coin I am offering?”
“You said that you would have to start offering coin to any who might be able to beat you. I know that it is only Igor, My Lord, but fate can cast anyone the victor. That means he could possibly win and given that you should put some sort of sum into play, even if just a token.”
“Paint me into a corner, Dmitri? You do know how to play at words I will give you that. If your skills at chess were any better you could make a fortune travelling the courts of Europe and dazzling all with your wit and intelligence I am sure. Fine then, a months wages should be fair, and do not goad me any further or I’ll have to confiscate your entire wine collection and consider it a gift to the well being of the Grand Duke. Sit down Igor, I have a board to win.”
“Yes, My Lord. You move first.”
“Brilliant observation Igor, you are a challenge aren’t you?”
“Yes, My Lord. Your move again.”
“Eh, that was quick but I see where you are going and it won’t do you any good.”
“Yes, My Lord. Your move.”
“Oh. Fine then. Your move this time.”
“Yes, My Lord. Your move.”
“Damned be the Luck! Dmitri! Where is that wine! Is it my move yet Igor? You seem to be able to track that much at least.”
“Yes, My Lord. It is your move.”
“About time. Take that then – I have your Pawn.”
“Yes, My Lord. Your move.”
“What? Did you just take my Knight? Damn your hide Dmitri, what did you get me into here? Okay. Let me think. There, that should turn the tide.”
“Yes, My Lord. Checkmate.”
If Dmitri had any one talent in the world it was that he had perfect timing. “I imagine you wish to know how much I pay Igor on a monthly basis?”
“Yes. I do.”
I must admit that I thought I had seen every facet of Ivan III throughout my service to him. I must also admit that seeing Ivan the Humble was a bit unnerving. I would have to be careful from now on. The Grand Duke had a way of getting what he wanted and I was in danger of him hiring away the services of the best employee I would ever have. I would miss my best friend if that ever came to pass.
“Call my carriage I think I am ready to go, and Dmitri… I am taking the rest of the bottle with me.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“If I don’t hear those words again from either one of you tonite I suppose I could die a happy man.”
When two people speak at the same time it can often be confusing. When they say the same thing it can often be very humorous. So it was that Ivan III, Grand Duke of Moscow left my house that night laughing continuously to himself, a simple duet of “Yes, My Lord” ringing in his ears.
Many years later he would have been amused to be present to watch one man, moving as calmly as one might expect to see still water move if it was possible for still water to move, pass a leather satchel to another man, who gave a pretty fair imitation of what a large chicken without a head might look like. And being Ivan, the watcher could possible understand that at times a friendship so deep could also be called love.
Most other people would simply have been amused.
