with the bucellarii."
Narses turned away and slid through the door. Ajatasutra followed, dragging Pompeius by the arm.
Inside, they found a dramatic tableau.
Theodora was on her knees, cradling Justinian. The Emperor, though still unconscious, was beginning to moan.
John of Cappadocia loomed above her, with a sword in his hand. His three bucellarii were standing a few feet away, between John and Narses. Hearing the eunuch enter, the bodyguards turned hastily and raised their weapons. Then, recognizing him, they lowered the swords and stepped aside. Narses slid past them, heading toward John and the Empress.
Ajatasutra relinguished his grip on Pompeius and sidled close to the bucellarii.
The Cappadocian glared down at the Empress. He began to snarl something.
Theodora, her face like a mask, sneered:
"Stop talking, traitor. Do it, coward."
John raised his sword.
Narses, hissing like a snake:
"Stop, you idiot! We're going to need her. Alive."
Startled, John turned away from the Empress. His sword lowered, slightly.
"Why?" he demanded. "We were going to kill her, anyway, after she hailed the new Emperor. She and Justinian both. There's no reason to wait, now." He scowled. "And why are you here?"
Narses strode forward.
"I swear, Cappadocian, you've got the brains of a toad."
Closer, closer.
"Think, John—think."
Closer, closer. The eunuch pointed to the Empress. John turned his head, following the pointing finger.
Narses struck.
Ajatasutra, watching, was impressed. The old eunuch stabbed like a viper. The little knife seemed to come from nowhere, before
Narses turned away and slid through the door. Ajatasutra followed, dragging Pompeius by the arm.
Inside, they found a dramatic tableau.
Theodora was on her knees, cradling Justinian. The Emperor, though still unconscious, was beginning to moan.
John of Cappadocia loomed above her, with a sword in his hand. His three bucellarii were standing a few feet away, between John and Narses. Hearing the eunuch enter, the bodyguards turned hastily and raised their weapons. Then, recognizing him, they lowered the swords and stepped aside. Narses slid past them, heading toward John and the Empress.
Ajatasutra relinguished his grip on Pompeius and sidled close to the bucellarii.
The Cappadocian glared down at the Empress. He began to snarl something.
Theodora, her face like a mask, sneered:
"Stop talking, traitor. Do it, coward."
John raised his sword.
Narses, hissing like a snake:
"Stop, you idiot! We're going to need her. Alive."
Startled, John turned away from the Empress. His sword lowered, slightly.
"Why?" he demanded. "We were going to kill her, anyway, after she hailed the new Emperor. She and Justinian both. There's no reason to wait, now." He scowled. "And why are you here?"
Narses strode forward.
"I swear, Cappadocian, you've got the brains of a toad."
Closer, closer.
"Think, John—think."
Closer, closer. The eunuch pointed to the Empress. John turned his head, following the pointing finger.
Narses struck.
Ajatasutra, watching, was impressed. The old eunuch stabbed like a viper. The little knife seemed to come from nowhere, before