see any other interpretation—that tells us two things. First, Belisarius is alive. Second, he's doing his usual thorough job of butt-fu—outwitting the enemy."
Again, he saluted everyone with an upturned cup.
"How are you so sure the report isn't true?" grated the Empress.
By the time Sittas replaced his cup on the table, his cheerfulness had given way to serenity.
"Worry about something else, Your Majesty," he said. "Worry that the sun will start rising in the west. Worry that fish will sing and birds will grow scales." He snorted derisively. "If you really insist on fretting over fantasy, worry that I'll start drinking water and do calisthenics early in the morning. But don't worry about Belisarius committing treason."
Antonina interrupted. Her voice was cold, cold.
"If you pursue this, Theodora, I am done with you."
The room froze. For all Theodora's unusual intimacy with that small company, it was unheard of to threaten an Empress. That Empress, for sure.
But it was Theodora, not Antonina, who broke off their exchange of glares.
The Empress took a deep breath. "I am—I—" She fell silent.
Antonina shook her head. "Never mind, Theodora. I don't expect an actual apology." She glanced at Sittas. "Anymore than I'd expect him to start doing calisthenics."
"God save us." The general shuddered, reaching for his wine cup. "The thought alone is enough to drive me to drink."
Theodora, watching Sittas drain his cup, suddenly smiled. She picked up her own cup and extended it.
"Pour for me, Sittas. I think I'll join you."
When her cup was full, she raised it aloft.
"To Belisarius," she said. "And most of all, to trust."
Two hours later, after Theodora had finished bringing her little band of cohorts up to date with all the information which Irene had collected over the past months in Constantinople, the Empress announced she was off to bed.
"I've got to be at my best tomorrow morning," she explained. "I wouldn't want your new regiment of peasants—what did you call them?"
"Grenadiers," said Hermogenes.
"Yes, grenadiers. Has a nice ring to it! I wouldn't want them to be disappointed in their Empress' inspection. Which they certainly would be if I collapsed from nausea."
All rose with the Empress. After she left, guided
Again, he saluted everyone with an upturned cup.
"How are you so sure the report isn't true?" grated the Empress.
By the time Sittas replaced his cup on the table, his cheerfulness had given way to serenity.
"Worry about something else, Your Majesty," he said. "Worry that the sun will start rising in the west. Worry that fish will sing and birds will grow scales." He snorted derisively. "If you really insist on fretting over fantasy, worry that I'll start drinking water and do calisthenics early in the morning. But don't worry about Belisarius committing treason."
Antonina interrupted. Her voice was cold, cold.
"If you pursue this, Theodora, I am done with you."
The room froze. For all Theodora's unusual intimacy with that small company, it was unheard of to threaten an Empress. That Empress, for sure.
But it was Theodora, not Antonina, who broke off their exchange of glares.
The Empress took a deep breath. "I am—I—" She fell silent.
Antonina shook her head. "Never mind, Theodora. I don't expect an actual apology." She glanced at Sittas. "Anymore than I'd expect him to start doing calisthenics."
"God save us." The general shuddered, reaching for his wine cup. "The thought alone is enough to drive me to drink."
Theodora, watching Sittas drain his cup, suddenly smiled. She picked up her own cup and extended it.
"Pour for me, Sittas. I think I'll join you."
When her cup was full, she raised it aloft.
"To Belisarius," she said. "And most of all, to trust."
Two hours later, after Theodora had finished bringing her little band of cohorts up to date with all the information which Irene had collected over the past months in Constantinople, the Empress announced she was off to bed.
"I've got to be at my best tomorrow morning," she explained. "I wouldn't want your new regiment of peasants—what did you call them?"
"Grenadiers," said Hermogenes.
"Yes, grenadiers. Has a nice ring to it! I wouldn't want them to be disappointed in their Empress' inspection. Which they certainly would be if I collapsed from nausea."
All rose with the Empress. After she left, guided