1453: Revival of Byzantium

"The office of reformer of the superstitions of a nation, is ever dangerous."

-        Thomas Jefferson, on the teaching of Christianity and Superstitions.

"Dear Husband,"

"I have received the letter regarding you being unable to come back home."

"I know that as your wife, I should not disturb you and interfere my husband while he is busy with state affairs. There is surely no need of you coming back in such a haste, we are able to look after ourselves here in Thessaloniki."

"Our daughter has entered the age to be admitted to a mentor, I shall find a qualified teacher for her, there is no need for you to concern and worry about."

"Anna"

As compared to Antonius' lengthy letter he composed to his wife a couple of weeks ago, the reply he got is relatively short. But still after reading the letter Antonius smiled, waving it to Alexios looking like he has just acquired a grand victory. "You see, there is nothing to worry about Alexios, why are you showing me that troubled face?"

Alexios took a peek at the letter, then took a peek at the giggling admiral only to realise one thing, that is after so many years this man still got a bare minimum understanding about relationship and woman. After a while he explained to his superior describing how large the tide has became back there in Thessaloniki behind the letter, saying that the words on the letter is like a peaceful scenery written by a pair of infuriated hands; the words are like they are engraved on to the poor table with blades, as seen from the writer's calligraphy style on the letter which is totally different from the usual hand writing of Anna, every letter looked solid and perfectly shaped making people question how much strength did she put in and how many quill she bent just for this letter.

"What should I do?" Antonius gulped and asked, but at the same time still wanting to keep his ego and prestige as a man, so before Alexios could make a reply he gave a sneer and carried on talking. "Never mind, I do not need to do any thing. As the wife of a warrior she needs to cope with this kind of things in life… Who sent the letter here for her?"

"It's the boy Fisnik admiral."

"Ask him to see me at once after this." Antonius left the room after leaving these words, with now only Alexios here trying to not make his giggles so obvious, shook his head and continued dealing with all the problems and affairs Antonius produced along the way. While the long missed kid Fisnik is called up to see the admiral himself up stairs. The poor boy rode all the way here spending more than a day galloping on horse back, and yet he did not get any chance to take a rest or meal before facing the admiral who is obviously not in a good mood.

The first question from Antonius came pretty straight forward. "Fisnik, why are you here?"

Hearing this fisnik forgot all of his restlessness, standing firm with his hands behind his back and answered energetically. "Because I want to fight! Admiral! My bones are rotting back there seating in the kick ball fields, I want to go back to the old times leading the charge galloping on horses… I want more prestige! I want more loot! And I want to liberate Epirus! Under your command!"

Antonius turned back giving Yuri, who is pretending to be looking outside the windows, a brief look, and then turned back to scrutinise the young man standing in front of him. Fisnik has indeed been transformed in to a full grown man almost entering the age of twenties, with a beard developing on his mouth and chins just like the Varangians, it would really be a pity for him not to wield axes but swords. Antonius gave Fisnik an interested look and asked softly. "Who told you that I shall be advancing in to Epirus soon?"

Fisnik's body shivered for a bit hearing this question. "It is… It is my own assumption, admiral… I made this assumption because you have been staying in the borders for quite a while, you know, that is why I am able to…."

"You think I would believe?" Antonius sneered and leaned backwards. "If you had such an awareness to observe and foresee things, you would not have been caught by me for so many times for bribery don't you? Be honest, Fisnik, lying can get you in to trouble one day… Yuri! How much do you owe this man? Through what? Dice? Gambling? Kick ball?"

Knowing that there is no escape today, Yuri gave Fisnik a disappointed look and confessed. "Aye, admiral, I owe FIsnik six silver ducats… From the match between Macedonia United and Edessa."

Antonius is speechless, he took a deep breathe and massaged his chins, recovering from the fact that his best Varangian gave Fisnik the piece of vital strategic planning just for six silver ducats. A minute later he opened his eyes and took a second look at Fisnik. "Boy, if you commit such a mistake regarding confidential information and bribery for another time, I will not be so lenient on you again, understand?"

Fisnik hurriedly nodded his head, vowing to God that that if he ever commit another crime because of his own greed, he shall kill himself by gold and silver, to carve a memory deep enough that he would not make the same mistake in his after life. But that is not Antonius wants to hear, immediately after Fisnik's confession he hesitated a bit and asked his next question. "So…. You just came back from Thessaloniki right? Tell me, what was it like back there in the capital?"

FIsnik did not understand the hidden question at first, replying that the situation in Thessaloniki is all fine, with the food price being stable, law and order being ensured with trade and revenue flowing in at a steady rate. But he soon realised from the admiral's eyes that this is not the answer he wants, thus his mind spined quickly and realised what is the admiral really asking for. "Oh yes, there is one more thing that I might need to report, that is regarding the déspoina… She has not been in a good mood ever since she received that letter from you…"

"I see." Antonius nodded and re-read the letter in his hands, shaping the angry form of his wife in his head. "Well, I do roughly understand the reason why she is unpleased. But what I do not understand is that why cant she lodge the areas she is unsatisfied clearly to me, instead of writing such a vague letter like this trying to start a silent protest… Cant understand woman nowadays.."

Fisnik started accelerating his thinking process to the maximum speed, with all the flirting experience he has acquired in the past and came up with an advice. "Well, you see admiral, what woman needs from their man is mainly two things, one is the sense of safety when she is staying by the man's side, and the another vital thing is the sense of belongingness, which means that you need to constantly stay by her side, look after her, and give her the feeling that you shall always be there for her when she needs you. Especially considering the fact that she is now looking after your child… Perhaps it is time for you to take up the part of responsibility looking after her?"

Antonius gave his words a thought holding his chins and agreed with this boy's words of wisdom. "You are right, I have neglected about this part.

Fisnik heaved a sigh of relief within himself, cheering quietly that he has passed the admiral's test. But the following words from Antonius immediately plunged his heart back in to the dungeon. "Thank you for your advice Fisnik, now please do me a favour. I shall write a letter of apology, with an invitation attached to it trying to convince Anna to come to Drama with my daughter, I shall promise her that I am able to find a suitable mentor for her elementary education."

"But admiral… I wanted to stay! I wanted to stay by your side! In the army! Not doing guard duty every day in the palace!"

"I allow you to come back to my side once you have done sending this letter." Antonius ordered. "But for now, you shall continue to fulfil your duty as the guard of the chamber. Don't worry, I shall compensate you. After the operation on Epirus has commenced next year, you shall be the first to enter the first city we have break in to, and I allow you to take five things from the treasury of the city, any thing I promise. Even if it is the throne of the Ottoman governor over there, I shall give it to you."