Having word that you are back in the capital, it would be my pleasure to receive you at Archontiko Mikealidas at your earliest convenience whilst you remain in Vasiliadon. I would be interested to hear of how our Taengean contingent fares in Egypt, particularly given our renewed interactions with the nation.
General Achilleas Mikaelidas of the Taengean Lions'
The missive he'd received was clutched in Alexios' hand; his fine, tall physique clad in the polished and embossed armor of a Taengean commander as he trod through the noble district of Vasiliadon with the confident steps of a man who considered himself worthy of its paves. For the other exquisite diversions he'd found during his brief return home this was why he'd come. Tensions with Egypt had reached an impasse and versed as he was in the geography, politics, and potential of the region Alexios would be damned if he'd be the one to give way. The main chance was within his grasp now and all it required was the opportunity to seize all the prizes of Egypt. As he neared the Mikaelidas estate he hoped, and indeed prayed that this would be it. General Achilleas was the kind of man who could open many doors and cut through a great deal of red tape that bound up the army's operations. He could unleash the dogs of war and Alexios wanted to be the man holding the leash.
A perfunctory introduction and the waving of his letter before the eyes of a servant sufficed to gain entrance, Alexios following down hallways with a heavy footfall, attired for the combat he lusted after and enjoying the echo of a pair of boots that could soon enough be thousands on the roads he'd just trod, in triumph 'ere long. But first, he must be the dutiful subordinate and snapped into a precise salute as he was led in to the general's presence, staring not at the man but a nearby wall, stern and grave as a soldier should be and on point until given leave to do otherwise. "Commander Alexios as requested, sir. I came as soon as I could and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve."
The Commander’s arrival had been announced by a servant who had scurried ahead of the man, so by the time he was led into the room that served as the Lord’s study when he was in Vasiliadon, Achilleas’ attention was already focused on the door through which Alexios was led.
It was a simply appointed room, a large table that was mostly free from clutter occupied the space, two bookcases that lined the walls and a small lemon plant that sat under the window, shutters drawn back to allow the natural light to flood in. The elder son of Irakles drew to his feet as his guest entered, gave the Commander a once over, noting the fine armour he garbed himself, the proud bearing. He’d heard much of this Alexios Afrikanos.
Achilleas himself wore only a simple chiton in the colours of Mikaelidas. He had no need to dress the part, for he was the part. Royal blood, General, Baron, first born son of the acting Regent. In this at least he could ignore the troublesome cast of his relationship with his father that had proven a thorn in his side these recent days and seen him stripped of some of those duties, albeit behind closed doors.
“Be at ease” he said, waiting for the man’s eyes to glance his way and gesturing for Alexios to take a seat, before he too sank back into the klismos he had risen from. Achilleas paused and waited as a servant girl offered his guest watered wine and then poured for him too, and he reached for the cup, sat back and surveyed the other man speculatively for a moment before he spoke.
“You have an impressive record, Commander. I am glad to be able to meet you at long last.” Indeed, the general had kept half an eye on the soldier who had so effectively cut a swathe through the ranks to achieve a station so beyond what would be expected from a commoner. He had heard enough from his own soldiers to know that the man was well regarded by his fellows, and that was as good a recommendation as the Lord Mikaelidas was likely to get. He had been frustrated that they had not crossed paths before now, but as it turned out, this opportunity had come at a fortuitous time perhaps.
Achilleas had been surprised to learn of the invitation that had been extended to the Egyptian embassy, and much to his dismay, had not managed to speak with his cousin to ascertain the reason for it. And now the King was gone, and the reception for Sirdar H’Moghadam had been less than a resounding success. It seemed the tumult that had plagued Taengea was not about to settle anytime soon, and despite the imminence of his own wedding, Achilleas had been unable to still his mind regarding their foreign friends. And he used the term friends with a healthy serving of skepticism.
Taking a sip from his cup before setting it back upon the polished wooden table, the Lord did not mince his words. “ I wanted to speak with you regarding your position in Judaea. If you are unaware, the royal court recently received an envoy from Egypt, and I would not be surprised if there are wide reaching consequences. Please, if you will, I would hear your account of the situation where you have been stationed?”
Alexios, for all of his ambitions, had not yet found it possible to be at ease in the private homes of Vasiliadon's nobility. For one of his birth and his rather unconventional career (which some resented), he could not help but to feel gauged and judged. The same happened in the garrisons and camps of the military too, granted, but at least there he had to be taken for his merits and his record. Everything about Vasiliadon was superficial and difficult to discern true intentions.
That made him grateful for Achilleas' directness, the kind of plain speaking Alexios preferred. "Thank you, sir," he replied to the invitation for ease, dropping his salute and settling onto a klismos opposite the general. Blue eyes met Achilleas' gaze, curious but also making a study of a man he had heard a great deal about. "And yours, my lord general. I've long wanted to meet you," he replied earnestly. "Maybe the gods have ordered this in their perfect timing. In Judea our garrison lives in the shadow of Egypt and as must have been anticipated when we were sent a decade ago, there is less a question of if conflict shall arise with the pharaoh. It's more a matter of when. And in my view ..."
Alexios reached for the offered glass of wine, drinking a healthy sip before continuing, his tone flat, matter-of-fact and martial. These were the facts as he saw them, unvarnished and with no pretense or fawning for what he thought the general might want to hear. "That day is coming soon. The Judean populace is restless ... they have a long and contentious past with the kingdom on the Nile. After all, they were enslaved by Egypt long ago and memories like that do not die. I believe if it came to conflict we would find more natural allies in them than Iahotep could hope to. And they would fight fiercely if we could secure their full participation. If Egypt strikes it must first be in Judea. Our goal has to be to make that as costly as possible and, ideally, to prepare a force to spear through Giza to the heart of the pharaoh's empire in Cairo as swiftly as possible. Eliminate the basis of Iahotep's power and the rest of the rotting edifice of a thousand years of rule will come crashing down." He stared over the rim of his glass at the nobleman, as if deciding whether he should say the other thought that was on his tongue. And decided, after all, to do so. Who knew if he'd get the chance to advise another of the military command before returning to Judea? "Iahotep has a young wife. Too young for his own good. If we can stoke tensions in his family we might bring down the House of Hei Naddar before the hammer of military force can even fall on the royal palace. I abhor intrigues and plotting but the Egyptians will not hesitate to make use of them. We shouldn't, either."
As he looked at the soldier before him, Achilleas had to give him his due. Having accepted a commission that may others had shied from, far from home and in a foreign land, Alexios of Argothia comported himself well for one of his breeding. He spoke clearly, the opinions voiced seemed grounded in fact and not swayed by emotion, nor gilded with the over optimism of ambition.
Some of what he spoke was obvious - there was a reason afterall, that Taengea had chosen to keep a garrison in Judea, and though it was years after the fact, that foresight could be appreciated now. There was the lift of a dark brow as the commander went on, Achilleas had not thought the Judeans a martial people, and he was surprised by the suggestion that they would consider bearing arms against the Egyptians.
“How certain are you of this?” he interrupted briefly, the blue eyes keen and sharp as they rested upon the other man. The rest of what Alexios sad was met with silent consideration as Achilleas mapped it inline with what he knew of the region of Judea, and what he knew also of their foes of old, the Egyptians. It was preemptive perhaps, but the Lord Mikaeilidas did not think it could hurt to know.
When Alexios paused, Achilleas’ attention sharpened, for often the most useful of information was that which came as an afterthought, or that the teller was not so keen to speak. And the commander did not disappoint in that respect.
“Is that so? There are tensions between the Pharaoh and his young bride?” That was interesting, and the Lord made a note to find out as much as he could about the Egyptian royals. And when Alexios expressed his distaste for the more political manoeuvring of war,the general gave a soft laugh.
“That, my friend, is an abhorrence you will need to set aside, if you have not already. Much as wish we could follow the straight path of a soldier, it is rarely so, and as you say, if this...murmur of discontent comes to anything more serious, we will use whatever we have to in order to protect Taengea and her people. This is useful though.” He gave the man some encouragement, for whatever insights the commander had could be shared amongst his fellow generals in the conversation Achilleas was sure they would soon be having.
“How many soldiers in your garrison? Are you well provisioned?” The Lord considered whether they ought to bolster the reserves that Alexios commanded, fortify the lone grecian contigent, just in case. It would not do any harm to put on a show of strength, but it would be a further imposition upon the Judeans whose land they occupied, paid or not. He let Alexios answer, sipping on his wine, brow creased in thought as he pondered on that.
Oh Stephanos, what did you know that I don’t he mused. For there must have been something that had incited his cousin to invite the Egyptians to Vasiliadon. Either he knew something that made him desire to keep them close, or perhaps he wanted to know something. Either way, it had stirred Achilleas’ curiosity and he wished now that he had spoken more the gaudy general they had sent.