in anything he chooses to do. I know that there is often robust debate between you, Despoina, and I know that you are often able to convince him of your views, but … just for a while … be compliant. Submissive.”
“Yes,” said Theodora. “Yes, you’re right. I will.”
The handsome young Areobindus was thoroughly and publicly flogged and then disappeared from court.
“I need a new steward, my love,” said Theodora in a brisk and businesslike tone over lunch. “The other turned out to be … most unsatisfactory. I had him flogged.”
“So I heard,” said Justinian. He looked at her assessingly. “And dismissed?”
“Of course.”
“Where did he go?”
“I really have no idea.” She peeled an apple. The sharp blade severed the delicate linked sections of rosy skin from the white flesh. She concentrated on trying to keep the skin all in one piece.
“Ah. So, appoint anyone you want.”
“Thank you, my love. The foundations are almost done. Then perhaps, we should wait a while, since so many buildings need to be restored.”
He grunted.
For some time they sat in silence. With difficulty, she sustained her casual pose.
“Well, then,” said Justinian. He cleared his throat. “I have taken a decision that you may not approve of. But I think it’s necessary.”
“Tell me?”
“Cappadocian John. I’ve decided to raise him to the rank of patrician.”
Theodora choked on a piece of apple. “Really.”
“He’s been indefatigable in bringing in revenue. Quite extraordinarily effective. He’s absolutely indispensable to the crown. You must understand that our needs are vast, on the one hand for reconstruction, on the other for our military aims.”
Theodora stopped coughing. “Yes, my love, I do understand that.”
“You do?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t oppose this?”
“You must do whatever you think best,” said Theodora. “For the Empire.”
“Ah,” said Justinian. He settled back happily in his chair. “Exactly. You see, my dearest, my grand military plan will require considerable financing. My first aim is to take back Africa from the Vandal king.”
Oh, clever Narses, she thought in deep relief.
“Gelimer?” she said. “I’ve heard he’s a wily fighter.”
“Yes, he and his two brothers are formidable in the field. I’m planning to send Belisarius and Pharas to Africa, probably by June. We’ve successfully mopped up the aftermath of the riots, and I believe that they have the capability to take Carthage.”
“And if they should succeed, what next?”
“Then we must turn our attention to the Goths. I am resolved to reclaim Sicily and Italy.”
“Are they not our subjects?” asked Theodora. “I understood their king reigns as our viceroy, and they are under our suzerainty.”
“Nominally,” said Justinian. “Their king is our viceroy only as far as the Romans living there are concerned. He is king of his own people. Of course, they have had no king since Eutharic died in, when was it … oh, 523. Left an infant son. His mother has been regent for more than a decade. Amalasuintha.”
“I have heard the name.”
“Highly intelligent woman. Extremely well educated. Beautiful, too, or so I’m informed.”
“Indeed,” said Theodora. She sliced a section of apple in half. “Better that the Goths should be properly subjugated.”
“My view exactly,” said Justinian. “But first things first: we must prepare to retake Carthage. Cappadocian John has fattened our coffers, so that we are able to rebuild and at the same time provision an expeditionary force to attack the Vandals in Africa.”
“Then Belisarius should be able to depart soon.”
Antonina arrived from Bithynia to take leave of the Empress. She was determined to sail with Belisarius, as she had done before; she would accompany him throughout the coming campaign. It had a noble aim: the first step in the quest for a new Roman Empire, one that would expand and reabsorb its former territories, dominate its enemies and bring its former citizens back into the fold.
“You look blooming,” said Theodora. “Motherhood becomes you. How can you possibly bring yourself to leave little Joannina with your aunt?”
Antonina sighed. “It’s hard,” she said. “Very hard. But I’ve had a year and a half with her. Breastfed her for nine months. It’s best to wean them before they have too many teeth.”
“Has it been that long? I can’t believe it!”
“She was born in the middle of the riots, remember. Yet she is a quiet, happy child.”
“Red hair like yours? Or does she favour Belisarius?”
“Blonde like him,” said Antonina.
“I could never have left her.”
“But she can’t come with me on campaign, it’s far too dangerous for a small baby girl. And I’ll be with Theodosius again.”
“Belisarius still has no notion that he’s more than a godchild to you?”
“No, and thank heavens, neither has Photius. I can’t ever let him find out. He’d do something terrible.”
“Strange that you could have given birth to two such utterly different sons.”
“To utterly different fathers. One born of rape, the other of love. Not strange at all. Tell me, have you given up all hope of having a son yourself, now that Juliana has given you a grandson?”
“Of course, I still have hopes. I’m still young enough. A direct descendant would be so much better than the child of a son of a nephew of old Odd-eyes.”
“Now that you put it like that, your grandson’s claim to the throne does seem a bit distant.”
“But it doesn’t seem as if it will ever happen. And Justinian has been so angry with me about Areobindus, he hardly even spoke to me for weeks, but he’s getting over it.”
“Where did that rumour come from? No truth in it, is there?”
“Of course not! Absolutely none! I suspect Cappadocian John,” said Theodora. “Bloody man! Patrician! Can you believe it?”
“Incongruous,”
