Siege Read Online Free PDF Page A

the herald’s voice into the great octagonal hall of the palace. Its bright interior was ringed with high windows and the walls were lined with Varangian soldiers – the royal family’s private guard. Before him, the Empress-Mother Helena sat upon an ornate throne, the back styled as a lion’s head, the arms its clawed feet. Over seventy, white-haired and wrinkled, Helena nevertheless held her head high and sat straight, conveying an air of command. To her left and right stood members of the royal court. Longo recognized the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church by his tall conical hat, and the captain of the Varangian guard, a stern, square-built man bearing the insignia of the emperor’s personal bodyguard. Near the empress-mother stood the woman that Longo had seen in the tower as he arrived. She was slim and carried herself with a dancer’s grace. Her olive skin was flawless, and she had wavy chestnut brown hair, and bewitchingeyes of light brown shot through with flecks of gold and green. Longo realized that he was staring at her and turned his attention back to the empress-mother.
    ‘Your Highness,’ he said in Greek and bowed with a flourish, his right foot forward and his head lowered to his knee. With a wave of her hand, Helena bade him stand. ‘I am honoured to be allowed into you august presence,’ Longo continued. ‘My condolences on the death of your son, God rest his soul.’
    ‘I have had enough of condolences, Signor Longo,’ Helena replied in flawless Italian. Longo was surprised, as much by her directness as by her command of his language. ‘You speak Greek well,’ Helena continued, this time in Greek.
    Longo bowed again in recognition of the compliment. ‘Thank you, Your Highness. I spent my childhood in Thessalonica.’
    ‘Ah, yes, before the wars no doubt,’ Helena murmured, her eyes closed in memory. When she opened them again, they were cold and stern. ‘But you did not come here to discuss your childhood.’
    ‘No, Your Highness. I come bearing important news and to offer you my services, if you have need of them.’
    ‘Very noble of you, Signor Longo,’ Helena said. ‘What then is your news?’
    ‘Forgive my presumption,’ Longo replied. ‘But I wish to speak to Your Highness privately.’
    Helena studied him closely, her eyes narrow. She nodded, satisfied with the results of her inspection. ‘Leave us,’ she ordered. The courtiers and soldiers filed quietly from the room. Only the captain of the private guard and the beautiful young woman stayed. Who was she?
    ‘The Princess Sofia is very wise,’ Helena said, answering his unspoken question. ‘You may speak freely in her presence.’ She gestured to the captain of the private guard. ‘And I would trust John Dalmata with my life. Your secrets are safe here.’
    ‘Of course, Your Highness,’ Longo replied.
    ‘Very good,’ Helena said. ‘You may proceed, Signor Longo.’
    ‘I come bearing unwelcome news, Your Highness. The crusade led by King Ladislas and John Hunyadi of Hungary is no more. Their armies were surprised and routed by the Turks at Kossova. King Ladislas is dead, and Hunyadi has returned to Hungary to rule as regent. He will no doubt be forced to make peace with the sultan.’
    Helena was silent. To her left, Sofia’s eyes were wide with disbelief. It was Dalmata, the captain of the guard, who spoke first. ‘Hunyadi defeated? We have heard nothing of this.’
    ‘I witnessed the defeat with my own eyes,’ Longo responded. ‘My men rode hard to reach Constantinople. We arrived only today.’
    ‘If Hunyadi has been defeated,’ Sofia began, ‘then there is no one left to stand between us and the Turkish army. They will not be quick to attack so soon after a major campaign, but if they sense any weakness – a struggle for succession, civil war – then they will strike.’ Longo nodded. The girl’s grasp of the situation was perfect.
    ‘And Constantinople would fall,’ Helena concluded. Good, Longo