Rest and Recovery

Disaster / Destruction

As Syres is recovering from his enchanted battle in the cisterns, plague and famine strike the city and much of the countryside. Constantine has an idea to relieve the common people while simultaneously weakening Romanos. He asks Syres, in his weakened state, to act as a go-between for his plans. It is here that Syres learns exactly how much he has worn-off on Constantine.

• Syres is weakened or drained for a few months but after some time, Constantine asks him to help him with a venture
• Syres agrees and meets a unique man at the church of Sophia - his name is Basil and he has one hand
• Syres is told to give the man money and to read a letter from Constantine to Basil with instructions
• Constantine orders Basil to rebel and gather the poor/common people against Romanos. He tells him of a stronghold that is not well garrisoned, Platea Petra, and to take the money to garner weapons and followers.
• After Basil leaves, Syres is struck with the realization that this kind of covert undermining and planning is exactly what he has been trying to teach the young man all along which makes him feel a certain sense of pride, something he hasn't really felt in centuries.
• He returns to Constantine who explains his entire plan
Basil succeeds and Romanos is shamed by nobles (who are losing land and money) into implementing measures to relieve the poor and common people, who all love Constantine.Basil fails and the slaying of commoners will force Romanos to implement measure to relieve the angry poor and common people, who all love Constantine.
• While the rebellion is going on, Syres is able to recover fully and takes the time to learn more about how magical ability is manifested and how it works.
• Apollonius teaches him what little he still knows about the ancient arts and eventually, asks Syres to become an official member.
• Syres agrees and Apollonius asks him to do two things for the order: send magical users their way when found and tell him about how he was made immortal.
• Syres agrees to the first condition but not the second.
• Apollonius is sad that he will never know Syres' origins but accepts the immortal into their society anyway.
• Meanwhile, Constantine is becoming closer, more interested in his young bride. She is just a year older than him but he is beginning to become attracted to more than just her beauty.
• When he asks Syres for his advice on wooing a woman, Syres obliges.