The Journey West

Diplomatic action

It has been 5 years since the fall of the Lekapenoi, Constantine having a total of five children, with the sixth on the way. Romanos II had been made co-emperor and he had had 4 daughters: Zoe, Theodora, Agatha, Theophano. Soon, Constantine hoped, Helena would give birth to another son. After losing their first son before Romanos II was born, Constantine is feeling the weight of the dynasty he is meant to further. To secure diplomatic relations, and his friend's safety, the Emepror decides to send Syres away, as an emissary and ambassador to their new, and far-off allies, The Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba. Syres is unsure if his expertise in warfare will help him, as he has on more than one occasion defeated Muslim forces. However, Constantine and Helena feel it is time for their friend to move on, revealing their suspicions about Syres' immortality.

Constantine summons Syres one day from his duties as head of the palace guard and chief advisor to his young son, Romanos II. Romanos had been named co-emperor only a few months after Constantine had rid himself of the Lekapenoi. Since then, Syres had been educating, training, and accompanying the young emperor through his palace and imperial duties. He was also teaching him languages including Coptic, Arabic, and Latin alongside his four sisters. When he meets with Constantine VII that day, Helena is with him and the three enjoy a meal together before Constantine explains why Syres was summoned. Constantine tells him he has discovered his immortality and that both he and Helena are grateful to have such a blessed friend. Syres explains it is more like a curse and tells them a little bit about his background, which is the first time the reader glimpses his explanation/breakdown of the events. Helena sympathizes with him and Constantine mourns for his friend's misery, the three of them talking long about their lives and what they have been through. Then, Constantine informs him that it is time for him to move on. They want to protect him from his enemies in the east and north, as both the Abbasid Caliphate and the Kieven Rus have targeted him for assassination or capture. Syres isn't afraid but Constantine urges him to take up the great honor of an Ambassador's position to a far away and thriving country in the west. He explains that the Caliphate of Cordoba are the exiled Caliphs of the Abbasid predecessors and that he would thrive there as well as remain safe from eastern enemies. Syres thinks this over and eventually agrees, only if he can stay for Romanos II's 11th birthday the next month.