Rebellion (2)
A woman in armor swung her sword fiercely. Her identity was none other than Zoi Porphyrogenita. The reason she was here? She had received intelligence that nobles had bribed the imperial guards to assassinate her fiancé, Rogerius.
Zoi had immediately gone to the emperor. Upon hearing her words, Basil II flew into a rage, condemning the nobles who sought to assassinate Rogerius. He ordered his Varangian Guard, who protected him, to root out the assassins.
At that moment, Zoi stepped forward. She pleaded with Basil II to let her personally save her fiancé. The emperor initially refused, but after her repeated requests, he had no choice but to relent. Excluding a few Varangians to guard him, he handed command of the remaining forces to Zoi.
With that, Zoi mounted her horse and rode straight to the Uranos family estate, where the assassins had struck.
"The enemy has the Uranos family estate surrounded, Your Highness."
The report came from Halvar, the Varangian Guard's deputy commander. Zoi began analyzing the situation with cool precision.
"That's fortunate. If they're maintaining the siege, it means Lord Rogerius hasn't been captured yet."
Halvar nodded in agreement with her assessment.
"Indeed, Your Highness. We should attack and break their encirclement."
"A solid plan. But Rogerius could be taken at any moment, so we need to draw all their attention to us."
Zoi fell into brief thought, then issued her orders.
"Do we have anything to seize the enemy's attention?"
"We have a horn."
"Perfect. Sound the horn to let them know we're here. They'll either flee or engage."
Unlike her beautiful appearance, Zoi was well-versed in tactics. Halvar couldn't help but marvel inwardly at her strategic insight.
Of the porphyrogenita bloodline, Zoi had been taught military science by Basil II, who had no heirs to succeed him, as preparation for the future. Why teach women military science? The emperor knew exactly where his power came from: military might. He had risen from two rebellions thanks to his own military genius. Having felt this viscerally, Basil II had emphasized the importance of military knowledge to Zoi and Theodora Porphyrogenita, who might one day become empress.
Thanks to this education, the sisters surpassed most senior centurions in the Eastern Roman Empire in military acumen. Proof of that was the command Zoi was issuing now.
"Your orders, Your Highness."
Halvar immediately carried out Zoi's command. At the order, the soldiers began blowing the horns.
"It's the Varangians!"
"Enemies from the rear!"
Halvar raised his hand, and the waiting Vikings charged.
"Kill them!"
"How dare you charge in here!"
The Vikings, unmatched in battle after two wars, overwhelmed even the well-equipped guards. The enemy gradually fell into disadvantage.
Then Zoi raised her hand and gave the follow-up order.
"Sweep from left to right, attacking the enemy as you go!"
An unusual command from Zoi. But the battle-hardened Halvar instantly recognized she was herding them like prey in a hunt.
The Uranos estate's entrance was on the left, so the enemy's main force was concentrated there. Seizing the momentum, she aimed to eliminate their core while preventing the remnants from fleeing inside. A wise stratagem achieving two goals at once.
Halvar grasped her intent and ordered the Vikings.
"Shield-bearers, pierce their lines diagonally! Then herd them to the right!"
Shields formed a wall, perfect for shoving the enemy's center rightward. Halvar's strategy worked flawlessly. As the enemy was pushed right, their encirclement collapsed completely.
Cornered, the guards trembled. Halvar pointed his sword at them, awaiting Zoi's next command.
"We need prisoners to uncover who's behind this."
"How many, Your Highness?"
Without hesitation, Zoi replied.
"One is enough."
Screams soon echoed. Punishment for traitors was merciless.
The screams from outside led me to the outskirts, where corpses were piled high. There stood Zoi, armored and mounted, gazing at them.
"Lord Rogerius. You're safe."
Spotting me, Zoi dismounted and approached.
"Your Highness, what happened here?"
"I received word you were in danger. With His Majesty's approval, I brought the Varangian Guard to rescue you."
Halvar emerged from behind her, shaking blood from his sword before greeting me.
"Did you eliminate all the enemy?"
"We spared one to find out who ordered this."
She gestured behind her. There, bound and trembling, was an assassin.
Halvar approached me. I questioned him.
"Explain what happened."
Halvar recounted the battle.
"Her Highness personally led the Varangian Guard. Upon arrival, she ordered the horns blown. Then..."
The horns drew the enemy's eyes. Exploiting the weakness of their encirclement with a diagonal thrust, she split them, then herded from left to right for annihilation.
Zoi had swiftly crushed the assassins with brilliant strategy and tactics. Halvar's aid was key, but her thoroughness in sparing one for interrogation was impressive.
I couldn't help but admire her tactics and expressed my gratitude.
"Thanks to your brilliant tactics, Your Highness, I survived."
"Hearing praise from the war-ender who led two victories to triumph? That feels good."
Zoi smiled faintly. I bowed my head in thanks again, then ordered Halvar.
"Assassins may still be inside. I told Alberto to guard the attendants, but they won't hold long. Take the men and purge them."
"As Yarls commands."
Halvar gestured, and lightly armored Vikings followed him. The rest surrounded the area to prevent escapes.
Soon, Halvar captured the surviving assassins. Their leader, bound, was dragged before me.
"Please, spare my life."
The guard begged. Not a trained assassin, just a noble-bribed pawn, he pleaded desperately.
"You tried to assassinate the Yarls and now beg for mercy?!"
Halvar drew his sword. I raised a hand to stop him and eyed the leader.
Killing a threat to my life grated, but objectively, this leader was useful. He'd commanded the assassins, so he knew who approached the guards.
"Answer well, and you might live."
"R-Really...?"
I nodded and pressed on.
"Who sent you?"
The leader hesitated. Halvar's sword at his throat made him tremble and spill.
"I... don't know exactly, but... the one who promised me big money was... the Doukas family."
Doukas. They were one family that later ascended to the throne. They backed Asakios's rebellion covertly, earning the right to succeed him before his death from illness. They grew so powerful that Asakios quipped there was nothing they wouldn't do or say.
An old house, but minor as bureaucrats. Strange they'd act now, in the late 11th century.
But that wasn't the point. Weak Doukas couldn't bribe guards alone. It meant noble faction backing.
I questioned him again.
"Doukas doesn't seem strong enough to bribe His Majesty's guards. Someone's behind them. Name the family. Now."
Flustered, the leader saw Halvar's glare and confessed.
"A-Actually, not just Dou... Doukas family, but also the Keroularios family, Maleinos family, and Gabras family promised me power."
Ioannikios Keroularios, the noble leader, plus Alexios and Devgoros involved in my assassination. Obvious.
"Unbelievable. Doing this with His Majesty here. The nobles have lost their minds."
Zoi's tone dripped disbelief. Her words sparked doubt: nobles acting in Constantinople, with the emperor present? Too excessive for just killing me. Bribing a leader who cracked so easily under pressure felt sloppy. Like they wanted to be caught.
More intel needed. Interrogate further.
"Tell me everything you know."
The leader spilled details: bribes promised, power offered.
"Nobles are strong, but promising you such a high post with His Majesty here? Doesn't add up."
"I... didn't believe it at first either. But a... a bribed Varangian assured me if he did his part, e-everything would go their way."
"Bribed Varangian?"
"Y-Yes. He said once today passed, the w-world would change... I remember his n-name."
Due to the marriage talks, Emperor Basil II and my foster father Lord Uranos were at the palace. I'd stationed Varangians there for their safety.
Yet most were here saving me. A few remained... and one likely bribed.
Palace with just emperor and Lord Uranos. Bribed Varangian there. Danger hit me.
"His name. Now."
"B-Bjorn, I think."
Bjorn. Halvar's brother, who fled defeat at the Holmgang River.