The Stratigos of Dark Magic

"Understood," the financier nodded. "Buy any Ulv slave women we can find for three times the market price."

"Good. See that this is done," Demetrius said.

Then, the boy left the room with Ganzaya following him.

"What will you do if you find Ulv slave women who aren't my wife?" the Steppe nomad asked.

"I doubt you want your people enslaved, so we'll make them indentured servants," Demetrius answered. "We'll find some women's work for them to do."

Then, the boy stopped.

"Right, I almost forgot. Do not go into the women's quarters of this house. Only women are allowed to go there," Demetrius stated.

"Why is that?" Ganzaya wondered.

"Because that is where they do things like washing their underwear and other things they don't want men to see. Also, don't even think about sleeping around. I don't know what the laws are in your barbarian homeland, but adultery is illegal in the Remen Empire. It is a crime on par with sodomy."

The Ulv scoffed.

"I'm going to do everything I can to find my wife. I won't even have time to sleep around," Ganzaya said.

"Good," Demetrius replied.

Then, a thought came to the Ulv.

"Hold on, I heard the Basileus has 27 mistresses," Ganzaya stated.

"He does," Demetrius nodded.

"But you said that adultery is illegal. Is the Empress..."

"Basilissa."

"...Basilissa dead?" Ganzaya asked.

"She isn't," Demetrius answered. "But if the Basileus does something, it is not a crime."

The Ulv nodded.

"Fair enough. He makes the laws, after all, so it is his right to decide who they apply to," Ganzaya said.

"And he was made Basileus by the gods. There is no reason for the Basileus to be beholden to the law like normal people are," Demetrius replied.

Then, the boy started walking off.

"Look around Kostaspolis for your wife, Ganzaya. I have business to attend to," Demetrius stated.

The Ulv bowed.

"Thank you, despotēs," he said.

Soon, Demetrius walked through the Basileus' palace. It was a grand building with mosaics covering the walls and floor. Grand marble pillars, hundreds of years old, held up its roof. Numerous statues of various Basileus filled the sides of the hallways.

Demetrius passed by numerous people as he moved. Most were servants and slaves, on their way to fulfill their orders. Others were important men seeking an audience with the Basileus. Still more were various people who were higher-ranking than servants but worked at the palace.

One man like that approached Demetrius. He looked very much like the boy's father, except he was younger and had a longer beard. There was a smile on his face.

"It's good to see you again, Demetrius," he said.

"Same to you, uncle," the boy replied. "How are things in the Senate?"

"The Basileus called us for a meeting recently. He wanted some advice. It's the first time there's been a Senate meeting in five years."

"Yes. You lot are almost useless," Demetrius stated with a playful smirk.

His uncle laughed.

"You're right about that! You should try being a useless politician sometimes, Demetrius. You get paid for doing nothing. Well, you don't get paid much, so you'll have to do things on your own, but still."

"Maybe the Basileus will appoint me to the Senate someday. Then, I can pretend that I'm more important than I actually am," Demetrius said.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll be the Basileus' next Very Super Extra Special Boy," his uncle replied.

They both chuckled.

"It's a good thing that most of the aristocrats don't realize just how useless the titles they're competing for are. If they did, they'd get in the Basileus and Caesar's way," Demetrius thought.

He then spoke.

"Where is Basil?"

"Caesar Basil is in the war room," the senator said.

"Thank you, uncle," Demetrius replied.

The boy moved through the palace. A pair of aristocratic men in fancy clothes walked past him. They gazed at Demetrius with disdainful expressions before stopping right in front of him.

"Stratigos Demetrius," one of them forced a smile. "Tell me, doesn't it bother you?"

"Doesn't what bother me?" Demetrius asked.

"That some of our Stratigoi are women," he answered.

"They can use magic, so I see nothing wrong with them being Stratigoi," the boy said. "Most women are terrible fighters, which is why they shouldn't go to war. But spellcasters don't have the difficulties of normal women."

"Yes, but they're still women. Even if they are exceptional women, even if they are as smart as men, they're still women. Some day, they'll encourage other women to go to war and get themselves killed! Even a Kallergis like you doesn't want that, right?"

Demetrius scoffed.

"What I want is what's best for the Remen Empire. And ignoring the combat abilities of spellcasters just because they're women is idiotic," he said.

The aristocrat grimaced.

"Let me tell you something, Stratigos Demetrius! No father wants to send his daughter off to war! Women should stay at home where it's safe, even if the women are magicians!" he declared.

A woman in noble clothes approached them.

"That's right," she said. "It's better if men perform their natural role of fighting. Even if a woman is a magician, her going to war is simply unnatural."

Demetrius narrowed his eyes.

"They planned this out, didn't they?" he thought before speaking. "What do you want?"

"Convince Caesar Basil to stop making woman magicians Stratigoi. Basileus Remanos won't do it, but you are on a first-name basis with his son. When he becomes Basileus..." the woman started.

Demetrius interrupted her.

"You seem to think that even female magicians going to war is unnatural. And yet you, a woman without magic, are talking about matters of war. Either shut your damn mouth or stop being a hypocrite," he said.

Named Entities that Love You: 2.

Named Entities that Like You: 2.

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Named Entities that Hate You: 88.

Named Entities that Despise You: 26.

Named Entities that Fear You: 156.

The woman shot him a harsh glare.

"I will not allow women to be sent to war, however capable they might be. It is the role of men to fight," she turned and stormed off.

"Perhaps I could convince you," the first aristocratic man spoke up.

"Speak again and I will inform Basill that you are an idiot," Demetrius said.

The aristocrat walked away.

Named Entities that Love You: 2.

Named Entities that Like You: 2.

Named Entities that Dislike You: 53.

Named Entities that Hate You: 89.

Named Entities that Despise You: 26.

Named Entities that Fear You: 156.

The last aristocrat approached Demetrius with cautious eyes.

"I do not care about the use of female magicians," he said. "But there is one in particular I have a problem with."

"Theodora," Demetrius thought.

"Who is it?" the Stratigos asked.

"Stratigos Theodora," the aristocrat answered. "She has committed the sin of flirting with other women."

"Unless she takes the male role in sex, Stratigos Theodora has not broken the law," Demetrius answered.

The aristocrat nodded.

"Then perhaps she could be...persuaded? Perhaps..."

Demetrius walked right past him. The Stratigos kept going and arrived at a large room with two tall men standing outside the door. One of them had blonde hair, and the other was a redhead. Both of them had thick beards. They were clad in mail armor and had longaxes in their hands.

"Ah, Stratigos Demetrius! You're back, boy!" one of the men smiled.

"I am, barbarians. Now, I recommend that you refer to me properly before I have your tongue," the boy replied.

"Sorry, despotēs. We barbarians aren't used to formalities like these," the man's voice was coated in sarcasm.

"Just let me pass," Demetrius ordered before thinking. "I don't think anyone's been bored in the palace since the Varangians arrived."

One of the guards opened the door, and Demetrius stepped inside.

Then, he stepped back out and moved to the side. A tall man with black hair as well as a thick beard exited the room. He was glad in a loros of pure purple. It was coated with countless jewels of the highest quality. Enameled plates were sewn into the clothing.

An entourage of men in fancy clothing followed this man. Demetrius knelt as he passed by. The man gave him a quick nod before moving on. When the procession passed, Demetrius walked into the room.

A few men were left. One of them was a boy Demetrius' age. He had black hair and dark crimson eyes. His clothes were just as elaborate as the first man's.

"Ah, good, you're here, Demetrius," he said. "A bit late for the meeting."

"Yes, Basil. The Basileus just left," Demetrius replied.

"My Father had to attend to some barbarian dignitaries," Basil waved it off. "The usual affairs."

He then turned to the men in the room.

"Some privacy, please."

They left. Soon, it was just Basil and Demetrius inside. The Caesar took a deep breath and grinned wide with excitement.

"Tell me, Demetrius, how did the Theme System work?" he asked.

"Just as you planned," the Stratigos answered. "By the time I got to the town, the Theme Warriors had already gathered. It saved me the trouble of gathering forces."

Basil clenched a fist with a wide grin.

"Yesssss. The other returning Stratigoi said the same thing, but you confirmed it," he stated.

"I presume that includes Stratigos Theodora?" Demetrius asked.

"Of course. You met her?" Basil questioned.

"We went back on the same ship."

Basil nodded.

"I know Stratigos Theodora is a bit...eccentric, but she has the brain of a man," the Caesar said. "The Remen Empire is that much safer with her as one of our Stratigoi."

"I'm just worried that she'll get herself arrested. Stratigos Theodora isn't stupid enough to lose her powers, but if someone suspects she's slept with another woman," Demetrius spoke.

"That's only illegal if a woman takes the man's role. And when she gets married, I'm certain she'll find a man who can satisfy her. And, if he decides to bring in a woman for her...well, I don't care who she fucks as long as she's a good general and magician. An arrest would impede that, but I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to arrest a member of one of the Four Magician Families without help from me or Father. They have too much influence," Basil grimaced.

Then, he sighed.

"At least they're better than the scum-sucking aristocrats. Did they give you any trouble?" the Caesar asked.

Demetrius nodded.

"I ran into an aristocrat who was plotting to trick Stratigos Theodora into breaking that law on the way here. Some other aristocrats tried to get me to convince you to stop sending magician women to war," the Stratigos said.

"Business as usual. I will find some way to deal with them," Basil stated. "And what about on your military mission? Any political issues there?"

"No. I don't think the aristocrats even care about the far reaches of the Remen Empire," Demetrius answered.

Basil nodded.

"Yes. Those scum don't recognize that a citizen of the Remen Empire is a citizen of the Remen Empire, no matter how far from Kostaspolis they are," he said. "They are all under my protection."

Demetrius nodded.

"Have the aristocrats been giving you trouble about the Varangian Guard?"

"A few have. They're wondering why I'd rather be protected by barbarians than Remens. What they should be asking is how these barbarians are more loyal than the Praetorian Guard was. I'm ashamed that the Varagnians are more honorable than most of my own people," Basil's face was flushed with embarrassment.

Demetrius sat down.

"Were there any incidents with the Varangian Guard? Aside from them putting graffiti everywhere and being a bit annoying sometimes," he wondered.

"Yes. One of the Varangians tried to rape a woman. Despite not having magic, she managed to kill him," Basil nodded. "The other Varangians gave her the dead man's property."

Demetrius blinked in shock.

"They did? I...didn't think a barbarian would do anything like that," he said.

"The Varagnians are men of honor. They were impressed that a woman managed to kill one of their own and decided to honor her. For the Varangians, death is better than dishonor," Basil stated.

He then chuckled.

"That and in Varangian culture, harming women is unacceptable unless it's part of a war or a raid. The Varangian Guard probably thought that the rapist bastard got what he deserved."

"If they did, I agree with them," Demetrius said.

"As do I," Basil nodded.

His expression then turned serious.

"Now, onto business. I have a new task for you. It involves my fiance. I am concerned that, when she arrives in the Remen Empire, she won't know how to act like a proper Basilissa."

"She is the Princess of Armana. I wouldn't expect barbarians to know the proper decorum," Demetrius said.

"When we're married, Armana will become part of the Remen Empire, so I'd rather not think of her as a barbarian," Basil stated. "Mother wrote a book for her, a guide on how to be a Basilissa. Your sister is going to deliver it to my fiance and answer any questions she has."

Demetrius nodded.

"She said that I should talk to you as soon as I can. I'm guessing this is what she was talking about," he said.

"Yes. You'll be accompanying her on this trip. I know that you have a strained relationship, but she specifically asked that you be sent to protect her."

"Me?" shock covered Demetrius' face.

"Yes, you," Basil nodded.

The boy took a moment to think things through.

"Why does Adriadne want me to protect her? She resents me. But she might not trust people she isn't related to. And witches like her don't have combat magic, so she needs protection," Demetrius thought before speaking. "Alright. Anything else?"

"Yes. At the city of Cea, you will meet up with a group of akritai. They will escort you to my fiance. It would be better for you to show up with a retinue for diplomatic purposes, after all," Basil said.

"Understood. And after we make the delivery to your fiance, we should return to Kostaspolis?"

The Caesar shook his head.

"There is one more thing, but it will require some explaining," Basil stated.