Nikolias found the Kievian Rus at the army stables, preparing their mounts for the long return journey. He had gone straight there after his meeting with General Maniakes. The General, not long in the city after his arrival from his estate, sat in his command tent, engrossed in a pile of tightly written communiqués that had long awaited him on his desk. Maniakes preferred a tent to the more permanent apartments set aside for a man of his standing. He told Nikolias it reminded him of when he fought on campaign, and if anything made him happy, it was fighting.
Nikolias stood before the great man, one arm cradling his officer"s helm, the other clasped around the hilt of his sword. “I"ve been away two days and it as if the world has gone mad.” Maniakes looked up from his papers and scowled. “
