Chapter 561: Why Do Couples Quarrel
"We are liberators, We are freedom fighters, We are guardians of the people, We are the hope of the people, We live by a code of honour, To protect the commoner."
- Wobyanga
Giovanni had a gathering dinner with his family that night, seated right on the left hand side of George Sphrantzes, demonstrating a clear sign of trust.
George Sphrantzes is not found of his son in law at the start of course for obvious reasons, but as time goes by he too had to accept the hard truth and accepted Giovanni into the family after Constantine came in personally persuading his old friend George to just ’acquire the perfect son in law as a gift sent to you by God himself.’ Now after almost a decade Giovanni has become one of George Sphrantzes’ biggest and most trusted political ally in Constantinople.
"You must have heard about the recent events going on in Constantinople." George asked taking a sip of his wine.
"Yes, both sides have increased the frequency of their secret meetings by a lot, and I have reports that both sides are trying to recruit young men into their armed services." Giovanni replied in a fluent Greek.
"How many have they recruited?" George tightened his eyebrows, these kinds of unlawful deeds the two brothers do every time really disgusts him.
"Oh, they are still far from being a threat to the security of the city Sir, Thomas has only recruited a bit more than fifty while Demetrios has just expanded his palace guards to a mere one hundred."
"Even ten people in the city armed with blades can be a threat to the security of the city, do you realise how irresponsible is it for you, as the commander of the forces to say such things?"
"Yes, sir, I will keep them under a close watch at all times and disarm them when the time is appropriate." Giovanni hastily stood up to fill George’s cup back to the brim with the jar in his hands. George frowned again but did not stop Giovanni’s actions.
"My son, what do you plan to do now?"
"Now... You know me sir, I am born for war, I carry the blood of a mercenary, I rarely plan for anything beyond a year’s time."
"Then you must plan it now."
"..."
"I... I need you to do me a favour sir."
"What is it?"
"I know that I am now in a very... dangerous position, you know, this job is hard, really hard, not that it will give me any physical troubles, it is just that I am not really that sensitive to politics and intrigues, I believe that I can tackle all the dilemmas and lead on with my troops to the future..."
"What do you want?" George Sphrantzes is getting impatient.
Giovanni bites his teeth hard, real hard. "I want to get my wife and my kid out of Constantinople, to Proikonnesos, it is safe there."
"But that is Thessaloniki territory."
"I know, so that is why I believe that it is safe.... Please sir, this is just only for a few months, and I will bring her back once all the political struggles in Constantinople is over... I will dispatch my best man, called Mauro, to guard her by her side. You must trust me sir, just as I vowed to keep her safe for the entire life on that day when I married her."
George stared at the floor, twitched his lips and sighed. "I trust you, fine, I will arrange a ship bound for Marmara... But Giovanni, I would rather you just get onto that ship too and bring her to somewhere safe, believe me this situation is way too much for you to handle, your poor sense of politics would only suck you right into the swirl of court struggles, and crush your bones in it... Now, Giovanni my son, if you still remember that vow you gave me on the day you are engaged with my daughter, please, go, bring her to somewhere safe."
"I would very much like to, sir... I would very much like to... But..."
"Because of that promise you gave Constantine?"
"Yes, sir."
"But why?"
Giovanni leaned backwards, and looked towards the outside whereby all the women are chit chatting with their children in their arms. George Sphrantzes looked at Giovanni, for he has a heavenly gaze, a gaze of promise, a gaze of love, a gaze of protection.
"Sir, you mentioned that I was once a mercenary, a low life, wandering around the known world, earning gold for a living by throwing my life into uncertainties, even my own familia in Genoa has denied my existence because they disregarded me as a shame to the name ’Giustiniani’. It is because of the emperor, because of Constantine, he gave me my title, he gave me my crest, he gave me my marriage, he gave me my prestige, and asked only for one promise, that is to keep his state safe. As a man knighted by him, I must keep my promise."
"I see, my private galley would be docked at the harbour of Sophia tomorrow, and it will leave immediately once Therma is onboard, tell her to come at midnight."
"Thank you, sir! Really, thank you!"
...
After the dinner, on the way back home.
Giovanni kept silent throughout the journey on the chariot.
"Have something in mind my love?" Asked Therma, with the boy in her arms already asleep.
"Oh yes... I am planning something." Giovanni forced a smile on his face. "I have heard that there is this really gorgeous estate in Proikonnesos, you know, by the seas with white sands and palm woods, I think that you must be tired and frustrated from writing your script for the Victorinus of Pettau. Why not take a break there?"
Therma is not stupid, she can read through her husband’s dodgy eyes. "You are trying to hide something from he aren’t you?"
Giovanni made a laugh, a really bitter one. "No, believe me, I never attempt to hide things from you. But just please, listen to me this time, I need you to have a vacation overseas."
"..."
The chariot continued rolling forward.
"...When?"
"Tomorrow, night, there will be a ship docked at the harbour, I will watch you and our son board that ship. There is no need to worry about my well beings, I will deliver you a message for you two to return as soon as I settle the situation in the city. Mauro will be there to protect you; you will be entirely safe."
"Then what about you?"
"Me?" Giovanni grinned. "As a husband I know that I am required to protect you and our son, but as the commander of the Roman army, It is my job and duty to ensure that stability, security and safety is well preserved in the state as well, and I am sorry, Therma, but the latter is on the top of my priority."
Therma looked at her husband with her eyes full of disbelief. "You know, darling, I have always wished that you would behave a bit more like a true noble, but for occasions like these I too would wish that you behave more like a mercenary, since when have you became so responsible? Why were you not like this when you disregarded my request and impregnated me on that pile of haystack?"
"I..." Giovanni opened his mouth with his face beaming in redness, wishing to find some words to defend himself, but Therma would not give him anytime to think about his replies and continued spitting out her harsh questions. "Where was your sense of responsibility when I am pregnant with our son? Why did you not give me a single letter of reply when you are out of the city? Where is your sense of responsibility when I needed it the most? Where is your sense of responsibility when I asked you to seek a tutor for our son? And now, oh, now you start telling me that you feel a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility for the safety and well beings of the citizens that seems to have come from nowhere out of a sudden. But what about our son? What about me?"
"I... I..." Giovanni staggered with anger as his wife continued with her verbal assault pounding on her consciousness, at last he could take it no longer and stormed out of the chariot, leaving a curse behind."
"Stupid woman! You will board that ship no matter what!"
Therma too, shouted back at Giovanni. "Fine! I will board that ship do not worry about that! And I will see when you will finally have some consciousness or responsibility for our child and me! Maybe till eternity!"
But immediately after Therma pulled the curtain and slammed the door of the chariot, her political sensitivity reminded her again of the dilemma her husband is going to face, and she began praying for Giovanni as fear and worriedness overrides her anger over her husband’s irresponsibility.
