With Irene and her honor guard in the Senate's pavilion, the rest of the Nikeans stood in small groups or milled around.
Sir Kirigi, never one to be suspicious, was going to leave, but was approached by the former Imperial Chronicler Aurore of Byzantium, and Lord Nigel the Byzantine. "Sir Kirigi, a moment if you will." Said Aurore. The pair guided him to one side.
"Tell us, Sir Kirigi, what do you tins of them? The Nikeans." Said Lord Nigel.
Sir Kirigi scratched his newly grown beard. "Well, they certainly are different. Come to think of it, Irene sounds a little bit like you, Aurore. Could the Nikeans be of Byzantine origin?"
Aurore frowned. "Possibly, although I'm not too sure. Nikean sounds a lot like Nicaean, and that empire is still around."
"Maybe Nikean is in reference to something else?" Mused Lord Nigel.
"Like the Nika revolt?" Stated Sir Kirigi.
"What's that?" Asked Aurore.
Sir Kirigi grimaced. "Family history. My ancestors Justinian and Theodora ruled the Byzantine Empire nearly a thousand years ago. The Nika revolt was a rebellion they put down. It was the bloodiest ever, with some 30,000 people being killed."
Aurore shivered. "Well, surely no one would use that as a name. I wonder what their story is."
"Well, I don't trust them." Stated Lord Nigel.
Sir Kirigi and Aurore looked at him. "Really?"
"Definitely. Once we were contacted, they were really eager to join the Empire. Also, there has been someone on the inside tipping them off. They already know our political structure."
"Well, shouldn't they know something?" Asked Sir Kirigi
"Still."
The three gazed thoughtfully at the assembled foreigners.
After an hour, Irene and Sir Jehan emerged from the pavilion. Sir Jehan was grinning, and Irene wore a smile like a satisfied cat.
"Good populace," stated Sir Jehan, "Irene, Matriarch of the Nikeans, has won the approval of the Senate. We shall be pleased to have the Nikeans become part of the Adrian Empire."
"For your generosity, Sir Jehan, we, the people of Nika, have arranged some gifts."
Sir Kirigi, Lord Nigel, and Aurore looked at each other.
Irene went on. "We have heard of the recent tragedy in Esperance. We are prepared to deliver one thousand barrels of wine to offset the water shortage until the wells can be dredged."
There was applause from the assembled Adrians.
"Also," Irene continued, "I believe that one of your knights, a Sir Theobald, has recently committed a serious crime."
"Ah, yes." Said Dame Roselyn, approaching.
"Then we shall not rest until he has been brought to justice. The people of Nika believe in justice, and we shall fully support the laws of Adria."
Dame Roselyn looked surprised. "Uh, that's very generous of you."
Irene smiled and hugged her. "It is our duty to your most glorious empire." She turned to Sir Jehan, "Your majesty, if you would have your Imperial steward accompany us back to our encampment, we would have him collect the taxes."
Sir Jehan smiled. "That shouldn't be necessary. Just send us a census and the taxes. We can do the swearing in of you as Duchess right after that."
Irene smiled. "Very well. Shall we say in a week?"
Sir Jehan replied, "Excellent."
Irene clapped her hands. Her honor guard immediately formed up. The drums and bells started again as she walked to her palanquin. She climbed in and the honor guard ringed it. They filed away.
Sir Kirigi was visibly nervous. "Now I am suspicious. People of Nika, the Nika revolt, it's a bad sign. Also, they were pretty quick to take up arms against Sir Theobald."
"Well, he did kill someone, a maid of Sir Hector's I'm told." Replied Aurore.
"He told me he was framed, and I believe him." Sir Kirigi retorted. "I'd better got to him before they do." He quickly began walking away, forming a plan in his head.
Lord Nigel and Aurore looked at Sir Kirigi as he walked away. Lord Nigel faced Aurore. "He has a point. You'd better stay alert." With that, he went to join the Emperor.
Beyond the palisades, at he edge of the clearing, a short, copper-haired Welshman lingered. Grinning in an unsettling manner, he walked away from the Adrian encampment, to his nearby horse. He mounted it, and began riding east.