Page 26
"Thank you for asking, Alexis. I do appreciate it more than you know."
Alexis looked at the man beside him and found that, like Constantine, he was going to worry about Arslan. "We might be immortal, Arslan, but we aren't meant to be alone. You have been by yourself for far too long, and that is going to become dangerous."
"I promise when the city is quiet again, I'll come to Venice," Arslan assured him.
"Please do. When you visit, Zo will cook you something elaborate and complain that your poetry is better than his. Phaidros will flirt with you, and Galenos will want to lock you in the Archives for two weeks to show you all the best books. Lyca will assess you for threats and mostly ignore you until she presents you with a blade she made herself. Aelia will pretend not to care, then contrive to sit next to you at dinner for a week. As for Nereus…"
Alexis paused and thought just how much she was going to love Arslan. "Nereus will probably look you over and nod in approval right before she tries to mentor you."
"I look forward to the nod and the mentoring," Arslan said, laughter bubbling up from him. "Try to come back and visit when you can. My door is always open, just like yours is."
Alexis clasped Arslan's forearm, and Arslan did the same. "If this city is ever in worse trouble than it is now, and you need me, send word through mundane or magical means, and I will come."
"Thank you," Arslan said, his fingers gripping Alexis tighter.
"And think about what I said about being alone. You are a smart man, and you know where the elixir went wrong last time. It wouldn't happen again the same way," Alexis said, holding on when Arslan tried to shy away. "I'm not condoning making just anyone immortal, Arslan, but if there is one who is worthy, don't hesitate. At least recruit some humans to your order. The Lord of the Duat knows mortals need help, or he wouldn't have sent you back. This is not a task to be done by yourself."
"I'll think about it," Arslan said, nodding. "Stay safe."
"You too," Alexis replied and released him. "Try not to get yourself killed, and don't sleep with Akamos again."
"I didn't—" Arslan began.
"Whatever you say, piccolo mago," Alexis laughed, patting Arslan's head.
Arslan batted his hand away. "Mind your own business, or I'll let him shoot you next time."
"He's welcome to try any time. I like the exercise."
"A good thing you're leaving. This city has enough problems," Arslan said with a smile he couldn't hide.
At midnight, when the Eos slipped out into the waves, Alexis didn't look up at Galata as he went. Arslan had left the docks with a new spell for sending messages and would write often.
Alexis turned his face toward Venice, his new home, carrying a piece of the old one with him.
He couldn't imagine what the others would say when he told them about his adventures, the new immortal he had found, and that there was a fallen angel ruling in the city. It would do them good to know that there were still things walking the world they had never encountered before.
Neither he nor Arslan could have predicted that the next time Alexis came to Constantinople, it wouldn't be for a friendly visit or a mission to save treasures. It would be in the middle of the collapse of an empire, to rescue a friend from himself, and to save another who would be found worthy of Anubis's blessing.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cara mia,
The first part of this story was the beginning of a friendship. The second was how another was destroyed as much as Constantinople was in those fateful days.
Despite knowing what it cost me, I would do it again. It makes the guilt bearable, and on the bad nights, it is what makes it worse.
By the end of it, I had broken something between Constantine and I that has taken hundreds of years to begin mending. We are still mending it, as you well know. He never told me about his relics until the day he told you. He doesn't know that Arslan is immortal because I never wanted him to take any of his residual anger out on him.
Perhaps when I take you to Istanbul, I'll take Constantine too, and with your presence there, he might behave himself. Yes, I doubt it too, but I know once he got over any surprise and irritation, he would enjoy Arslan's company and find comfort in the fact that I didn't leave his beloved city without protectors, as he believed for so long.
Con tanto amore,
Alexis
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Venice, 1453
