Holding my hand in his aloft, he faced the crowd. As planned, the roaring started again – but this time for Phocas as well as for me. ‘Many years and good fortune to Phocas, our Great Emperor,’ the chanting began. ‘Many years to the Orthodox Augustus and Autocrator. Ma...
All that you may require, it shall be our pleasure to give.’ I looked out of the window at the bronze pipe that was loosely held in hoops six feet apart. These, in turn, were clamped to the outer wall. I didn’t need the demonstration he’d failed to arrange. I could see that, if the animals on the...