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nothing any of us had seen. So Commander Larkin sent some of us out to investi­ gate.
       "Most of the ship's crew had been washed overboard and presumably drowned. The ones who were still alive spoke some gibberish none of us knew. But after a long while of interrogating them, Commander Larkin found one who speaks French. And it turns out that the ship is from Byzantium."
       Merlin sat up. "Byzantium? It was one of Justinian's ships? They don't trade here, except for occasional tin pur­ chases. And then their ships dock at Cornwall."
       "Yes, sir. Exactly."
       "Did he say what they were doing in our waters?"
       "No, sir. But the sailor seemed to think being from the emperor should give them diplomatic immunity or some such. Commander Larkin wasn't at all sure how to proceed, so he sent me here."
       Arthur spoke. "That is a wise move. It will take months for Justinian to realize there's something wrong and to make a protest. But I wish you had been able to get more out of them."
       "Sorry, Your Highness. All we were able to do was con­ fiscate all the documents in the captain's cabin."
       Merlin leaned forward. "What do they say? About Guenevere?"
       Martin produced a sheaf of documents from his pack and laid them on the table. "Most of these are in French. The rest—well, they are in a foreign code or something. At any rate, none of us can read them."
       "Let me see." Merlin took the documents and riffled through them, squinting; then he took a magnifying lens from his pocket and examined them more closely. "Greek. These are in Greek." He looked at the king. "You know, Arthur—the language you keep telling me I shouldn't be teaching to the young men of the court? The one you say is a waste of time?"
       "Save your sarcasm, Merlin, and tell us what they say."
       From the stack he pulled a large parchment with what appeared to be an imperial seal attached to it. "I imagine this is the important one." He narrowed his eyes, adjusted his lens and read it.
       "For heaven's sake, Merlin, what does it say?"
       He translated:

    To our royal cousins Lancelot and Guenevere of Britain. Greetings.
        Know by these presents that we are most pleased at the invitation to the celebration of the queen's birthday. And we are most delighted that the occasion will also observe and honor the royal wedding.
        The court of the Eastern Roman Empire is most anxious to establish harmonious relations with Brit­ ain, and our Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Podarthes, shall attend in our name.
        May the festivities be joyous. And may the rela­ tions established be felicitous for both our courts.

    Justinian

       Having finished, Merlin put the document on the table and looked at his companions to see how they were react­ ing. None of them said a word.
       "So." He looked again from one to the next. "Guenevere and Lancelot are presenting themselves as the legitimate rulers of England and attempting to conduct diplomatic negotiations with Byzantium. And Byzantium is complicit with them. Justinian addresses them as his 'royal cousins.' "
       Arthur was quite immobile. Brit squirmed in her chair. "If she can actually make an ally of Justinian it will strengthen her hand immeasurably. He commands the greatest army in Europe."
       "But if she believes she can do that," Merlin said softly, "she is being incredibly foolish. The Byzantine army swallows up cities and provinces the way a swarm of ants swallows vegetation. Justinian's general, Belisa­ rius, is relentless."
       Arthur spoke again, sounding even more tired than he had a moment earlier. "We've been trying to open diplo­ matic relations with Justinian for years. And we've always been rebuffed. He may see Guenevere—a weak monarch, to say the least—as his entrée to England. A simple way to gain access without encountering resistance. And Guenevere just might be desperate enough to permit that. She would be