Justinian

MYAKES

Jealous, Brother Elpidios? Why on earth would I have been jealous of Philippikos? Because I was a starving peasant when I took up the soldier's life and he had a patrician for a father? I'd known plenty of bluebloods by then. It's not angels that come out when they sit on the latrine, any more than it is with me.

Is that blasphemy, Brother? I'm sorry; I didn't aim to singe your virgin ears. I just meant that wasn't the reason. Because I was Justinian's friend- or as close to a friend as Justinian let himself have- and Bardanes came sniffing round the Emperor? That, now, that's closer to the mark. I didn't trust him. He was too smooth somehow, if you know what I mean. Justinian couldn't see it. He never could. He paid for it, too, at the end.

Because Bardanes Philippikos was a heretic who tried to overthrow the sixth holy ecumenical synod? I didn't know that then\a160… and I wouldn't have worried much about it if I did know.

You didn't hear that last? Well, never mind. Wasn't important anyhow.