As a newly appointed officer in the Imperial Guard, Nikolias marched somewhat self-consciously towards the sprawl of the Valens Aqueduct, adjusting and readjusting his belt as he went. Accompanying him were two burly soldiers, neither of whom seemed particularly happy to be out at this time of night. The streets and houses pressing in around them were dimly lit, but full of noise as citizens gathered around the dinner tables to feast. Tension crackled in the air. Soldiers were mistrusted at the best of times, but mainly at night. This was not a safe quarter to be in.
The massive edifice of the Aqueduct loomed out of the darkness, two storeys of arches, the evidence of recent repair work, begun under the previous emperor, Romanos III, all around. Indeed, it was thanks to such maintenance t
