504 Retaliation Via Proxy

Deep within the confines of the Imperial Palace of the Byzantine Emperor was the personal quarters of the First Prince Quintus. Since his brother's maiming in Austria's retaliation, he had received larger support from the aristocracy than he had previously. With the warrior Prince wounded to such a savage degree, the hawkish faction had declined in power. 

Despite this, Decentius' influence over his most hardcore supporters continued to exist, and in doing so, he had infiltrated his brother's allies. While the Emperor had accepted the Mamluk Sultanate's blame for the attack on his son, and was preparing for war, Decentius would never roll over and allow the attack on his life to go unpunished.