Summary

Mel debriefs Chira on her fourth repetition of the mission to acquire kalonji from 1202 Constantinople. Chira is able to reach Basina, a witch and the illegitimate granddaughter of the dowager empress, though Basina is suspicious at first. The mission swerves in a different direction from the previous three Strands: the palace apothecary enjoys being seduced by witches, but Chira is not one. Basina agrees to substitute for Chira with the apothecary if Chira will substitute for Basina with the emperor. Basina easily acquires the kalonji, and when Chira arrives at the emperor’s chambers she finds it was a trap for Basina. Chira convinces the empress not to kill her by claiming to be a Jew and, therefore, incapable of taking the throne for herself or her children. After she sleeps with the emperor, imperial guards escort Chira to Pera, the...