Constantinople Assassin (Images)

Constantinople Assassin
Fictional Character
Agent of Byzantium POD: c. AD 597
Appearance(s):	"Images"
Type of Appearance:	Direct unnamed
Nationality:	Roman Empire
Religion:	Eastern Orthodox
Date of Birth:	13th century
Date of Death:	1317
Cause of Death:	Stabbed in street fight
Occupation:	Street tough

One night in 1317, Basil Argyros was well pleased with himself for escaping a beating by some "iconoclastic" monks, so much so that he didn't notice an assassin stalking him. He felt a rush of air as the assassin attacked and managed to twist to one side enough to suffer a minor cut on his arm rather than a knife between his ribs.

Argyros stumbled away and managed to draw his own dagger and get into a knife-fighter's stance before the assassin could strike again. The two circled each other warily until the assassin attacked again. Argyros blocked his knife hand with his own left arm and counter-stabbed. The assassin also blocked the jab and the two sprang apart.

Argyros noted they were in front of his neighbor Theognostos' house and maneuvered the assassin to a large pothole in the street. Argyros feigned stumbling leading the assassin to attack. In the dark, the assassin didn't notice the hole and so stumbled into it. Argyros lunged and stabbed him in the belly killing him.

Argyros examined the body and found the man dressed like a local street tough rather than a monk. He also had a purse filled with gold coins with an Alexandria mint-mark. This led Argyros to conclude he had been hired by the Persian agent Mirrane as a back-up if the monks had failed.