replaced

mood. There

ramparts. He himself had led charges—lance charges—against the barbarian invaders. And watched them whirl away, laughing, and strike another village the day after. And seen the results, the day after that, lumbering up with his cataphracts. Too late, as usual, to do anything but bury the corpses.
He drove his horse forward, onto the training field. Seeing him approach, his cataphracts shouted gaily. Then, seeing his face, the gaiety died.
"Enough of this lance shit!" he roared. "Draw out your bows!"

The next day, Maurice arrived back at the villa near Daras. With him, he brought Hermogenes.
Hermogenes now gloried in the exalted rank of merarch. He was in overall command of the Army of Syria's infantry. Following Belisarius' recommendations, Sittas had immediately promoted Hermogenes to that post shortly after he arrived in Syria and replaced Belisarius as commander of the Roman army.
When Maurice and Hermogenes drew up in the courtyard of the villa, Antonina and Irene emerged to greet them.
"Where's Sittas?" inquired Antonina.
"He's staying with the army," grunted Maurice, as he dismounted. "For a while, anyway. Don't know how long."
"Probably till he gets over his latest peeve," piped up Irene cheerfully. "What did you say to him this time, Maurice?"
Maurice made no reply. Hermogenes grinned and said: "I think he cast aspersions on the glory of thundering cataphracts. Probably tossed in a few words on the Greek aristocracy, too."
Maurice maintained a dignified silence.
"You're just in time for dinner," announced Antonina. "Anthony's here."
"Bishop Cassian?" asked Hermogenes. "What a pleasure! I've been wanting to make his acquaintance for the longest time."

It was the first time Hermogenes had been invited to the villa since Belisarius' departure. He enjoyed the evening thoroughly, although he found the first few hours disconcerting. Conversation at the dinner table seemed somehow strained. On several occasions, h