| abstract | - Eladas was one of the more successful soothsayers in Skopentzana. Early in the civil war between Maleinos II and Stylianos Eladas was asked by the city's prelate Rhavas to tell his future. Eladas immediately cautioned Rhavas that prophesying the outcome of Avtokrator succession was a capital crime and he would not risk the headsman's sword. Rhavas smugly told him that he was not asking Eladas to break the law; instead he wanted to know if he would become the Patriarch of Videssos. This was quite clever on Rhavas's part since it was not illegal and, since he was Maleinos' cousin, his appointment as Patriarch would mean Maleinos had won the war. Eladas asked for Rhavas' hand and studied it as Rhavas might a passage in the scriptures. Nodding to himself, Eladas began saying "You will --" then stopped. His grip tightened harshly, his eyes widened impossibly wide and his mouth worked soundlessly. Then his eyes rolled up into his head, he gasped and then Eladas slumped to the floor dead. Rhavas called for Matzoukes, his assistant, and the two manhandled Eladas' body out of Rhavas' study. Rhavas ordered Matzoukes to make sure the temple compensated Eladas' family, not because they were at fault for Eladas' "seizure" but as an act of charity.
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