The Parakoimomenos Heist

Political event

Stealing from the Emperor's High Chamberlain

A rival of Theophanes, the Parakoimenos (High Chamberlain) of Constantine VII, hired Brendan for the especially difficult job or breaking into Theophanes' apartments in the Imperial Palace to steal some of his official regalia, in order to embarrass him in front of the Emperor (If he can't be trusted to protect his own stuff, how can he be trusted to protect yours?). Brendan pulled off the job but, in an abundance of caution, did not show up for the meeting with the rival. This was wise since the rival showed up with guards to capture him. Constantinople became very hot for Brendan. He had already been planning to strike out westward on his 18th birthday to look for a Frankish army that would let him kill Vikings so he decided to go ahead and start his westward journey early. He left the regalia in a guard house next to one of the gates, kept the money, and snuck out of the city never to return.   The theft became the talk of Constantinople with Theophanes finally proving that his rival was behind it and having his rival jailed. To the general populus the crime was never solved but it is the event referred to by the Voivre for when Brendan "jumped for the rail". It is a major even that pushed Brendan's life in a new direction and led to changes in the hierarchy of Constantinople.