Eagle Byzantium

While Alexios was in full swing, Gawain, who was camped under the city of Nis, deployed three companies to monitor Tappan in the city (of course Grand Duke Tappan also strengthened the garrison on the city wall to guard against Gawain), while continuing Scout cavalry were constantly dispatched to scout north on both sides of the Sava River, hoping to get in touch with their adopted brother Peter as soon as possible.

Although no news came back in the past few days, Gawain still did not give up hastily. He believed that Peter's army would be able to wait, but he was worried about whether something would happen.

On the sixth day, Bramson Wolfgang was responsible for patrolling and scouting. He led about thirty Cuman light cavalry on horseback and headed further north along the forest and road. As they moved forward, villagers from a Slavic village knelt on both sides of the road and offered home-brewed mead to the swordsmanship instructor. As a result, Bramson said unceremoniously He threw down a silver coin in exchange for a large jar, hung it on the rope of the saddle, and drank while walking. Originally, Bramson did not drink alcohol, but he thought honey was just a drink, so he drank until he was drunk. Suddenly, two Cumans who were walking in front turned back and told Bramson, "About a mile ahead, thick black smoke suddenly appeared."

At this moment, Bramson woke up from the wine. He turned over and dismounted. Thinking of the punishment that the Grand Duke might give him, he was shaking the sieve all over. He walked to the brewery in the Slavic village, leaning on his two-handed sword. He squatted down and waved to the Cumans who were accompanying him, " Ten people, armed with bows and arrows and lassoes, went to look out, while the rest stayed here to respond. Also, when you go to the camp, tell me that there may be a large group of enemies ahead, and ask Giovanni to come with the infantry and join me. Meet up, just in case. Don’t let the Grand Duke know about this." Finished the arrangements. Bramson faced the puddle at his feet and kept breathing in and out, hoping to get rid of the smell of alcohol as soon as possible.

The ten Cuman light cavalry were cleverly divided into formations of three, four, and three. The ones at the front were holding spears and lassoes, the ones in the middle were one arrow away from each other and holding bows for cover, and the ones at the back were ready to turn around at any time to report the news. . He quickly passed through the forest and approached a place filled with black smoke.

It was a burning building with a small cross at the top. It was a chapel. It was probably founded by Orthodox hermits in the hinterland of Bulgaria, but now the Cuman scout could clearly see it. About two to three hundred cavalrymen wearing felt hats and leather armors cheered loudly, surrounded the building, and kept throwing torches inside. The miserable howls of the people locked inside came from the chapel. As soon as a man covered in fire crawled out of the window, he was shot dead by the cavalry at close range with bows and arrows. With ferocious laughter, those who were shot fell to the ground and remained motionless until they were completely swallowed up by the flames on their bodies.

So the Cuman light cavalry. He hurriedly sealed the horse's bit to prevent his horse from suddenly making a sound, and stayed quietly at the edge of the dense forest, watching the tragedy until the end: the church was reduced to a piece of scorched earth and rubble. When the cavalry saw that no one was left alive, they Passing whistles to each other, they ran away.

Two minutes later. Three Cumans came out vigilantly, approached the burned church, and saw the charred and collapsed wood and walls. Dozens of burned corpses lay side by side, making it difficult to identify the victims. They just stood there, looked at each other, and shook their heads.

Soon, Bramson, who was still shaking beside the brewery, received this news and immediately judged, "This group of people is probably pilgrims who were killed by bandits!"

An hour later, Gawain sent Merlot, the marching general, with 200 armored cavalry, and galloped in front of Bramson. This man also got on the horse with his head still dizzy. , and rushed to the burned church together.

"There are undoubtedly pilgrims, but not even half of them are alive." Merlo, who was riding on horseback, sighed, and then he discussed with Bramson, "Get into battle formation and head towards the place where the group of butchers left just now. Search in the direction to see if there are any other survivors.”

"Yes, Your Majesty the Marching Steward." After receiving the order, Bramson took thirty Lombard spear cavalry and thirty Cumans carrying quivers on their backs, forming an evacuated formation to avoid There may be an ambush in the forest bushes, and they are advancing along the road in the wilderness - and Mero, with most of the remaining cavalry, followed half a mile behind to meet them.

About four or five miles away, Bramson suddenly yelled at someone, and then quickly drew out his two-handed sword. The grass flew under the horse's hooves, and the sword blade was chopped down hard with a whine - a leader jumped out of the grass. The armored warrior holds his hands up The shield inside blocked Bramson's heavy blow, but half of the shield was also chopped into pieces. The man staggered twice and rolled on the grass again. Then two more warriors appeared and knelt directly on the cloth. Lamson begged for mercy in front of his furious horse.

"It's the language of West Francia. You are pilgrims!" Although the alcohol in Bramson's body was still fermenting, and he also felt very regretful about drinking today, his familiarity with the languages ​​of the surrounding ethnic groups still caused an accidental injury. Averted in the Ming Dynasty Kontos Ride Under the "coercion" of the spear, seven or eight wounded armed pilgrims emerged from this grassland. The fallen old knight got up again and shouted to Bramson, "I am from Boise." Walter Sanzaval is a lord who volunteered to make a pilgrimage with his sword.”

"Is this the hermit Peter's team?" At this moment, Wesart Melo, who came in a hurry with the cavalry behind him, asked.

The old knight nodded, "I am the knight flag bearer of Peter's pilgrimage. I took the only eight knights in the entire team and several servants to find a group of people who broke away from the team and came here first. But we encountered a large number of enemies, and we lost our horses and hid here wounded."

"There's no need to look for them. They were all locked up in the church and burned to death by bandits who didn't know where they came from." As he spoke, Bramson pointed to where they came from.

Walter and the other knights knelt down with sobs and prayed for the sacrifices of this group of pilgrims. Then he said angrily to Melo and Bramson, "Those who killed the pilgrims were not simple gangsters. They were all The cavalrymen of the two ferocious dukes of the Kingdom of Hungary.”

This complaint made Merlot, who was in charge of the army, nervous. He knew that this matter was not a trivial matter and would probably lead to a conflict between the army of Grand Duke Gawain and Hungary. So in a serious and sincere tone, he said, "Dear Lord Sanzaval, I hope that You can swear by your status and honor as a knight that what you just said is true."

"Of course I can guarantee that. In fact, my trip also carries the mission entrusted by Peter, which is to walk through this forest full of dangers and ask for help from your Grand Duke Gawain. There are about 30,000 pilgrims on the way. In the wilderness of Belgrade, we are being hunted and besieged by the cruel Grand Duke of Hungary!" After saying that, Walter Sanzaval pulled Mero's horse's head, "Please help us, or the whole army will be annihilated." (Unfinished.) To be continued~^~)