Eagle Byzantium

"The Greeks are indeed an extremely wealthy nation." Baldwin said in surprise as he looked at the golden coins in the emperor's box.

"Don't touch Baldwin, remember that money and poison are the emperor's tricks. We can only pray that the priests will come on this trip, not only to subdue the emperor, but also to protect themselves." Godfrey held the arm where Baldwin took the money. Hit it, and then said this with a bit of annoyance.

Over there in the Dalian team camp, in the crimson tent, Gawain once again put on the white silk robe given by the emperor, and looked at the other white robe given to him by the Holy See for his baptism in the clothes with some dumbfounding. But it is obvious that the texture given by Alexios is more high-end. It is made of high-grade Corinthian silk. It is smooth and soft, as if it were covered with skin that could once breathe. "Damn it, Alexios, sooner or later I will wear this The property that should belong to Inglina should be taken back, and she cannot be allowed to produce second-rate or third-rate silk in the city of Barry forever." Gawain secretly made a decision. Determined, he then stood in front of the standing mirror and no longer covered himself with the red cloak given by Eudocia. Instead, he put on the white robe and tied it with the gold medal given by the emperor. Inside was Anna. The holy armor that was sent was simpler (compared to the emperor), and finally, after carefully putting on the wrist armor sent by Muzhafi Adin, he walked out of the camp entrance.

Outside, the soldiers of the Dalian company have begun to noisily gather around the grills in their respective camps, waiting for the hot fish to be cut into plates, mixed into large portions of wheat porridge, and brought from the company kitchen to dispel the cold and heat accumulated for many days. fasting State, the topics that people are discussing now are all focused on the Grand Duke going to the palace, what kind of meritorious rewards His Majesty will give him and the Dalian Team, and which battlefield in Asia Minor the Dalian Team will show off its skills against the pagans in the future. There are also chaplains who accompany the army. They have already boasted in front of the soldiers about what the Holy City and the Holy Tomb look like. In Solomon's Temple in that city, there is a prisoned devil on every pillar. It is also said that there is a mysterious mechanism inside. As long as you send pork in, you can pull out sausages and pour in wheat flour. , you can take out the bread cubes directly.

In a greeting. Gawain greeted all the soldiers and members of the brotherhood. He went to see the cooking place and visited the wounded in the previous battle. "Be at ease and recuperate with the army. There should be no more bloody battles. In the future, we will Fighting. That is, fighting against the pagans in Asia and Syria." Sitting on the couch of a sergeant whose eyes were shot by arrows from the emperor's army, Gawain held the other man's hand and whispered comfort.

"That way, even if I die, there will be no regrets." The sergeant, whose eyes were covered with bloody gauze, smiled and replied.

"Master of Priesthood, Master of Priesthood!" Gawain rode on horseback in front of the camp gate. Gottschalk, who came out of the diagonal stab, was holding his reins and kept shouting, "Please feel free to leave the camp to me, my 30,000 pilgrims. No matter what happens, I will follow you loyally." ”

"You should be more interested in the Holy City."

"No, going to the Holy City is not just about reaching that place. The city of God should be located in the human world. This is the most ambitious ideal of my life." The monk confided excitedly.

Then, almost all the lords and civilians in the camp. They all flocked to the hills and slopes to look at the Priest Master on horseback, escorted by several Brotherhood and Guard warriors. Crossing the snowfield, we arrived at the gate of St. Atkins. After the garrison soldiers blew the trumpets, the city gate was slowly lowered along with the iron ropes and rested on the wide moat. Then Gawain, wearing a white robe, walked in.

Yagfi stood at the end of the corridor with a group of warriors, looking at him, "Please dismount and take off your sword."

In the Brachna Palace, on the road leading to the River Hall, Anna and Dido stood at the entrance in full costumes. First, Marlena and John came as carriages, and the chief lady of the palace got off the car with her The adopted son left, looked at Anna with disdain like a defeated dog, and walked in without saying a word. Of course, there was no expression on Anna's face.

Queen Irene sent a maid and refused to attend the meeting between the emperor and Gawain on the grounds of "physical discomfort". However, both the emperor and her agreed that if Gawain was willing, he could also go to her palace for an extraordinary meeting. A regular audience, but at a "considerable distance" - this was added by the Emperor Comnenos, who guarded Gawain's every move like a thief, although he now began to appreciate him somewhat and began to carry out Byzantine style to win over.

In the hall, Anna held her sister Dido's hand again and kept her old position, sitting behind the emperor's throne. "Gawain is not dead. After knowing this, you both should breathe a sigh of relief." When the two daughters left Arriving in front of the curtain, Alexios, who was wearing a crown, seemed to say this specifically to Anna.

"Yes, father, I am happy for the empire." Anna agreed softly, then sat down and said no more words.

Soon after, Anna heard the sound of boots on the floor again. This sound felt familiar and comforting to her, just like that time after she had a high fever, she listened to Gawain busy outside through candlelight and curtains. , on the contrary, it can reduce the pain and uneasiness. The mood this time is so similar to that time!

The princess's fingers gently touched the swaying silk curtains. She looked at the big barbarian with short brown hair between the marble pillars. He was still wearing the holy armor she gave him and the heroic white robe given by his father. He walked over step by step with a gentle and faint smile, pulling the princess' fingertips. She did so as if she could touch the barbarian's hair. "Sister, is it him? He doesn't look like an uneducated barbarian, nor as scary as the red-haired one before..." At this time, Dido also came over, resting her hands on Anna's knees, and asked quietly.

Anna lowered her eyes and looked at her sister's pupils. She could easily judge that Dido was completely in love with him. Her father Alexius arranged this so that Dido could observe Gawain, or rather warned herself: Marry Brennus with peace of mind. Gawain's affairs have nothing to do with you from now on.

There is no connection, just like the glory of her mother and uncle's Ducas family, which has disappeared...?

Anna slowly put down her finger, and then smiled at Dido with her best efforts, "Well, yes, Anna, why would I choose a rough and uneducated person to be the patron of the other party?"

Alexius on the throne in front seemed to hear Anna's inner sigh behind her, and couldn't help but smile proudly. It seems that everything is going according to his own wishes and planned scripts. This is really great.

When the eunuch finished his message, the emperor looked at Gawain who was kneeling on one knee in the middle of the hall and spoke, "Gawain, I grant you the position of commander-in-chief of the Asiatic Army and the title of Grand Duke of the Armenian Military District (this Armenia does not refer to the location of the Armenian Kingdom, but the military district established by Byzantium in the Pontic Mountains. Its garrison is the 'Armenian Legion', similar to the Thracian Military District established in southwestern Asia Minor). In the official system, you are equivalent to Bohemond's deputy, but you do not need to follow his orders, but my orders. I order you to march towards Paphlagonia and Trebizond after conquering Nicaea." (To be continued ~^~)