Tang Qi Tan

Chapter 384 The Oath Keeper (4000 words)
Because the one who appeared here was a middle-aged knight with curly black hair, deep facial features, and bronze skin.Also an old acquaintance and old friend of Friar Teresa, Rodrigo Diaz de Vival was born in a noble family in the Bivar region and received traditional high-level knight education since childhood.

According to the tradition of naming nobles of the Holy Kingdom, he was born in Vival Castle, he belongs to the Diaz family, and is also one of the three royal families of the Holy Kingdom, a vassal of the Prince of Catalonia.Therefore, he entered the Knights of Barcelona very early, and has been a square flag knight with an armed page.

Then, in the local chivalry competition, he quickly stood out and was valued by Prince Sancho II of Catalonia; he was recruited as the chief of the imperial stables.And let the cousin of the royal family enter into a marriage contract with him.It can be said that there is nothing better than youthful success and high spirits.

The late great mentor who adopted Delan since he was a child was the baptist of Rodrigo. He almost witnessed everything about his growth. After his father died and his mother entered the monastery, he became Rodrigo's godfather. And the role of an elder like a life guide; however, the good times don't last long.

Sancho II, the Prince of Catalonia, clashed with the Duke of Aragon, a close royal relative; it eventually turned into a sworn duel between the knight orders to which they belonged.As the chief of the stables, Rodrigo defeated many heroes of the Knights all the way, and narrowly defeated the opponent in the last game.

However, this was the beginning of all tragedies, because the opponent he won with all his strength in the last game was the sub-head of the Knights of the Icon under the Duke of Aragon, and one of the most valiant knights of the time, Emmanuel. Er, soon died on the spot due to emotional agitation and shame.

But he also has another identity, that is, Rodrigo's betrothed royal daughter, and the guardian/adoptive father raised by Jimena; this is a big problem.Although it was the vassal's sworn duel for the glory of the monarch, life and death were subject to the destiny and could not perform blood revenge.

But the marriage contract could not be maintained.In order to avoid subsequent disputes and embarrassment.Although Sancho II tried his best to retain and encourage him, he still couldn't stop him from self-exile and going to the southern front; he formed a multi-ethnic and creed mercenary army and gained fame in central Iberia.

In fact, in the long-term tug-of-war between the Holy Kingdom and the Córdoba Dynasty, due to the fact that the forces of each other are intertwined and frequently changed hands; it is not very rare or worth hesitating as a mercenary to serve the Christian or Christian forces. Both are hiring a large number of mercenaries of the other party's faith.

At the same time, due to the perennial see-saw and confrontation between the Holy Kingdom and Cordoba, there are also pagan lords who have different beliefs and swear allegiance.There are even some city lords who specialize in paying large shield taxes in the rear and no longer participate in military obligations.

In fact, when Teresa last heard from him, it was said that he had been accused of apostasy for having rescued a pagan noble family on a pilgrimage by defeating several armed mobs.Then he was rejected by most of the Christian lords and had to serve in the court of an emir for several years.

As the military instructor of the local emir of Zaragoza, he even defeated the rebellion from the emir's clan several times, and was appointed as the guardian of the new heir and the de facto captain of the palace guard before the other died. ; It can be said that gold will shine wherever it is.

However, what Brother Teresa didn't expect was that he could meet his childhood friend Rodrigo in the fortress city on the border of the Kingdom of Sealand.What was even more surprising was that the other party was also a potential prisoner who was imprisoned; therefore, after the guard left, he couldn't help asking:
"Rodrigo, my good brother, I haven't seen you for too long; I really miss the old days. But I don't know why you are here, shouldn't you serve well, that Zaragoza Prince Saracen? Could it be that something new has happened there?"

However, Rodrigo, who was disarmed from the whole body, with scrawled beard and hair, haggard and tired, but still shining eyes; heard the words, his face darkened slightly; then he said with a meaningful wry smile: "Brother Teresa, Zaragoza is safe and sound, but something has happened to my lord."

It turned out that it was at the same time that Rogrigor was fighting in the south and defeated other Christian lords many times; as the former king of Catalonia, Sancho II, the Prince of Catalonia, was visiting the territory of his sister, the Grand Duchess Urraca. Suddenly, he died of food poisoning at a palace banquet.

Therefore, in the case that Rogrigao's father has passed away.As a vassal for generations, he also received a letter from his fiancée Jimena; and claimed that there were many doubts in the death of Sancho II.Therefore, he resolutely returned home out of his duty as a vassal and his sense of chivalry/justice.

It turned out to be a political conspiracy against him.Because, the prince of Catalonia who finally succeeded Sancho II was actually his brother Alfonso who was exiled by him.It was Rogerigo who was ordered to suppress Alfonso's territory and imprison him in the Saracens territory of Toledo.

What was even worse was the previous battle in the south; Rodrigo, who commanded the army of Zaragoza, was defeated and captured, and now succeeded as the general manager of Prince Alfonso VI, and his wife and brother Ordonez; And asked for a large ransom.Therefore, his position became more and more sinister.

Still, he did everything he could to get back to Barcelona and was at Sancho II's funeral.Then, at the succession ceremony of the new Prince Alfonso VI; in front of the emissary sent by the Pope, he questioned the cause of Sancho II's death; then he was arrested on the spot.

While in prison, he finally saw his fiancée Jimena who came to visit; however, the other party brought him two bad news.First of all, the letter he received before was the result of forgery by someone with ulterior motives; secondly, Simone was ordered to break off her engagement with him and marry another.

However, the political unrest ignited by him continues.His questioning in front of the envoy of the Holy See led to the complete outbreak of hidden contradictions between the original line of vassals of Sancho II and the cronies brought by Alfonso VI; private fights and assassinations.

So, under the interference and interrogation from the contemporary supreme king/head of the head; as the culprit on the surface of all these incidents, Rogrigor was finally sentenced to deprive his vassal status and all family titles and honors bestowed by the royal family ; Issued border atonement as an ordinary sergeant.

And at this point, how could he not know that his chivalry and giri as a vassal were taken advantage of by the black hands hiding behind the scenes.Coupled with the result that the fiancée will marry someone else.So disheartened, he was banished to the border between Aquitaine and the Kingdom of Sealand.

According to those former court veterans and cronies, this is actually a means of protecting him from persecution from the new monarch and his vassals, and even the assassination of some enemies.So, hide your name and honor, and come to a region outside Catalan jurisdiction.

Although he used to be a famous knight model and the chief of the imperial stables; but there are not many people who know him here.All he knew was that he was a knight who made a mistake, an ordinary sergeant who was demoted/demoted.Despite this, he still has not been able to avoid being out of right and wrong.

Because, the city/fortress of Tarbes occupied by the Tomahawk Knights is just a border city with a population of 4 to [-].However, in a short period of time, a large number of fleeing royalists/old nobles and their families, vassals and servants rushed in, which immediately caused resource tension and frequent contradictions and conflicts.

And Rogrigor, who came with the border guards, once again became the sergeant major of the patrol team maintaining order on the streets.Yet a certain inertia and instinct insisted; he also acted too conscientiously.Not only did he reject the requests of the old nobles many times, he even punished some soldiers for their atrocities.

If it was just like this, the upper echelon of the knight order would not treat him particularly well; after all, he was once a member of the knight class.But unexpectedly, when the local priest accused a knight of committing an act of annihilating the bank, he would stand up and testify for it, which also made it difficult for the knights to get rid of the tiger.

Therefore, the last knight with an unavoidable suspicion was sent back to the country to receive admonishment and punishment; but Rodrigo, the sergeant sergeant of the patrol team, was also quickly accused of colluding with the underground black market in the city to receive benefits , Direct deprivation of positions into the review process.

Of course, with the passage of time in prison and the scrutiny of routine, he also felt something in his mind.He seemed to have committed some kind of public outrage among the knights, and even the judge of the knights, who was known as the most fair and strict, was unwilling to waste much time and energy on him.

Therefore, being able to see my childhood playmates and friends in this cramped confessional room while slowly recalling and reflecting on the past gains and losses; on the contrary, it was an unexpected surprise and great comfort for Rodrigo in prison .Therefore, while briefly explaining the past, he also asked about the other party's experience.

"Perhaps, I am a sinner of the Holy Kingdom and the Knights." However, the monk Teresa also sighed heavily: "Because following the failure of the advance branch, after seeing the strength and means of the enemy, I unexpectedly Shaken confidence and vows; want to prevent the ensuing war."

"Oh!" However, when Roderick heard the words, he couldn't help but asked with interest: "What kind of existence is it that can make Brother Delan, who has kept the oath in front of the altar since childhood, pay so much attention and special attention? ? Are they strong enough for you to find them invincible?"

"Strong? This may be one aspect!" Brother Delan immediately smiled wryly: "My brother, I heard that you have fought various enemies in the south, and have you seen them before? After hundreds of miles of long-distance An army that came all the way to break through a large city in just a few hours?"

"Did you ever know that in that hostile army, there are still several attacking companies composed of knights of glory and glory (inherited by blood)?" Delan asked again: "I witnessed them with my own eyes. , wearing heavy armor and holding a huge shield, rushed to the city wall, bringing death and killing."

"Several companies of honor knights?" Rodrigo couldn't help but look serious when he heard this, because, in a sense, he was also a honor (inheritance) knight who had awakened the power of protection: "West Are there still so many knight inheritances in the Kingdom of Lan?"

"What makes me even more awe-inspiring and frightening is that the existence they formed is not entirely for the needs of war." The monk Delan continued to speak: "Those are some horrible and profane things hidden in the dark. Existence is also one of the main missions of these knight companies."

"A terrifying and blasphemous existence?" Rodrigo couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment when he heard the words, as if some strange events and strange rumors he had encountered in the southern battlefield sounded.For example, the bones that move in the battlefield at night, and the souls of the dead floating in the miasma.

"I also saw with my own eyes how blasphemous the filthy things were seized from the houses of the nobles and officials of the kingdom." Speaking of this, Brother Teresa continued: "So I am very worried, I also feel that it is a mistake for the Knights to continue fighting."

"Since you say that, is there a possibility?" However, Rodrigo's eyes became sharp and sharp, remembering the disappearance in the market: "The nobles of the kingdom who fled also took these blasphemy and filth The objects were brought to the city controlled by the Knights."

In fact, when he ran into the knight by accident and committed the crime of silver fish; it was at the same time as he was investigating the frequent disappearances in the city.Then, all the clues and evidence, as well as the testimony of witnesses, were handed over after he was exposed and testified.

"No, I want to see the military judge and the deputy head of the guard." Immediately Rogrigao stood up, walked to the door talking to himself, patted and called out vigorously.However, in exchange for the sergeants on duty outside, the expressions of helplessness and deliberately turning a blind eye to each other...

At the same time, in the mountains to the north of the city of Tarbes/fortress, a team of bare-handed and lightly armed only with ropes and other necessary tools; along the mountain hunting trails that can hardly be seen by the naked eye; passing through moss everywhere Mottled crevices of rocks, piles of rocks overgrown with weeds, and dense bushes.

Occasionally, with the sound of branches and leaves breaking, someone suddenly slipped, fell, and fell down; they were barely pulled by the ropes tied around each other's waists;Still, people got hurt along the way...until the road opened up.

It is the inner side of an open and deep canyon, and it is also the city of Tarbes/border fortress in the Lower Pyrenees; the ancient road connecting neighboring countries, it is inevitable to pass through.And this ragged army couldn't help but let out low cheers, shaking a flock of birds.

(End of this chapter)