Temple Sword

Chapter 113 Charlie?May he live long!
The sun was shining, there was a gentle breeze, and there was a cloud of harmless lambs in the sky.Thanks to a pair of hard-working hands, order was quickly restored at the camp, and the storm's devastation kept Timisoara's artisans busy: they needed new tent canvases and support ropes, stuck in the dirt Their weapons and armor are covered in grime like a stubborn disease, and most leave their gear to competent craftsmen rather than repair it themselves.

There were more hawkers and buyers than usual in the Sunday market, some were just looking, some were seriously picking things up, some were fully dressed and mingled with the crowd, hoping to get some juicy gossip.

Antar Bator was the last of that group, he had been away for so long that the kingdom now seemed foreign to him.Before that, every soldier in the army knew him and knew his strength.But now that he came back, he couldn't see a familiar face, and he was regarded as a stranger.

Who would recognize the fabled Knight of the Lily?Those who had bled with him were old, some acquired fortunes, others were long dead.

Once a freshman hope in the Army, now almost everyone is younger, he moves through the crowd like a 34-year-old veteran, a ghost bemoaning the past.

So, on this sunny Sunday, Antares ventured through the crowds to get what the common people had to say about the royal family.

Had he asked Charles, or any other member of the court, or even some knight, he would have gotten only a reassuring answer, but he wanted the truth, not empty praise.

Unlike most people, Antares did not wear the best clothes for visiting the bazaars and festivals, only a worn sleeved shirt and rough cloak, looking like a simple vagabond who dared to be in Talk freely in front of him.

He hung his purse in a conspicuous place so that he appeared to be a serious purchaser, and rewarded those who provided useful information with coins when necessary.

In order not to reveal his identity, Antal didn't have a dagger or sword on him. Only guards and nobles could carry weapons in the market, so only Simon who followed behind him hid a short-handled dagger under his cloak just in case.

"I'm sure we're going to make it," Antal explained to Simon, who felt their efforts were wasted, as he donned his disguise in the room. “In Hungary, everyone thinks they know politics best, far more than the nobles or even the king himself,” he said with a smile. “Information from these people is of great value.”

But they got nothing from the first few hawkers.They passed the rope sellers and the yarn workshops, tried on some coats and beanies at the tailors, but everyone from the weaver to the button maker, from the tailor to the tanner, had nothing to say.They didn't seem to have any particular opinion about this new king and the new royal family, Simon had a smile in his eyes, but Antal wasn't happy about it.

He changed tack, and crossed the street of the carpenter, the wheeler who said his wheels would make the wagon go faster, the winemaker who said the wine in his barrels was the best, the carpenter who said his furniture would survive a fire, But the knight didn't stop. He went straight to the place where the voice was the sharpest, where metal collided with metal, and there were almost no women, only burly men.

"May God grant you a good day, master!" Antal walked into the chain mail workshop and shouted happily, "I come from the far north to join King Charles' army, sword in hand, for my future descendants Earn a name, a title, and glory!"

Looking up, the hunchbacked master craftsman who worked in the workshop was weaving a piece of chain mail, teaching the young apprentice sitting next to him how to interlace the tiny metal rings most efficiently, and then carefully riveted them on.

"No offense, my good sir," he smiled mildly, "but you don't look like a person who is proficient in military affairs, or good at fighting..."

Antal almost laughed out loud, but finally held back.

"I was educated and trained in Gyula White Castle," he said flatly, "but I am not suitable for language and arithmetic, but I have inherited an inheritance and have a lot of money. So I come here to give Buy your own armor, weapons, and various military supplies. I've never had my own gear before, pretty inexperienced... How much does an iron suit like that cost? Is it heavy? How protective is it?"

The old master's eyes lit up. God sent a fool into his shop. Now he can finally sell the waste products. His apprentices made a lot of inferior things. Usually, those things can only be sold to apprentice knights. .

"Okay, come in!" He urged Antal, almost able to feel the cold touch of the coins in his hand, which was reassuring. "Give it a go and see if you like it! Wait, these aren't my best chain armor, let me get the real good stuff out of the back..."

For the better part of the day Antar was looking at and trying on the increasingly worn-out pieces of shoddy mail, all the while keeping everything going the way he wanted it to be.From the very beginning, the chainsmith scolded the armorer, farrier, locksmith, and even the goldsmith and thimblemaker on the opposite side. The only objects he praised were the wire winders and riveters who provided the materials for his chain mail.

Since then, Antal has realized that the old master has a lot to say.Although he had plenty of chain mail made of fine wire in his shop, he didn't recommend them to Antal, who was considered a fool, but he did have his own views on politics.

"Our master is a good king, there is no doubt about it, may he live long!" The man chattered, trying to force an unsewn chain armor on Antar's body. No more than three blows.

"However, like other nobles, he has some strange habits. The priests also say that his court conduct is too loose, like a Frank or something..."

"Don't say that, my good master," the knight continued playing the clueless fool, "what are those Frankish court rules you mentioned?"

"Well, I don't know, and I can't see through walls," said the old master boldly, "but the priests say that in the time of Arpad, the royal family was more god-fearing and pious in the castle, and it was not wasted. Spend more time on extravagant fun.

But if the priests say so, it must not be false.And now we have a new queen, don't we?Queen Elizabeth came here last year with an entourage of the whole kingdom, and all the Polish relatives came with him, and then Charles gave these people official positions.

He had the audacity to hand over the position of Archbishop of Esztergom to his brother-in-law Boleszláv, who they say was not even officially ordained!
You must also know that the Archbishop of Esztergom is the most authoritative church position in the kingdom. Many people covet this title, and not everyone is worthy of it...

Well, that's why the priests are complaining these days, the masons here said the other day that our Majesty seems to have deprived the high priests of some rights, and they ran all the way to the Pope to complain. "

Antal almost couldn't help laughing again, but this time it was more like a helpless wry smile.At that time, most nobles were unwilling to support Charles, partly because they were worried that as Charles, who was supported by Rome, became king, the church would gain too much influence in this free kingdom.

The old master gave Antal two tattered chain mail shirts and a chain mail hood with holes, and told the most sad and disappointing thing for the people.

"Since Andrew II promulgated the Golden Seal, the kings of the past 100 years have abided by the laws in it. One of them is that the king must listen to the opinions of the people once a year. We have the right to speak in the form of assemblies and express our opinions. Appeal!"

He shook his index finger severely, "Do you know, my child," the old master suddenly changed into a benevolent tone like an old father, "How many times has the king called such statutory meetings?"

"Could it be...?" Antal pretending to be stupid opened his eyes wide in surprise.

"That's right," the man nodded, "Not once!"

Antal wanted to ask Charlie this question at first, but later he knew the answer without asking.The young Charles Anjou, like other crowned kings of Hungary, had to confirm the contents of the Golden Bull of Andrew II at the coronation ceremony, a condition he could not refuse if he did not want his nobles to betray him .

He seemed to be able to see Charlie and his reluctance to listen to the complaints of the people every year. Antal didn't completely agree with the king's point of view, but he knew clearly that if he asked him why he didn't call a meeting every time, Charlie How will you answer.Like, "I'm building an empire and it's not my job to listen to them complain all day long!"

"Well, have you chosen, which one to choose?" The old master pulled Antar back from his thoughts, "I will give you a good price, you can trust me.

Antal thought he had heard enough for today.

"Of course I'm sure you'll give me a good price for this rubbish, old man," he revealed, "you might actually be able to convince a poor fool to buy them all, but if I would have walked through them at Esztergom, at the Siege of Buda, at the Siege of Saros or at the Battle of Rozgoni, and I would not be alive today."

The old master's face was livid, realizing his carelessness, and he recognized the wrong person.He stuttered softly, suddenly at a loss.

"Well, thank you for the information, good sir," Antal grinned at him, enjoying the moment. "I hope you have not done such a nasty thing to the soldiers of the king's army, for I will soon be taking them to the Highlands.

If the links of the chain mail snap and the rivets come loose with a single blow from Chuck's soldiers...then I promise you in the name of Lord Commander that we'll see each other again.God bless you! "

After that, Antal turned and left, whistled in satisfaction, leaving the trembling old chainsmith behind.Simon, who had been waiting for him outside, shook his head unhappily, but said nothing as usual.

(End of this chapter)