Temple Sword

Chapter 144 Journey

1321st of Saint Andrew's Month (November), 11

Timisoara, Hungary
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Two knights, a squire, and four riders rode through the crowded city streets to the royal castle built on the plain.

Seven people were exhausted and cold, and six of them wanted to rest and eat some warm food.

Esteban Lakfey has a decent black beard and has been bragging about his knighthood since the end of summer. He has said it several times today, but the stern-faced knight on his left just frowned.

Even when he can barely ride a horse, he won't admit to being tired.

His less talkative squire was more stubborn than he was in this, and he wouldn't admit how much he craved a good night's sleep, or a good meal.

As for the four riders following them... well, no one asked them.

"Enough!" muttered Istvan Lakfi, his beard hanging loosely under his nose. "The king doesn't even know what's going on at your estate, you should have told him first.

Did I say you should do this?I told you, man, but you won't listen!Well, I figured if I made a promise, I wouldn't let you down.

But this is too much, winter is coming, we have only eaten hard and cold stale food these days, since we left the ruins of the manor, there has been no progress..."

"You're talking about the fate of my family, Istvan!" Antal Bator wanted to roar like thunder, but he only let out a weary growl. "Maybe you can waste a day, but I can't."

"We haven't even been able to find out when your estate was sacked," continued Knight Sekai, "and we haven't seen a trace of anyone, neither your wife nor your son, but we've gone All the roads from Dubica to here!
Not a single village, town or otherwise knows where they are, so unfortunately I have to say, we should be thinking with cooler heads!Because we're doing nothing but wasting time, and we should expect the worst, your family..."

Lakfe stopped what he was about to say, but it was too late.Antal stared at him with cold and murderous eyes, as if he was going to hack him to death on the spot.

"My family...?" he snapped. "What are you trying to say? Let me hear! My family is dead?"

"Listen to me, my dear friend!" Lakfey tried to reason with him. "We are dying, we can't think, we have to sleep and rest, and you too.

Charlie calls you his brother and you're alone on your way to find your family?We are now in Timisoara...

Brace yourselves and ask the king for help!His big hand can reach anywhere in the kingdom, maybe tomorrow he will find your family..."

"You're right," Lily Knight sighed bitterly. "Although Charlie asked us to come back in the spring, I think we can go to him first..."

The deeper they went into the city, the more crowded they were, and the harder it was for them to walk through the crowd.They didn't understand, because Sunday was past and, as far as they knew, it wasn't a holiday.

Then, as they rode slowly to the gates of the outer walls of the city, they were stunned: the guards would not let them in, and behind the guards, in the courtyard of the castle, a motley crowd with foreign flags and a small group Alien soldiers.

"I am the commander of the royal army," said Attila in the saddle, "and this is the court knight Istvan Lakfe..."

"Heroes of the Battle of Levice and the Siege of Trencin!" the Sekay added loudly. "What's wrong here?"

"Please forgive me, Lord Barto!" said the guard who recognized them, "Your Majesty is receiving the Duke of Austria, and they have stepped up their defense."

"It's okay." Antal nodded and rode lightly. When passing through the gate, Lakfei couldn't help but added loudly.

"I'm not mad either!" He waved his hand in a majestic manner, as if he were wearing the Pope's tiara on his disheveled head. "You're just following orders..."

Simon, who had been with the Cavaliers all along, just smiled faintly at this, maybe he didn't even notice that he rolled his eyes at Lakfee's newly developed exaggerated behavior.

Over the past few weeks, he had been privileged to witness regularly that Istvan Lakfi, the former valet and captain of the infantry, was doing his best to emphasize to everyone he met that he was now a court knight.

Of course, Lakfee is also enjoying the current situation very much, and is not ashamed to savor the taste of promotion he has longed for.

In fact, he couldn't wait to rule over the land once bestowed on him by the king and his knighthood, but he suppressed his eagerness.

He had made a promise to Antal Baator and had decided not to indulge in the worldly pleasures of his newfound village and manor until he had found his lost family, or until he was no longer needed by the Knight of the Lily.

So he shook his head hastily, dismissing his daydream of building a castle, thinking about it now would only make him sadder.

"Look here!" He followed Antar as he rode into the inner courtyard, "It's as if nothing has changed since spring."

Despite the cold weather and approaching winter, in the inner courtyard of the castle stood a veritable tent city, much as it had been six months earlier in preparation for the Northern Expedition.

The only difference is that this time, in addition to the golden lily and the flag with red and white stripes, the flag of the Duke of Austria was also fluttering on the top of the tent in the cold autumn wind, and the people curled up in the tent also spoke to God in more languages. Not a particularly cordial and friendly greeting.

As soon as the lily knight got off his horse, he saw a familiar face. Demeter Nexel from the Abba family, the king's finance minister and the organizer of Charlie's most important meeting all year round, was trying to use various Words made soldiers make way for him.

The calmest and most considerate person in the court walked in front of them, "Lord Barto, Lord Lakfe, I'm very sorry, but I can't let you go any further."

Apologizing with sincere regret, he pulled his wolfskin cloak tighter.

"Forgive me, it looks messy here because I made some small mistakes when preparing for Duke Frederick's visit. Anyway, my knights, you should be back in the spring..."

He uttered the word "spring" with a strange longing, and having evidently been outside for hours, intent on receiving and guiding any knights and nobles who entered the castle, he should be with Lakfee, too, craves the warmth of a big stove and a bowl of fresh food.

"Master Barto, I know you have your own separate room inside, but unfortunately the Duke himself lives there now." Demeter said wringing his hands.

Antal couldn't be mad at him, he didn't know the Chancellor very long or well, but he thought he was one of the most sensible people he had ever met in his life.

Esteban Lakfi didn't know who the apologetic man in front of him was, but he liked him because he called out his name respectfully, as a true knight deserved.

"We found my estate burned and plundered, Lord Nexai," Antar said gloomily, "my family has disappeared, my people have been massacred and burned.

That's why we didn't stay in Slavonia, and my main concern at the moment is not my lodgings in the castle. "

Demeter Nexel stared in astonishment at the knight in the fleur-de-lis robe.

"This is really... terrible, Lord Bartor! I... I don't know what to say... When did this all happen?"

"So," Antal didn't answer his question, but just asked intermittently, "No one in my manor has ever been to Timisoara? My wife, my son, my adopted sons... Is there no one?"

"No," Nexai shook his head, "no one mentioned this terrible thing to us, I hope..."

"Lord Nexai, I beg you," the knight interrupted the man softly but firmly, "I must speak to the king as soon as possible.

Until now, we've searched for survivors without his help, but we have few hands, much less the means. "

The Chancellor opened his warm cloak, stretched out his right hand, and placed it comfortingly on Antar's shoulder.

"I believe that once the king finds out about this, he will take appropriate measures to find your family and punish the culprit," Neksai's jaw trembled slightly, "You only need to wait in line for two days at most. See Your Majesty..."

Lily Knight shook his head in disbelief.

"Did you hear me wrong, Master Nexai?" He asked a little irritably, "I must talk to Charlie now!"

"I heard you right, Lord Barto," said Demeter Nexel, "I understand your anger, but you must understand that I can't let you get close now. Once the Germans leave, the king will There is time and space to attend to other matters."

"Two days?" Antal looked at the Minister of Finance desperately.

"Perhaps just one day," Neksei withdrew his hand, as if the knight's shoulder had suddenly started to burn his palm, "the king will not receive anyone until then. Please be patient! I understand your grief, but Your Majesty State affairs are being decided."

Antal's chest heaves violently. He is a hot-headed person who can often change from a meek lamb to a ferocious lion in an instant. Now that the safety of his family is threatened, he would rather be in Germany, Hungary, Sekay and Cuman. Fighting their way through among the soldiers, they rushed into the king's residence.

He didn't know what else he could say to Nexai, but when his nostrils flared with rage and breathed out like a dragon, his comrades realized it was time to intervene.

"We'll come back when the Duke comes home." Lakfee walked among them to relieve the atmosphere, although he was usually arrogant to almost everyone,
"Tell me, my lord, where can we stay until then? Of course, it's best to provide a hot meal and a good night's sleep, because we are almost out of strength to walk..."

"Maybe there are still rooms in the inn." Nexai replied, but his tone and expression were uncertain. "If not, perhaps the larger houses in the city will provide you with food and lodging, after all you are court knights, my lords, use your privileges..."

Just like that, Nexai turned his back on them and tried again to walk through the soldiers, looking in the opposite direction.

Esteban Lakfi, Simon and the four riders were still thanking the Minister of Finance. Antar had remounted and rode towards Simon.

Dark circles appeared under his eyes from lack of sleep, but darker feelings churned in his soul.

The exhausted team set off again, heading to the streets of Wangcheng, looking for a place to spend the night.

They did not know where to find suitable lodgings, for wherever they went they were met with such dense crowds that not only did not have a single vacant bed in the inn, but even the stables, which were sprinkled with fresh hay, were flooded into Timmy by those who heard the news. Shwara, travelers who want to see the Duke's beauty are all sold out.

As if to match the mood of the seven, as soon as they left the castle, the gray clouds gathered together, and it began to rain cold and sticky.

(End of this chapter)