Temple Sword

Chapter 153 The Round Table
"He alone will bear the burden of all of us," the man continued his dramatic monologue, "It's like a heavy cross, but we can't help him carry it anymore..."

Felician looked around the dim church on the ground floor, and looked at these people one by one.

Only a few had their hoods removed, most chose to keep their faces covered like they didn't even trust their fellows, but he still recognized them all.

What a respectable circle, with so many saints in it.

Among them were the three sons of Amad Abba, who died in Kosice 11 years ago: Janos, Ladislau and Amad Jr., who fled to Poland many years ago and served there for a certain services of noble families.

So was Estevan Sternberg, who had defended Trencin last summer, then escaped through secret tunnels at the final battle, traveled all the way to Silesia, and stayed there.

The round table is made up of former bigwigs who, instead of becoming part of the new regime, fled Hungary.

These downcast and out-of-favor nobles fled in all directions under the terrifying wrath of Charles Anjou, and some of them even joined the Duchy of Moscow in the east.

Most of them are now assembled in St. Martin's Cathedral in Spiesga-Capitula, including even Ivan Corsergi's father, Henry Corsergi Sr., who had been Charles' greatest enemy One, and everyone knows his son has been dead for 14 years.

Afflicted by gout and a dozen other ailments, he is now blind in half an eye and has little hearing left.He knew he wouldn't live long, but he definitely didn't want to miss this last meeting.

Felician thought to himself that if the king knew who was here, he would definitely set fire to the whole church immediately without hesitation.

"And thus another dark day of our dark age has come," sighed the first speaker. "After our meeting today, the Round Table will cease to exist. Earthly glory will cease."

"This meeting is a complete waste of time," Felician suddenly announced.

There was no trace of other people's bleak sadness in his voice, and the solemn and formal atmosphere was suddenly destroyed. "Why are we here today? What's the point of this cheap comedy?"

His words echoed on the cold wall, and others looked at him incomprehensibly. Janos Aba said gently: "We know this burden is heavy, but you must bear it yourself..."

"That's right," Felician nodded vigorously, "From the very beginning, I was responsible for all of this. I, alone! You didn't participate in it, and none of you did!
Where was this poor round table organization, and where were you guys when Master Matai handed over the task to me?

Where were you noble and brave lords when I turned my back on my beloved lord?You bastards who don't dare to show their faces! "

He roared angrily, "Let me tell you, you are saving your own lives and stuffing valuables into carriages so that you can go to foreign lands and serve as servants to foreign lords!"

"Enough, Felicien!" Esteban Sternberg snapped, but his words only added fuel to the fire.Felicien Zacher turned and stared at him so sharply that he almost slapped him.

"And you, you Czech dog, shut up!" He pointed at Istvan with his index finger. "You could have saved Trencin, you told me you would hold the castle, but did you persist?"

"I insisted!" Esteban also roared. "I held the castle for weeks!"

"For weeks, you've leveled the walls!" Felician corrected angrily. "Then you slipped away without a word like a cowardly worm while your defenders were slaughtered!
Look at who is in this round table!A group of traitors hiding in the dark, nothing more!I don't see a single decent person here! "

His words lashed the assembled crowd like a whip, and Felician turned his attention to old Henry Corsage.

The former governor, who had served and betrayed three Hungarian kings, had been involved in the affairs of the kingdom longer than any of them, had not escaped Felician's scolding.

The sudden accusation made the air among the crowd silent and cold, and then a strange sound came from Old Henry's throat.

At first they thought he was just coughing or wheezing, but soon they all realized that the old oligarch was laughing, with an eerie hoarse dry laugh that echoed in the gloom.

"You're right," said Henry Corserge in a sickly numb weak voice, "we're mean, how easy it is to say we're going to fight before we're actually facing death, isn't it?
How easy it is to speak of eternal allegiance till the enemy takes our land and hangs a noose about our necks!

The one thing we all have in common is that in spite of our pious vows, in the end we run away.We are all cowards, so stop trying to compare who is more cowardly..."

He laughed again, choked and hoarse, and the others bowed their heads in shame.

"Just tell me what you have to say," Felicien Zacher said calmly but firmly, "don't waste each other's time, I received the mission many years ago and I haven't forgotten it for a moment since then.

When the perfect time comes, I will execute it, instead of ordering me to do it when you think it is appropriate..." He shook his index finger emphatically,
"Master Ma Tai and I have already discussed this and decided when is the real good time. At that time, you were not as loyal as you are now!
I don't need childish meetings or help from any of you.Even if this mission takes me to the bottom of hell, I don't need you!do you understand? "

The dozen or so nodded and murmured that they understood, and even Esteban Sternberg didn't object any more.

"Very good," Felician nodded, "God be with you!"

Having said that, he turned his heels, left the church with quick steps, and rode westward with his entourage.

After Felicien left, the others slowly disappeared into the darkness, saying goodbye to their unfulfilled plans.

Except for a few small waves, these people have never been able to make more waves, and most of their years of political conspiracy have ended in failure.

The ultimate goal of their secret society seems to be a dead end, and at the moment of parting, only the oath of an aged court knight remains.

The Round Table disbanded as if it had never existed.

(End of this chapter)