Temple Sword

Chapter 165 The Mess in the South
1322rd of the Month of the Virgin (August), 8

Timisoara, Hungary
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A southerner with a sunburned face and a black beard half-kneeled before Charles's throne, he did not come of his own free will, nor was he in the presence of the king to discuss some light-hearted daily business.

Even in the dimly lit throne room, his brow glowed.

At first, he asked for a private meeting, but the king refused, because as soon as Charles heard his name, he knew what the man wanted from the royal family.

As a result, Lord George Soubis, brother of the Croatian governor, was not even allowed to speak to Charles in the more intimate small throne room.Instead, he was now in the Grand Throne Room, where almost all of Timisoara's idle court nobles were.

Servants came and went, and sometimes even a curious woman appeared in the hall, and the royal judge's assistant held a dripping quill to see what he was about to record.

On the king's left stands his chief knight, Antal Barto, who has recently returned from his wanderings, maintaining a tense posture, ready to draw his sword to protect the king if the king is in danger.

He failed to return to the commanding position and was replaced by Miklos Gutclair, of a noble family who had proved himself capable in the recent Highland campaign, and was appointed General of the Royal Army .

At present Charlie does not want his friend of youth to hold any other position, and his desertion deserves some punishment, so he does not give Antar any leading position, but makes him his bodyguard indefinitely.

Antar had no right to interfere with anything now, and he had to put on full armor early in the morning, and be by the king's side from dawn to dusk, not being more than a few paces away from him.

Although the king had his familiar bodyguards, Antal was not given the command of the guards, he was just one of them.His new position required great discipline and great stamina, and he could only sit down after receiving a definite order from the king.

But the knight didn't care, he took it as a way of confession, and Charlie seemed very satisfied with his arrangement.

There is nothing to criticize about Antal's behavior on this day. He is wearing a clean wine red shirt, a dark green cloak over a linen shirt, and a simple pointed helmet on his head. Nose protection.

He stands stiffly on the left side of the throne with a straight back, his right hand hangs freely by his side, and the fingers of his left hand are placed on the hilt of the sword tied to his belt, always serving as a warning.

He did not wear his most conspicuous accessory, a necklace of lilies carved in bronze, because he believed that the king's bodyguard should not flaunt his wealth.

He was raised to be a Templar, and Templars couldn't boast of having money, or that they weren't allowed to own any property at all.

Although the Knights were long gone, Antal was reminded of his old habits from time to time.However, he also wanted to show that he was a knight to some extent, so his weapon belt and heraldic ring never left his body.

Everyone could see that Charlie was not only surrounded by ordinary guards, but also one of the best fighters, and no one could despise him.

The king believed that in the presence of Antal Bator, people would be more respectful and careful when speaking to him.

George Soubis was half-kneeling in the cool hall, dripping with sweat, and the knight beside the king looked like a stone statue alive, and he might kill himself in the next second.

Antar's piercing gaze on the Southerner wasn't because he wanted to kill him, he was just trying to figure out who this man he had never met was.

His broad shoulders and strong limbs suggest that he was a strong man, and his rich velvet tunic of bright colors, with its wide sleeves and flowing hem, bespeaks a nobleman.

He didn't look very comfortable, or his body was unfamiliar with the delicate clothes on him, as if he was wearing them for the first time.

He was a fighter, Antar realized as he scrutinized the man's every little movement and gesture.He had spent half his life in iron, never flattered or flattered, and was a man who valued simplicity and despised complexity.

"We are listening, Earl George." The king waved to him generously. "You have traveled a long distance from the sea, you must have something to say."

"I'm here to beg you, Your Majesty." George Soubis went straight to the point, still kneeling on one knee, his eyes fixed on the smooth slate floor.

"I came to your court as a special envoy of my brother, the governor of Croatia, Muladen Subis, but I am not only representing the province of Croatia and Dalmatia..."

"What else?" asked the king in a tone that could not predict his mood.

"I also beg you on behalf of my family," said the Count, "that we are in serious trouble, Your Majesty."

The king made no answer, no movement, no expression on his face, and George went on.

"The trouble started in the spring, but my brother thought he could use his power as governor to control the situation, and he didn't want to trouble His Majesty with a small matter. The cities of Trogir and West Benil have betrayed our family and sent to the Venetians Surrender.

My brother launched a campaign to punish Trogir, but by then several nobles in Croatia had united against us, and then Janos Babonik and Istvan Kotromanic also joined forces to attack me brother.

Disaster was inevitable, and all of Slavonia and Dalmatia rebelled.

Driven from his own city, Muladen is now on Bisco with his most loyal men, but has nowhere to go!
Great King, we beseech you to bring justice!Help us establish order by the sea, send out your iron army, and teach this mob a lesson!

Order the Baboniks and the Kotromanichs not to invade our territory, yours and that of your subjects!Who knows how long my brother Muladen can stay safe on the small island of Bisco without an army and reliable supplies..."

Charlie waited patiently for the end of George Soubis's speech without a single interruption, wondering how the man would tell the story, for he had learned the whole thing beforehand through messengers and loyal vassals of the South .

George had told the truth, and his story contained no twists or lies, but it was not complete, the King thought, and it must have been told in the way his brother, the Governor of Muradan, had expected.

"You have concealed several things from me, George," said the king dryly, "for example, that in the battle with Trogir you did not once come into conflict with their troops.

Your brother simply sacked the area, killing and destroying wantonly, causing great damage to the kingdom, or, as you say, encroaching on my land. "

George Soubis' face changed, he was not a fool, and immediately realized that the king knew everything long before his arrival.In desperation, he had no choice but to try his best to save this bad situation.

"Your Majesty, my brother just wanted to plunder the villages around Trogir as a warning," he tried hard to suppress the trembling in his voice, "when he marched towards the city, he found that the traitors had already A potential siege is fully prepared, and storming the walls is tantamount to asking for death..."

"Isn't it more foolish to burn villages? Stupidity!" asked the King in a harsher voice. "If you burn the vineyards, next year some people will have no wine to drink, and if you burn the fields, next year some people will have no food!

This affects you too, as this is your territory!Do you want to beg me next time, let me send you hundreds of carriages of wine and food? "

"You are right, Your Majesty," admitted the count, "but please understand that my brother had no other way of doing this! In his desperate situation, it seemed to him the best option."

"So give up Skradin?" Charlie asked, "Or give up the unbreakable Omis? Because according to the news, Skradin didn't even have a garrison left to resist the enemy,
The nobles fled Omis with a handful of soldiers, leaving most of the defenders to fend for themselves.They opened their doors to the enemy the next day because they felt betrayed by their masters. "

The King leaned forward on his throne, staring darkly at Lord George.

"Tell me it's not true," Charlie's voice was low and unsure, "tell me my messengers are lying!"

The Croatian governor's brother briefly met the king's eyes, then returned his eyes to the stone floor.Diplomacy, tact, subterfuge, lying have never been his strong suit, never have been.

George, unlike his brother, was a warrior, and warriors were never far more honest than those who lived in court circles.

A single arrowhead or a sharp knife is far more straightforward and useful than a hundred officials who smell of flowers and slick their faces.

"Given how poorly Muladen has been in recent months," said the king, leaning back on his throne, "perhaps I'd better let Janos Babonik and Istvan Kotromanic use their Solve this difficult problem in your own way..."

Hearing this, George raised his head in horror.He was still on his knees, but this time he spoke louder, angrier, and more rudely than before.

"The Soubis family has served you for more than 20 years, Your Majesty Charlie!" he exclaimed.

He was terrified at the thought of the enemy approaching them alone with his brother, "Let me remind you, Your Majesty, that our father has stood by your side when only a few nobles supported you!"

"Remind me? How dare you!" Charlie demanded sharply, jumping up from the throne and rushing towards the man kneeling in front of him. "Have you served me, Subis?

Of course you keep pretending to support me, but your Viceroy father and brother act as if Croatia is no longer under the Hungarian union, but an independent kingdom!
They can rule the kingdom as they please, independent of the will of the royal family!Do you think I don't know how much illegal taxation and tyranny you have done to your cities?

It's all in my ears, George, I'll fix it all, stand up, look me in the eye! "

George complied, and he began to lose control of the shivering that spread from his stomach to his entire body.

"I have a letter in my hand," said the king, holding out his right hand, and one of the young assistants of the royal judge immediately handed him a scroll prepared beforehand,

"Reports have arrived at the palace despite the best efforts of your brother-governor," Charlie told the sweating earl, "reports about your faithful brother..."

The King unfolded the earlier opened letter, glanced over the lengthy honorifics and introductions, cleared his throat, and began to read aloud.

"His tyranny, his shameful self-imposed reign before God and mortals, is to be condemned, punished, and avenged. Adultery, defilement of virgins, destruction of churches and monasteries, insults of nobles, extortion of peasants, are but petty crimes committed by his minions. "

"Your Majesty, Muladen Subis was not a man without sin and weakness, but before God, we are all like him." George whispered, trying to maintain his hard-earned composure. "I can assure you that the person who sent this shameful letter wanted to tarnish the good name of your loyal followers."

"So this is slander?" Charlie waved the scroll, "The contents of the letter are all false and fabricated?"

This time, George had to face the King's piercing gaze, and Charlie demanded an answer.George felt his stomach churning, and everything he was about to say fell on the stone slabs of the hall.

He didn't know what else he could say to ease the situation of the Subis family, no one seemed to be on their side anymore, and he had to start seriously thinking about whether he himself would support his brother the governor if there was no blood relationship .

"Your Majesty, my father was not only the governor of Croatia and Dalmatia, but also the lord of Slavonia," he finally said softly and gently,

"After his death, Slavonia fell into the hands of the Babonik family, and the Babonik family now took the opportunity to extend their bloody hands to the territory of the Subis family, intending to conquer the entire coastal area.

And who is the meaner man, my lord?Is it Ishtwan Babonik who murdered an ancient and noble family without any scruples, or my brother, Muladen Subis, who is slowly collapsing under his attacks from all sides? "

"You Soubis," Charlie shook his head, "you're like eagles, and each of you has a raptor's nature: you have sharp eyes, and you soar high in the air, but only to see Your prey..."

George Soubis did not respond, and he cast down his eyes countless times, yielding to the sovereign's will, and awaiting the king's final judgment in shame.

"But I am the king," Charlie continued, no longer assertive, and sat back on his cushioned throne, "and as a king, you have various responsibilities, one of which is being the lord of the coast region." They are at war with each other and cannot stand idly by as territories are redistributed.

While I could wait until your war is over before intervening, I won't.So tell your brother that he can count on his king to appear soon, and I will march south with my army, and then I will take care of the situation myself.

Fear not, Lord George, everyone will get what they deserve!Go now, back to Bisco! ordered the king. "You can tell your brother that he has no fear of being attacked again for the time being." "

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" George Soubis bowed to the king, his waist almost fell to the ground, and the big stone in his heart finally fell. "You are wise and just!"

Charles sent him on his way with a sign, and when the count was out of the way he walked quickly towards the small throne room.

Antal Bator, two assistants of the royal judge, and four other guards followed without saying a word.As soon as they got there, the king ordered the judge's assistant to take his place at the desk.

"A letter to the Republic of Venice," he announced.

When Antal mentioned what Charlie's letter contained, he immediately understood why they had come to this more private little throne room.

While the letter contains all the subtleties of letter art, its tone is unmistakably indignant and sometimes threatening.

First, the King of Hungary thanked the Republic of Venice for the prompt help to the troubled Dalmatian city. Although there was already a lot of irony in this, the content became more and more direct and no longer hidden between the lines.

After thanking him, Charles announced that he himself would soon march to the Adriatic coast at the head of the army, and finally warned that Venice should not try to occupy or conquer any land that belonged to him.

After the king dictated the last sentence, the deputy of the royal judge looked at him in shock. Is the king of Hungary going to war against Venice?

"They insulted the crown when they separated the two southern cities from the kingdom," said Charlie, looking these men in the eye. "Let them set foot on Hungarian soil and try!

I will sweep them from the Denara Mountains, and let them remember the price of offense forever!They may be invincible at sea, they have a large fleet, powerful ships and better sailors.

But what would happen if they encountered the Hungarian cavalry and the Cuman light cavalry of five to ten banners on land?Miklos Gutkled and Istvan Lakfi will skewer them and grill them! "

Charlie didn't cry out, but one could guess from his rare words and vehement gestures that a hellish hatred was burning in his heart, for once again the prospect of stability and tranquility receded further and further away.

"Finish the letter, don't embellish what I say!" Charlie ordered the scribe, "but who shall I ask to take this letter?" He paced up and down the small throne room, "this time a little messenger is enough Not enough, I have to show enough importance to this matter..."

His voice trailed off as he walked towards the throne, rubbing his bearded chin, and sat down talking to himself.At this moment, a bright light flashed in his mind, and he discovered a good idea that he had never had before.

"Archbishop Boleslav!" cried the king excitedly.

Several people in the room were taken aback by the sudden shout, and Charlie cheerfully explained what he was thinking.

"My father-in-law and of course my wife kept nagging me until I mentioned Boleslav as Archbishop of Esztergom," he said. "I gave the bishops yet another reason to hate me, and made them loudly question the correctness of my decisions in various places.

But if Boleslav left Hungary, I would have a few months of peace.At least he'll finally be able to make a difference as Archbishop of Esztergom, as he hasn't really proven his worth so far.

In any case, the Venetians will only see his rank and nothing else in him... Well, let them tremble with fear, because someone more powerful than the Pope in Hungarian soil will bring Follow my letter to them! "

Charlie clasped his hands together in satisfaction, and the clerk signaled that the letter was ready.

"Now is the time to call the standard!" said the king firmly.

(End of this chapter)