Temple Sword

Chapter 169 Testing Fate
1322, first day of St. Michael's month (September)

Timisoara, Hungary
-

Three days later, Antar was able to talk to Lakfi on the morning when the Kuman auxiliary army set off.He got four days of freedom from Charlie that day, so he wanted to make the most of this rare free time before the main army set off south.

He found Isstvan outside the corral not far from the Kuman tent camp, preparing his horse for a long journey: he put the saddle on the horse's back and scraped gravel from the horse's hooves mud.

When he saw the Lily Knight approaching, he pretended not to be surprised by the reunion.

"You won't believe how much I paid for this solid gelding," he said, patting the brown horse on the back and smiling without saying hello, as if their last conversation was only an hour ago and they've been interrupted since. The topic continued, "But let me say, every silver coin I paid was worth it, isn't it, Tsaba?"

The burly war horse snorted and nodded, as if answering this question.

"It has healthy teeth, beautiful sideburns, a beautiful butt, and is full of muscles," Lakfe enumerated enthusiastically, "Although he is still docile now, but on the battlefield, he has a bad temper, and Same as his master, hehe. It was also born for war, and it's not for nothing that I call it 'Chaba'..."

"I've been away from you for so long, don't you have anything to say to me?" Antal asked gently. "Come on, be frank, I'm here now, if you want, you can yell at me, you can hit me in the face with your fist, I won't be angry."

Lakfey fiddled with the saddle for a while, adjusted the stirrups, and checked the saddle bags several times, as if he was stalling for time because he couldn't find the right words.Finally he just turned to face his friend and sighed deeply.

"Listen, Antal," he spread his arms, "I sure can't understand how confused you were, and by God I never want to!
But what if you asked me if I was disappointed and angry with you?Yes, I have, for a few days, maybe even a week.

But later I figured it out. It’s not like you don’t have a brain. I’m neither your father nor your lord, so I don’t need to be bothered by your stupid decisions one after another.

did i pray for youI've prayed, many times, but I can't do it anymore.I have a task ahead of me, and I don't have time to dwell on your recklessness.

I have dealt with my territory, collected my taxes, and started to expand the power of the Lakfey family, which is much more difficult than I imagined.And now, I have come here by the king's order, and I am about to travel far.

Why should I be angry with you again?Your life has given you enough troubles, I hear you haven't found your wife and son yet.

Alas, and His Majesty must have made you miserable, people say you were reduced to his little bodyguard, having no servants, no soldiers of his own. "

"What else did they say?"

"People say all kinds of bad things behind your back," Lakfee waved his hand and sneered, "Forget those country bumpkins! Speaking of servants, your miller is working in my manor now, I hope you don't mind. This old guy Well done, I'd be sad if he came back to you."

"If he is happy with you, let him stay there, this is the least I can do," Antal smiled faintly, "I hope you can eat the food that I have enjoyed for nearly ten years Delicious bread."

"I had to take your attendant with me," Istvan added, without expressing any thanks, "I recorded his related expenses at first, so that I could ask you for every coin he spent. Coppers, but then I found out that this giant brought me more money than he spent.

He also collected all the taxes from my peasants, and he kept the lazy steward and undisciplined servants in order, but I don't think you'd let me have him..."

"Is Simon here?" the knight asked hopefully, but Lakfee shook his head.

"I guessed that the king would send me to fight, but I dare not take him with me," he finally smiled, "After all, he is your servant, he can't die by my side, you entrusted me Man, I won't break it and give it back to you."

"You're a good man, Istvan Lakfi," Antal approached him, opening his arms for a friendly hug, "Look, you've really become a knight!"

The Saikai fighter didn't resist, but also opened his arms, and the two patted each other on the back.

"I miss you so much, you bastard!" Lakfey said to Antal, who was ten years older than him, and they all laughed.

The ice between the two finally melted, and they were no longer strange and cautious strangers, but two true friends, talking face to face.

"You idiot," they stopped hugging, Lakfe shook his head, "Next time you want to do something crazy like this, you must tell me first!"

"Why, would you like to go with me?"

"Go together? I'll tie you up and pour cold water on you until you come to your senses!"

"Tell me, Isstvan, I need you to tell the truth," Antar looked into his friend's eyes, "what did Simon think of me after I disappeared without a trace?"

"Tell the truth?" Lakfee asked while fixing an ax next to the saddle bag, "Do you want me to tell the truth?"

"Yes."

"Honestly, I don't know, and I don't care at all," said the Sekay gravely, "Simon is a good man, an excellent servant,
But he is your servant after all, a commoner below your rank, why should you care what he thinks of you?You make me mad like this, and I mean it. "

"Me?" Antal raised his eyebrows. "What is it like?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Lachfee said, "you treat the poor like the richest nobles, you take sides with your peasants, you care about the opinions of the common people...

If it was up to you, maybe the last stinking peasant could speak in council, and the words of these ignorant people would be as valuable as those of the nobles.

Where does all this lead?In the end, anyone can run Hungary, everyone has a say, castles and estates will be turned into stables and barns, and noble families will be reduced to farming fields for a meager livelihood! "

He spat angrily, and seemed to cringe as he imagined the horrific nightmare he was describing. "These are all dangerous thoughts. If you want me to tell you, don't try fate!"

"Thanks for the advice, but I was just asking you about Simon," Antar said, "but I don't think you're mad at me, is something wrong?

You finally got your wish, you can lead a thousand cavalry instead of a hundred infantry, and this is not an ordinary war, if you win, you will be an emperor! "

"Yes, all of this sounds very good," Lakfei's voice became slightly lower, "but I think His Majesty is embarrassing me this time. There is not a single Hungarian cavalry in my team, and they are all Cumans. A full thousand."

Antal still didn't understand why Lakfe was worried.

"Kumans, do you understand?" Knight Sekai shouted depressingly. "They live in tents, they smell like fart, they're all horse thieves! They only mate from the back like animals, sometimes even goats and sheep!"

"These are just stupid stories, they are all rumors." Antar waved his hand, unable to hide his smile, "Didn't you just tell me not to listen to people's nonsense?"

"But what I was talking about was about you, now it's about the Kumans," Lakfey said stubbornly, "If someone pays them well, they will even murder the king!

Don't forget how Laszlo IV died more than 30 years ago!And he's half a Cuman! "

"Okay, okay, don't be afraid!" Lily Knight encouraged, "I believe you will become a good leader for them."

"You said it lightly. I am the one who directs these nomads." Lakfei continued to complain. "Their way of life is quite different from ours, and their leaders, that is, the chiefs of their tribes,
They call themselves chiefs (bey), who decide all affairs in the tribe, and are not bound by secular laws or churches at all. No, they have their own laws, and the chiefs of each tribe can judge according to their own ideas.

All their soldiers only obey the guards, and the guards only obey the chiefs, they are both judges and commanders, this group of stubborn people already has their own leader, how can they listen to me, a foreign commander Woolen cloth? "

"Don't worry!" Antal told him, "Your worries are completely unnecessary, you should think about how to be a good leader and how to succeed, not what will happen if you fail.

Leading a thousand people is not easy, you have to use your brains, and, Istvan! "The knight's voice softened instantly.

"Ok?"

"Go home safely!" Antal patted him on the shoulder, "Don't lose to the Germans, let's go!"

Lakfee rolled his eyes, as though he had had enough of the sentimental conversation, but he was actually glad someone cared so much about him.

"Go back too, lest you cry yourself out." He replied mockingly. “It’s also time for me to pack my stuff and get ready to go.

I'll go to the rendezvous alone, or I'll have to listen to Charlie's pet dog yell at me all the way..." He put his hands over his mouth, but it was too late, "Oops, the devil just took my tongue! "

This time it was Antal's turn to complain.

"So that's what they call me behind my back?" He shook his head with a bitter expression on his face. "I used to be a lily knight, but now I'm the king's lackey?"

"I told you," Lakfee sighed sympathetically, "don't care what those bumpkins say."

-

The position of the sun in the sky is getting lower and lower, and the shadows are slowly elongating. Demeter Neksey is tired of observing the mysterious light and shadow transformed by the stained glass windows, enjoying the solitude of the study.

The exhausted Chancellor stretched out in the padded armchair, straightening his aching legs.Finally, another period of peace and quiet is coming...

God only knows how many times Timisoara has been hollowed out in the past 11 years, and after each expedition the castle has become a quieter place than the abode of ghosts.

In the morning, 6000 two hundred soldiers sent to aid Duke Frederick set off northwest.People in Timisoara flocked to the streets as usual to watch the heroes going out. The commander-in-chief Sandor Kotsky did not want to parade in front of the people, so he quickly left the city with the army.

But King Charles and his vast army gave the people what they wanted: the main army of the king, slowed down to the muffled music of drums and horns, marched for a long time in the city, and then fought with a larger army outside the city. The size of the army rendezvous.

The road behind us was dusty until the last flag disappeared on the southern horizon.

Then everyone went back to their daily routines, the castle was empty again, and Demeter Neksei leaned back in his chair, listening to his ears humming in an eerie silence.

Hearing the knock on the door, he shrank suddenly and almost fell off his chair.He stood up to open the door, but it was already opened, and Queen Elizabeth of Hungary stepped over the high threshold.

"Your Royal Highness!" Demeter exclaimed in surprise, bowing deeply to the beautiful young queen. "I don't know why your humble servant has the honor to be visited by His Highness in person?"

"I want to talk to you about an important matter, Lord Nekser." Elizabeth's fluent Hungarian language shocked the Chancellor of the Exchequer a little. The change in Charlie's queen is really amazing. A year ago, she only knew a few simple Hungarian words .

"Please forgive the chaos here, Your Royal Highness!" Demeter quickly apologized.

His study was indeed a mess, full of piles of old and new scrolls, manuscripts, chronicles, lists, papers, letters, and books of various sizes, and even the rotten rushes on the floor, empty ink bottles And the battered quills are proof that Nexai has not been idle.

"You should take a look at the residences of my maids." Elizabeth waved her hand generously, "Your place is nothing compared to theirs."

"Thank you for your kind words, my queen, but next time you only need to send someone to look for me, and I will rush to serve you immediately."

"I know, Lord Nexai," Elizabeth nodded, "If that's the case, I need your help right now."

"What would you like me to do, Your Majesty the Queen?"

"I will leave tomorrow with my entourage."

"Are you leaving the palace too?" Demeter asked in surprise, knowing nothing of the queen's plans. "Without you, this place would be completely lifeless."

"Maybe, but I don't want to spend all day embroidering while my husband is away, chatting with the maids, and being a queen looking nostalgicly from a window sill. I've been raised for more than that."

Elizabeth's voice was soft and firm, and Demeter stole a glance at her, standing in the open doorway, a long silk dress clinging to his slender body, looking like a beautiful fawn.

Beautiful and smart, these two traits combined can be the most dangerous.She looked like a fragile clay statue, like a ghost in some ancient legend, but the chancellor felt that this woman was much stronger than she seemed, and if she could stay by King Charles' side all the time, their neighbors would be very happy. The name Elizabeth Piast will soon be thoroughly remembered.

"When my honorable husband quells the war in the south, I will also contribute to the kingdom," said the queen. "If we really want to move to the center of the kingdom next year, we'd better win over the clergy there in time. I don't care." Hope the church continues to have complaints about the royal family.

So I will visit all the churches around Buda and Visegrad, pray there and give a generous offering to God's shepherds.

"That's a very wise idea, my queen," said Demeter Nekser approvingly, "I think you came to me to open the treasury, and of course I would obey..." He paused , chose his wording carefully, "Unless His Majesty Charles objects to my doing so..."

"Here is a list of all the items and money I need from the treasury," Elizabeth handed the man a scroll, "at the bottom you will see my husband's seal and signature."

"I understand, Your Royal Highness, I will deal with this matter immediately." The Chancellor took the scroll. "I will prepare everything you need tonight."

"Thank you, Lord Nexai." Elizabeth nodded to him, and turned to leave the messy room.

Demeter looked at the queen's back in a daze, and suddenly shook his head as if waking up from a dream, because he remembered something else.

"One more thing, my queen!" he exclaimed, more worry and tenderness in his voice than he wanted. "I wish you a smooth journey, but... are you sure that this journey will not be dangerous? In your condition, my dear Highness..."

"Please, Lord Nexai." Elizabeth turned her head and smiled at him, stroking her flat belly with both palms. "The king only gave me a new fetus two months ago, don't worry, Charles Anjou's heir to the throne will be fine."

(End of this chapter)