Temple Sword

Chapter 42 Friends and Foes
Antal roared, louder than Sarecher's hiss.He stared at his blood-stained Saracen sword, his stomach seemed to be tied in a knot, and a cold chill ran up and down his body, penetrating every inch of his skin.

"God's will!" cried one of the knights, and all followed him, "Deus vult!"

Antal slipped from the saddle, his right shoulder burning like a miracle, and it was a miracle he could still hold the weapon.The chainmail was suddenly heavy, and together with the solid noseguard, it was like someone was sitting on his shoulders and head.

He plunged his sword into the ground only to find that his black leather gloves were also stained with blood. Sarecher was panting, and the Arabian warhorse had blood on both sides of its neck too, but it seemed calm and terrifying.

The battle lasted only a few minutes, and the two dozen bandits were about to plunder the local market, but nearly thirty angry Templars rushed out of the forest.The sudden cavalry charge was like an iron wind, and all the unsuspecting bandits were swept away. Most of them died before they could react.

Antal rushed to the forefront, drew his sword, and immediately cut the throat of an ax-wielding enemy, but failed to completely chop off the head. Antar died completely after stabbing his chest again.

Another rider rushed towards the boy, and Antal, who was quite frightened by the scene just now, quickly readjusted the steering of the horse. This time, he poured all his strength into the sword, and directly cut off the rider's left arm together with his shoulder. , let him fall off his horse and die.

Six bandit riders fled to the northwest, but William and the other knights caught up and ran through them with their lances.

"Are you okay, kid?" Mihai's son Mihai patted Antar's back heavily, his sword and armor were not stained with blood. "You killed two people, and a lot of people, including me, just scare them. Let's drink tonight, my brave warrior!"

"That's right, Mikhail!" William shouted proudly, "I didn't pin all my hopes on him in vain!"

"Isn't he your squire?" the fat knight asked curiously.

"Yes, but not just squires," William walked up to his apprentice and put his arms around the boy's trembling shoulders, "Antal, my late sister's only son, my adopted son, the most beautiful son I have ever seen Good swordsman!"

"Really?" Adam laughed behind his Master's back. "Maybe someone can beat him..."

"Who? You?" Mihai asked him sternly. "Tell me, how many robbers did you kill?"

"I seriously injured one. As far as I know, this is more than your contribution." Adam provocatively said, "Maybe I will be a worthy opponent, who knows, maybe I will make you all admire..."

"I still look at you with admiration," Mihai taunted disdainfully, "I apologize for this kid's behavior, William."

William just smiled, dismissing Adam's bragging as simple jealousy.

"Maybe one day we can have a contest," Antal said, awakened by the hatred in his throat, "When you become a knight, I should no longer be a squire, maybe we can meet at the tournament .”

"I wish for it!" Adam cried to him, "and then don't be knocked to the ground again, you great champion!"

"It's okay, I've learned to be wary of any bastard who likes to use dirty tricks, and I've learned how to deal with those who are more deceitful than swordsmanship!"

"I'm afraid that you will die in front of the audience before you have fully learned it..." Adam snorted softly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," William said, walking between them, "but you'd better stop here, we have more important things to do than fight, do we have anything to lose?"

"Only one," said someone laughing, "the pretty face of Andronica over there!"

With the support of his companions, the blond knight walked up to William.His face was covered in blood, and there was a long gash near his left eye that was still oozing blood, and his breath smelled of brandy.

"It's like seeing myself!" William pointed to the scar on his left eye, and said with an encouraging smile, "I see that not only Antal has matured today, but you are finally like a real warrior!"

"You should go see the man who left this wound," Andronica said with a grin. "I dented his face with a flail!"

"Well done, my boy!" William nodded. "I pray you never get hurt worse than this, now bring me a live robber!"

"Lord Barto," said the person supporting Andronica, blinking hesitantly, "We didn't leave anyone alive, and you killed the last person with a spear."
-
—

"Hey, isn't this the most powerful swordsman, huh?"

"Don't mess with me, Adam," the boy sitting under the tree looked at him with murderous eyes, "I'm too tired and too drunk, I don't want to argue with a horse shit picker like you."

It was late at night and most of the camp was asleep.Antal's eyes, bloodshot from wine and exhaustion, caught the flickering fire in front of him.But Adam was not drunk, and his master would not allow him to drink as punishment for speaking ill of the commander's adopted son.

"I didn't recognize you yesterday," he knelt down beside Antal, "I just realized today that we met once before, and your Saracen sword reminded me."

"I recognized you long ago," Antal whispered, "I'll never forget your face."

"why?"

"Because I swear to avenge you," Antar declared simply, "One day, I will personally send you on your way just like I sent those two to hell today, just wait."

"The problem with you is that you're an idiot," Adam laughed. "Why do you want to kill me so much?"

"You embarrass me..."

"If I remember correctly, it was you who came to trouble me first," Adam recalled.

"I want to protect...reputation...her...reputation!" Antal tried to explain, but he was too drunk to utter a full sentence, "You filmed...her..."

"Oh!" Adam finally understood, and he laughed, "Because of a girl, I remember now!"

"She's not just a girl!" Antal corrected angrily.

"I get it, so she's a special girl to you." Adam nodded. "Tell me, does anyone else know? Did you tell William?"

"Before you tell him, I'll kill you!" The boy staggered to his feet, trying to draw his sword, but tripped over his own feet and fell to the grass.

"This is the second time you've fallen at my feet," Adam said. "Maybe it's not a good idea to trouble me."

"One day," the drunken Antal shouted with some weed in his mouth, "one day we'll face each other again."

"Okay," Adam stood up, yawning, "but I don't want to waste my energy on drunken idiots."

"I won't be drunk all the time!" Antal struggled to sit up, and saw the displeased smile vaguely through his vision blurred by the red wine.

"I'll wait," Adam said, "when you're fully awake."
-
—

For the next few days, Antal watched from a distance as Adam and his master continued to argue.They could quarrel about anything, like hopeless couples, and Mihail's son usually ended the quarrel by sending Adam to feed, clean, calm, or tend the horses.

Other times, he would simply beat him up, and then, as if to calm himself down, he would search the forest for any ingredients he could use and start cooking.

"What are you staring at them for?" Laszlo asked him soberly, "Do they have anything to do with you?"

"I was just staring at that attendant." Antal said bitterly, whenever he thought or talked about Adam, he would be very angry.

"How did you meet? The old knights said that you just didn't like each other. But I'm not blind, you hate him very much, there must have been something else between you." Laszlo commented.

"We met in Buda," Antar turned to him. "He humiliated me in a duel, which he won by cheating."

"Of course, it's Buda again..." Laszlo complained faintly.

"Senior knights must not know about the duel!" Antar said quickly, "This will only bring us trouble."

"They don't know anything about what happened in Buda," Laszlo said sarcastically, "as do I."

"Tell me, what's wrong with you?" Antal stared at him with scrutiny, "Why have you been doing this to me since I came home?"

"I know why you are going to Buda, whether you admit it or not, I know." Laszlo replied.

Antal didn't speak, he didn't know what to say, he didn't want to lie.

"So Umberto told you, didn't he?" he finally asked.

"So he also knew what happened," Laszlo said, shaking his head. "He didn't tell me, nobody told me anything. I saw a change in you, maybe not at first, but not long after. You can't hide, your daydreaming eyes staring at the air in front of you, the lavender bag you always wear that you keep secret from everyone, and that deep sigh that comes from nowhere...

I'm your friend, Antal, even though you always seem to forget about it.Since childhood, if I were the palm of my hand, you would be like the back of my hand.In your uncle's eyes, you have a halo on your head, even if you admit to him what you have done, he will not care or understand these things, but I can see your true self. "

The boy lowered his head in shame, he dared not raise his head to look at Laszlo, his friend saw through him.

"I spent a lot of time in Buda thinking," Antar murmured, "I left you alone and didn't notice you, I just thought about getting back to that city as soon as possible, back there waiting My everything. Believe me, I've been regretting it ever since! I lost two friends in the Abbey, and the worst part is, I didn't realize what it all meant until then, please forgive me."

He finally plucked up the courage to raise his head, and the bitter look on Laszlo's face for months disappeared, and his smile was as bright as before.

"You know, I've been waiting for these words," Laszlo's tone softened. "I'm sure you'll never forget what you just said."

"I will be knighted next summer, and I hope you can become my squire." Antal brought up the old topic again, "I will be deeply honored if you accept."

"I am very happy to be your attendant," Laszlo replied with a nod and a grin. "No matter where you go, I will follow you unswervingly."

The two embraced tightly. This was the first time that the boy felt that he had truly reunited with his friend after a long absence. The self-blame in his heart was stronger than before.At the same time, he also began to fear, if he had to choose again between friendship, love and responsibility, how would he decide?

"We're leaving!" William's voice sounded, bringing them back to reality. "I'm going to see everyone ready and on horseback in half an hour! Let's head south!"

(End of this chapter)