Eagle Byzantium

The walls of the Antioch Acropolis and the ridge path were crawling with fleeing guards. The gates under the noose of the Acropolis were tightly closed in advance. Many soldiers flapped desperately, asking to be admitted.

Every neighborhood and church was replaced with the flag of the Roman Empire one after another. The siege party advanced vigorously. The front and rear of the ridge of the Acropolis were blocked and besieged. Bohemond had no way to go.

In the palace of the Four Sisters Tower, Bohemond's tangled hair was scattered on the ground. He slumped on a chair, watching the servants and retinues fleeing and leaving the empty palace. He did not say a word for a long time, except for the light that shook the ceiling chandelier from time to time. Apart from the sound of the cannon, the falling dust covered his hair and beard. The bell rang, and he looked back and saw his newlywed wife Constance holding the opened curtain with her hands, looking at him with red and swollen eyes pitifully.

"I'm sorry, the sound of artillery shattered the illusion I created for you. The enemy did not stop their steps. They will rush into the Four Sisters Tower soon." Bohemond's voice was hoarse.

"Husband, I have no regrets, but I don't know where my child with you will end up. Could it be that the Holy Mother's rejection of me has even infected your family with an unknown fate?" Jun Stans was heartbroken.

Bohemond sneered, "Our family will always go to the bottomless hell, and it has nothing to do with you." After speaking, Lord Antioch stood up and walked under the dusty dome, "This This time I was completely stupid and had no idea He knew that Gawain had already laid out a plan to destroy our country, and he was surrounded by a bunch of unambitious villains. A group of mules and horses in a circle would never understand the ambition of a horse. All they could do was bite the leader. , come to flatter the groom."

"Let's break out of the encirclement. I can also put on my armor and ride with my husband on horseback. I won't be a drag..."

Hearing his wife's words, Bohemond couldn't help but feel chills. Before his eyes, the city of Antioch in the past appeared, and in the same Four Sisters Tower, Tancred was fully clothed, with anger and despair and him. His wife, Messander, both stood out and died tragically in the fierce battle. Their bodies wrapped in layers of cloth have always been his nightmare.

Today, is the nightmare about to befall me?

Bohemond sobbed silently, with tears and snot rolling down his face. He squatted on the ground holding his head, listening to the monotonous and violent sound of cannons, "No, it can't be like that. Even if I suffer humiliating imprisonment and death, To keep you safe.”

On the rolling and curved battlements of the Four Sisters Tower, behind the densely covered dog-foot logs and pickets, the defenders shouted and bravely used various tricks to resist the wave-like siege attack amidst the billowing fireworks.

The flag of the Roman Empire was erected on the bridge tower in the southeast corner. When Bohemond came out and saw this scene, Earl Richard told him angrily that Guy and Clare who were guarding there had rebelled and surrendered to Gawain. ——"Destroy that tower and the air bridge and land passage here." Bohemond shook his finger and ordered a little listlessly.

Then he walked to the semicircular tower that protruded everywhere, where William Grandmenil was commanding the light perfume bottle artillery, constantly shooting at the city. Wounded soldiers were lying everywhere, and firecrackers and lead pellets were rolling. All over the place. "We repelled three more enemy attacks on the city gate, and also destroyed an enemy cart that attempted to destroy the city wall. The explosion caused their flesh and blood to fly everywhere, and their intestines were hung on the crenellations." Grandmenil said. His face was bloody, but his spirit was very brave. He said this after seeing the monarch standing in front of him.

Bohemond nodded, "Put up my square flag and shout, I want to talk to Gawain."

Half an hour later, at the high and low hills and ramparts around the Antioch Acropolis, the artillery fire temporarily stopped. Amidst the continuous and shrill sound of the trumpet, Gawain with red hand feathers stood up in front of a group of custodial guards holding shields. Under protection, he stood in front of the tower as expected. Bohemond ordered the archers and gunners to withdraw their weapons and not attack.

Then the two looked at each other and started talking.

"Gawain, yes, I listened to the instigation of the monk named Jinghang and betrayed my alliance with you. I am willing to bear the responsibility of my mistake alone!" Bohemond shouted.

Gawain below held the reins, his eyes under the feathers and hat brim were cold, and he didn't make any answer.

"Do you know why I betrayed you? I, the Duke of Apulia and the son of Guiscat, am now nestled in a corner of Antioch, completely surrounded by your power. I am not willing to accept it. I am really unwilling to do so." Bo. Ximond spread his hands, and then he saw that Gawain still had no reaction or anger, but there was no sign of forgiveness or forgiveness. Then he suddenly roared, "Isn't this situation what you want! I rebelled, you destroyed me, and then took Antioch into your hands. This is a trap and trap that you have carefully set long ago. , such a scene has been destined for such a day since the two of us formed an alliance, that is, either you die or I die! "

The whole tower was surrounded by Bohemond's angry curses, but the emperor still said nothing.

Finally, Gawain raised his head and finally said to Bohemond on the gate tower, "You can take care of your own fate, but Constance can be sent out safely and I will save her life. If she wants to return to Île-de-France in the future, she can go back."

Bohemond fell silent for a moment, nodded, and then bit his lower lip, "Constans still has my child in her belly."

"This is my last time to be lenient with you. I can provide a palace in the imperial capital for Constance to give birth to your offspring, but I will give it to my Basilisa for care. The child will never meet his mother, nor will he know who his father is. He will get a Roman surname and live as an ordinary palace guard."

"It's better this way, so that the child won't regard his father's failure as a shame." After Bohemond finished speaking, he turned and left the standing gate tower.

In the evening, the setting sun was like blood on the white and gray towers. The gates of the city in front of the wooden fence and the trench rumbled up. Constance, with swollen eyes and messy hair, rode on the back of a docile mare and walked out slowly, followed by a group of slaves.

Read the correct version in 16-9 Book Bar!

In the flying smoke on both sides of the city gate, on the stone bridge leading to the siege camp, many emperors' spearmen held sharp spears, and as Constans approached, they kept changing the angle of the spear blades, but no one took action.

Constans did not look back, although she could feel the gaze of her husband behind her when she walked out of the city gate.

Although many people said that her husband was a butcher, a fickle person, and a cunning fox, he loved and was loyal to her in their short marriage...

She came to the imperial camp with an eagle flag, and finally saw the Varyag emperor she had always been curious about. He sat on a golden ivory chair, and his eyes had completely regarded her as a widow whose husband had died.