Eagle Byzantium

Seeing what the military judge said, Diognis could only helplessly ask him to intervene in the matter as soon as possible. Then he turned to Gawain and Peter and said, "Since we can't stay in the Giucentina Palace, we can only go there." It’s time to find a suitable place to stay in the neighborhood ahead.”

"I have an old relationship with the Patriarch of St. John's Cathedral in the Golden Gate in the city. Why don't we go to the Golden Gate, where there are free and clean beds and apartments." Peter suggested, but Diognis was soon dismissed. Scoffingly vetoed, " We have handed over the road, so we have to wait outside the city, because His Majesty will never meet people inside the Golden Gate. Besides, how can you and I enter the Golden Dome Gate? We will have an idea for another day. , you must take a detour to enter through the bridge gate.”

Therefore, the three of them had no choice but to walk further north of the Varangian camp, bypassing the Jukuntina Palace, because according to the guard, there was an imperial mausoleum in front and a place where the horses could drink water. There is a large reservoir and there are many cheap hotels available for accommodation.

Soon, Gawain saw the imperial mausoleum that the guard said was built on a low hill. Many buildings had collapsed and been destroyed. "Travelers and envoys, this is the mausoleum of Emperor Saint Basil." The tomb, I’m sorry, it’s only been a few decades, but it already looks like this.” But Gawain could still see Saint Basil. The bronze sculpture holding a spear still stands proudly on the hill, as if guarding the sea and land. The reservoir at the foot of the mountain is surrounded by a forest, and there is an endless stream of people coming to drink water. , Peter sat by the pool to rest, while Gawain and Diognis came forward leading two horses and a mule. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and some foreigners spread the word, "Come and see, the emperor of the Greeks is executing the prisoners! It's right here on the execution wall of the imperial mausoleum!"

The crowd surged, and Gawain, carrying the sword of phosphorus and fire on his back, went to join in the fun. After turning the corner beside the imperial mausoleum, he saw a half-circle of marble sculptures standing in the corridor at the entrance of the imperial mausoleum. The high walls are covered with reliefs, probably songs. It extols the great achievements of Saint Basil the Emperor - but now this wall has been turned into a place of execution - there is a whole row of people with nooses on it, and they are all covered by black cloaks. Face, standing on the springboard.

A springboard was behind it, and it was suddenly pulled away by the executioner. "Okay!" In the thunderous cheers of the crowd, the prisoner fell suddenly with the noose, and then "squeaked" in the air. He kicked his legs, then swayed back and forth, hitting the wall, and never moved again.

Then comes the next one...

"These people were arrested by the mayor's postmen at the market on Metz Street for openly spreading rumors that Emperor Caesar was defeated and that the heretics were about to besiege the capital. Here, His Majesty the Emperor personally Advice to all Roman citizens, freemen, merchants, and foreign friends, the present imperial capital It is extremely safe, just as safe as it has been for seven hundred years. No force in the ocean, land or sky can capture it. If you continue to spread such frightening lies, this will be the end. , as a warning to others!" An official wearing a high hat read loudly while holding the emperor's edict.

"His Majesty the Emperor will surely triumph again and again!" Someone in the crowd raised their hands and took the lead in shouting, and similar shouts followed one after another.

Gawain crossed his arms, feeling that this kind of farce was enough. He had come from Asia Minor, and of course he knew how miserable Macaulinus Ducas had been beaten by Zahas, the Emir of Nicaea. He abandoned the entire territory of Asia Minor Now, the Gallipoli Fortress has retreated to this side of the strait and is lingering. Maybe after the end of spring, the Turkic fleet will come and besiege the city, and the emperor's lies will be self-defeating. At that time, it will lead to The panic will be worse than if it were made public.

At this time, Gawain saw the officer next to him, who had his black eyebrows lowered and looked thoughtful, but did not say any words. It was also part of his job to cover up the royal family's ugliness...

After nightfall, they and several followers carrying luggage and weapons arrived at a block about five hundred feet away from the torture wall. There was an apartment dormitory that Diognis was familiar with. The entire building was divided into two floors. The boss and The attendants are all on the first floor, and this place also serves multiple functions such as stables and a restaurant. Hay is piled in the corner. The second floor is the guest accommodation area. There are no separate rooms. They are all three-tiered or double-tiered rough wooden beds close together. The snoring inside is like thunder. The waiter held the candle and led them up the stairs. Finally, the waiter saw Peter and Gawain hanging with rosary beads and crosses. He couldn't bear it anymore and asked politely, "The guests must be envoys serving the Lord." , then I want to ask you, do you think that when the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the Son, she was conceived by the body or by the Holy Spirit? "

"With the Holy Spirit, because Mary is pure and maternal at the same time." Peter said without thinking.

Then Gawain saw the waiter's expression change, and he murmured, "Isn't God connected to our flesh through the flesh?"

Then the waiter placed the candle on the bed frame and ran down. It could be heard that he and several companions below, including perhaps the boss and the boss's wife, were talking fiercely. But Gawain was too tired and thought to let it go, so he hung the sword on the bed frame, and then another waiter came up with hot water to wash the guests' feet. As if prepared, he began to ask Peter again, "Dear monk, let me ask you, did the Father produce the Holy Spirit, or did the Father and the Son produce the Holy Spirit?"

"It is produced by the Father and the Son. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons in one." Peter continued to answer.

Gawain could see that the waiter was trembling all over, as if his ears were burned by the devil's fire. If he hadn't been an extremely polite waiter, he would have poured hot water on our heads on the spot.

"Hey, you have to stop these arguments, or I'm afraid they will kill us when we go to bed at night!" After the waiter left, amidst the snores of other sleeping guests, Gawain took Peter's arm and whispered He demanded urgently, "The people in this city are so weird, almost all of them look like fundamentalists."

"Everyone in the imperial capital, even the bathers and stove-burning slaves, are theologians. Don't talk about the popular things in Rome. Do you understand? You must say that it was the Holy Father who gave birth to him. The Holy Spirit was born, and the Virgin gave birth to the Son with her body!" Over there, the guard was also anxiously trying to correct the situation.