Eagle Byzantium

The emperor was so angry that the great eunuch Nicodemea and the noble lady Eudocia who came out with him all dropped their hands in horror and said nothing. The other guards held the sharp swords originally carried on their shoulders and stood alone. When the emperor gave a clear order, he stepped forward and killed Gawain and Diognis who had offended the royal dignity.

At this time, even Diogenes, who was holding the rope and had planned something to report to His Majesty, was so frightened that he didn't know what to say.

Anna, who was in her father's arms, rolled her brown eyes twice and saw Peter. Peter, who was holding a cane, winked at Gawain, whose hands were tied. Gawain understood and knelt down on one leg in front of the emperor. , "I came from a remote and cold place. I was not able to learn the noble etiquette of the court. I only have brute force and bravery. However, my loyalty to the Lord is unwavering. I was captured by the Turks when I was on pilgrimage in Minor Asia, and I only escaped after being a slave for three years! , I will immediately follow His Majesty’s call, raise the sword and shield in my hand, and fight for Christ and the Holy Mother!”

Although what Gawain spoke was relatively low-level Greek, his expression was impassioned and his actions were sincere and sincere, which moved many dignitaries present. Anna thought to herself that this barbarian was somewhat clever, and he seemed to be as normal as usual. The stupid Frank knight was very different, so he decided to continue for him, "Father, so this barbarian wants to ask for blessings from the Virgin before he sacrifices his life to regain the Holy Tomb." , after he heard that the veil worn by the Virgin at the funeral of Jesus was enshrined in the Brachna Palace, he came to pay a visit - but was suspected by the guards because his daughter was also there to pay a visit. When the captor saw his barbaric appearance, he was afraid that it would be detrimental to me, so he stepped forward to stop the eviction. After a disagreement, they started fighting - this barbarian was really good at fighting, and he could even fight with the bravest captor. up and down."

"Then how do you understand his words, because he can also speak Greek?" As soon as he saw his daughter's cute and happy look, Alexios' anger actually dissipated for the most part, and he stroked his daughter's braid and asked arrive.

"He can speak Aoi and seems to be a noble from Normandy!"

At this time, Eudocia also took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, he is indeed a noble. He went on a pilgrimage and was willing to lose his noble honor."

At this time, the curtain at the entrance of the palace shook - Mikhail, the husband of Eudocia, the nephew of Nicodemya, and the emperor's bodyguard, walked out drunkenly, holding the hilt of his sword, "Ha——" Then he saw Gawain who was half kneeling, so he came over attentively, pinched Gawain's cheeks, and looked at him. teeth, and patted his back and shoulders, "It's perfect, it's perfect, Eudoxia, and my uncle, this is a perfect soldier template. I believe everyone who knows the military camp will be like me. What do you think? I hope you can join the Emperor's Guards. What's your name?"

"Mikhail, I think I am the only one here who you have not consulted for key opinions. This is not the first time you have offended the court etiquette!" Seeing Mikhail's rogue appearance It seemed that the emperor's anger was rising again, "I spent huge sums of money to rebuild the orphans. The legion and the Praetorian Guards are not asking you to imitate those Norman gangsters who were born as pirates, or the Franks who were born as coopers. You are a noble and elegant Roman warrior, do you understand? "After hearing this, You You. Dosia and Nicodemia lowered their heads.

Then the emperor sighed, and walked up to Gawain. Gawain raised his face, and the blood was still flowing around his eyes, which made him only able to open a single eye socket, facing the bright sunshine, The Byzantine Roman emperor opposite him was a man of medium stature, with thick beard and hair mixed with a lot of silver, a thin face, and sharp eyes, but with a Sorrow and trouble, "Strange barbarian, your face is covered with blood, I can't see your face clearly, but I am still willing to trust Mikhail and Eudocia's judgment, since you want to wield the sword for Christ , then you must swear allegiance to me; since you cannot return to your hometown and have no relatives, you must devote the rest of your life to the Lord and me - I will bless you today."

With that said, before Gawain could react, Alexios took the sharp sword from the guard, cut open the purple robe he was wearing, and then used the cut section as a shawl and put it on the It was wrapped around Gawain's neck, and now Anna naughtily stepped forward, tiptoed, and wrapped it around Gawain's strong neck and tied it.

Then Alexios pressed Gawain's head with his hand, "From now on, on the third day of every month, wait in line with the rest of the guards in the camp outside Brachna Palace, and receive your salary personally from me. As do all high-ranking officials of the Empire."

The surrounding guards and palace people immediately let out a collective sigh of admiration. This was intentional. Of course, they understood that His Majesty the Emperor was using this to win people's hearts in public. Your Majesty will treat the valued soldiers, whether they are foreign nobles or warriors, with dignity. They were incorporated into the Imperial Guard and paid him personally. This kind of treatment was on the same level as that of senior imperial bureaucrats. Their intention was to make the foreign mercenaries go through fire and water for the emperor. In addition, Alexios certainly had a deeper intention. He used mercenary guards. In addition to the previous dilemma of the Roman army being depleted in the Battle of Manzikert, he also had the idea of ​​preventing the local Greek army nobles from causing trouble. ——After all, ten years ago, he was vividly aware of the chaos of the "Four Caesars" fighting for the throne across the empire, so outsiders felt more at ease when using it.

"I discovered him first. He should join His Majesty's Archery Guards and belong to me, instead of joining my sworn brother's Varangian Shield Guards." Over there, Mikhail was still complaining loudly. The emperor snatched Gawain away from his eyes.

Gawain, who was wearing a purple scarf, could hardly turn his head. Just now, His Majesty the Emperor wanted to hold him accountable, but in the blink of an eye, he was included in the Emperor's guard!

However, I still have to escort Peter back to his hometown! Thinking of this, Gawain, who wanted to keep his promise, looked up at Peter behind the emperor. The other party also looked at him and shook his head slightly, meaning to tell him not to say anything nonsense and that he must let nature take its course now.

"Shut up Mikhail. This is a Varyag from the north. It is impossible to join the Archery Guard because your team is all native-born Roman nobles or orphans of martyrs." The emperor then wiped his hands slightly. hand, and then Anna stood in front of Gawain, "Kiss my father's boots and thank the emperor for the favor he has given you!"

Since Gawain had previously said that he was a barbarian who did not understand the etiquette of the Purple Palace, now Anna has clearly told him what to do.