Eagle Byzantium

The whole scene of retreating from the city reached its climax at the moment when Gawain led his troops out of the city gate - almost all the Turkic soldiers in the outer camp stood up, raised their hands and shouted "akin, akin" slogan to express their admiration and love for the warrior of the Greek emperor, even if he was an enemy.

At this moment, Gawain made Erikson's relics of sealskin into a scarf for his cloak, tied it with an icon pendant, hung a phosphorus fire sword, and rode Sabina on a black gold-inlaid saddle, carrying only The remaining 700 Italian soldiers and a small number of Varangian warriors were in good order and did not look defeated at all. They walked out of Nicaea in high spirits.

At the end of the queue, Archimandrite Desiderius knelt down outside the city gate, shed tears, and kissed the soil under his feet crazily. Then he ran to the lake, picked up a handful of water and drank it, as if to express his gratitude to this city. Farewell to the Holy City forever.

"I announce that I will move the capital from Konya on the Rom plain to Nicaea at this moment. This represents my Giliki's forge ahead!" The Sultan who then entered the city said boldly. He completely abandoned the agreement he had made with Alexios in the past. In one Next, "Why should the merchants of my country compete with the Italians for trade rights? Why should the knights and warriors of my country be driven away by the Emperor of Constantinople? From now on, my country is Rome, and all the Turkic warriors own it. Rome!"

The passage Giliki gave the troops and civilians who retreated from the city was not to go to Nicomedia, because Paul immediately sent believers to take over the territory and ports in the north. Therefore, the road Giliki allowed was along Prusa. , to Abydos, and back to the territory of Alexios.

In short, wherever you come from, you will go back. However, nearly ten thousand people came, and only these seven hundred people returned to Abydos.

But Gawain, who was stationed in front of the tombs of the two military servants, turned to the prison guard and said, "I promised Francesco that I will no longer continue to serve Constantinople, at least not directly as emperor." Instead, he took these 700 people to help defend the city of Amalfi, which was said to be in danger of being invaded by the Normans. "

"Have you forgotten your oath to the emperor?" Although Diognis had figured out Gawain's character, he still criticized him.

Gawain raised his arm, indicating that his oath had already disappeared with the abandonment of the purple tassel ribbon, "The emperor has failed us, and of course I don't have to keep the contract."

The guard smiled with a complicated expression, "Maybe during the scouting activities on the ridge two days ago, I should have shot you to death with an arrow in the back. Now I can't do it even if I want to. My hand holding the bow seems to be It takes a long time to recover.”

Hearing this, Gawain felt the desolation in the officer's words in his heart, and he couldn't help but said, "You also come with me, and we can make a fortune in the beautiful and rich land of Italy."

"I'm not as free and easy as you. You can tell from my position as a border guard. We are bound by invisible threads. I have known it since I was a child - it is obviously a mountain, but it is artificially used in the middle. A line splits, I am on this side of the mountain, and my mother is on the other side of the mountain. Even if we look at each other from a distance, we cannot hug each other freely. "

"Then take care of yourself." Gawain said with blessing, then he patted Sabina and walked towards the marching team.

"Gawain, I have a suggestion!" At this time, the warden shouted from behind.

Then Gawain stopped and turned to him.

"I can ignore you and take these soldiers with you, but His Majesty can't. Therefore, you need a title and a flag so that you can go to Amalfi smoothly through the land and sea of ​​the empire. I believe you." Will understand."

Gawain did understand. He nodded to the officer, and then said in a hoarse voice, "It just so happens that I also want to return the battle flag of the Red Hand Division to your Majesty."

On the way to Abydos, the tragic scenes of the past reappeared in front of Gawain's eyes. The villages were deserted and deserted, and the people had to escape from the war and military service. Large tracts of pastures, grasslands and wheat fields were restored. Dyeing with the grayish white color of decay and death, more and more refugees voluntarily joined Gawain's team along the road.

As for the port of Abydos, it was so desolate that not even half of the ship could be found. Gawain and Francesco found the Archimandrite of Nicaea and asked him to lead the people to farm and gather livestock here first. Then Francesco took a small boat and risked his way along the sea to seek Amalfi's support from the Greek Chamber of Commerce.

On the blue sea, Francesco squatted on the stern of the boat, waving to Gawain and the officer who were watching him farewell on the coastal defense wall.

About five days later, the Italian returned by boat soaked to the skin, but could not suppress his excitement and told everyone, "The Amalfi Chamber of Commerce on the island of Chios is willing to provide a large armed stern ship and four Flat-bottomed merchant ships carrying us and civilians across the Strait of St. George."

"What's the situation along the coast now?" Gawain asked with concern, putting a piece of dry clothes on Francesco.

"It's very bad that the Amalfi people are at the end of their rope. All their transportation on the Holy Sea was destroyed by Zahas' piracy. The city in Italy was also invaded by the Normans, but the Roman Emperor attacked them. The pleas for help showed that they were helpless.”

But a smile appeared on Gawain's lips, because he understood that this was an excellent opportunity for him.

When the agreed time came, the Amalfi fleet arrived as promised. The merchant and the captain who got off the ship said to Gawain, "The price of carrying you is, as Francesco said, you and these 700 soldiers must arrive in our city within three months to save it from the Norman bandits."

"I promise you, but I still need some money." Gawain said, and then he looked at the surprised faces of the crowd and laughed, "Give me an extra twelve days. I want to go to the emperor's capital to fulfill the wish of my deceased friend and fight for the flag that Diogenes mentioned."

A correct version in 1619, 1 book, 1 forum!

"Let him take it if he wants it. Anyway, our route to Egypt's Forrest trade has been strangled by Zahas. What's the use of putting money on the counter?" The leading merchant shook his head and said to Francesco in a resigned and sad tone.

Amid cheers, the fleet began to weigh anchor. Gawain requested that the clergy and the people be transported over first, and all the soldiers be left in Abydos to guard.

On the deck, Gawain suddenly turned around and said to the officer, "How do you think I'm dressed?"

"Not very good." Diogenes blurted out.

Then Gawain looked at the officer, whose body was covered with weapons and whose face and hands were dirty. He felt that his words were really unconvincing, so he turned back and twisted his thick eyebrows, looking at the vast waves, thinking about his previous outfit at the celebrity ball, "Now, Stephen Gawain Zhou, I have to beautify myself in this world."