The Duke of Apulia and the Marquis of Provence, who had been closest in the past, suddenly did not say a word, and when Gawain's letter was read, they quarreled and scuffled together, and many were stunned, until Ademar was furious and shouted, "You are all decent," and the people came to their senses, and stepped forward to pull them apart: Raymond still held the red beard that had been torn from Bohemond's mouth.

"Leave the explanation of the Holy See or the Emperor to Gawain himself, and then tell him to immediately take all his troops and go to the Sidenus River in a month to meet and continue the attack on the city of Antioch." At the last meeting of the city of Little Antioch, Ademar could only read out the following decision that was not a result at all.

Then, in the camp that stretched for more than a dozen curi around the city of Little Antioch, the hermit Peter went into his tent, where Androdat stood up and bowed, and then the monk sat down with a sigh and rubbed his crutches, "Rest easy—it is impossible for the Holy See to punish your master, in other words, if Gawain brings the matter to the Emperor and the Holy See, it means that he has succeeded." If I'm not mistaken, the Emperor's canonization and the Holy See's consolation will follow one after another. ”

Androdart's words surprised him a little, but he didn't look like he was talking nonsense when he saw the hermit's expression.

"The expedition to the Holy City ushered in an era of chaos and greatness, and a free-handed hero like Gawain was the most suitable to overcome obstacles and create heaven and earth. But the fear of bloody slaughter will also open its foul-smelling Nineveh lion's mouth, and with the pursuit of glory and ambition, it will devour the old kingdoms. He said. Peter scrambled to his feet on crutches and walked out of the tent. Looking out over the wilderness of Heraclia, the canopy of heaven hangs low. The weeds were like waves, and the blue Taurus peaks stretched faintly, and sighed, "Anderodart, my child, he must have other requests for you to convey, right?" ”

The confidential officer then handed over the letter, signed by Gottschalk, to Peter.

"Let those who are willing to go follow the Milio Sefalon Pass, and then go south to the valley of the Mut. Go to Seleucia and come under Gawain's command. If they continue to serve in the army, their strange ideas will cause dissatisfaction and vigilance among the rest of the people, and it will be really difficult for Gawain to explain it to His Holyckey. Peter turned his back and whispered, "And Walter. Sanzabal also went with him, as the flag officer and knight who led the team, although he was older, he was good at fighting, and he was there in Gawain. Probably to play a bigger role than here. ”

"Your Excellency also reminds you to do a good job of protecting yourself."

"It's okay, I'll send away all the power around me, it's the safest."

At the foot of the mountains. Bohemond and several Norman lords stood in the grass, leading their horses. Looking at Gofrey, Duke of Lower Lorraine, who came out alongside Werner and Toto. Eustace, under the clouds. The two groups are "confronting".

"It's been a beautiful day, Lord Eustace."

"Yes. It doesn't get any better than that, so I'm going out hunting, in the middle of that verdant valley. Godfrey replied.

"Where is it?" Bohemond pointed to his destination, "I must accuse your lord, for you have shown favoritism to Gawain and Baldwin, one of your friends and the other of your brother, at the previous meeting, and that many of the pilgrims are dissatisfied with you, and if you continue to indulge, these two do not know what else to do." ”

"Is it a reminder that I'm in danger? Thank you for your generosity and kindness, Your Excellency the Duke of Apulia, so even in the face of you, I have warriors like Werner and Duoduo by my side. With that, Godfrey saluted Bohemond, and then rode in front of him.

"Hahahaha, you can really joke, everyone knows that we Apulians are the most upright warriors, and we will never do some sneak attacks in private." Bohemond looked at the duke's back and spread his hands and shouted, but Godfrey ignored him and walked away, and then Bohemond said the rest, "Not necessarily for the others"

"Your Excellency, in the meeting just now, since Gawain and Baldwin have not been actually punished, then the white-hot situation of the immediate competition is coming." Jeffrey took the opportunity to speak to Bohemond.

"That's right, we can't let Godfrey and his gang smoothly command the team forward, otherwise let them sit in Cilicia and Antioch, and mix with Gawain and Baldwin, where are we going to build the country? Now whoever has more territory in Cilicia will have the strongest power, and whoever can get the city of Antioch will get the city of Antioch, and whoever can get the city of Antioch will get the holy city. Bohemond walked down the hill and said bluntly, "The real bloody battle, the real battle for the founding of the state, has not yet begun." ”

Then, from afar, there was a sudden sound of the cry of a beast, which frightened Bohemond to turn around and grasp the hilt of his sword, and he followed the direction from which the sound came, with an expression of disbelief on his face, "No, is it really that effective?" ”

In the middle of the dense forest path, pilgrims in twos and threes, carrying wicker baskets on their backs, were cutting branches and returning to make a fire, and when Godfrey and his party arrived on horseback with javelins, they put down their instruments in fear and bowed down in front of the horses, when the roar of the beast shook the branches and leaves around them, "What is the sound?" Even Godfrey's face changed.

"Honorable lord, this is a beast like a bear or a leopard." Several pilgrims shouted in horror, and then, at the duke's signal, they fled in the direction of the camp, "Are there any pilgrims in the depths of the jungle?" Godfrey asked at their backs, but received no answer, and everyone wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

"Such wild beasts and beasts will endanger the co-workers who come to harvest, and this forest is suitable for felling." Godfrey quickly finished speaking, grasped his saber and began to urge his mount with the spurs in his boots, and Werner and Toto behind looked uneasy, knowing that the Duke had a very quick temper when it came to such things.

"This whistling is the master of the forest (the Frankish name for a great beast)" Werner reminded the slave beside him, and several of the hounds that had been held on a leash fell to the ground, scratching at the ground with their paws, whining in fear.

The whistling sound shook wave after wave, and combined with the strong wind of the dense forest on a cloudy day, it was particularly terrifying, and Godfrey and the others could almost smell the fishy smell coming from the beast's mouth and claws, "Then let's go and call our companions to come!" Even Godfrey retreated.

But at this time, the cries for help and prayers suddenly came from the depths of the dense forest, "It's not good, sure enough, someone has been attacked by a fierce beast, Werner, Duoduo, we rode three horses, divided into three ways to enter, this beast's roar is too loud, it is really difficult to judge, keep in touch with each other." Before he could finish speaking, Godfrey took his horse and ran over a brook full of fallen leaves, toward the depths of the woods, with only two spear-wielding servants, following him quickly.

Among the bushes and bushes, Godfrey, who had trotted dozens of feet on horseback, felt the roar of the beast and the wailing of man draw nearer and closer, and his heart was almost overwhelmed.

At last there was a roar, and his mount was so startled that it stood upright, "Drink, drink! Godfrey tugged at the reins, trying to calm it down—"Sir! One of the servants pointed to the opposite side, dejected.

A pilgrim dressed as a peasant, crying and crawling on the ground, had lost his mind with fright, and could only walk about the trunk of the tree, for the great bear, whose head stood up like a giant, was staring at the bloodshot eyes, waving its claws, and surrounded by flying leaves stirred up by its roar, constantly attacking the poor pilgrim, and the trunk was full of scratches and collected twigs scattered all over the ground.

"Stop the brute." Godfrey shouted without hesitation, then drew his saber and drove his horse as fast as he slipped through the bushes, stirring up smoke and dust and charging straight at the bear's back.

The bear turned and saw the Duke rushing at him, the light of the sword flashing into its eyes, and the cunning beast made a frightened gesture to face Godfrey's blade, "You're finished!" Godfrey on horseback thought.

"Woo!" As he approached, the Lord of the Forest suddenly rose to his feet, and its roar and run shook the trees and the mountains, and Godfrey felt the horse's hooves go limp, and the bear somehow flashed to his side, and then he suffered a blow on the shoulder, "Ah! Godfrey rushed over, not only did his sword slash into the air, but his overcoat on his left shoulder was shattered, and blood gushed out along the chain mail, "It was this beast's trick to lure the enemy!" ”

Without allowing him to think about anything, the two servants stabbed with their spears, but the brute rushed wildly, and not only broke the shaft of the spear, but also carried the servants out of the way, and the wind blew in his face - Godfrey could barely open his eyes, and could only swing his sword in pain, and the bear's claws struck him with lightning strikes, not only avoiding the duke's sword, but also striking him deep on the head of his horse.

Godfrey's mount immediately shattered his skull, and he fell to the ground with a clatter, and Godfrey was also lifted off, and he fell to the mud and leaves, feeling all his internal organs mixed together, and in agony, "Damn! The Duke threw up his head, gritted his teeth, and drew the sword that was pressed under him, but an even greater pain came—as he drew his sword, he cut his thigh, and the pain trembled, and a dark shadow hung over him, "A cry for help like a peasant at this time will ruin all the fame." His Excellency the Duke was still thinking of such a thing with lightning speed, and he pulled at the wound with difficulty, climbed two steps, leaned reflexively against the trunk of the tree, clenched the hilt of his sword, and pointed it at the throat of the swooping bear, ready to break the net or to meet this sad and despicable death.

Suddenly, a huge figure jumped out. (To be continued.) )