Then the cloaked samurai who took the lead showed him his credentials, and the soldiers bowed and retreated.

The warrior stepped forward, saluted the monk and the two minor lords, and then led their heads along the street of Metz, where Fourche and Rainold were struck by the magnificence and luxury of Constantinople, from the monastery church to the shops and officials' residences that lined the streets.

After walking for about an hour, in the shadow of the walls of Constantine, the warrior who had taken the lead let go of his hand and stood in front of the city gate, "Long time no see, respected hermit. "There, a tall Varyag man suddenly appeared in front of everyone with a helmet.

Peter recognized him as none other than Agofi, the commander of the Emperor's Shield Guard. Nystas, who was also the brother of Eudasia and Ingrina, immediately bowed on the back of the donkey and saluted the Commander, and Folcher and Lenolde hurriedly saluted. "Please go this way." Then Agofi stretched out his hand and said to the bull square behind the city gate.

"I think I must have been summoned by some royal dignitary in Brachna Palace." Peter felt that something was wrong, so he said this, because he faintly thought: since even the mercenary officer of the Praetorian Guard, whom Emperor Alexios relied on the most, and who could not leave his side, appeared here, then could it mean that the emperor himself and if Alexios was really in the imperial capital, why did he deceive everyone before, and why didn't he receive his party in Brachna Palace? A deep uneasiness in Peter's heart surfaced.

But the polite Yagfei, with the murderous aura and majesty buried under the thick beard on his face, was indeed unquestionable, and soon several guards samurai with halberds and swords in their hands. Front and back, left and right, surrounded the three of Peter in the core. "Ask the hermit monk to come from here, the lives of the three of you are at stake. Be sure to listen to the contemptible arrangement. ”

Through the long shadows of the city gate, the people entered the most prosperous bull square in the capital, and the ordinary citizens and merchants saw the pair of warriors in the inner palace, and they all consciously retreated and saluted, and then in a secluded house behind the street, Yagfei stopped, stood by the steps, and invited Peter to enter.

At this time, a large thick cloud drifted from the Black Sea. Pressed even lower, their shadows directly over the house and garden, a little breathless, Peter did not think much before he crossed the doorway, while the other two craned their necks and walked in trembling under the swords and axes of the guards warriors.

"Long time no see, my old man." Under the gazebo in the garden. A withered old man in civilian clothes let out a solemn laugh to welcome their arrival. This man was known to both Fourche and Rainold, and it was none other than the chief of the royal wardrobe, Nick Demia, who had written a golden edict to them at Fort Sophia. "Welcome here, welcome to my nephew's house."

Then Peter suddenly grabbed his crutches. Haha laughed, and then when everyone didn't know why. He said to Nikedemia, "The commander of the Inner Palace Shield Guard is here. The Grand Wardrobe of the Imperial Wardrobe is also here, and now in the courtyard of the chief of the Imperial Palace's Guards with bows and arrows—then, O Noble Emperor, you should be in this garden, and at this moment the gray clouds and the flowers and trees that are beginning to wither are just the same as the majesty of your golden light, which cannot be concealed at all. ”

The whole courtyard fell silent, and soon there was a gentle but majestic laughter, and a middle-aged man in a purple robe, with a beautiful beard and eyes like torches, and long arms behind his back, turned out from behind the wall of the garden, "Peter, you guessed right, I am indeed here. ”

"O Supreme Lord, Agent of God's majesty on earth, and the thirteenth holy apostle in the mouth of the people, your servant salutes you." When Peter saw Alexios, he fell down very nimbly, and then Forzer and Lenold, who were stunned, also hurriedly pouted their butts and fell to the ground, sweating coldly, and did not dare to look up at the emperor's incomparable majesty.

"I heard that you have been summoned to the Brachna Palace, but what about the sealed documents and the vouchers to enter the city?" Alexios stood in front of the wall and asked.

Peter lowered his head, but did not answer.

So the emperor asked again, and his tone did not allow for a moment, and Foursie and the others were half frightened to death, and hurriedly shouted to the hermit.

"Who are you two?" Alexios turned his words and pointed directly at the two turtles.

As a result, one of the two said that he was the Earl of St. Coo, and the other was the court treasurer.

After saying that, Forcius climbed to the emperor's knees, and presented the golden edict respectfully, Alexios glanced twice, and said, "It turns out that you are two distinguished guests, and I must rely on them for the whole pilgrimage, not to mention that the two heroes are willing to swear allegiance to me, and I am very relieved." Little Bird, the two of you will soon be the commander of the pilgrimage army and go to Asia Minor, how do you think they should be rewarded? ”

"Five hundred newly minted gold coins, plus the honorary titles of the two first sword nobles of the court, can enter and leave any palace of His Majesty without evidence in the future." Nikdemia replied immediately. These two thoughts, sure enough, last night's dream came true, they couldn't believe their ears, so they could only bend their heads and kiss the emperor's slightly outstretched boots.

"How, when can we lead the army, my fleet can help you cross the sea."

"As long as His Majesty's order is given at this moment, we will be able to set off tomorrow!" Forser swore by it.

"And Peter, my old friend, you still refuse to tell where the credentials come from?" Alexios continued to cross-examine.

"The summons document is stamped with the royal family's honorable seal, but it is not signed, naturally it is Your Majesty, at least that's what Peter thinks in his heart." Peter replied unhurriedly.

Alexios sneered twice, "I planted an eyeliner in Juquintina's palace to report your whereabouts, so I asked Yagfei to take the warriors to intercept you." You know, I have been hiding in the capital for many days, and no one in Brachner's palace knows my whereabouts. So don't hide it, monk. ”

"It's true that there is no signature"

"Then hand over the vouchers, and that's fine."

"Your Majesty, when I stayed in the palace last night, I burned all the vouchers."

These words suddenly made Alexios's face cloudy, and it was about to be the moment of "lightning and thunder", "Why do you want to burn, is your heart weak?" I am now telling you plainly why I want to sneak in, that is, there has been a huge conspiracy against me in the palace recently, and the summons document in your hand is the key evidence! ”

"It is precisely because there is no signature, and the previous rumor that His Majesty is not in the capital, which makes me afraid that there is any palace conspiracy against His Majesty, in order to prevent 100,000 pilgrims from getting involved and hurting the alliance of Eastern and Western believers, I burned the voucher documents so as not to be used by people with ulterior motives." Peter was not afraid, and he spoke unhurriedly.

"Are you fooling me?" Alexios roared suddenly, and suddenly the wind and clouds in the courtyard changed, and the dull thunder suddenly sounded. (To be continued.) )