The gates of the palace slowly opened, and the warriors of the Gawain Guard, wearing nose guards and helmets, with red feathers, were the first to step into the roads and floors of Burdin's palace with a loud shout. The soldiers of the Prince's Guard, standing in disgrace on the school yard in front of the Miyagi armory, laid down their weapons, shields, armor and flags on the ground, and let the servants of the victors' ranks take them away, and several Slavic noble officers could not even bear it and committed suicide in advance.

Soon the banner on the tower was replaced by the lion of St. Mark and the red-handed crosssword, and Berdin's shoulders were draped by the curtains, and he was quietly parked in the remote garden at the back gate of the palace, where the grief-stricken prince stayed and several unarmoured servants stood around.

Suddenly the sun flashed in, and it was a brute dressed as a red-bearded brute, and he rudely lifted the curtain, and looked up and down the frightened and humiliated Za'tar prince, muttered twice in the Varyag language, and then took up his tomahawk and re-entered the palace to "accept" the spoils.

About half an hour later, Berdin's ladies and dependents all walked out "safe and sound", and before Berdeen had specifically asked his wife, maids, and daughters not to smear the fat powder, so as not to cause the enemy to become furious, but at this moment the discipline of the army that came to occupy Miyagi was acceptable, so this group of women still dressed up and walked out proudly for the sake of inherent honor.

Then in the halls and chambers, Gawain's guards, the servants of Farov's company, and the Venetians and Amalfis of all stripes were in constant streaming, silently and efficiently affixing their seals to the various places in between, indicating that they had taken these precious silk curtains, stalls, majolicas, silver tableware and candlesticks, marble sculptures, and all kinds of precious furniture, and even a small party went into the kitchen. Put the cinnamon, pepper and other spices inside, and bundle them into packs. Shipped out. The whole process is harmonious. It was friendly and fully demonstrated the gentlemanly demeanor of the Venetian and the Red Hand.

Even a short time later, the soldiers of the company came into contact with the group of Miyagi ladies who stayed in the courtyard: the little white-faced Wright, in the dark shadow of the colonnade, held each other's hands with the woman with the title of Za'tar, snuggled up, and talked sweetly to each other.

"You mean, you've dedicated your life to the Grand Duke's Company. If it's romantic, there's only this half-hour left? The lady fell into the arms of Wright, who had closed her eyes and fell in love, and whispered.

"Yes, my mistress, my patron, the lovely one who guides me in my battle, kissing your lips and kissing your eyelashes will be my inexhaustible motivation to go to the Holy Sepulchre. When I arrive on that glorious other side, I will continue to love you for the rest of my life and pray for your happiness and well-being. Well, now without further ado. Where is the nearest dormitory? Wright said, gently propping the woman's chin with his fingers.

But the woman suddenly screamed. Breaking free from Wright's arms, he leaned back against the pillar: in the shadows. A tall man with pale blue eyes staring at him under the brim of his helmet. He looked at them coldly, with an unsheathed sword hanging from his belt.

"I'm mobilizing female pilgrims to raise money for the Dalian team, Your Excellency," Archduke Gawain, who didn't know when and where, broke into Wright, who had come from the patrol, and immediately knelt down and explained with a weeping voice.

Gawain was silent, like a foraging bear, bowed his head slightly, and walked between the two, the noble lady wanted to escape, but couldn't move, and then the Grand Duke's eyes "nailed" her to the pillar, pointing to Wright, who was kneeling on the ground, "Did he actually violate and deceive your chastity?" ”

The woman's face was as pale as earth, and she hurriedly shook her head.

At this time, Anderodat came up and asked the Grand Duke if he was acting according to the new military order, and Gawain said in a calm voice, "Since there is no big fuss, and there is no overly practical crime, there is no need to castrate Wright." ”

Hearing this, the woman was so frightened that she covered her mouth, and Wright subconsciously touched her crotch and felt cold.

But then the Grand Duke came to him, "But you will be whipped in front of the whole army, as an example!" - Let me ask you Wright, will you have the courage to accept punishment in front of 6,000 soldiers and the Brotherhood, without groaning or scolding? ”

"I can still do that, Your Excellency." Wright's face turned pale, as long as he could keep the "core components", he would not hesitate to discard some flesh and skin.

Gawain nodded, and then he said to the noblewoman, "Go back to your ranks, woman. Don't have anything to do with my soldiers anymore. ”

The noblewoman's teeth were fighting, but after exchanging salutes with Gawain, she ran down the steps.

In the evening, Berdin, along with all the stripped princely guards, as well as the noble servants and the ladies, left the city of Za'tar from the land pass in a dejected manner, and the rejoicing of the soldiers of the Red Hand Brigade at the foot of the hill shook the earth.

Then, two days later, the Venetian colonies arrived by boat and began to operate the neighborhood and the docks—and the forty brotherhoods, three hundred immigrants, artisans, and merchants of the city of Bari, arrived about a day later, the force that Gawain was to stay in charge of one-fifth of the block.

In addition, fifty more soldiers who had just enlisted walked down from the ships docked in the port of Za'tar: the city of Bari was constantly recruiting volunteers for the expedition in the procession of pilgrims who came and went to visit St. Nicholas's Cathedral.

These soldiers, most of whom were from Italy, were full of ambition, and after receiving chain mail, scale armor, weapons, and horses in the makeshift new armory, they crossed the narrow headland bridge and arrived at the departure camp of the Red Hand Company under the fortress of Meeks.

As a result, under the remnant sun, they were greeted by the first lesson, a whipping table that had been built high, Wright was stripped of his shirt and his hands were hanging, and stood there, and the other nine companies of soldiers, as well as the cavalry company and the company of craftsmen, were all lined up in a strict queue and surrounded around.

Giovanni, who had just been appointed as the "Judge of the Dalian Army" and the "Spear Instructor", had a serious face like an ice cube, standing in front of the stage with a spear in his hand, and beside him were two executioners. Then the group of recruits raised their heads, and above Meeksburg, their Grand Duke Gawain, together with the chief of the secret officer, Anderodat, the company's camp chief, Melo, the cavalry standard-bearer, Muzafiadin, the "captain, the captain" Andreev, and the "sword instructor" Bramson, stood proudly and supervised the execution of the flogging.

"This fellow, but I have not yet called him a scum and a scumbag, for the seduction of the beauty has violated the discipline of the Dalian army on the march, but it has not yet done any real damage to the woman of Zak'a's fame, and the other six who have also committed such a mistake, even if they are members of the Brotherhood, will not be pardoned, and will be punished with fifteen lashes, and shall be temporarily stripped of the title of the Brotherhood. With this as a lesson, I will then put the investigation of the fraternity in the hands of Giovanni. Next, the execution. Gawain's eagle-like eyes scanned the audience and gave the order. (To be continued.) )