At the iron bridge at the bend of the Orontes River to the sea, the camp of 4,000 men led by Stephen and his brother-in-law Robert was temporarily stationed here.

It was not particularly far from the military camp of the Roman Empire, but it was extremely lonely: an angry Ademar, claiming that he had been betrayed by his most dear "General Military Staff", "If Stephen of Blois has abandoned me, and has abandoned thousands of brothers who fought side by side with him, and has abandoned the cause of the Lord, why should I force him to stay?" The way to Hell or to Heaven is chosen by the chosen one, and the Lord is responsible only for the coming judgment."

Holding the letter of condemnation from the priesthood, Stephen's eyes were red and his face was pale, and he slowly walked to the grass in front of the camp, which was very close to the beachhead of the Orontes River, where summer was approaching, and the green grass and valleys were like dyeing with a paintbrush, and the emerald waters of the river eased, and he could not help but think of the late autumn of last year, when the boundless armed men of the pilgrims appeared under the city of Antioch, which was also the most beautiful moment in the country: the green waters, the golden wheat fields, The most beautiful hunting ground, Daphne Forest, was across his gaze like a maiden in costume.

At that time, everyone, including himself, thought that the siege of Antioch was nothing more than a pleasant journey like an autumn hunt.

But then the icy winter rains, the bleak sun, the bones in the mud pits, and the fierce infidels on horseback destroyed the pure will. In those lightless days, the only thing that could sustain himself was the gentle smile of his wife Adella, not the dull and fanatical faith.

All the ambitions and dreams at the time of departure are now reduced to elaborate and philistine calculations. and the luggage hanging from the mule's saddle, and now it's too late to return. can also bring back a small fortune to his territory, wife and children.

Stephen watched, rumbling at the mouth of the river. The twin stone towers that stand are the "Iron Bridge Estuary Fortress" engraved with his martial arts, but it won't be long before his name loses its luster and disappears.

"Let God remember who has come? I just need to go back and be reunited with Adella. Stephen tore up the letter that the priesthood had given him, threw it in the wind, spun it into the sky, and drifted into the river.

Now. A cavalryman with a red-handed banner slowly approached him, and then pointed to a scarlet tent erected at the edge of Daphne's forest, at the head of the quiet forest, "The Grand Duke of the Empire, a banquet has been set up over there, hoping to say goodbye to the Lord of Blois and the Lord of Normandy. ”

"One-eighth of the city of Antioch belongs to you, and there are seven small market towns around the whole city that are also yours, so you can't hold on, right?" Inside the scarlet tent. The musicians played flutes and beat and shook Saracen-style tambourines and fork bells, which was very lively, and Gawain leaned against the cushions. Sitting cross-legged on the carpet, he poured Stephen a glass of wine and asked.

The other side. Normandy Robert wore a worn-out cloak with a look of amazement. He touched the tent with a huge and intricate instrument that he had never seen before, the Byzantine Roman organ. He had seen this in the court of the Emperor of Constantinople, but for the first time at such close proximity as to-day, there stood beside the organ a beautiful and noble girl, Hetomia, the daughter of Orson (who, after marrying Lambert, had voluntarily accompanied her father on the expedition, and when she had attained her qualifications, she would enter the Seleucian court as a noble lady and be the companion of Anna), politely but with cold disdain, the kind of eyes that looked at the barbarians, looked at Robert, When the other man touched the key part, Hetomia definitely covered it with her fingers, and then smiled resistantly at the Count of Normandy.

It means "don't touch".

Robert laughed wryly, pinched the corners of his tattered clothes, and looked enviously at Hertomia, who was dressed in bright clothes, and then withdrew his hand, looked at the organ a few more times in admiration, and then bowed back to his seat, next to Robert, Count of Flanders, who was drinking glass after glass of wine, and was also angry that the two had broken their promises and said goodbye, but they were angry and angry, and he still came to see him off.

"My district is entrusted to my dearest friend, Lord Flanders. I hope that he will be able to share our share and enjoy the glory of recovering the Holy Land. In addition, I write to the Priesthood of Admar recommending your succession to the General Military Staff of the Council of Cardinals. Stephen first looked at his fallen wife and brother who had returned with loving eyes, and then said to Lord Flanders with guilt.

"Me? Haha, don't be such a friend, I appreciate your kindness. Flanders Robert grunted his seventh glass of wine and coldly refused.

Gawain blinked his blue eyes, then put the fingers of his hands together, propped them on his chin, and put them on the dining table, next to him, Muzafiadin was holding a plate of fresh meat in Turkic vernacular, and called the "captain" on the eagle frame to come down and peck at it, but the captain was full of reluctance, and he was not even interested in looking at it, "It hates to hear Turkic." Gawain reminded the servant, and then said to Blois Stephen and the other two lords, and Orson and Mellot beside him, "Actually, Lord Flanders really has no hope of succeeding you, and according to my prediction, Lord Flanders and Venerable Hugh will also return soon." ”

This is almost the first time that Gawain has played the role of "prophet" in public, and he has played this trick on Anna or Kabeamia in private, and most people have surprised expressions.

However, Flanders Robert did not deny it, he put down his glass, and pulled his beard with his hand in pain, which was very unusual in his behavior, which was always known for his composure, "You know that my Flanders Domain, or Blois and Normandy, are caught between the power of the King of England, the King of France, and the Salian Caesar. I have received a secret letter that the King of France is attempting to make an expedition against my land, and if that is the case, he will provide me with reinforcements according to the covenant which I have made with the King of England. After saying that, Flanders Robert drank the eighth glass of wine, wiped his beard and smiled bitterly, "That is to say, once this situation comes true, I will go back to stand on the side of the King of England, and Hugh will go back to stand on the side of the King of France, and we will fight side by side against the Turks here, and we will return immediately, and we will meet each other with swords." ”

"Let's work together to recover the Holy City." Gawain was also a little sad, poured the ninth cup for the other party, and then said to the Count of Blois, "Will Adela agree when you go back?" As far as I'm concerned, if I run back halfway, my little woman will scold me to the ground. And what about the honorable Lady Adella? Did you tell her about your return? (To be continued.) )