"There are far more than I expected."
Aig murmured.
We watched the prisoners being dragged away from atop the walls.
There were dozens of them.
All were followers of Andronikos.
"Did the Archangel Michael truly reveal the traitors to you, Prince?"
Instead of answering, I nodded.
'The Archangel Michael spoke to me directly!'
The commotion I caused drew everyone's attention.
I immediately went around the walls, identifying the traitors.
Those who reacted with excessive fear or visible tension when asked whether they were traitors.
At first, most people were doubtful of my actions.
But when evidence was discovered in the homes of those arrested, the atmosphere reversed completely.
Not only Alexios, but soldiers and citizens alike crowded around me.
To think they would believe so easily.
Perhaps the mindset of this era truly differs from that of the twenty-first century.
In the century I lived in, many things had already been revealed.
The Earth was a round ball of soil floating in space; electricity, the sea, currents—
Most natural phenomena could be explained by science.
But now it was different.
People took my claim of receiving revelation from an archangel seriously.
'The Holy Mother herself appeared upon these walls in 626 and repelled the Persians!'
'This time the Archangel Michael protects our city!'
'Let us defeat the armies of Satan!'
Amid that chaos, I tried to maintain a calm demeanor.
'Thanks to this, I haven't slept properly for two days.'
All the 'potential' traitors had been captured. I supposed that counted as success.
"Did the Archangel Michael say nothing today?"
Hugh approached and asked.
He was one of those who accepted my words without doubt.
"If there was any revelation…"
"If our resolve is sufficient, he promised we will prevail."
"Then we shall win."
Hugh smiled.
He pointed below the wall.
Led by Patriarch Theodosius, thousands of citizens marched beneath the walls.
"O Mother of God, victorious one, wedded maiden and virgin…"
A hymn rang out.
What is this now?
This is madness. Utter madness.
"Rumors that the Archangel Michael promised victory have lifted the soldiers' morale to the heavens."
Hugh said with a laugh.
"In contrast, the rebels' morale has fallen to the ground. With all the traitors captured, they will no longer cross the walls easily."
"What of the Greek fire?"
"It has all been installed directly above the gates. But why place it inside the gate rather than outside…"
"If there is a breach during battle, it will be at the gate."
I said.
The rebels possessed no proper siege equipment.
The walls themselves were unlikely to fall.
The danger lay in the gates.
"With Greek fire, even if the gate is broken, we can buy time."
Greek fire.
The famous secret liquid weapon of the Eastern Roman Empire.
I never imagined it would be used this way.
At that moment, the clanking of armor approached.
Alexios.
He came escorted by Varangian guards.
The boy wore chainmail like I did.
Over it, a gleaming golden cuirass.
"Prince Baldwin. Did the Archangel Michael perhaps…"
I repeated the answer I had given Hugh.
"If our resolve is sufficient."
"So. Then he tests our faith…"
He looked at me and continued.
"Andronikos has sent a messenger. He wishes to speak with me directly."
"A direct audience…"
Has he realized all the spies were captured?
Surrender? Or perhaps negotiation.
But we could not be careless.
"I will accompany Your Majesty."
"I intended to ask you that."
He answered brightly.
We met Andronikos at the eastern wall of the city.
Right before the shoreline.
Andronikos stood atop the prow of a ship.
In a position looking down upon us.
I do not know imperial custom well, but this seemed clearly insulting.
Alexios frowned as well.
I stared at the man on the ship.
'This is my first time seeing him in person.'
An old fox who had lived by plunder and violation.
A tyrant among tyrants who ruined the Eastern Roman Empire at a decisive moment.
Andronikos Komnenos.
Alexios shouted toward him.
"Andronikos! What are you thinking, committing such treason?!"
"Your Majesty, I have come to protect you from wicked ministers. Pray, set aside your anger."
He said.
"If you open the harbor, I shall immediately lead my army and eliminate the corrupt officials. And return power to Your Imperial Majesty…"
A scoff escaped me before I could stop it.
Who is telling whom to cast aside suspicion?
Perhaps he heard it, for he looked toward me.
"Ah, so you are Baldwin of Jerusalem. I hear that since your arrival the capital has fallen into chaos."
He raised his voice toward Alexios again.
"Your Majesty, those Latins are blinding you. They plotted assassination and with Princess Maria and—"
"Silence!"
Alexios shouted.
There was anger in his voice.
"As you can see! The capital is not in chaos at all. There is no one left who will open the gates or the harbor for you."
"You believe that Latin's absurd claim of receiving revelation from the Archangel? His plan is to eliminate loyal subjects and seize—"
I stared directly at Andronikos.
His emotions.
I had to read them.
What is he plotting?
"There is nothing further to discuss with you!"
Alexios cried.
His cloak fluttered in the wind.
"Withdraw your army at once. Otherwise you shall be judged for treason!"
"Very well. If that is truly Your Majesty's will…"
Andronikos bowed his head.
A flood of emotions pressed into me.
"Then I shall obey the Emperor's command. I will withdraw the army by today."
He turned and disappeared.
Alexios muttered blankly.
"Andronikos will withdraw his army? What in the world…"
"We must issue an alert immediately. Station all defenders along the walls."
I whispered to him.
My heart pounded.
The emotions I felt from Andronikos.
And his words.
Considering everything, there was only one conclusion.
"He will attack soon."
A few hours later.
The Theodosian Walls.
Shouts of soldiers echoed along the ramparts.
Bolts and arrows flew through the air.
"They are throwing in everything they have."
Hugh muttered, looking beyond the wall.
He held a longsword in one hand.
"They must be desperate."
I said.
As expected, Andronikos began the assault immediately after the parley.
A reckless push with sheer numbers, without proper siege towers or equipment.
There could be only one reason.
"An army cannot be maintained without provisions. He intends to force a decision before his forces disperse."
A mindless assault because of failing supply.
It reminded me of the Horns of Hattin.
With morale fallen, perhaps he had no other choice.
I raised my crossbow and aimed forward.
We stood on the inner wall.
Outside the outer wall, the moat blocked the enemy.
I inhaled and fired.
A soldier running with a ladder fell into the moat below.
As I reloaded, someone approached, breathing hard.
It was Aig.
A longbow slung across his back.
"I've checked all the other gates."
He said, catching his breath.
"As expected, the Pegae Gate has the largest concentration of enemy forces. The others are mere diversions."
"Then we only need to hold here."
How many are before us?
Ten thousand? Twenty thousand?
Rebel soldiers charged with crude ladders and battering rams.
A tangle of emotions wrapped around me.
Fear. Dread.
Sweat ran down my body, soaking my chainmail.
'Focus on one thing.'
I concentrated on the sound of my heartbeat.
After a few seconds, I felt steadier.
"Concentrate your attacks on the battering ram!"
"Do not stop shooting!"
Enemy soldiers carrying the ram fell under arrows and bolts.
But behind them came a second, then a third ram.
"Damn it! There are too many! We cannot hold them!"
"It would be better to abandon the outer wall, Prince. The gate will not last long."
Hugh said.
"Better to withdraw the line…"
"Then the villages and civilians between will be slaughtered."
I said.
Hungry, enraged conscripts from the provinces.
It was clear what they would do if they crossed the wall.
'We must stop them here.'
The conclusion was simple.
"Proceed as planned."
"…Understood. Everyone to your positions!"
Hugh shouted.
Soon the battering ram struck the gate with a crashing sound.
"They are breaking through!"
"Not too soon!"
I waved and shouted.
The key was to wait until they rushed in.
Soon came the sound of footsteps and shouts.
Enemy soldiers poured through the broken gate.
They were met by defenders with spears.
As they squeezed through, the defenders formed a wall of spearpoints.
Just as the defenders began to falter, Hugh gave the order.
"Throw them! Toward the gate!"
Soldiers waiting atop the wall hurled pottery jars.
They shattered, spraying black liquid everywhere.
Some enemy soldiers realized what it was and screamed—but it was too late.
Greek fire.
"Arrows!"
Flaming arrows flew toward the enemy.
And the next moment—
Flames consumed everything.
"Argh!"
"Retreat!"
"Water! Water!"
Enemy soldiers ablaze scattered in panic.
The gate area was engulfed in fire in an instant.
Archers and crossbowmen on the inner wall shot into the disordered enemy.
I shouted to Aig.
"Our casualties?"
"A few caught fire by mistake, but we extinguished them immediately with sand!"
I nodded.
Greek fire could only be extinguished with sand or vinegar.
Water was useless.
'I did not expect it to be this effective.'
A secret weapon indeed.
"Prince, we have won!"
"Not yet."
I said to Aig.
They continued to press forward despite the flames.
The fire would not burn forever.
Was it impossible to hold them entirely?
"This is our opportunity!"
Hugh shouted as he approached me.
"If we charge once, we can drive them beyond the moat! We must strike while they are confused!"
"Sir Hugh is correct."
I looked down.
They had breached the outer wall.
Between the outer and inner walls lay a broad space.
An ideal environment for a small cavalry force to charge dense infantry.
"They are provincial conscripts. Their will to fight will not be strong."
I said.
Morale determines victory in both games and reality.
Conscripts dragged here would not possess high morale.
"We end it here."
The three of us descended the wall.
A winding spiral staircase.
Bolt waited before the gate.
He snorted as he greeted me.
"Yes, yes. We shall run soon."
"Form up! Quickly, you slugs!"
Hugh shouted, and the waiting knights gathered.
Templars, Hospitallers, and the Order of Saint Lazarus.
White, black, green cloaks.
Various colors fluttered.
But all bore the same emblem.
The cross.
Imperial heavy cavalry and cataphracts stood alongside them.
A Hospitaller knight approached.
A senior knight beneath Hugh in rank.
He whispered.
"My Prince, we are not obligated to fight here. This is a Greek struggle."
He said.
"If Your Highness were to fall into danger…"
"Have you forgotten why we came here?"
Hugh shouted at him.
"Why do you think the Archangel Michael spoke directly to the Prince?"
He shouted to the others.
"If the Eastern Roman Empire falls, Jerusalem falls. Why do you not understand that defending this place is directly tied to protecting the Holy City?!"
"Sir Hugh speaks rightly."
I said.
"I pledged in my name and in the honor of my kingdom to support the Emperor."
I looked at the knights.
We had to hold this place to prevent the domino from falling.
Perhaps even to prevent the tragedy of the Fourth Crusade.
"But if any among you wish to withdraw, you are free to do so."
Silence fell.
Then Hugh shouted.
"I ask you: what is the role of a true knight?"
He raised his sword.
"To protect the Holy Church and the faithful, to rescue the poor from injustice, to bring peace to one's land, to shed blood for one's brothers—"
Before he could finish, the knights shouted.
"To lay down his life if necessary!"
They shouted together, regardless of order.
Some laughed.
"I ask you once more: what is the role of a true knight?"
"To lay down his life if necessary!"
"Then to save Constantinople and the Christians from a foul traitor is surely worthy. Is it not?"
Hugh shouted.
"Prepare your lances! Once! We end it in a single charge!"
He turned to me and whispered.
"If we fail to drive them off in one blow, we must retreat immediately. Therefore, you must remain behind at all costs."
Like wings shielding me.
I nodded.
"Understood."
The royal banner of Jerusalem fluttered at the front.
Crusader knights fighting to defend Constantinople.
There was irony in it.
"I was a fool to think we could simply tour and return."
Aig said, drawing his bow.
He too was mounted.
"May the Archangel bless me as well…"
"I will ask him personally, Aig."
I said with a smile.
Then Hugh's cry rang out.
"Charge!"
Bolt surged forward.
I gripped my lance.
Now was the time to rely fully on instinct.
When I removed the barrier in my mind, countless emotions poured in.
"Charge! Drive them beyond the walls!"
Banners filled my sight.
The thunder of hooves everywhere.
Cold breath reflecting on helmets.
At this moment, I was a knight.