The sound of swords clashing echoed in the darkness.
A small figure and a towering one.
The two shadows ceased fighting.
"Excessive training is not good for the body, Your Majesty."
Ruaak lowered his sword as he spoke.
Unlike Alexios, drenched in sweat, he breathed calmly.
"Did you not say that in the land where you lived, training was done daily? That even children practiced fighting with one another?"
"For us, life itself was training. From the moment of birth until death."
The large warrior spoke in a cool tone.
"My ancestors passed through Iceland and Greenland and even settled a land called Vinland."
He stroked his beard.
"They say they fought the natives there as well. In the end, they were forced to abandon the colony. But Your Majesty need not follow our ways."
"I fight every day as well. Not with blades, but lives are always at stake. You know that as well, Ruaak."
Alexios recalled what he had seen weeks before.
The greedy gaze of Andronikos.
His body trembled at the thought that Agnes had nearly fallen into the hands of such a monster.
But that had not come to pass.
The imperial army and the knights led by Baldwin had defeated the rebels.
And even captured Andronikos himself.
"I still cannot forget what I saw that day."
Alexios murmured.
The sight from the tower lingered before his eyes.
The wave of knights driving the rebels beyond the walls.
"The citizens have taken interest as well. There is even talk of holding a tournament."
Ruaak said with a faint smile.
He sheathed his sword at his waist.
"For Romans to wish to see jousting instead of chariot races—that is rare."
"I wish my father could have seen this."
The young Emperor said with a smile.
He fell silent.
"Do you truly believe the Archangel Michael protected the capital?"
"…."
Ruaak looked at the Emperor.
He spoke slowly.
"Every man Prince Baldwin identified was a traitor who followed Andronikos. Without a single exception."
He added,
"I have never seen anyone possess such an ability."
"I heard that in your homeland there are many witches and sorcerers."
"Völvas are said to perform many rites. Even those who believe in the White Christ sometimes seek them out in times of drought."
Ruaak shook his head.
"But no seiðr could identify traitors. Even if it were possible, it would require tremendous sacrifice and ritual."
"…."
"Prince Baldwin arrived just before Princess Maria and Andronikos began their rebellion."
"And he personally requested from his king to lead the delegation."
"From before he set foot in the Empire, he possessed a firm objective. One need only look at the money spent on the festival and donations."
Ruaak continued,
"He prepared in advance so that public sentiment would gather around Your Majesty."
"Then before he even came to Constantinople, the Archangel's…"
Alexios murmured.
He added firmly,
"We must secure the Prince by any means. As my father personally tended the King of Germany when he fell ill, I too—"
Alexios entered the palace interior.
Handmaids approached and wiped the sweat from his body.
"If the marriage with Princess Theodora succeeds, there could be no greater guarantee."
"We do not yet know whether the King of Jerusalem will accept the proposal."
"He will. An alliance with the Empire is the only deterrent against the Saracens."
"That is not enough. We require something more certain. Something we can show the Latins…"
Alexios frowned.
"John II personally led armies eastward. So did my father."
He continued,
"Yet neither achieved decisive victory. My father even accepted 'peace tribute' from the Saracens and withdrew."
"That was a decision made for the Empire's interest. There were rebellions at the time."
"But in return we earned the mockery of the West. Is it not time we displayed the dignity of the Empire?"
"…."
Alexios entered his study with Ruaak.
A vast map covered one wall.
From distant England to the Holy City of Jerusalem.
"But at present the political situation is too unstable to prepare an eastern expedition, Your Majesty."
Ruaak said.
"To prevent possible rebellion, Your Majesty must remain here in the capital."
"I know. I know. It is difficult to dispatch an army now. But did not the knights of Jerusalem defeat the Saracens with small numbers? Like their orders…"
He muttered, as if realizing something.
"Yes. There were the orders."
"Your Majesty?"
"We shall establish an order of knights for the defense of the Holy City. Even if we cannot send a great army, there is no issue in sending volunteers. With financial support."
"…."
Ruaak was silent for a moment before speaking.
"A knightly order under Constantinople rather than Rome. Patriarch Theodosius would welcome it. The issue would be finding volunteers…"
He continued,
"Among the northerners, many wish to enter the Guard but lack the qualifications and are assigned to regular units."
"The Guard selects only the finest. I am aware."
"If we require service in the order as a condition for entry into the Guard, we could easily secure men."
He added,
"Yet the western orders are said to dedicate their entire lives to the defense of the Holy City…"
"We need not be bound by western custom. The Kingdom of Jerusalem will welcome a new order with open arms."
The Emperor rose abruptly.
"Draft the details. Once ready, we must inform the Prince at once. And…"
Alexios smiled.
The expression of an excited boy.
"The Feast of the Archangel Michael approaches. What if we hold a tournament?"
"A tournament?"
"Is it not the Emperor's duty to give his subjects what they desire?"
The young Emperor laughed.
Ruaak's stern expression softened into a smile.
***
Constantinople
Garnier arrived at the harbor a week after the thanksgiving service.
"Aig! Prince Baldwin!"
Garnier shouted upon seeing us.
He leapt from the ship with a clatter of armor.
"Blessings of the Lord! I am relieved that you and even Master are safe! What in the world happened here?"
Other knights followed behind him.
There were not many directly under the royal household.
Most were from the Templars, Hospitallers, and the Order of Saint Lazarus.
All wore expressions of confusion.
"We departed at once upon hearing that the capital was besieged…"
Garnier said.
"But we encountered pirates near Cyprus and had to circle around. They were disguised as the Eastern Roman navy."
"If it was Cyprus… it was likely not pirates."
I said.
The place seized by Admiral Kontostephanos, who rebelled alongside Andronikos.
Now he turns to piracy.
"We should first explain the situation."
"I shall do so, Prince."
Hugh laughed heartily.
He stepped before Garnier.
"So, are you fully recovered?"
"I have long since recovered. Please explain at once."
"Yes, yes. You must be curious. I shall recount everything from beginning to end."
Hugh began.
The festival. The sudden assassination attempt.
Andronikos's rebellion.
The voice of the Archangel Michael.
And finally, the charge between the walls.
By the time he finished, Garnier stood with his mouth open.
He looked at me and exclaimed,
"So you received revelation from the Archangel even before going to Eilat! Healing the sick with holy water, detecting the tribes at sea from afar…"
He laughed.
"That explains everything."
"…."
I answered only with a faint smile.
Sometimes silence conveys more than words.
It would indeed be absurd to claim a mere child conceived all this alone.
Garnier shook his head.
"No wonder the people of Constantinople welcome us so warmly. I felt as though I were royalty."
"If you knew how we are treated here, you would be astonished."
Hugh said with a grin.
The knights who had arrived at the harbor immediately drew the attention of the Eastern Romans.
Dockworkers pretending not to stare, children openly approaching.
"Everywhere we go, they are eager to present gifts."
"The atmosphere has changed greatly."
I shrugged.
There was not a citizen of Constantinople who did not know that the knights of Jerusalem had risked their lives for them.
Combined with the tale of the 'Archangel Michael,' the city's anti-Latin sentiment had turned entirely around.
"Still, the matter of Cyprus grows more serious. That rebel admiral must be dealt with swiftly."
Hugh said.
"If the island is not properly controlled, support and supplies from Europe will suffer."
"You are correct. The longer it continues, the greater the loss."
I said.
Cyprus was a strategic position.
If European support were cut off, the Crusaders would suffer greatly.
It could not be left in chaos.
Even Richard the Lionheart had once been attacked there during the Third Crusade.
Though he retaliated and seized the island.
"For now, let us conclude what remains to be done in Constantinople."
"You refer to 'that item,' I presume."
"'That item'? What are you speaking of?"
Garnier interjected.
I smiled.
"There is something we are currently making."
The work on the telescope progressed steadily.
Explaining it to the craftsmen was not easy.
When I asked for the clearest glass possible, they had looked at me blankly.
But once the matter of the Archangel was invoked, their attitude changed completely.
And now I possessed ample funds and time.
An ideal situation for relentless effort.
Garnier, Hugh, Aig, and I returned to the palace conversing.
No sooner had we entered than an official approached.
He wore splendid court robes.
"Prince. His Majesty requests your presence."
"Has something urgent occurred?"
I asked.
He had not summoned me so suddenly before.
"His Majesty considers establishing a knightly order for the defense of the Holy City. And regarding a jousting tournament to commemorate the Feast of Michael…"
"Pardon?"
A laugh escaped me.
Did I mishear?
A tournament—and what?