Eagle Flag of Epirus

【They knew the way of righteousness and turned away from the Holy Order passed on to them, it would be better not to know. As the saying goes, he turns around and eats what the dog vomits, and the pig washes it and goes back to the mud to roll. 2 Peter]

　　 The winter in Constantinople has been rainy and rainy for a month. The monsoon on the sea has caused a large number of past business travelers to stay in the city. The merchants cursed that the **** weather caused them to suffer losses, but the Byzantine tax officials were very happy, because foreign caravans would pay an extra tariff for staying here for a day.

In the neighborhood on the north side of Bull Square, the wine shop is crowded with foreign merchants. There are Italian merchants, Saxons, Franks, and Russ. They speak different languages ​​or complain about their business problems or Show off and brag about how to make a fortune. In the noisy tavern, there are omnipotent people who teach and teach. This is so busy that the owner of the shop is busy, and the busy bartender runs around. Even the cook behind has to come out to help, but they have to beware. The black crushed the oily hands in the crowd.

　　 In the corner of the tavern, no one has noticed the two people who are talking quietly, and this is why Igor chose this place as a meeting place. The places frequented by foreign businessmen are generally not disturbed by uninvited guests.

　　 "Twenty-five silver coins, it can't be less." Igor said coldly, and didn't mean to bargain with the other party.

"Twenty-five silver coins, you still want the old Nomisma, why don't you grab it!" The Ross merchant on the opposite side almost yelled at him angrily. He had been bargaining with the boy in front of him for several days, but the other party That is, oil and salt don't get in. Twenty-five silver coins in itself were a lot of money, but before he had time to counter-offer, he was almost choked out with a sip of "Just old Nomisma" on the other side.

However, Igor looked as if he had settled on the Ross merchant on the opposite side, and said unhurriedly: "The price is very fair, and even the Helenpex gold coins now have only a layer of gold plated on the surface, of course. Only old coins are accepted. And if it were not a last resort, I would never sell this book, and it is impossible to lose one more copper plate." Thanks to the reform of Emperor Alexius not long ago, a large number of newly issued coins have been issued. Helen Pei flowed into the replacement market for the old Helen Pei, but the bad quality directly reduced the value of the Helen Pei currency, forcing the residents of Constantinople to barter, the only circulating Niquifer in the black market. Nomisma in the Ruth era became a hard currency.

"But is this broken book worth so much for you?" The Ross merchant barely slapped the table and shouted. It's not that he can't get the money, but it's too expensive. In terms of conversion, his business trip this time would be a waste of money. One trip, but the young man had to get what he had.

Seeing the anxiety of the Ross businessman, Igor became more composed and said: "This is a manuscript of "The Chronicles of Past Years" more than a hundred years ago. The price is cheap enough for you. If you don't want it, then we will talk about it. Come here!" He said this deliberately. In fact, he has been curious that the Ross businessman in front of him obviously didn't understand the value of the book in his hand, but he has been pestering himself for three days. Now he is even more sure that the real buyer is definitely not him. , But someone else. Anyway, the other party has already revealed the intent to win, even though he is eager to get the money, Igor doesn't mind spending time with the other party.

　　 The two sides were in a stalemate. After waiting for a long time, the Ross merchant finally couldn't hold it back anymore, and took the initiative to let go.

　　 "Think you are cruel, deal!"

　　 Watching the irritating Ross merchant remove his money bag from his waist, Igor's face also showed a triumphant smile at this time. Although unfortunately, I still failed to force the buyer behind the scenes, but I am very satisfied with the result, because I really need the money now. However, it seems that this "Chronicles of Past Years" is indeed very important to them, and Igor can't help but regret that he should raise the price again.

　　 And just as the two parties were preparing to pay the money and deliver the goods, the door of the tavern "slammed" and was kicked open at this time to terminate their transaction.

　　 Seeing the wind and rain outside came in, it immediately drew dissatisfied shouts of people inside. The sound of ping-pong pushing and dropping dishes and wine glasses on the ground was intertwined, and the noise that filled the tavern was pushed to one.

"Who is this? Didn't you see such heavy rain outside!" The bartender, who had long been impatient, was about to go up and scold the people outside, but when he wiped off the rain on his face, he was caught by the sight in front of him. Frightened dumbfounded.

　　 "Military... Army Lord, who are you?"

　　 Outside the tavern, several strong soldiers stood like mountains.

　　 "Find us a few vacancies to sit down. A few more glasses of wine and a plate of fresh olives." The headed man said hoarsely with a big beard.

　　 "Military master, but you...you see, the shop is full." The cautious bartender didn't dare to show up, for fear of offending the men in front of him, but he couldn't help but there are indeed too many guests today.

However, as soon as the bartender’s words fell, the panicked host kicked the sightless clerk away, hurriedly laughed and apologized, “This stupid guy can’t speak, no wonder, the little shop will give you a few. Make room, I will let others squeeze in a while, and I will definitely give you a spacious place."

　　 "That would be great." The man took out a dozen Numi from his arms and gave them to the store and led others into the tavern.

　　 At this moment, the noisy wine shop was silent, and the people who were still noisy suddenly became quiet. Because the soldiers who walked in were not ordinary soldiers, with chain mail lining and fish-scale breastplate, and wearing a Nordic-style iron helmet, there is only one army in people’s impression of this image, that is, the emperor’s tile. Ranji Guard.

　　 Why do they appear here? In the wine shop, everyone couldn't help but murmur. No one dared to provoke these fighters from the north, even foreign merchants, before the owner of the shop greeted them, a large area of ​​space was vacated in the pub. The Varangis took it for granted, so they found a seat and took a seat.

"When will this horrible weather clear up? What did you call us here, Captain Vasily, this is really stinking." Looking at the sky outside, the sound of pouring rain hitting the window panels came from my ears. , As soon as he sat down, a Varangi said displeasedly.

"It's still raining for a while. What's the hurry? No matter how bad it is, it's not as bad as your body." Captain Vasily said lightly, and the other Varangi behind him couldn't help but laugh, because this Varangi just now Soon after he fell in the rain, there was still a mess of mud all over his body.

　　The Varangi who was laughed at by his companions blushed, and said angrily: "It's not the **** new pavement, not to mention the soles of my feet, but I fell a little bit."

　　 "Okay, don't laugh, we still have business to do."

　　 At this time, Captain Vasily’s solemn voice came in the Varangi’s ears, and they became serious immediately and stopped joking. In such a ghostly weather, the other party deliberately called them here to discuss something important.

　　 Everyone looked at their boss, waiting for Vasily to speak.

　　 "I am calling you over today to remind you that you will be restrained for a while. There has been news from the Holy Palace. It is about the assassination of Lord Vatazes, Chancellor of the Exchequer."

　　 Vasily looked solemn, without any joking.

　　 But these words made the other Varangis confused, "Isn't that all a few months ago?!"

The Varangians’ conversations didn’t mean anything to cover up, because they were speaking the ancient Greek language. Even the authentic Russ would only be able to hear them only half-understood, but what they were talking about at this time was all sitting down. Igor in the corner heard clearly. Because his father was a retired Varangian warrior, he was familiar with this rough Varangian language.

　　 "Minister Vatazes was assassinated? Hasn't this matter been settled long ago!"

Although it has been almost half a year, Igor still remembers that incident. It happened on the night he went to see Brother Serchius, and even the place where the chancellor was assassinated was different from St. Elena’s Cathedral. far. It is said that that night, Vatazes' subordinates bought his guards and assassinated him. Although the incident was so turbulent at the time that several nobles lost their heads, it has been so long. mention?

　　 Other Varangi thought so too, but Captain Vasily looked at his men meaningfully at this time and said:

　　 "The emperor unilaterally stopped tracing last time, but this time it was the queen. As for the reasons for the unpleasant rumors in the market, I think you should have heard some of them!"

After hearing this, Varangis, including Igor, who was sitting not far away, had already recalled at this time. There have been rumors that the current Queen Ducarina and Minister Vatazes have an ambiguous relationship. As for rumors, Vatazes was not killed by a political enemy's murder, but was assassinated by the emperor Alexius. The content was really interesting, and it was even arranged into a play by the theater troupes in the Xiacheng District. Of course, the poor people who have been used to watching the Dionysian hymn are of course happy to see such a huge and inferior performance.

"The palace has ordered a thorough investigation of this matter. The days ahead will definitely not be better. You must converge a little bit and put all the parchment of the secret path to me first." Vasily stood up from his men. They took away the drawings of the secret roads of Constantinople that were originally given to them one by one. These were drawn by smugglers in the past. After Vasily sorted them out by himself, the team under his hand relied on blackmailing smugglers from the secret roads that spread in all directions. It is now an open secret for the Roman army to make money. , After all, even the emperor turned a blind eye to this, as long as the soldiers who have not paid the army do not make trouble.

But today is different from the past. With the assassination of the Minister of Vatazes being thoroughly investigated, Constantinople, where crimes spawned in the past, is bound to usher in a severe attack. Of course, Vasily must remind his subordinates to stop this. When it hit the guards, those guys, even their Varangi Guards, were unwilling to provoke them too much.

"One less, the boss, it should be in the hands of little Igor. We don't know when he took it, so we were drunk on time yesterday and let the kid take advantage of it. ." All the parchment on which the secret path was drawn was handed over to Vasily's hand, and the Varangis realized that there was still one missing.

But I saw Vasily frowned and said, "I'll get his picture later. I don't know where that stinky boy is going. Okay, you guys go back first. I have other things. If things need to be done, let's get here first!"

　　 "Okay, Boss, let's go first." Several Varangis nodded, drank the wine in front of them, chewed a few olives, and walked straight out of the tavern. At this time, the tavern was still quiet, because everyone's attention was still on the only Varangi who hadn't left. Although no one understood what they had just talked, it was obvious from their tone that the merchants saw a certain kind of anxiety that Constantinople was going to be uneasy again. For so many years, it is these merchants who are worried about any crime in Constantinople. After all, the scene where Manuel I hunted and killed the Latin merchants is still a lingering fear.

While everyone was still thinking about what was going on, Igor quietly left his seat at this time. As soon as the Varangian Guard appeared, he terminated the transaction with the Ross merchant, hunched over his waist for fear of being Vasily. See myself. And now except for Vasily, the other Varangis have already left, boldly, Igor is also ready to fish in troubled waters and immediately slip out of here.

　　 But when he sneaked close to the entrance of the tavern, a strong hand was pressed on his shoulder.

　　 "It hurts, it hurts!"

　　 Igor was not as strong as the other Varangis, and cried out in pain.

　　 It was Vasily who was standing behind him and grabbing him, who had been waiting for him to come out. "Igor, you see that I don't even say hello now?"

　　 "Hey, Uncle Vasily, it was you! I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence."

"Stop pretending, give me things." Vasily lifted Igor to the corner of the wine shop like a baby chicken, and looked at the young boy who was still pretending to be stupid in front of him and said, "Just now I and the others You should have heard everything that people say, right? These days the limelight is so tight you stay with me honestly and don't go anywhere. If something happens to you, that fellow Sergios can't spare me. "

　　 "What is it?" Igor spread his hands, simply pretending to be stupid.

"Nonsense, of course it's a map. The oil and water that you scraped off the smugglers at Perama Gate will be enough for you this month. People are suing me, and you still follow me. I’m pretending! Believe it or not, I’m telling Sergius all about your presence here." Vasily gave Igor a blank look, although Igor was like him with the blood of the Varangans, but But he inherited half of his mother's Jewish ancestry.

　　 "Don't don't don't, I just take it out!"

　　 Seeing that the other party had taken out the assassin's key, Igor, who was crying, had to return the Constantinople secret road map that had been stored next to him to Captain Vasily.

　　 "I can't help it either. I really lack money." Igor complained and drank the wine with a little cinnamon on the table, warming his thin body. "Since I entered the Varangian Guard, I haven't seen a copper salary. This is completely different from what Brother Sergius said."

A few months ago, with the help of Brother Sergius, his father’s former comrade-in-arms, Igor was able to train at the monastery of St. Irina’s Cathedral, and was introduced by the unfavorable fat monk. , Igor got to know this squadron Vasily, who was also his father’s past colleague, and then he was able to leave the capital patrol barracks to become a Varangi, taking over his father’s former duties. Igor thought that he could finally get rid of the days of tightness. After all, a Varangian warrior had a salary of more than a dozen silver Nomisma every month, but he never expected that the emperor's guard would even be the guard. The army hasn’t paid for it for a full year. Disappointed, he wanted to take the armor and the Romfaya sword (not the axe because Igor could not hold it) that was issued to him on the spot, but if he walked like this, he might be engaged in military law on the spot.

"Everyone is like this. I have been urging many times before, and there is no further information. So there is nothing to complain about, like us, you can at least have enough food and clothing, and the soldiers in the border area have a much worse life than you. "Vasily put the map in his pocket, and said helplessly. As a former colleague, he has taken care of the child of this comrade in front of him, but Igor obviously has not received strict training in his hometown. Obviously a bit deviated from the above, no wonder Sergios would let himself exercise him. In all fairness, however, Vasily is still optimistic about the child in front of him, because Igor has a hidden "quality" in his body that he didn't even realize.

"Now that the country is in a precarious situation, it is better to be patient. Do you know why the Varangian Guard has been able to gain the trust of the Roman emperors for more than two hundred years? It is because we can endure the cold of winter and never give in. Only this can be done. He is a real Varangi."

"But what we got in exchange for the ice and snow is the nobles having fun in the warm mansion, Uncle Vasily, do you think this is fair? Look at the stumbling road donated by the church outside is really worthy of it. Our Master Peter’s handwriting! It’s all pebbles and it must have cost them a lot of money. (Peter petros means pebbles in Latin The young and energetic Igor couldn’t help retorting, compared to From the restraint in front of Brother Sergius, he didn't conceal the intention in front of Vasily.

"I understand your feelings, Igor, but everyone should decide how to live, not by others. You are still young, and you don't understand some things." Vasily calmly looked at the boy in front of him. , He did not treat Igor as an outsider at all, saying in the tone of an elder.

But Igor ignored it, looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, and said: "Of course I am living for myself, Uncle Vasily, my father told me with his living example that in this city only I can climb up as hard as I can, and any slackness will cause me to fall into a miserable abyss, and I will never fall. This is my belief!"

　　 There seemed to be something burning in Igor's amber eyes at this moment. He grew up living on an island in the south. His father was a retired Varangi, and the reason he got out of his uniform was because he lost a leg when suppressing the Bolgar rebellion. Igor adored his father madly when he was young. At that time, he longed to be like his father wearing heavy armor and holding a giant axe, following the purple-clothed Emperor His Majesty to fight in all directions and make achievements. Although he was thin and weak since he was a child, he thought that he had the lineage of Varanga on his body, and he would surely be able to succeed his father as a real Varangi. However, the family's changes later changed Igor's mind completely. A plague in his hometown of Crete took away his mother. It was not so much a disease but rather a death of malnutrition after a serious illness. Only the savings left by his father when he was a soldier in the family were all spent on the treatment alone. When Igor looked at the decadent back of his father who lost his mother, he felt for the first time that Varangi was not as tall as he thought. . And when he saw that the forty-year-old priest on Krent Island could get a monthly salary of more than ten gold Nomisma, which was several times the income of his father who was a soldier, he went to worship near his home. Under the gate of the monastery, a group of monks began to learn theology. I have to say that Igor is more like his Jewish mother than his Varanga father. With an amazing memory, he quickly mastered the Greek "Bible" and memorized it to get the local monk's approval. Look at it differently. That’s why Igor was favored by a local lord to help him come to Constantinople, and his father, who had not been in charge of Igor, gave him a letter at this time, asking Igor to Go to Brother Sergius, they used to fight together in Thrace when they were young, and it was his strongest relationship in Constantinople. In the letter, the father begged the monk to arrange an opportunity for his son to participate in the appraisal of the apprentice monk. Igor had never seen his father write a letter so carefully, he realized that it was the greatest help his father could give him.

　　 But when Igor really came to Constantinople, which was once dreaming, he found that the city was not as beautiful as he had imagined. So many white eyes and so many indifference made him feel depressed, but he still endured it. Because he knew in his heart that there was nothing more unacceptable to him than returning to that barren hometown!

And looking at the extreme boy next to him, Vasily sighed slightly. He knew Igor would not listen to what he said, but he smoothly twisted a small spider on the cobweb next to the counter. "This one Insects also have their own unwavering belief: weaving for survival. Whether it is dust or insects, it just knits and eats, eats and weaves, pursuing its only truth: weaving for survival. But now, Such a bug is caught in my hand. It is struggling with its eight feet, trying to liberate itself. What is it thinking? When I crush it, does it understand that it should never take itself All beliefs fall into one sentence. Brother Igor in the future, don’t just put your life in one sentence, so that your life will not be far from being in the face of death. Speaking of, to us The road outside is just a pebble road in the way, but for those poor people who have no money, it means that they don’t need to have their feet full of mud during the rainy season. Anyway, paving the road is better than thorns, your path. It's still growing!"

　　 Looking at the silent boy, Vasily patted him on the shoulder. He didn't know whether his words would have any effect on Igor, but as an elder, he still felt it necessary to say this. Constantinople is the city of the world, but it is also the capital of devouring people. When someone ascends to heaven, someone will inevitably fall to hell. If they don't choose the right path, the final outcome will be even more miserable.

　　 But this sentence is light, so who can do it? As the Bible says, even those who know that there is a way of righteousness will abandon the holy mandate passed on to them. Before greed, people are like dolphins.

　　 Just as Vasily got up to leave and left Igor alone, the young man behind him suddenly stopped him.

　　 "Uncle Vasily..."

"What's the matter?" Seeing the fluctuating expression on Igor's face, even the voice was a little choked. Vasily noticed something at this time and asked: "Tell me what happened. I think you want so much. There must be some other reason for the money!"

"Last month I received a letter from my hometown. Brother Cornel said that my father's condition has worsened recently. But I can't go back because if I leave, everything will be lost. I know A reliable captain, he asked him to send all my savings back. But I still don’t worry, so..." At this point, Igor couldn’t speak anymore, crying in Vasily’s arms. stand up.

"So you want to send more money back, don't you? Son, at this time, your father needs not money, but you! You, his only relative in the world, is his biggest concern." Vasily With a sigh, he put his hand on the head of the young man who was crying in his arms.

"In a few days you will pack up and prepare to go back to Crete! I will take care of Sergius, and wait for you to settle down and come back after your father. Nothing will delay you." Vasily filmed He patted him on the shoulder and placed a small pocket on Igor's hand.

"Really, thank you, Uncle Vasily. And this is." The surprised and happy Igor did not expect that Vasily would really be willing to help himself, and when he felt the heavy weight in his pocket The look on can't help but be stunned

　　 is a whole bag of silver coins! And it's still a Miraruison silver coin with a lot of ingredients! This already rare coin has already surpassed its original value in the market.

　　 "I can't take it, it's too" Seeing so much money, Igor was surprised that he didn't subconsciously accept himself, but Vasily interrupted him before he could finish his words.

　　 "Don't be polite with me. Besides, this is only lent to you." Without saying a word, Vasily squeezed the money bag to Igor.

　　 "By the way, give me a message to that **** of your father, who wrote to ask someone for help and went to find the staid guy in Sergius for the first time. How distrustful of me, hehe."

　　 Despite repeated rejections, Igor finally accepted Vasily's kindness, but the boy who collected the purse hesitated for a while and finally made up his mind.

　　 "Uncle Vasily!"

　　 "What's wrong?"

"I hope you can keep this for me~www.wuxiahere.com~ The road from Constantinople to Crete is so long, I don't worry about taking it with me." The manuscript of "The Chronicles of the Past" that he traded with the Ross merchant was stuffed into Vasily.

　　 And Vasily looked at the old cover of the book and the beautiful line on the title page, subconsciously "Ah".

"this is"

"This is the relic that my mother gave me before her death. I have always taken it with me. I hope you can keep it for me for a while." Now that I have received a sum of money from Vasily, there is no deal with the Russ. It must go on, and instead of selling this important thing to a stranger, Igor would rather give the book to Vasily.

It was obviously not the first time that Vasily saw this book, and he couldn't help muttering: "It's been a long time." After returning to his senses, he looked at the seriousness of Igor in front of him. He knew that the boy said this was actually taking this. This book is placed here as a collateral. Vasily did not refuse, but accepted the book. This was exactly what I liked about Igor. More than once, this young man questioned his Varyag descent, but this self-esteem of disobedience was precisely what happened. It is the most precious quality of Varyag's ancestors. It helped them defeat the ocean and defeat the tundra wasteland. <>