Chapter 167: Meeting an old friend

As the 5,700 men marched in unison, their spears held aloft, the scene was a striking display of both martial prowess and heraldic grandeur. The sun cast its warm, golden rays upon the procession, causing the colors of their banners and heralds to shimmer and dance in the Mediterranean breeze.

Among the noble families present, their flags proudly unfurled, was the Ventimiglia family, their wreathed blue flag a recollection  to their fortunes amassed in Sicily during the reign of Manfred. Their presence was a reminder of the island's rich history as a land of opportunity for those with ambition and enterprise.

Then there was the flag of the Palemaria family, adorned with three squares against a backdrop of a vivid blue sky. It spoke of a lineage that had weathered the passage of time, each square representing a chapter in their storied history.