บท 93: Alea iacta est
"Why, Ignatios, why?"
Constantine asked the man with his eyes red from rage and hands trembling, trying to resist the temptation to give this man a few more harsh slashes on the face. This man before him is called Ignatios Vrestenitsa, a man from the Despotate of Epirus whose parents got brutally killed by the Ottoman during was taken by then still Despote of Morea Constantine out of pure pity when he came across this young fellow crying in hunger during his campaign in Thessaly. This boy gradually became the most trusted eunuch of Constantine and he even rose all the way to the position of Vestararius, putting him in charge to all court financial affairs.
However, as an eunuch of such high prestige and position in the court, he is caught dangerously close to Ottoman espionage activities. Constantine knew that he is in the East Roman court which is widely known for its schemes, intrigues and plots, and he has seen or even experienced a lot of betrayals and infighting, he still cannot believe that his closest eunuch would want to betray him.
"I am very sorry, my liege." Ignatios lowered his head and apologised.
"I do not need you to apologise." Constantine suddenly felt a bit dizzy as blood rushes to his head, the back of his head grew so pain that he had to sit down on the ground with the help of George Sphrantzes. "I want to know why."
"Your majesty." Ignatios struggled to stand up and kneeled down on one leg. "Please allow me, your humble servant, to address you by this title again."
"Speak."
"Yes, your majesty." Ignatios poundered for a while and continued. "Because the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed granted me a title back in my home town."
"Because of only that?" Constantine could not believe his ears. "You conducted treason on me because Mehmed that boy gave you a title? Don't you know that as the sole legitimate ruler of the Roman Empire, I can grant you all the titles in Epheros!"
Ignatios' body began shaking violently as sweat bursted out of his cheeks. He hesitated a while, stood up and shouted out staring at the emperor with tears filling his eye sockets.
"Wake up! My emperor! Wake up! Your empire is already nothing, you administrative orders cannot even leave the city gates, the lords in Serbia, Bulgaria, Thessalonica and Epheros no longer listen to your orders, or else where are they at this point of time? Even your brothers in Morea are like an independent kingdom already! And most importantly…"
"…Most importantly, the Ottoman Sultan promised me that I can go back home after all of this is over, with honour and wealth."
His answer indeed surprised all of the people on the walls, plunged the atmosphere into an ice box and an awkward silence. The soldiers, advisors and courtiers began thinking, especially those who are not born in the city of Constantinople.
Home, a concept that appears to be familiar but also distant to those men of war on the walls who travelled far away from their home towns to fight a war in Constantinople. A bulk of Constantine's army are originally from the Despotate of Morea, voluntary forces from Thessaly and the Duchy of Athens and Neopatras, brought into the city after the emperor ascended to the throne four years ago. Judging by the current situation most probably they no longer have a chance to go back to their home towns, they will die miserably together alongside with the city in a siege battle that is vastly inequal in strength on both sides.
Their names shall be forgotten, nobody shall weep disheartened for them except for their families, their bodies and remains most probably be discarded around the city, pecked by Cinereous and eaten by maggots, unable to be carried back and buried in their home towns like those Spartan warriors in their age old legends. Many of these men have a thirst for the warmth of family, hugs of a woman, laughter of their children, and nagging of parents, it is just that all of these thirst and desires are well covered by the tiredness and battle will in a war.
However, now Ignatios brought the concept back.
Constantine immediately realised the fatal effect of Ignatios' words when he heard an elder thick bearded soldier behind him holding a dolabra started sobbing silently, while the other soldiers also tilted or lowered their head clearly thinking of something. The emperor realised how damaging the words are to the morales to the army, it can eventually lead to a menta collapse of the city's defence as the words and emotion spread among the soldiers and guards.
Without further hesitation, Constantine drew out his blade and slitted the blade into Ignatios' throat, ending his life instantly as he collapses staring at his emperor with disbelief in his bell like eyes.
Constantine wiped the blood off his beautifully silver plated blade with his imperial purple cloak, withdrew the blade back into the scabbard. He then kicked Ignatios' corpse making him face the sky and squatted down to close his eye lids before murmuring a short Latin Christian prayer.
"Do not worry my sons!" Constantine stood up, lifted his arm up in the sky and shouted. "Do not worry! I, as the emperor and autocrat of the Romans! Promise you all, that I shall guide you home one day!"
"We all miss home! Although I am born here in Constantinople, but I see Morea as my second home! I, too like you, miss the soothing green lands of Arcadia, broad view of Mount Taygetus, and the sweetness of Alfeios… Thus, I want to go back home just like you guys! And by god's will, we must, and we will! We are Romans! And we shall fight and return home like one!"
"Alea iacta est! Deus Vult!" Constantine snatched the double headed eagle flag from a soldier and started waving it up high in the air.
"Deus Vult!"
"Nunc est bibendum;nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus!"
"Deum cole, imperator serva!"
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