บท 159: Back
Thirteenth of June 1453, Port of Theodosius, Constantinople.
Antonius stepped onto the land of Constantinople once again.
The image of the city has changed by a lot from Antonius' last impression of her. Massive rebuilding project is established repairing the wounds of the last war, a system of a healthy trade and taxation is re-established, confidence of citizens boosted back up and accompanied with it, the population of the city increased bac to her height of fifty thousand before the siege.
Constantine and his team is indeed experts when it comes with stewardship and civil management.
What is the first thing our Grand Admiral is gonna do when he stepped his foot onto the solid ground of the city?
To pay Anna Notaras a visit, of course, there is a reason why he landed in the port of Theodosius. There is a sensation inside his heart that keeps telling him. 'O Antonius, you got to pay this woman a visit, or else I will keep hammering your heart till it jumps out of your throat." It is weird to Antonius, very weird, as he had never experienced anything like this before even in the heat of a battle, the last time his heart pounded like this is still when he acquired his first ship at the age of twenty one.
His heart thumped so damn hard as if the oars of a ship slapping the surface of the sea water. Antonius almost felt like the rapid heart beat is audible as everyone on the streets, foreigners or locals are looking at him in a strange way. The moment Antonius' eyes met the window of Anna Notaras, his body softened feeling strengthless. Though that sensation is quickly interrupted, as he is stopped right before he approaches the Gate of the Notaras Residence.
"No one is permitted to enter the house of the traitor except if he has the specific instruction from the Basileus." The unsympathetic words of the Roman Guards pulled him straight from imaginations back to reality.
"I am sorry?"
"No one is freaking allowed to enter this residence." The guard waved his hand impatiently. "Now go, have you not realised everyone is looking at you?"
Antonius could not believe what he has just heard. He showed the guards man the personal insignia and badge gifted to him by the emperor. "I am the Kouropalates, mégas droungarios of the empire, now I order you to open this gate for me."
The guards scrutinised at the badge realising who is this blonde rugged face guy before them. They scrambled to stand up straight and saluted the admiral, but still, they rejected Antonius' order for them. "I am sorry, sir, but I am still not authorised to open this gate for you!"
"Not even me?"
"Yes, even including you, sir."
"…"
Just as Antonius is about to show the two guards some superior power in rank, Abdullah showed up bringing along Yuri saving the day. They squeezed through the bustling crowd of spectators around the main gate of estate and is shocked that Antonius is really there troubling the guards who are doing their duty. Abdullah and Yuri briskly ran forward pulling Antonius out of this place apologising and smiling to everyone around along the way asking them to disperse.
The guards waited till Antonius disappeared from the streets, then their commander whispered something towards a soldier, and a few minute later, the soldier disappeared away riding a horse in the different direction of Antonius.
"Oh please, my brother, can you please at least tell us where are you heading next time first, please?" Different from Antonius, Abdullah is frustrated and hungry chasing and tracking his friend's whereabout. "You made the decision to confront those Crusaders back in Avlonya without asking me, it is fine, although I do think it is not a great idea to have a negative relationship with them for some peasants, but it has already been done and the results at the end of the day cannot be reversed… but now? Remember, my brother, we are not walking on friendly territories, actually hostile territories to a certain extent!"
Antonius replied bluntly." I know…"
"Trust me, information travels fast, lightening fast in a city like this; you never know how deep the water is around here. I bet the emperor of the Rumelian Constantine is going to get the information of what have you done in front the doors of a criminal who committed treason to him… Think this way, will he now suspect you having a connection with this Mega Doux Loukas Notaras? What do you think will he do once the thought appeared in the head of his? The foundation of trust between you and the emperor of the Rumelian, do you wish to poke through that trust as thin as a piece of paper?"
A thunder struck into Antonius' mind after listening to Abdullah's words realising what kind of mistake he has just made, but soon, he calmed down from years of military experience knowing that the more urgent he gets during a dilemma the more devastation and destructions will happen because of a wrong choice made when panic.
Antonius took a deep breathe, tidied up his messy mind exhaling all the air out, massaged his forehead and said imperturbably. "I am going to meet my old friend Constantine."
"I am sorry admiral, but meet him, you mean you are going to meet the emperor now? Isn't it straight into danger?" Yuri asked nervously by the side.
"Yes Yuri, I am going to meet the emperor… I still have things to report to him about the crusaders."
Abdullah thought for a while and agreed with Antonius. "Yes, that can be a way out, going straight away to meet the emperor, and that would minimise the suspicion inside the emperor's head and remove any possible chances of him thinking there is a connection between the admiral and the Mega Doux."
Antonius laughed. "Finally, you agreed with me… Off we go then! To the palace!"
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