Текст книги "Eric (СИ)"

Автор книги: Марина Шпак

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

It was getting dark. A council was assembled in the sultan's tent. It was attended by Emir Mosul and Homs, atabes of Edessa and Aleppo, as well as the hero of the celebration – Eric. In addition to the tent sat the most incomprehensible girl and Rudolph.

– So, gentlemen. I broke the sultan and removed the siege of the city. It is necessary to decide what to do next.

– Share the booty! The emir of Mosul said confidently.

"I do not give mine to my warriors, for they are on my full support. "

" It's up to you. "But we have other traditions.

– And where are you? I broke it, it means mine. You, if I remember correctly, said that the sultan has many troops and that we can not master it. We, apparently, really could not master. And to me – quite under force. All the prey taken in the camp is mine.

" Dear Baron, I was joking. "Of course, your mining. It's just inconvenient for us to start that conversation for which we all gathered here. We know that it was you who broke the caravans. And now you are shooting the siege. We do not understand what you want to achieve such a sharp change of interests.

" To begin with, I did not want to give up the city, which I practically took with small forces, to the Sultan, who decided to warm his hands at my expense. Strengthening his possessions is bad for my purposes. And as for caravans, it was a way to quickly raise funds. I think the prize in the camp will be enough for me. And this means that I will soon retire from these lands.

" Even if you pursued your interests, thundering our enemies, we are grateful to you, since the Sultan would hardly spare people in the city. "And their property. We want to thank you for lifting the siege. What would you like?

– I want a rather unusual thing. I need you to allow the opening of a Templar courtyard in Edessa, which would deal exclusively with commercial matters there.

– Are you joking?

No. I need their bank, and I want to be sure of their absolute loyalty, because I trust them with large sums. I have enough money. I need the loyalty of those people to whom I am entrusting my affairs.

" How can we control them? "And then, they are our enemies.

– Let us conclude in writing a contract in which the number of armed and unarmed Templars will be indicated, which may be in the city. It will be exclusively a trading enterprise. You are aware of how they make a living. And the question of war can be solved by specifying in the contract that the farmstead will exist until the Templar troops begin military operations against the troops of Edessa.

– And what are the restrictions?

" Let's say ten armed men and thirty unarmed men. "I think this is enough for all financial and trading operations.

Ok. Let the representative of the Templars come to visit, we will sign a contract and find a place where they can open their branch.

Excellent! Now let's move on to more pressing matters. I took fifteen hundred horses, they do not need me. A maximum of one hundred for the convoy. I do not have any desire to drive them to Antioch. Maybe among you there are people willing to buy such goods?

" I'll take it," said Emir Homes, "I have people who want to buy them. "Good Arabian horses have never been superfluous to anyone. But why only one and a half thousand?

– The others fled, and to collect them on the sand, I did not have enough people. Yes, and this morning counterattack.

– And what happened there?

– Someone from the noble could gather in the desert to half a thousand people running and force them to go fight with me. Almost everyone died, only the back rows managed to escape again. But this is a trifle. Ok. With the horses decided. Now a girl. Rudolph, bring it closer. Okay. Could you ask her who she is and what is she doing here. She does not know Latin, and I'm not strong in your languages.

Of course.

Next was a small, short conversation on some kind of little understood abracadabra.

" Dear Baron, this woman is the daughter of the Sultan you killed, her name is Rayhan. "He took it with him, because he feared that the brother claiming the throne could kill her. She, alas, was his only child.

"And, as I understand it, the uncle will not pay the ransom for it? "

Of course. And if she somehow gets to it in hands, long will not live.

Rudolph, do you think she will like your son? Well, do not stretch that face. I would offer you, but you're sick old. We will get to Constantinople, where it will be baptized and under the crown. Do not disappear to such a thoroughbred cub.

" I I do not even know. "Your offer is very unexpected.

" Your son has become a bit hardened in battle. "Soon we will settle in a permanent place. Such brides are not lying on the road. Well? What are you? In the dowry she put five marks of silver. Oh! How did you immediately brighten up! The old grasp will not drink! Yes, you are not so red. Untie the daughter-in-law's hands. And you, amiable emir, could not translate our beauty, that she will not only live, but she will also marry a son of a worthy person. It's not easy, but with a dowry.

Ok.

With happiness, the poor girl again fainted. Rudolph brought his son, who was also delighted. But then they hit the bull's-eye. Raikhan liked him and did not like his dowry, because he was in his taste. This evening the vigil was over. Eric sent the messenger to the Templars, checked the sentries, placed the other fighters and went to sleep. The day was very hard.

In the seized train, and indeed in the camp there was a lot of such property that was absolutely not suitable for sending to the trading floors in Europe, and therefore he decided to sit a little in Edessa, the good that the attacker invited him to stay. Accustomed to combine useful with pleasant, he decided to work in parallel several tasks. Firstly, it is, of course, the rest of the fighters who were on the verge of their capabilities, after that bloody morning. They need to give rest and a little pumping in terms of the stability of the psyche. Secondly, you need to make sure that everything is properly organized for the Templars, although everything should go very smoothly, because it is very profitable for Atabek and the commercial circles of Edessa. He noticed how his eyes glistened. This is a direct and official trade and financial channel with neighbors, and not through some random and unreliable people. Third, you need to get rid of all that useless garbage, like food and not very high-quality wine, and convert it, for example, into silk so that in Europe you can cut down profits. Emir Homs was already warned that the payment of horses would be very desirable silk. Alas, we had to wait, and the time passed extremely slowly, since our hero did not have a special work and had to spend most of the time wandering around the streets of the city and messing around. He got so involved in business right after he regained consciousness in this world that he did not even notice how a lot of time had flown by. It was the very end of 1200, he will soon be 18 years old. In those days, this is already quite an adult husband, and without looking back. Of course, he achieved a lot and was now a notable figure both in European life and in the Middle East. But how tired he was! Literally a few days later he began visiting atabeyka for playing chess. Known to him the rules differed from those with whom he met in this time, but he quickly learned, which was very pleased with the ruler of Edessa, as he also was languishing with boredom and idleness. So it quickly became a tradition, and quiet evenings spent playing chess, measured, unhurried conversations and drinking good tea – the norm. But time goes on as usual and it's April 1201. The Templars settled well in Edessa and immediately launched a stormy commercial and banking activity. His goods have long been in the form of silk sold in Europe. This is apart from the fact that he additionally turned a couple of trading operations and was able to seriously increase his fortune. Now in the bank of the Templars in his name were three thousand eight hundred and twenty-four marks of silver of the Viennese standard, another ten marks were in his pocket expenses. These were simply sky-high means, which few mortals ever held in their hands at that time – 1. 1 tons of pure silver! Simply fantastic! His people had a good rest and came to their senses, and therefore were again ready for combat testing. These poor guys crossbowmen were so shocked and pumped that they approached the soldiers in a very good spiritual and psychological state, and this was developed by all available forces. In addition, he ran through all the slaves that went through Edessa, and chose those people who were not broken and fit as material in his squad. Whom he here only did not score – from the British to the Chinese. Only up to three dozen people. Of course – he chose only those who professionally fought before being captured. Therefore, by April, he already had a hundred completely natural warriors, that is, people. They are capable of professionally killing any enemy of their master. Not an ideal, of course, but in the current realities this is a solid force. At the same time, they were equipping them – he tried to weed out of the fact that he collected robbery and when trading in the market, the best and put his own guys on it. Everything went very well, except that the situation with Morrigan was rapidly escalating. She loved him, and quite madly, almost to self-sacrifice. And it was scary. Yes, true, to the last extreme, a devoted person is very useful nearby, but there was a big problem – reciprocity. After all, a loving woman who does not receive reciprocity, moreover, and stands at your back, becomes a deadly predator, ready for very much to achieve her goal. He was forced to shudder her gaze, which she looked at Rayhan, when she did not yet know that he had left this girl not himself, but as a gift to the son of an associate. If the look could be killed, the poor Turkish woman would be awaited by a terrible and extremely painful death. Those 22 years that the Irish had behind him, in these times meant a lot. A rare woman of her age had no children, and she was still a girl. And this is next to the man she loved. Actually, where did this feeling come from, Eric clearly understood, but his growing consequences required him to respond quickly and accurately. He went to the terrace of the manor, which gave him Edessa, and looked down – into the courtyard. There Morrigan chastised the servants who had confused something in her orders. She stood confidently, spreading her legs slightly. With the growth of his shoulder, she seemed so weightless that he could safely wear it all day. Yes, this fragile girl, with a confident posture of the lady, would have bewitched anyone who saw her at that moment. Especially against the backdrop of three men who stood before her with a drooping head, trying to express their humility and remorse with all their kind. Her waist and flat stomach were very intriguing, which led to the game of the roundness of her thighs with every movement. This picture was supplemented by a small, resilient chest, resembling a pair of slightly upturned fox spikes, which invitingly rose with every sigh. The fact is that a dark green dress of dense silk, though it covered her from the neck to the ankle, was sewn very sensibly and according to the figure, and therefore perfectly emphasized all her charms, while not greatly breaking out of European fashion. The general background ended with beautiful, freely falling to the middle of the shoulder blades, the girl's hair, which with her white color remarkably shaded the dress, as if framing it. All this beauty ended with a very mysterious face with large, gray eyes, high cheekbones, a small, upturned nose, a wide mouth with thin, strong-willed lips. Her pointed chin looked particularly good on a neat, slender neck, and the corners of her lips were almost always slightly raised, which added a certain charm to her. Yes – this woman was beautiful, beautiful and intelligent, and therefore dangerous. But she remained a woman with all her pluses and minuses. Sadly, it was necessary to do something with her, because Eric did not long for a dagger in the back on the ground of jealousy. There were not many options – either kill her, or reciprocate. In the first case, he lost a faithful and promising assistant, so that there is an assistant – an associate. In the second case – a certain freedom of action. Plus her pregnancy, since to fix the relationship will need to be with the help of a child. In the campaign such a lady is completely useless. Yeah – a dilemma. She finished chiding the servants and let them go. Then she froze for a moment and looked up at Eric, noticing that he was watching her. He smiled at her and asked him to come to him. There was a difficult choice, and before making a decision he wanted to talk with her. Maybe the last time.

The girl entered the room and closed the door behind her.

" Come on in, sit down. "I want to talk to you. – She nodded and sat next to him on the couch, exactly where he pointed out to her.

" I Eric, you understand everything. "Why do you ask?

– I ask in order to hear the answer.

Ok. I'm jealous of you. I love and jealous, strongly. I thought that these girls were chosen by you. And it made me angry and angry. We talked to you about this topic, and I promised you not to bother with your feelings. But I'm a man, and a man who loves me a lot. And it hurts me from my experiences.

– And how much? What will you go for your feelings?

" Do you think that I do not control my jealousy and, in a fit of rage, I can hurt you? " He said nothing, looking straight into her eyes. After a few moments, her eyes widened, she rose abruptly from the couch, went to a small decorative table and took a knife from there. Then she turned, went up to him and, kneeling before him, brought the blade with the point to his left breast. Why did the dress in this place parted, exposing the body part. She pushed hard enough to cut through the skin, and a thin trickle of blood flowed from the knife down.

" Just order me and I'll kill myself. "My life belongs to you, and if you think that I'm dangerous to you, the Morrigan will gladly deliver you from anxiety. Her lips quivered, her breathing was faster, and her eyes were full of tears. They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds, after which Eric fixed her hand with a quick movement and yanked, pulling and turning the knife to the side.

– Dispose of, to prepare water for ablution – you are all in the blood, and this is not good. Also order that they bring here some almond oil. Then you'll come back and take a shower, and I'll give you a relaxing massage. You are too tense and excited. This needs to be corrected.

"What about your question? "

" You already answered him. "And now hurry, order everything you need and come back. I do not want you to be alone in this state, I do not need surprises like your corpse.

"All right, I'll do it as quickly as possible. "

She wiped her tears with her hands and hurried out into the corridor, from where her voiced voice was immediately heard. After half an hour there was a scene with washing in a large, copper bath, followed by a massage of the naked and smoldering under his hands girls. And also the scene of sex. Eric made a decision. On the one hand, it was a forced compromise, on the other – stupidity, which he will regret yet, with the third – reserve for the future. Be that as it may, but now he is even more connected by circumstances. Alas, the more he developed around himself the serving structure, the less he belonged to himself. And it scared. But he did not have a choice, and therefore – it was necessary to live on, and not just to live, but to act, striving for the intended goal.

It was April 5, 1201. On that day, the baron left Edessa. There was practically no property, for everything necessary was forwarded to Antioch's courtyard beforehand, and therefore went light. Everything was calm, only after dinner they met with a large caravan from Aleppo, which was accompanied by an escort. They drove off calmly, although the Muslims were very tense and frightened by his appearance – too fresh was the memory of his adventures. So, unhurried trot, they also moved to Antioch at sunset. Leaving the boys' quarters at Rudolph, and the Morrigan with a full audit of the farm at the local farmstead, he did not hesitate to go to Raul, who was to receive fresh news from Corfu and Constantinople. And they did not see each other for a long time, since he preferred not to visit the Muslims. There he was already waiting for a whole company: Raul de Combron – head of the Atihohia Templar Command, Bohemond III – Prince Antiochus and his son Bohemond Count Tripoli.

" Good evening, gentlemen. "What is it? I did not expect to find such a meeting.

" And you have a good evening, Baron. "We received information that you are returning, and therefore decided to immediately meet to discuss important matters.

aboutI'm flattered. I did not think that my departure was so important. Eric smiled brightly.

" It's full of you, Baron. "Do you not know that the al-Mujahid delegation is coming to visit us?

YesNo, I did not know about that. What they want?

– Your idea with the trading house of the Templars interested the Emir so much that he decided to develop this topic. Moreover, the situation in Cairo is becoming less stable and he is forced to play his game in order to survive.

Yes! This is regrettable. But what can we do?

– I think you need to play your game. You still do not know, but from the east there is a new threat – the hordes of nomads who threaten both Europe and the whole of the East known to you.

– But we still did not have enough.

– Yes, gentlemen, yes, all of us are facing a serious test. Now the horde is fighting with China, I think you've all heard about this distant country. After that, she will move to the west, grabbing everything in her path. And in twenty or thirty years we'll have to meet with her. Under the impact there will be lands from Baghdad to Pest.

"How do you know that? "

– I have good scouts and informers. This information is sufficient to draw conclusions.

– Do you, as I understand it, have any specific proposals?

" Of course the prince. "I, really, thought, hold for now, but if you ask, then please. I think you need to build a strong system of interaction with your neighbors, without looking back at their religion and citizenship. The people of al-Mujahid go to you, most likely, exclusively on commercial matters. Use this chance. The Principality of Antioch with the vassal county of Tripoli should become the best friends with the Syrian emirate, and not in words, but in deeds.

But how? Are we enemies?

– As the recent practice showed, even the enemies become friends, if it is financially beneficial for them. I hope there are no religious fanatics among us?

"Monsieur Baron means, is there not among the people present possessed by the devil who, under the false mask of faith, interfere with charitable deeds? " Raoul asked sarcastically.

'Certainly. Alas, the commander, I completely miss your diplomacy.

" Well, you are full of courtesy. "Gentlemen, let's get down to business.

" As you please, prince. "My proposal is to invite Emir Homs to organize a joint trading equity company, on whose activities interest will be paid to all shareholders. In five to ten years, using the company's resources, it will be possible to build good, stone-paved roads along the route Saint-Semion – Antioch – Aleppo-Edessa. Dear ones are needed to put wheeled vans on them, which will allow you to transport goods faster and more. Economic ties, gentlemen, are the strongest and most reliable. Often they are stronger than any army. The next step will be the laying of roads from Antioch to Tripoli, from there to Baalbek, and Homs and close everything to Aleppo. This will create a network of strategically important roads, through which it will be possible to quickly transfer not only commercial caravans, but also troops and military equipment.

"Please continue. "

– Also, it is worth proposing joint protection of caravans by the emirate and principality. And you, Mr. Commander, expand the range of services, offering insurance services.

– I will explain by example. From Edessa comes a caravan in a hundred camels of silk. He goes to Antioch. Before leaving, you, at local prices, evaluate the caravan and take from its owner 5% of its value. That's not a lot. However, in case he is attacked by robbers, you reimburse his full cost, according to the established contract.

"But is it profitable for us? "

Of course. You will be the forces of the Templars, the troops of the emir and the prince to control all the key roads. The probability of an attack will be scanty. It seems to be a small profit from each caravan, and he will not be superfluous at all. Also, I would advise you in the cities that you are under your control, to develop handicraft shops in order to transport finished goods to Europe, rather than raw materials. This will also give you extra income.

– A curious suggestion. And what if you offer such a service to sailors?

– Reasonable, but incomes will be lower, as a fair amount of pelagic drowning during storms. Now as for the army. Judging from my data, you can not count on crusaders from Europe for quite some time. So you need to find your own resources. Here I'm not your advisor, I can only suggest what Muslims plan to do for themselves-they are going to select strong children from among the commoners and train them in military schools in closed monastery schools. If such guys are also armed well, it will be a good replacement for the knights. At least it is better than any modern infantry many times.

" Good suggestions, Mr. Baron. "But I'm old, and my heir, "the prince nodded at the Count," there will be a difficult struggle for the throne. "

" I know. "Raimund Rupen, supported by your good neighbor Levon II, will fight fiercely, literally gnawing at every inch of this land. Commander, you will help in this difficult matter?

What should I do?

" Prince, you need to immediately declare publicly, by decree, that your son is proclaimed as your heir. "And when you feel that you are dying, then in writing and publicly renouncing it in its favor. And you, Mr. Commander, you will need to come to the witnesses and guarantors of these words, along with the blades that you can put up. Of course, Raymund can not be allowed into the city. It will be wonderful if our eastern friends accidentally take him prisoner. And after solving problems, for a symbolic reward will be released. Prince, what are you sad? I'm not suggesting you kill your own grandson. And he himself will be only a puppet in the hands of Levon II, who is eager to add the principality to his land. And our Raimund is a guy with good ambitions, that's why it will be very easy for a quarrel, even knowing that for the state it is fatal.

" I understand everything the baron, and you are absolutely right. "Commander, will you help?

Of course. I will do my best to solve this problem.

" In that case, I invite you all to my palace tomorrow. "Come by noon. Take faithful people, so that the best people of the principality can see and hear what will happen there. I will immediately transfer power to my son, as I am afraid that I will die in the near future. I have terrible pains at night. And I do not want surprises, especially if I have serious unfinished business behind my back.

– We will come. Commander, can you block the city so that there will be no surprises?

– Let's do it. Prince, will you send messengers through the urban aristocracy?

Yes!

"Only do not forget about Amir's envoys, they must respectfully enter the city and attend the solemn event, unless, of course, they arrive in the evening. "

" Baron," the prince addressed him, "do mercy, do not serve until the end of the negotiations. "We need your participation as a person who played a very significant role in everything that happens. Muslims fear and respect you. And Christians, too.

Yes!

" Then, Raoul, do not take it as a piece of work, give me letters from Demeter and my emissary from Constantinople. "Excellent! Thank you Well, gentlemen, on this I must bow out. Till tomorrow.

The next day was very busy running and pretentious poses. In general, the act of abdication went very carefully, without noise and unforeseen situations. Emir's emissaries were present, were aware of and fully supported this decision. Then came negotiations, in which full mutual understanding was achieved. To improve the interaction between the states, they decided to establish an early form of diplomatic missions in the capitals of both states. Representatives of al-Mujahid received much more than they wanted to carry, and even the young prince, Bohemond IV received yet another allies, which was not bad for him at all. Shortly before the departure of Eric to Constantinople, there was a small mess on the border with the Cilician Kingdom – on Raimund Rupen, who was walking with a small detachment of Nachararim Knights to Antioch, to attack his throne, attacked a detachment of Muslims. All the satellites of the Armenian prince were killed, and he himself is captured and transferred to the maintenance in Mosul. The Emir of Syria decided to develop the idea in order to divert suspicion from himself. Moreover, Armenians with an independent emirate did not just have a skirmish and had an occasion for such an action. But all this is over, since the Baron finally, April 17, 1201, was able to sail from the shores of the Holy Land and go to the ancient city of Constantinople.

Once, five years ago, Eric ran away from his castle, fearing for his life. Then his property was meager, and therefore the maximum he could count on, having all this – a place in the squad of some small nobleman. Yes, times change. Now, standing on the nose of a huge nave, he peered into the sea horizon, and behind him, in a wake, was a small squadron of the same large and slow ships. That's what it took to place his people with property. Of course, the trading company subordinated to him was able to distinguish these ships with the crews without any problems, but all the same, he was amazed at how his suite grew. Now close friends, a squad and a bunch of servants surrounded him. A whole mass of people number about two hundred. All with horses, good clothes and stuff. His trading company. It's amazing. Thus, the secondary organization serving its interests was the largest organization in Europe. The elder brother of Demeter was like a Venetian doge and had an influence on him, and the trade circles respected him. His trading company carried out a huge cargo traffic on the busiest route – between the Antiochian principality and Venice. In addition to his own trading and transportation operations, the guys everywhere were working for the operations of the Order of the Knights Templar, including the military. The expanses of the Adriatic, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas surfaced seven dozen large ships of the company and up to fifty small ones. A good trump card in the future game. But we digress. During the voyage Erik read over and over again the letters received from Raul, and pondered his next steps. There are only three letters: from the new Grand Master of the Order of the Templars, Philippe de Plesier, from Demeter and his emissary. The master informed him that he wished to meet with him, and therefore would stay in Constantinople and wait for him there. What does he need? Eric could not understand – why such a thirst for personal communication, as he supposed all the cases with the Templars had long been resolved. But the letter was dated February! In this case, one could only guess on this issue. Another thing is Demeter. She, as he ordered, arrived in the city in March this year and was waiting for his arrival. So, this lady brought with her a full report on the financial activities of the company, as well as a number of rare and valuable things that he ordered from her last summer. Of particular value there were stones, "sticking to the iron," as well as small pieces of clean, devoid of inclusions and crystal clear crystal. He needed a compass and good lenses for optical instruments. Alas, but from the local glass nothing sane except cloudy translucent marbles can not be achieved. In terms of optics, first of all he was interested in making a telescope and at least a primitive level, since the need for these devices increased every day. Moreover, it is desirable to make a telescope not one. In addition, Demetra was to bring a group of seamen specializing in the drawing up of sailing directions and maps. In truth, this cartography is more in words than in deed, as they still get terribly primitive. Have you ever seen medieval maps? Here I am about the same. They can be admired only as works of art, but to use for their intended purpose there was no possibility. They were inaccurate, devoid of orientation and important details, and disproportionate. But nothing, if it turns out to make a level and a compass, then it will go much better. Well, of course, a squad of crossbowmen. He was very interested in what they could do. On paper, everything went out just fine, but was it really so? It is difficult to say, it is possible that they are lying. In any case, he will have time to make from this fifty troubled people with crossbows good marksmen. Fortunately, his emissary, who last summer departed for reconnaissance of the situation and execution of instructions, did not cause any hesitation and unnecessary questions. Everything was done accurately and accurately, so in May, a batch of Hungarian twin bows for crossbows from a trusted master will appear, numbering 200 pieces, and in June-July a batch of silk paper from China is expected. He was tired of writing on rags, and there was nowhere to develop production. Therefore, the only thing left for him was to order paper from the manufacturer. Together with the order he sent a thin oak shield, the size of which was to make the sheets. In all, the party was to come in a thousand sheets, about thirty by forty centimeters in size. The price for all this pleasure, of course, is solid, but he now could afford such things. So, in thinking over the details of the forthcoming work, this tedious journey passed, and on the ninth day in the morning on the horizon through the fog the walls of the ancient city – Constantinople – came through.