Chapter 63: Little Fish (Part 3) (Special thanks to Alliance Leader Moye Xiang for the extra update!)

The master of Tortosa Castle finally placed his eyes on Cesar. Although he regarded his arrival as a humiliation, when he saw this child, he could not help but exclaim in his heart.

The existence of this castle was entirely for military purposes. Even though the sun was scorching outside, the fortress was still dark and stuffy, but he stood there, still like a glowing pearl.

Walter had also seen many beauties in the King's court and lords' castles, but to be outstanding to this extent was truly something to sigh about. This was either God doing His best, or the devil sparing no effort. In short, it was absolutely impossible for humans to give birth to such a perfect creation.

The other Marshals beside him also had softened expressions on their faces, as if they were waiting for such an excuse. Walter even suspected that even if Geoffrey said—he just picked up a stone outside the castle, and the stone was engraved with this person being favored by God, these people would believe it.

Even so, Walter just tilted his head slightly and looked at the squire behind him. Walter's squire was also a clever and clean-looking young man. He immediately understood and stood out, talking to this envoy who was unimaginably young, "What message did Amalric I ask you to bring?"

"If you are asking for the will of Amalric I—the King wants you to surrender, lower your flags, put down your weapons, remove your armor, and come to the door with the keys to the castle, bowing your heads to plead guilty to him."

Walter let out a loud mocking laugh. He looked at the Marshals sitting on both sides, and sure enough, he found traces of anger on their faces.

He looked at Geoffrey again, as if saying, "Look, look, this is the result of your guarantee."

Geoffrey's face was as thick as a city wall, not caring at all about the look Walter threw at him.

"We serve the King in Heaven and will not submit to the King on Earth. The King of Al-Salu, Amalric I, we have no obligation to him, and he has no power over us. We only listen to the orders of God, or God's spokesperson."

The squire said here and looked at Walter again. Walter nodded, and he continued: "In view of the fact that our brother is willing to guarantee for you, you can walk out of this castle, but only you. Rejoice, child, we will not smear you with asphalt and stick feathers on you. God's creation should not be treated like this."

He paused: "We will give you food and water, and an old horse. You will return to your Prince's side. Although you will suffer, you will still be able to keep your life."

And then, something happened that he could not understand. He only saw this envoy, who was still a child, suddenly take a step back. They thought he would kneel down to thank them for their tolerance, but only saw him take off the white surcoat embroidered with the yellow Al-Salu cross, revealing the chainmail inside.

This chainmail was of course urgently summoned by Baldwin for craftsmen to build according to his figure (they were still in the growth period, chainmail should be made after the body is set). Not only were the materials exquisite and the workmanship solid, but it was also plated with a layer of silver, making his face shine and impossible to look at directly.

They only heard him say, "I have completed the task entrusted by the King and am no longer an envoy of Amalric I, but I want to speak for some other people and be their envoy."

"Some other people," a Marshal asked amusedly, "Who? Saracens?"

"Perhaps, Saracens, Isaac people, Christians, anyone, unarmed people, people with good intentions, people who are about to pay a heavy price for this war but have no way to get compensation."

"Geoffrey, is that an ascetic monk you've brought?" another Constable asked with an unreadable tone.

"This, well, um," Geoffrey stretched out his finger and poked in the air, "They all call him Little Saint."

"Isn't this Amalric I building momentum for his son?" Walter said without hiding it.

"There is indeed a part of it." Geoffrey looked at the sky, "But some places are indeed not false. He is just such a stubborn fellow."

Walter's squire was at a loss. They might have had their own ideas, but on the surface, perhaps a part of their hearts was indeed for God that they came here, to protect those pilgrims who were persecuted and looted by heretics.

Now, standing in front of them was also someone who spoke for these dust, grass, and livestock that no one cared about. These people instead became as unbelievable as Amalric I. Several Marshals even subconsciously looked at the dark ceiling, wondering if a crack would appear with a click, and bright holy light and a few angels would be thrown out from it.

No, standing there was just a mortal.

Walter also looked at this child in front of him as Amalric I did. At the same time, Cesar was also observing him. He had learned about this person from Geoffrey before—in fact, it could be seen from his previous behavior that he was a stubborn, self-righteous fellow.

He did accept the peace treaty with the Saracens, that's true, but he did not think this was a compromise with heretics or a betrayal of God. He just enslaved and ruled the heretics in these territories like those lords and bishops, making them do things for Christians.

Therefore, when Amalric I reached the same goal of peace with the "Eagle's Nest" and abandoned the covenant between the Templars and the latter, he was as angry as a lord who had been robbed of his subjects, especially since these "subjects" were the heretic slaves he thought they were, not free Christian people.

He despised Amalric I because he actually talked about living in equality with a group of heretics. What he did was not even as good as a small knight.

"Then now, as the envoy of those... those pious Christians," Walter seemed to want to smile tolerantly, but finally gave up: "What do you want to say to me?"

Only to see this child silent for a while, then asked: "Have you decided to fight a protracted siege war with King Amalric I in this castle?"

"Yes," Walter answered, "Amalric I's spear will be smashed to pieces on this solid shield."

"Then you should know that in this war, it is the lives of more Christians that are being wasted in vain."

"This is their obligation and duty, for God."

"Are you sure, their sacrifice is for God?"

A dangerous look appeared on Walter's face: "Are you trying to accuse me?"

Cesar did not answer his question, "I heard that there are three villages and a small town around this castle. What about the people inside? Are they in this castle?"

Of course impossible. If Walter allowed so many people to stay in the castle, not to mention whether they could fit, just the consumption of these people could make Amalric I win without a fight.

"They are the people you swore to protect." Cesar continued: "And you decided to sacrifice them, and it was not for God. If you raised your sword for God, you would not stay in the castle, but raise your flag, ride your horse, and face the Saracens or even Amalric I head-on."

At this time, a hateful smile appeared on the black-haired child's lips: "But you did not do that. Perhaps you also understand that if you did so, you, your knights, and your army would only be completely destroyed by your enemies in one encounter."

Geoffrey heard someone gasping.

Walter froze, as if he did not expect that someone would mock him so unscrupulously in front of him.

When he understood the meaning of this sentence, he was furious. He stood up from his chair and walked fiercely to Cesar—Templars all had a tall and sturdy body, and Walter was no exception, even being called a leader among knights, not inferior to William Marshal.

And his face, you could say it was carved from stone, or you could say it was cast from black iron. If he kept a beard, he might not look so fierce, but after removing the cover of the beard, that upper and lower jaw and cheekbone, which were like the head of a hammer with multiple angles and not a single flat or smooth place, could not be hidden no matter what.

Along with it came the smell. Of course, in this era, the smell was the most difficult to avoid, especially for knights—when you are dressed tightly (only the part below the abdomen and above the thighs can breathe a little), riding a horse or swinging a sword continuously for a period of time, that smell might pickle the stone.

And Walter also had another kind, like the smell of blood that had been congealed in steel for a long time—it might not be nauseating, but it would make you feel cold all over.

Walter bowed his head and stared at that face, without any decoration, and without any cover. He knew that some knights would even imitate women to apply powder...

"You should thank God for His favor to you, child. However," he said in a low voice: "This is the second time. You had better shut your mouth now and keep silent. Whether you represent Amalric I or those pilgrims—this is the last chance I give you."

Cesar looked at him, without a trace of fear.

"Have you already seen your ending? Whether it is going out of the city to fight, a grand battle like a knight; or shrinking in the castle, using the lives of countless innocent people to guarantee for you, to bet on Amalric I's possible retreat, you are destined to fail, so you are afraid, you are trembling..."

"Enough!"

Walter shouted sharply. He stretched out his huge palm and grabbed Cesar's neck: "Fool, I don't know what kind of good people you have met, but I am not the kind of person who will be constrained by others' words or pleas!

Let me tell you, for me, food, drink, women, and wine are all dispensable things. I only believe in my God and my sword.

When will I feel joy? That is when I and my brothers, those brothers who are not cowardly, stand together, horse head touching horse head, shoulder to shoulder, shouting together 'Jehovah, Jehovah, glory not to us, not to us, but to your name for your mercy and truth,' and then rushing toward those hateful heretics and heretics!

Whether they are old people, children, women, or men, we kill everyone we see like farmers cutting down wheat and children destroying sandcastles! Until the blood flowing from the corpses drowns my knees!

You will not be the first child I kill, nor will you be the last!"

For a time, many people in the hall shouted, some were shouting "Oh my!" and some were shouting "Beg for mercy!" Not only Geoffrey, but even those Marshals could not help but stand up, pleading for Cesar one after another, lest this teenager, who was like a tender fruit on a branch, truly fall here. It was just that before their words landed, Walter felt something wrong—indeed, as he said, he had killed children and women, and had also gripped many people's necks, and he was familiar with this touch and the subsequent struggle—but none of these happened.

When Walter reached out his hand, Cesar had already bowed his head slightly, raised his shoulders, and tightened his body. Walter thought he had lifted him up. In fact, it was Cesar who used his strength to jump high, hugging his fist with both hands, and his feet kicked toward the Templar's face like lightning.

If Cesar were just an ordinary child, this kick might only hurt Walter's self-esteem, but a few breaths ago, he started to pray, and at this time, light was flickering on his body, continuously. When he was sure he had kicked the target, he twisted his body and flipped—there was always a layer of invisible but hard scale armor between Walter's palm and him. No matter how the Templar tried, it was like wearing iron gloves and wanting to catch a slippery big fish—in an instant, he had already landed back on the ground.

Several squires thought he would run away and ran to the door, but only saw him standing still, not moving, and could not help but marvel at his courage.

People all thought Walter would be even more furious, but he just wiped the blood flowing from his mouth and nose: "Who is the saint you perceived?"

"Saint Jerome."

"Damn Saint Jerome." Walter said.

"What about you? Who did you perceive?"

"I don't believe Geoffrey didn't tell you, the one I perceived is Saint Paul." Walter held his head high and said proudly.

Saint Paul might be the saint that knights most hope to perceive, second only to Saint George.

This saint was a Roman citizen by birth. He was very cruel when he was young and had persecuted Christians several times, but one day Jesus Christ and an angel descended before him, letting him realize the noble status of Christ and the mystery of His wonderful body, so he repented, not only converted, but also became a great apostle of Christ.

Besides this saint also once being a brave warrior, knights worshiping him so much also had to do with the church—before the eleventh century, as long as one could arm themselves, they were knights. They had low character and rude behavior, no better than thugs... Churches and monasteries were the places most often looted because of their wealth...

Poor clerics could only constantly conduct spiritual sanctions on these "knights." Robbing churches, attacking clerics, and looting merchants' "knights" would be excommunicated, but this method was not as easy to use as it was a few hundred years later. Knights still had no scruples. In the end, the church could only find a model for them from the Bible, and that was Saint Paul, who had committed crimes but repented early enough and made a brilliant career for Christ.

When clerics read the parts about Saint Paul in the Bible, knights had to stand up to show respect to this saint.

There were not many knights who could perceive Saint Paul, but Walter was one of them, and the favor he received was also quite generous—his arrogance was not without foundation.

"I did hear from Geoffrey about you," Cesar stood at a distance of only five or six steps from Walter and said calmly: "I also know that you have always been proud of the power Saint Paul bestowed upon you, then..."

"What?"

"Since you have always said that Templars only listen to God's arrangements, then are you willing to bet with me?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 64 =====

(End of this chapter)