Fitz appeared to have been tortured for a long time. He was so gaunt he was nearly unrecognizable at a glance, his prison clothes caked with blood and filth.
The Old Count had lost all the vitality he’d had when they first met. He was like a fish that had been left on dry land for so long it had even lost the strength to struggle.
Rufus kicked Fitz in the side, forcing him over the tower parapet. He rested a longsword on Fitz’s neck and shouted at Robert, down below the Tower of London:
"My dearest brother, let me witness your mercy once more. Your most loyal vassal, the great Earl of Hereford, the brave and unyielding William FitzOsborne, is undoubtedly pleading for your help and grace.
Tell me, what is it you truly care for? England? Or your loyal men? A merciful man should never be stingy with grace for his followers. Am I right, my brother?
Tell your men to take what doesn’t belong here and get lost."
"William, do not give me cause to look down on you. Your actions bring shame upon the House of Normandy. My brother, if you care for your honor, if you take pride in your nobility, then lower your sword. He has already surrendered to you; you are honor-bound to protect his life!"
"Is that so? I’d rather trust my own judgment than your words. His body may have yielded, but I feel his spirit is still far from me. Therefore, I refuse to accept his surrender. So do whatever you please!
HAHAHA! But, as your brother, I am delighted to listen. Go on, my merciful brother. Let me hear more of your sanctimonious pronouncements."
Rufus laughed madly, delighted by Robert’s reaction. He remained completely unmoved.
Robert’s brow was tightly furrowed.
He was unwilling to simply abandon the Old Count, who had trusted him almost unconditionally. And this despite the fact that the man had been captured by his father before providing any substantial support, forcing Robert to advance his own plans.
Robert glanced instinctively at Eric, only to see him writing something on a piece of parchment with a quill.
"What are you doing, Eric?"
"Shutting him down. We can’t let him think we care too much about Earl Fitz, or he’ll grow bold."
"Then what should we do...?"
"That’s why we need to put on a show. You’ll need to play along with me—no, with Belem. It’s like I said before: one of us plays the good cop, the other plays the bad cop."
"What?" Robert was taken aback.
Just then, Belem, having finished his duties outside the city, hurried over.
"It’s nothing. Just keep showing your merciful side."
Eric then pulled Belem aside, whispered a few words in his ear, and pressed the parchment into his hand.
Belem looked uncertain. He pointed at Robert, then at himself, a troubled expression on his face.
Robert had no idea what Eric was planning, but he couldn’t think of any other solution at the moment.
’If I want to save Earl Fitz,’ Robert thought, ’I’ll have to give in to William’s demand and pull back the army. But if I give in once, knowing William, he’ll just make more and more outrageous demands.’
’But if I refuse, I’ll be seen as ruthless. I know that the Knights of Normandy support me precisely because I’m not like my ruthless father and brother.’
’Though I doubt the Knights who swore loyalty to me would turn their coats now, with the war this far along, it still wouldn’t be a good look. I don’t want to become known as a ruthless man, both for the sake of appearances and my own conscience.’
So, Robert nodded at Belem.
Belem swallowed hard and looked at Eric, who nodded back at him.
Belem took a deep breath, then beckoned to the six Knights with him and gave them a few quiet orders.
The six Knights hesitated for a moment, looking to Robert as if for his consent.
Robert nodded again.
Four of the Knights then hurried over to the nearby lines, whispering to several of the commanders.
The remaining two Knights seized Robert and hauled him to his feet. Completely bewildered, Robert was startled.
"What are you doing? Is this a mutiny?! Let me go—"
Robert shouted instinctively, his eyes darting to Eric. Eric gave him another firm, encouraging nod.
’Keep going, Robert. Keep going.’
Robert seemed to understand. He raised his voice.
"I cannot abandon the Earl of Hereford! He is my kinsman! I must save him, no matter the cost! I will never abandon any man who pledges loyalty to me!"
The Knights held Robert fast, dragging him away from the front.
Now it was time for Belem’s performance. He unfurled the parchment in his hand with a sharp flick.
"My apologies, Duke Robert! Forgive my presumption, but I have reasons I cannot ignore! Nothing in this world can stop a man from avenging his brother! Nothing can stop a brave warrior from avenging his comrades-in-arms!
How many have we lost to this day? How many friends and comrades? They are the unsung heroes who gave their lives without hesitation to take this great London City! And what was their reward? Their bones lie in the moat and in the weeds outside the city walls!
They are the true heroes of this war! They gave their lives so Duke Robert could ascend to the throne! I believe they yearned to see this merciful and generous Duke wear the Crown, for only then would their sacrifice have meaning!
My own brother, Philip, gave his life in this war! I do not stand here today as Sir Belem, but as a brother who loved his own, as a comrade to every warrior who has fallen in this war!
What right do we, the living, have to make their decisions for them? Was their blood shed in vain? Were their deaths meaningless? Should they be forgotten, dismissed as nothing more than dust?!
Even though the Earl of Hereford is a great nobleman, is his single life worth more than the thousands who have fallen? Forgive me, Duke Robert. I know you are merciful and generous, but today, I must reject your mercy and generosity!
Because I cannot allow the man responsible for my brother’s death—the butcher who has slain so many of our loyal and valiant warriors—to stand before us now, so composed and shameless!
Even if I were to agree, the soldiers behind me would not! These brave men who cherish their fallen comrades would never agree!
We respect the Earl of Hereford, of course. His character is admirable, and any lord would be overjoyed to have such a loyal vassal. But we have already paid too high a price in this war!
Afterward, to appease your anger, you may punish me for my insubordination!
But for now, you must forgive my cruelty! Prince William, you can take the Earl’s life! We will not agree to your terms!
For we bear the weight of far more lives and a greater responsibility! I will have vengeance for them!
Take the Earl’s single life! We will repay you tenfold! And we will leave none of you alive!
Warriors, tell Prince William our answer!"
Belem’s words were incredibly rousing.
Many of the Knights further back, who hadn’t understood what was happening and had been wary of Belem, were visibly moved. For the moment, they set aside their suspicion.
The surrounding Genoese Crossbowmen and Flemish Spear Soldiers were quickly stirred by his speech, for they truly had lost too many comrades and friends in this war.
"We do not agree! We do not agree!"
"We do not agree! We do not agree!"
...
「Inside London City」
A young man was relieving himself against a small tree. It was Belem’s brother, Philip. He suddenly sneezed.
Urine splattered onto his trouser leg.
’Feels like someone’s talking about me,’ Philip muttered, rubbing his nose.
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