Part 1
Clemente looked at the town before him. Everything he saw being built, was falling before his own eyes. And he couldn't believe it. Just a few days before, the streets were full of merchants, children playing and people enjoying their lives. Now he saw flames, women being raped, houses being plundered. And the barbarians that were the cause of it. There was no other word for them. They were like a locust. Destroying everything in their way. He blinked, but they were still there. With a grimace on his face he went down the stairs and joined his men in front of the gate outside of the palace. He looked at the bronze doors before him.
He unsheathed his sword and turned to his men, 50 most elite guards of europe. The palace guards. The Kokkinokranoi, the Red Helmets, the best soldiers that the Romanion had to offer. Hand chosen by the emperor for their brilliance. "This is the time we were waiting for. You can see what that Locust is doing to our city. Soldiers!" He turned back to the gates and pushed them open. Clemente Kosaca, leader of the Palace guard took a deep breath and then let out a roar that his men were waiting for. "For the Emperor!"
Bård couldn't stop his laughter. This was all the great Roman empire could do? His forces barely touched, their armies annihilitated. Another squad passed him carrying riches back to the camp outside. This way the pillaging continued at the same pace. When one squad was full, they returned to the camp, and then fresh people took their place. Everything was going according to plan. The King of England continued his march through the streets, cutting down the occasional peasants that were trying to run away when a sudden noice stopped his walk. He turned around to see a group of soldiers clad in mail with red helmets. So he missed some of them? With a smile he swinged his blade a few times before marching to meet them.
They surrounded him. 5 men with shields and blades, they thought that he was done for. One of them stepped out and the other surrounded them in a circle. They wanted to duel! They made his job even easier. The greek tried to bash him with his shield but Bård jumped right and kneeled, cutting his enemy in the ankles. The man fell on the ground and Bård finished his job slashing his neck. He looked up at the other soldiers. Another one stepped out. Bård smiled, even now they valued their pride more than winning.
His new enemy was armed only with a sword, but Bård could see a dagger hidden by his belt. The greek striked for the head, the king parried his attack and released a counter for his enemies arm. The greek wasn't quick enough. Bårds' blade found the space between the parts of armor and cut his arm clean off at the elbow. A quick Coup de Grace finished the poor mans life. The remaining greeks decided heroism is for nothing if they would all die and all attacked at once. Bård jumped at the one on his right striking with all his might straight at the shield. Just as he hoped the power of his strike made the greek back out for a second. A second that gave him the chance to pick the dagger hidden by the belt of the fallen greek. A quick move and the dagger was in his hand and a second later it was flying towards the second greeks' eyes. The dagger plunged into the greeks eyes. Only two remaining. Bård tumbled back just in time. A greek blade cut through thin air where Bård just was. Quickly up, he charged on the man that tried to kill him with his blade up. The greek covered himself with the shield but Bård strike was too powerfull. The wooden shield shattered under the strike and the blade reached the greek head.
He stood up with a smile of grim satisfaction on his face. His last enemy was standing with his jaw open, looking at the man that killed 4 men in about half a minute. A second later he threw away his shield and charged. Bård just kneeled and pointed his sword towards the soldiers gut. The blade pierced him through. With a kick Bård pulled his sword out of him. His smile never fading.
Clemente looked at the massacre around him. About a hundred of attackers traded for 30 of his men. He was left with 15 men as he ordered five of the guards to try and get out of the city to tell the emperors' brother David, that he had to end the war and come back to Constantinople as quick as he could. Anatolia wasn't much good if he lost the capital itself.
He reformed the circle as he could see another wave was coming. He would rather die than see those men get into the palace itself.
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Who is the Emperor, by the way, that left the Queen of Cities so defenseless? String him up, I say! 
