Chapter 369 - 262: Blacherna Palace
"Where has the Count of Blois gone?" Eric noticed the little old man who had come with them wasn’t there.
"The old man is getting on in years—probably can’t even get it up anymore. But he refuses to face that cruel reality, so after eating and drinking his fill, he’s hiding away to avoid being humiliated by us young bucks." Belem roared with laughter, shamelessly mocking his own father-in-law. Then he slammed a fist on the table, whipped his head around, and bellowed at a nearby attendant, "Another big-chested woman! Didn’t you see my brother has arrived?! How can you let a noble Count drink all by himself!"
Belem was speaking Norman French, so the Greek Attendant left behind by Brinyos immediately translated for the tavern’s staff to prevent them from thinking Belem was trying to start a fight.
"Don’t worry, Eric. A Greek Attendant is with the Count of Blois, and the Count only brought one knight with him. These Greek Attendants will satisfy most of our needs, except for when we try to leave this designated area.
The Greek Emperor has made thorough preparations to both host and control us, preventing us from running wild and causing damage to Constantinople," Lagman added, handing Eric a cup of date wine.
"It seems we’re missing a few Priests." Eric took the cup of date wine from Lagman, took a sip, and glanced over at three Priests who were already dead drunk nearby.
Eric remembered that a total of five Priests had come with them, representing the Archbishop of Rouen and the Pope’s Envoy, the Bishop of Le Puy. Eric had promised both Bishops that he would guarantee their safety.
The men around them immediately broke into roaring laughter.
Belem stood up and clapped Eric on the shoulder. "Come on, come on, I’ll take you to them."
Belem tossed the cup from his hand back over his shoulder, where it landed perfectly on the head of a patron sitting behind him.
The tavern had three floors. The first floor served food and drinks, while the second and third floors were filled with rooms, offering bedmates and private spaces for patrons to satisfy their desires.
A ladder provided access to the second and third floors.
As Belem led Eric toward the ladder, they saw two drunkards at its base, fighting over a prostitute. One was trying to pull the other off the rungs.
The two drunkards were Belem’s own Knights. Belem kicked the one who hadn’t started climbing yet.
"You first," Belem said, pointing to the drunker of the two. "Then you. Or both of you at once, I don’t care! But don’t you dare fight over her! She’s a goddamn prostitute! Look at the state of you two. Don’t you embarrass me here."
Then, Belem threw a handful of Silver Coins at the Moore prostitute.
Belem and Eric climbed to the second floor. Unlike the clamor below, this level was filled with the grunts and moans of carnal desire.
"This place is a fucking pigsty. Grunting like pigs, fucking like pigs."
Belem muttered, yanking open the curtain of a small booth. Inside, a skinny Priest in a burlap tunic was bent over a chair while a red-headed prostitute whipped his backside. The Priest’s hands were clasped in prayer. "Ah! Lead me from the darkness, O great—"
He then pulled back the curtain on another booth. A fat prostitute was holding a short Priest, thrusting up and down so vigorously it was hard to tell who was the client.
"Hey! It costs extra to watch!" a middle-aged man yelled at Eric and Belem.
Eric shook his head, speechless, and followed Belem back down to the first floor.
The men resumed their drinking.
A good while later, Brinyos appeared at the tavern to inform them that the Emperor was summoning them to the palace.
"You have the nerve to show your face?" Belem roared at Brinyos, slamming the table. "We spent all that time at sea just to come here and be toyed with by you people? I demand—"
"The Emperor has prepared a banquet to compensate you all..." Brinyos said with a smile and a bow.
"A banquet? To hell with your banquet! We’ve already eaten. Three of our Priests are dead drunk, and two are dancing with Demons. What do we need a banquet for? We’re busy having our own fun!" Belem roughly groped the woman on his lap before stalking over to Brinyos.
"His Majesty’s court is a place that knows how to please its guests. The fine wine and beautiful women are far beyond anything you can imagine. The ladies of the court are more alluring and captivating than any you will find elsewhere," Brinyos continued, his polite smile never wavering. "They are not only exceptionally beautiful, but also well-educated and trained in pleasing distinguished guests such as yourselves. Believe me, they will ensure none of you get any sleep tonight."
"Alright, then. We’ll go and see for ourselves. I just hope your Emperor isn’t making fools of us." Belem turned and yelled to his men, "Get up, you bastards! We’re going to the palace! Let’s show those Greeks what real men look like!"
The Norman Knights roared their approval. The three drunken Priests, not quite understanding what was happening, also waved their cups wildly and staggered out of the tavern behind the Knights.
....
Not long after the men left the tavern, bells began to toll from a Church down the street.
A procession of Greek Priests emerged, holding candles and fabric banners mounted on poles.
Dressed in long, black robes, they moved slowly into the street, chanting a low, undulating hymn.
Their hairstyles were Greek, unlike the Frank priests who accompanied Eric’s party. These Greek Priests’ vestments, however, were more ornately decorated. Several of the Greek Priests wore long, silk scarves embroidered with a gold thread Cross around their necks—that was the Holy Belt (orarion). Their robes had long sleeves that also bore exquisite patterns.