Chapter 370 - 262: Blacherna Palace (2)
Leading the procession was a Bishop, holding a Shepherd’s Staff carved with an eagle’s head and wearing a Bishop’s Mitre. Following closely behind him were two Cultivators dressed in white Sacrificial Robes: one held a large wooden Cross, while the other carried a wooden panel painted with the image of Christ. In the painting, Jesus was nailed to the Cross, His eyes looking to the heavens in prayer, begging for mercy for those who had crucified Him.
"Praise God in the highest heavens, all people! All living beings on earth, praise the Lord of Hosts!"
The hymns of the Greek Priests echoed in the air. Although they were sung in Greek, the melody was familiar to the Frank priests. The three of them began to hum along, and whenever they couldn’t remember the words or messed up the tune, they would mutter a curse of ’heretic’.
There were few people left on the street, only a handful of stray dogs fighting over leftover food.
The closer they got to the palace, the cruder and more haphazard the houses became.
The grand villas of the wealthy gradually gave way to crude houses, some of which looked like they were built from scrap wood and trash. They became more and more rudimentary, until in the shadow of the palace walls, the dwellings were barely houses at all: just some pieces of wood propped against the wall, covered with branches and torn cloth.
The entire length of the palace walls on both sides was crowded with these pitiful structures, around which thronged a crowd of filthy beggars.
Some people sat before these shacks, carefully roasting food on branches.
They silently watched as Eric and his party passed by. A few Norman Knights couldn’t resist tossing them some Silver Coins, which instantly caused a violent commotion, as if a great stone had been dropped into a placid pond.
Before Eric and his companions could even realize what had happened, they were surrounded by a large crowd of filthy, ragged people, all of them begging loudly.
Some of the poor souls waved withered limbs or stumps, while others showed off gangrenous wounds oozing with pus.
Although some of the Norman Knights themselves were not exactly refined, they were shocked by the foul-smelling paupers and would strike out in anger whenever a beggar got too close.
Fortunately, the Blacherna Palace was not far off. The guards stationed outside the palace rushed over. Long accustomed to the stench and noise, they mercilessly used their Shields and the butts of their Long Spears to shove back the encroaching crowd.
After considerable effort, they reached the palace gates, where Eric’s party was met by a squad of guards wearing blue Cloaks. The guards held Brass Short Rods, but unlike those of other city gate guards, theirs were carved with a lion’s head on one end.
Once inside the walls, Eric and his party found themselves at the end of a long, tree-lined path in what seemed to be an immense garden.
The palace area was divided by high walls into several smaller enclosures, so that no matter which way one looked, the eye was always met by the blank face of a wall. Above the walls, one could see tree branches and the tops of domes, many of which were surmounted by a Cross.
The ground sloped gently upward, as the Emperor’s palace sat atop a hill overlooking the dark-blue, shimmering Marmara Sea to the south.
Led by Brinyos, they followed the path to another wall with a gate wide enough for four Riders to pass through side-by-side. More importantly, an entire building had been constructed above this massive gateway to house guards and sentries.
Passing through the gateway, they entered another garden with several more tree-lined marble walkways.
Various buildings were scattered across this inner courtyard: kitchens, storehouses, assorted residences, and several Cathedrals.
The buildings were mostly constructed from colored marble quarried from all over the Empire. Most had large openings covered in clear glass. Furthermore, their upper portions were tiled in blue and green, causing the slanting light to make the tall structures sparkle like jewels.
By the time they reached this spot, the three previously drunken priests had somehow sobered up completely.
"This place is as if bathed in the light of Heaven," one of the Frank priests marveled.
The Knights, too, could not stop looking around.
In this inner courtyard stood no fewer than four palaces and three additional Churches.
As Eric and his party walked, Brinyos proudly introduced the names of the buildings, finally feeling a sense of vindicated pride.
"That is the Octagonal Hall," Brinyos said, pointing to one of the buildings. "It is the Emperor’s private residence."
"And over there," Brinyos continued, pointing to another magnificent palace, "is the Pantheon—where the Empress and the ladies of the court reside. That is the Daphne Palace, and beside it is Saint Stephen’s Church."
(The Pantheon mentioned here is not the Pantheon in Rome. During the Byzantine Empire, it was popular to name new buildings and areas after architecture from the classical era.)
"What is that building?" Eric asked, pointing to a large stone structure with a soaring, triple-domed roof covered in red clay tiles.
"That is the Three-Circular Hall Palace," Brinyos replied. "It is the new Throne Hall (state throne-room), where the Emperor holds official ceremonies. Theophilos built it. But the Emperor prefers the old Throne Hall in the Chrysotriklinos Hall."
Brinyos pointed to another huge building of yellow stone. "The old hall of state is where we are headed."
"What’s behind that high wall over there?" Stephen asked curiously, pointing behind the Throne Hall.