The return of the fallen king

Chapter 13: Losers’due

Chapter 13: Losers'due

<<''Trust not him whose father, brother or other kin you have slain no matter how young he be, for often grows the wolf in the child.''>>

--Viking saying

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After the raid, Naples fell into an eerie silence. The taverns and shops stood desolate, not because of a lack of interest but because they had been stripped bare of their wares. The taverns had become gathering spots for French soldiers, and most people, in an effort to avoid trouble, chose to abstain from purchasing alcohol that day. The tension in the air was palpable as the locals cautiously went about their daily routines, keeping a watchful eye for any signs of retaliation. Going out of their way to evade any meeting with the angevin troops.

In one of these establishments, torrents of beer and wine flowed down the throats of the French soldiers, rendering them unruly and aggressive. The restaurant owner personally served the soldiers, keeping his daughters far away from the intoxicated men.

After delivering the drinks to the French soldiers, the owner turned his back and hurried toward the kitchen, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

"You whesh girlhs ?" slurred one of the French troops in heavily accented Neapolitan, his voice loud and abrasive. The restaurant owner glanced back at the soldiers, his heart pounding with unease. He shook his head, avoiding eye contact, and hoped they would not cause any trouble.

"I'm sorry, sir," the owner replied, sweat trickling down his back, "the girls couldn't make it to work today. As you can see, it's just me and my two young sons serving you."

The French soldier shot a menacing glare at the owner, his drunken rage evident. He was clearly agitated, searching for a pretext to start a fight.

His comrades, equally intoxicated and rowdy, laughed and cheered him on as he bullied the owner. The owner could sense that this was escalating into a volatile situation, and he desperately attempted to defuse it. However, the inebriated French soldiers paid no heed, continuing to taunt and harass him.

The soldier became bored after a few minutes and ceased antagonizing the man. The owner then taking his chance spoke while arching his backs, hoping to get the soldier off his back.

"Well, gentleman, I sincerely apologize for not providing you with a good night's sleep." As a gift of my appreciation for your protection of my business, I'd like to point you in the direction of a location where you can locate girls for yourself.''

The soldier, who was inebriated and speaking a foreign language, didn't comprehend much of it, but when they heard the word "girl" and saw the owner smile and poke his finger outside, they realized he was inviting them to a whorehouse.

The three soldiers looked about and, weary of drinking and laughing amongst themselves, left the tavern, urging the owner to follow them. The owner silently followed and pointed to a house.

With a drunken smirk, the three soldiers entered the house. The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief before feeling guilty for offering rabbits to a wolf.

Similar incidents occurred across the ancient city, where troops bullied and drank themselves to sleep in every street corner. In the middle of the pandemonium, the city's citizens were helpless and left to fend for themselves.

It was a perilous position that may become deadly at any time for both sides, as Naples was like a boilong pot ready to erupt in violence. The soldiers, fueled by their unchecked power, reveled in their ability to instill fear and dominate the city. Meanwhile, the citizens lived in constant fear, unsure of when the next act of aggression would be directed towards them.

The newly crowned king of Sicily, Charles of Anjou, saw the danger this posed and summoned every French soldier within the city to the square, where he would proclaim what would happen next regarding the soldier's behaviour and the safety of the citizens. Aware of the potential consequences, Charles of Anjou aimed to establish strict regulations and consequences for any further acts of violence or abuse by the soldiers. He hoped that this decisive action would restore peace and ensure the well-being of his new subjects.

After a few hours, the square was filled with men wielding armor, lances, swords, shields, or hammers. They appeared to be an invading army set to attack the city, yet they had already invaded, conquered, and sacked the same city they were standing on.

The monarch was standing on a newly constructed wooden platform, his crown adorning his face while his long brown hair fluttered in the wind.Once he noticed that the soldier's attention was on him he began to shout in French in a gruff voice.

"Soldiers, for the past two days, I have allowed you to indulge yourselves at the city's expense, recognizing the loyalty you have shown me. However, this must now come to an end," the king declared, pausing to let his words sink in among the soldiers before continuing a few moments later.

"We have conquered their kingdom, and our next task is to win the hearts of its citizens. How much do you think they will tolerate before they turn to whatever they can find as a weapon? Let me remind you all that our numbers are limited, and if the people of this kingdom decide to rebel, we may not be favored with victory again by the grace of God."

"We have emerged victorious in battle; now we must assimilate ourselves into this new land and consider it our home. In light of this, a royal decree commands you to cease your unruly behavior and coexist peacefully with the city's residents . Failure to comply will result in severe consequences, as we cannot afford to provoke any further conflict. Remember, our goal is to establish harmony and unity within this kingdom, not sow discord and violence.If any of you are found intoxicated or in the company of prostitutes while in uniform, you will face execution, as if you were common criminals. Any soldier who fails to settle their debts with local businesses will be fined double the amount owed. Therefore, soldiers of France and now of Sicily, take heed of my words and cease behaving like demons; start behaving as the proud citizens you all represent."

With that, the king descended from the podium, surrounded by his knights, and left the square, allowing the soldiers to fully grasp the gravity of his message: Their time for revelry had passed, and it was now time to return to their duties. The soldiers watched in silence as the king's words echoed in their minds, realizing the consequences of their actions. The once lively square now fell into a solemn atmosphere, with a sense of responsibility and duty hanging in the air, as they realized that their time of fun had ended