Just a couple of days before sailing to Antioch, a courier arrived from Pierre de Chamond, who handed him two letters, one from the commander himself, the other from the well-known to him Maria Champagne.
Letter from Pierre de Chamond, Commander of the Venetian Branch of the Order of the Templars for Eric von Lenzburg.
"Good health. I am writing to you, as agreed. The situation with the forthcoming campaign to the Holy Land has seriously changed. Some time ago an attorney from the displaced Byzantine emperor arrived in Venice. Accepted it, at first, it is cold, since from it, by itself, there is no benefit. However, after just a couple of days, Enrico Dandolo, our respected doge, began to behave quite unusually. He literally carried it in his arms, until he sailed. What they said there - no one knows. One thing is for sure - they have something in mind and not the fact that it will do something for the benefit of the campaign, rather, even vice versa. So do not harbor the special hope for joint actions with knights and act without regard for their arrival. Concerning the second letter, I ask you to be extremely pointed. If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be a disaster. It would be great if you destroyed it after reading it.
Your success in Corfu has not been ignored, although they were apprehensive about the methods you used. Declare yourself an ancient God! Yes, you are a brave person, not everyone will decide this. I am informing you that Philippe de Plescier, the right hand of the Grand Master, was appointed responsible for cooperation with you, since you are separated into a separate authority. Now he is in the Holy Land, where he will seek meetings with you, upon your arrival there. As soon as I do not know, so I advise you to prepare for this meeting in advance, before sailing. We have accumulated quite a few questions to you and if you intend to continue to work closely with us, then they will need to be answered. And let these answers be plausible, since there are rumors about your complicity with the Devil. Of course, I think such gossip is stupid, but I do not make decisions. "
Your kind friend, Pierre.
A letter from Maria Champagne to Eric von Lenzburg.
"Kind way to you in your affairs, kind baron. " Our mutual friend showed me mercy and slightly opened my eyes to some of your combinations that you turned in Vienna and Venice. Some stories were so amazing that I involuntarily recalled old legends about the adventures of the ancient German gods and heroes. Very close to you in style. I'm scared to think about what the scale of your activity really is, if even such tiny pieces are so impressive. I would never have thought that such a young husband has such agility and such perseverance in achieving his goals. Especially I was struck by the grace with which you were able to put in place my relative and the famous for all Europe intriguer Philip. He, poor, is still suffering, trying to guess - to whom yet you are working. However, he is not alone in his mistakes. I want to please you - only a few know that you, in fact, go your own way, and completely incomprehensible. Pierre and I have long thought, trying to understand what you need and what you are aiming for. But, alas, ours with the mister commander, abilities is clearly not enough to understand the purpose of your life path.
As for our novel, I can not hate you and wail about the cunning of a broken heart. He completely satisfied me and liked me. It would be foolish and unfair to deny this. Using me for your own purposes, you gave a quiet family happiness in return, returning the spirited husband to the bosom of a legitimate family. I could not stand the child completely, but he, fortunately, was born healthy. The husband is happy, he just shines, because the child was a long-awaited boy. Eric, I get scared when I look at my son, because if a husband suspects something, then it will be very troublesome for me to save life not only for myself, but for the child. I write openly, knowing Pierre as a friend who has repeatedly proved his loyalty, so if you want to answer me, then write to him, and he will already pass on. We called the boy Benno, since he, although very weak, has already shown his bearish character. The other day, he clapped Balduin's hands in his ear, when he decided to shout at him. Yes, so clinging to the fact that we barely tore him. My father laughed heartily, and my husband was completely taken aback. I think that Hugo knows everything about us, but he does not say anything. From the very beginning of our novel he looked at you with a sly glance, as if he suspected something. But I must say goodbye. Go on with the same perseverance, and let the bright sun shine on you. "
With a good memory, your Maria.
Yeah, one letter is more interesting than another. They puzzled him. Of course, he remembered the Crusaders' trip to Constantinople instead of Egypt, and did not think that it would be different, but here are the details Masha also hints that it is very possible for her to amputate the head, and in the near future. It would be possible, of course, to score at all and go partisan to the warm sands, and then settle there, where he planned, but he already went very far in his intrigues in order to just go like this. They will not let him go. He, without knowing it, became a figure in the political scenes of this troubled era. I see. So, what do we have in the dry residue? First, the Templars' sustained interest in his person, and he is so serious that they were instructed to deal with the successor of the current Grand Master. What do they need? Clearly, they need help in their operations in the east, so they will bargain. Secondly, Masha and Benno. If everything goes as it was, then in 1204 she will die, and her husband will go into oblivion after her. Of course, no one small boy will not be allowed to become the emperor of the Latin Empire. If, of course, someone will not be behind him with a big ax and a happy smile. And from what will the countess die? And with Hugo a lot of oddities. This is where they have porridge brewed, which can not be disassembled - you need him that with this mess or not. The only question that bothered him about Byzantium was its straits. The Bosporus and the Dardanelles are narrow enough to deal with its transport communications. Yes, those 600-700 meters, that in the straits are observed in the most narrow places, are not so terrible. But this is for a single passage of ships, and if there is a regular transport line, then we need confidence in its relative safety. This is already happening, but on the whole proposed route only this place causes concern. He tried to sort out the emperors of the Latin Empire after her husband Maria. A terrible leapfrog and slaughter. The guys will not be able to keep these lands in order for long. Yes, and generally hold, as the Paleologians will beat them and restore the Byzantine Empire. And quickly. So, the only clue is our little bear cub, who by the certain date will be only about six years old. In general, we have two vectors of interests: the first is the Templars and a good relationship with them; the second - Benno as the heir of the not yet created Latin Empire. So it was necessary to start acting immediately. Of course, not with their own hands. So he began to recycle the materials that were collected in Venice, including by Monsieur Dandolo. In general, Eric especially nothing to alter the data was not necessary, just translate into Latin and correct, removing completely unnecessary details about the order itself. The last two days he slept literally three hours. But at the cost of such efforts, he still managed to prepare an answer for Pierre before departure, which he sent through the courier waiting for him, along with the extensive accompanying documentation.