The night's breeze would flow through the air, hitting the people sitting on guard within Kastro Kalamata. The sea's wind keeping the heat down while they were stuck on guard. There were two of these guards on top of the wall donning chainmail, padding, a helmet, and a spear.
"God, a night like this is beautiful," replied one of these men
"Aye, i'd bring my daughter up to watch if I could. Though we're under strict orders not to do such," replied the other man
The two of them would watch the moon's light glisten off of the sea from their position. Both of them could tell what the other was thinking, a night like this could last forever.
"You ever thought of what comes next in life? This on and off fighting with the Rhōmaîoi and the Tocco's has been making me fear the worst honestly. I told my family that after this we'll return home, a small village south of Naples." asked the man
"I don't know, God willing you can return home and I can go to Venice. I told my daughter i'd show her the city before she passed, she even made me swear on it!" laughed the other man
The other man looks at the other, and asked,
"By the way, i've noticed on your livery coat a stitched flower, whom put that there?"
"Well, my daughter did!" laughed the man with a stitched flower
"She's been wanting to do something to help me out and so she did this right here, she's a talent she is!"
"Absolutely! I'll need to ask her when our shift goes off! My name is John by the way, my wife is one of the handmaidens at the castle and my two sons have been squiring under lord John Zaccaria, the Prince's son. If you ever see them be sure to tell them your a friend of mine! Speaking of, I believe the young Prince just left for Chalandritsa recently to see his father," responded John
"I saw his ship leave yesterday when the Rhōmaîoi arrived, talk about a morale booster!" laughed the man
"My name's Ruggiero, i'm here with my daughter currently, her mother died during child birth so it's been me and her ever since!"
Ruggiero would look quietly to the sea, reminiscing about his days when he was younger and life were simpler. When he had been with his love and prepared to have a child.
"It's hard doing this alone, but i'm happy i've been able to witness my daughter grow up to be as bright as she is, she gets it from her mother!"
The two of them would then sit quietly together, looking up at the moon in its glory. It was a full moon that day, absolutely beautiful and bright.
"You know…" started John,
"I think that's exactly what we're going to do, once this siege ends i'll-"
thump
Before either of them could see or hear anything, a crossbow bolt would be sticking out of John's head. Pieces of his skull went flying from the impact and covered the face of Ruggiero. He would sit there in shock, watching as his new friend had just been killed in front of him. Then before he knew it another one would come flying his way, but just barely miss.
He's drop to the floor and begin to think,
'fight or run away, what do i do?? I can't die, my daughter needs me, and, and….'
Before he could even gather his thoughts he heard the chainmail of men ringing out over the walls hurriedly commanding orders in Greek
'They're coming to take the fortress, damnit i need to do something!'
He would blow a local horn to signify that the Rhōmaîoi were attacking, and then begin running to wake the others up.
"Get up get up!!! The Rhōmaîoi are here! Do you want to die?!?!"
The garrison of Kastro Kalamata were quick to begin arming themselves and putting on any armor they had. Crossbows and bows would be handed out, swords, spears, whatever could be carried were given to each able bodied man. Though by time they exited the barracks, their enemy was already on the walls, and soon, they'd hear a loud
KABOOM
…
…
Constantine was up along the wall alongside Tanush and other soldiers in his allagion. They'd stand above a man with a bolt in his head from one of his crossbowmen whom had fired it earlier. He paid no mind to it as he was instead waiting for his cannons to fire, and once they did, his own soldiers came flooding into the castle. From the other end as well, more stratiōtēs would jump over the walls using their ladders rushing the Achaean soldiers defending the castle. Constantine would draw his sword and yell,
"WITH ME MEN! SLAY THE ENEMY!"
Constantine would rush in with dozens more following him from behind. Cutting enemy down after enemy, swords would clash with Constantine even parrying one of the defending men and proceeding to cut his neck. The melee would ensue, spears would crash into enemy shields and the sound of wood breaking would echo across the castle. To the right of Constantine, one of his soldier's would have a large mace clubbed into their helmet causing the soldier to shake violently on the floor. Fluid coming out of his ears, eyes, and nose as he'd pass away. Constantine would watch, but not stay fazed as he's seen this same dance of death before. Nothing changes on the battlefield when it's life or death, you either live or die and Constantine was not ready to pass away this day, not yet at least.
Before he'd know it, he would lead a group of men to move up the castle towards the banner of the lord there, being defended by 4 soldiers with them having a pike, mace, and a few swords. The man with the pike would rush forward to pierce his pike into Constantine whom would quickly dodge to the right and grab the pike of the Achaean soldier and proceed to pull him towards himself. The soldier would fall forwsrd but quickly let go of his pike and draw his short sword and begin swindling wildly at Constantine. He would dodge left and right and block with his sword to prevent himself from being swiped by the enraged soldier. The Achaean soldier would then make a grave mistake, aiming to thrust his sword into Constantine's chest. Constantine would just barely move out of the way, seeing the side of his torso cut during the attack, but he would grab the soldier's arm with his left hand and hold him there in place before slashing his sword across the throat of his enemy. The soldier would jump back and hold at his throat, seeming to plead with Constantine for something before slowly stumbling to the floor. The other soldiers would quickly be slain as well, fighting with all of their heart to fight against Constantine and his retinue but being overwhelmed with numbers.
It would only take an hour for the entire castle to fall and the garrison to be slain. Constantine would walk through the courtyard and into the barracks, seeing many slain soldiers in front of him. Some with blood still dripping out of them or spears sticking out of their abdomen. He'd continue through the living quarters into the back room where he'd find many women and children sitting their terrified. A man in armor sat there bleeding out slowly in the corner of the room next to a small girl. He had a stitched flower into his coat that the moon's light would shine on through the window. The man would slowly look up to notice Constantine sitting there and look back down defeated, the young girl would hold the man tightly with tears rushing down her face. It must be his daughter thought Constantine, he never meant to orphan anyone but never thought of the consequences of war. His men behind him and outside were celebrating already and looting the corpses outside while those still living were inside afraid. The man with a flower on his coat would stroke the cheeks of his daughter and kiss her upon her head before his eyes slowly opened for their last time
The sight was something unknown to Constantine, he had fought war for many years, killed many men, but he's never truly seen this sort of love and connection, and see how he was the one to cause such suffering. He turned and left the room, his eyes hurting though not enough to release tears from them. He was a man and showing weakness of this sort wasn't befitting for a ruler, he must always remain perfect to his men no matter what.
"Don't worry O Despotēs mou, it's normal to feel this sort of pain," quietly remarked Tanush whom was watching him
"The first time I saw what my actions caused I took a step back to, I knew I was the worst man in the world and deserved to die for it. Though then I remembered such is the law of war, men will die, whether it be your own or others. Regarding women and children however, it all depends on the victor. I follow you because you have honor, I hope you are the man I think you are, i've served under others whom gave no thought to their lives and innocence, and I am sure without a doubt they will spend their afterlife in hell."
Constantine nodded in agreement, still saying nothing before peeking back into the room to witness the girl still hugging her father. The other women would huddle together as well, praying for mercy and praying for protection
"Tanush, ensure they are given new sets of clothes if they are dirtied and ensure some loyal soldiers bring them somewhere they can rest. The following day they will be shipped north to the other Achaean fortress present there. Ensure they have plenty of food and water, and give the orphaned children a bit of silver as well. It doesn't replace their father but hopefully it does some good." issues Constantine
The flag of Constantine and of the Despot of Morea would be raised and the Rhōmaîoi whom left the city earlier would return in celebration, lighting up the city with candles and music speaking of Constantine's great conquest. Tales would be spoken of his great cannon taking down the gate of the "impenetrable" Kastro Kalamata and how he would lead his men against the Latins. The soldiers would quickly move to celebrate with the townspeople and Constantine would sit within the walls.
"Tanush, for the men slain here, i'd like you to give me around 6 of your soldiers to help me clean up and bury some of these men. Send for father Geōrgios to pray for these men as well," asks Constantine
"Of course," responds Tanush
The men would be buried, with Constantine watching from the upper portion of the castle down at the men being buried, the stitched flower still seemed to glow in the night, or was it just his eyes playing tricks on him. He didn't know, but he did know he needed sleep. He'd finally lay down after a long night of war, and take off this mask of strength he had shaped for his image.
'God, I hope every battle isn't like this one,'