CHAPTER IX: Internal Conflicts.

The year is 1220, I Demetrius finally became a Tourmakhes, an assistant to the strategos, which is my friend Justinian. On the last past years due to our merits and experiences in commanding and combat, the Emperor of Nicaea gave Justinian his own thémata so therefore, he got his own company of soldiers and the ability to have bodyguards, he didn't fully relied on the local soldiery such as the cataphracts, or the Varangians. Instead he relied on George's Saint Lazarus's Knights, since the fall of Jerusalem to the Ayyubid Muslims, most of the order were forced to flee to nearby lands such as Cyprus.

However, George convinced the order that serving under Justinian's command will lead them to a stable situation and to help the locals treat the incurable illnesses. Justinian as a strategos, he administrates the theme of Opsikion, therefore a thémata.

Months have passed, I have been hearing rumors from the family of Lascaris about a certain dislike of Justinian, It seems about he was related to someone they didn't supported or a personal dislike. But the Emperor Theodore Lascaris holds no anger to him as he gave the command and the theme to him.

While me and with my companions returning from our patrol, we saw men in Nicaean armor in the forest, we stared at them thinking that they must have camped nearby to hunt animals, but one of my companions was struck by an arrowhead in his knee by the them, I shouted "Traitors! Defend yourselves men!"

We quickly rode out of the forest hoping to escape them, while retreating my horse archer companions loosed arrows on the enemies while routing, then I suddenly felt a voice on my head that we should save that companion, so I grabbed my spear and ordered my lancers and my vardoratoi to form a wedge then scatter once made contact with the enemy.

We thought that we would fight at them in the deep forest, but luck gave us the upper hand. Their foolish commander led them to the plains where our lancers will do much damage. The traitors taunted at us as we are outnumbered by men, but most of them are levied and wearing light armor while us are armored from head to toe. Clearly those traitors didn't even knew what was going on.

I personally led the charge of my elite lancers, then our vardoratoi will flank them from behind and side. As soon me and my lancers got in contact with the enemy, they routed immediately not in an orderly order then therefore we slaughtered them like sheep.

The skirmish was over, we didn't even lose a man but they lose at least 30 good men, we saved our companion and ordered my lancers to take him back to the garrison to be treated, as we are returning we saw one of the traitors acting like the dead ones, I instantly grabbed him by his tunic and pointed my dagger on his neck. He has no choice but to speak or lose his breath, the traitor spoke, " Please! Don't kill me my Lord, I know who ordered your demise!"

I replied to him who was it then he talked again with fear, "I-it was Lekapenos! He was one of the Epirote spies!" I was astonished on what he pointed to, as he was referring to the head of the Imperial Bodyguards, he has the bloodthirsty Varangians at his disposal. Getting rid of him is like fighting the Rus with a mallet.

I chose to let him go and go on our separate ways.

We finally reached the city of Prussa, when we first governed this city together it was impoverished, but now it is filled with people and thriving. I hurriedly went to Justinian still with my companions or lancers as I like to call it, and told him about the sudden attack and the plot against us.

He believed in me and sent loyal spies to gather more information about Lekapenos.

Months have passed, and we got essential informations about him and his shenanigans. He was working for the Epirote and the Latins but now it's time to put the mole into the hole.