1453: Revival of Byzantium

The figure in front turned back, revealing her gorgeous face under the hood. The woman is called Therma Sphrantzes, Giovanni's newly found lover in the city, or better known as the daughter of George Sphrantzes who is the Protevestiarites, Lord of the imperial wardrobe and the right-hand man of Constantine.

Knowing that she has been discovered, she turned back and faced Giovanni blushing and fidgeting her hands, holding a basket covered in a pink silk cloth.

Giovanni frowned and asked, removing his gloves and felt Therma's forehead with his hand palm. "Why is your face so red? Are you not feeling well? If that is the case you should not be here, it is cold on the outside."

"I am fine Giovanni." Therma blushed even more and replied. "It is just that you did not come home for dinner today, so I am worried that you might still be hungry…" Then she removed the silk cloth and revealed the content below – some charcoal-grilled lamb meat with chopped tomatoes, onions in pitta bread, and Olives drizzled in olive oil.

The smell of food soon spread all over that segment of the wall, attracting a whole lot of men's attention, whistling, clapping and shooing at Giovanni and Therma, which made the latter even more embarrassed and lowered covering her face in hood. Giovanni laughed and reprimanded these fellows for not paying attention to their duties, then took the basket from Therma, then climbed up the tower holding her hands.

They sat together holding hands on the tower, where Giovanni's men have already cleared a confined and quiet space for the two of them. They leaned against the walls as Giovanni opened the lunch box, the smell of food filled the entire tower. Giovanni did not realise it earlier on, but his stomachs are already groaning in hunger. He gulped his saliva, waited no more and began gobbling down the food while Therma chuckled by his side.

After Giovanni finished his feast, the two of them laid down together on a bunch of haystack and began having a brief moment of relaxation by chit chattering around. After a while Giovanni asked Therma with a naughty smile.

"Therma, don't you think it is a little bit too hot up here?"

Therma's face flushed with red for the third time tonight and pinched Giovanni on the arm. Giovanni laughed, removed his chest plate, chain mail, coat, helmet and spaulders, and hugged Therma with a wide grin on his face and started smelling the Citrus scent of perfume from her neck, his moustache prickling her skin making her giggle in itchiness. Therma tried to push Giovanni but it only made him hug even tighter and tighter.

"Giovanni! You there! I have a…." Just as the two love birds hug and roll around, Antonius broke into the door and shouted for Giovanni, but immediately paused after seeing what the two of them are doing.

"Oh… Ahem… Sorry for the interruption!" It took two seconds for Antonius to understand what is going on. He laughed and made a funny face before the two of them, then stormed for the exit and closed the door, as Giovanni roared in rage and tossed a spaulder towards him.

After Antonius climbed down the tower, he ordered Giovanni's guards to not approach the tower or let anyone disturb, as their commander Giovanni is discussing some 'secret affairs' with lady Sphrantzes. When the guard asked Antonius what secret affairs their commander are up to, Antonius pulled his ears and whispered something, the guard startled and then both of them laughed hugging their stomach.

Back on the tower, Giovanni and Therma rolled around with their cloth being thrown all over the place in the process, finally their skins are completely exposed to air being nourished under the shine of moonlight and the twinkle of a million asteroids in the darkened skies. Then they gave it a good tumble on the pile of dried grass, and Therma let out a whine of satisfaction as Giovanni sowed his seeds across Therma's land.

The next morning, Giovanni woke up on the pile of haystack, and found out that Therma has left the tower leaving behind a paper slip with a message for him.

It says that she will not disturb him from this day onwards, as a her presence will only distract his mind and make him reluctant when making orders. She will wait and help out in the back, and she will pray that Giovanni will come back holding a trophy and a shield of triumph, not laying and carried to the back by other men lying on a shield.

Giovanni smiled, worn his cloth and armour, hide the paper slip into his pocket and climbed down the tower, only to find Antonius already expecting him by the doorsteps leaning against the city walls.

"Had a good experience last night mate?" Antonius asked with a sleazy smile.

"You little…" Giovanni laughed and punched Antonius in the chest, before they hugged and laughed together. "So, you looking for me last night? What is it you are seeking?"

"Yes, to serious business." Antonius switched to a serious tone. "I will need your support."

"What for? Looting a tough target on the seas?"

"Nay, I plan to initiate the battle with the navy first."

Giovanni, realised what Antonius is thinking, also turned into a serious mood. "What are you planning my brother? Going to risk yourself again?"

"Listen to me, my brother." Antonius stared into Giovanni's eyes and held his shoulders. "I, we cannot just sit inside the walls waiting for them to retreat, they will suffocate us. We need to fight first, take as much as advantage to our side, have the initiative of the battle, then we can jump out of this trap into a much wider space."

"What do you plan to do? They have already sealed all the gates prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting, don't tell me you are going to sneak attack the Ottomans?" Giovanni asked nervously.

"I plan to eliminate the Ottoman navy by one strike, and I need your men, my brother."