TE17 Mysterious Montenegro

Dominik I had heard long before that there were hidden passageways beneath the city of Bar, which had once been dug and clad with stone, and led beyond the city walls. Amid that siege the cisterns ran dry, and those who kept the secret of those passageways now revealedoneof themto thepopulace, so thepeopleof Barwentout at night and fetched water. The entrance to the other passageway was beneath a slab in the basement of the archbishop’s court. One night we took part of the archives and the royal treasure down there. The plan was that we pile the caskets in a large chamber, from where the passageway continued to below the outskirts. Steep stairs led down through the narrow, arched space. One after another, heavily laden and carrying oil lamps, we trod carefully. But such was his vexation that Brother David suddenly felt unwell, his knees buckled, and he stumbled and fell on top of Brother Cyril, who in turn lurched beneath the weight. But Paul swiftly dropped his casket, braced himself with his hands against the wall, and stopped the two from tumbling further. The lid of the dropped casket broke off, spilling valuables, among them the crown of the Voislavić dynasty, which rolled away, clanging loudly as it struck the steps. We saw this, too, as an omen of a new calamity. After several days had passed, Nekman 14 roused his warriors and attacked before dawn, but the men of Bar were ready and met the first assault. I wanted to see the battle first hand, so I climbed up to the wall. Archers were standing one beside the other in a narrow turret and drawing their bows. The warrior I stood closest 14 . Stefan Nemanja, Serbian Grand Prince of Rascia. Although a Byzantine vassal, he exploited the empire’s weakness and occupied Dioclea.

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