On the way to Messina, Robert told him that when he left Normandy, the Count of Anjou had clashed with the King of France again. He figured the King of France would not be joining the Crusaders and had instead appointed his younger brother, a young man named Yuge, to represent the Capetian Royal Family in Constantinople.
This young man, Yuge, seemed quite interested in the Eastern Expedition. He had led the army of France Island to Constantinople around this time last year. Strangely, however, no news had come back from him yet.
The journey from Genoa to Messina wasn't long, but due to several consecutive days of rain, a trip that should have taken a week ended up taking two.
It was already July when they arrived in Messina.
Roger had arranged for a Municipal Official to welcome Eric and the group of Norman Nobility. The official's name was Reynard de Betune, and he was also a Norman from Cotentin.
