Aleppo.
The wind blew, scattering sand and dust.
Two armored men stood gazing at the city walls.
Saladin and Taqi.
Kurdish guards surrounded them.
"On days like this, I am reminded of your late father. My brother always shared hardship with his warriors."
Saladin said with a smile.
He reached out and patted his nephew's shoulder.
"If he could see how splendidly you have grown, he would surely be proud."
"It is all thanks to you, Uncle. Had you not taken me in, how could I have come this far?"
"I have said this to my own son as well…."
Saladin continued,
"In this world, the only ones we can trust are our own clan. Kurds must always stand united by blood."
He looked at his nephew.
"So, how is the mood among the amirs?"
"It is not favorable. They are uneasy that we failed to take Hama and Homs."
"They are the sort who stand at the front when we are winning, yet hide behind others at the first sign of disadvantage."
Saladin scoffed.
He fixed his gaze on the walls before him.
The long stretch of fortifications would be difficult to fully encircle even with tens of thousands of troops.
"Perhaps we should have taken those cities first…."
"Both cities resisted more fiercely than expected. With our current forces, we would only have wasted time. What matters is the head."
Saladin pointed toward Aleppo.
"We strike at Mas'ud there. Then the other cities will fall into our hands of their own accord. Hama and Homs included."
"Then why not give the order to attack? Did you not say so yourself, Uncle?"
Taqi asked.
"You said that coward would surrender the moment he saw blood."
"No. We must wait until he raises his hand first."
Saladin shook his head.
He stroked his beard and continued,
"Now is the time to preserve our forces as much as possible. And fighting fellow Muslims does not present a favorable image. There is a time for everything."
He muttered,
"Hama and Homs… and even here in Aleppo, their defenses were prepared with remarkable speed…."
"Information must have leaked from somewhere."
Taqi waved his hand as he spoke.
"Is it not the complete opposite of what our spies reported?"
"Yes, the complete opposite. And Baldwin began his attack from Damascus as though he had been waiting…."
Saladin murmured,
"There is no doubt the information about this campaign leaked."
"But only our clan knew of this campaign in advance. Unless you suspect us…."
"I have no reason to suspect you."
Saladin said gently.
He let out a sigh.
"Perhaps I should have delayed this campaign."
"If not now, there would have been no opportunity. Did you not say so yourself?"
"Yes, I did. But as time passes, it is the Franks who gain the advantage."
He continued,
"Cairo is our treasury. If something happens at Damietta, Cairo itself may be shaken."
"By now, al-Adil should have laid siege to Beirut. The Franks cannot ignore that."
"Perhaps."
Saladin nodded.
"The Franks began their offensive as soon as I departed. That troubles me. It suggests they knew in advance…."
He frowned.
"Tell each amir to lead his forces in raiding the surrounding villages. Take supplies, livestock, food—everything."
"As you command."
"If his reputation is dragged through the mud, Mas'ud will not endure long. The people will rise against him."
Saladin raised a finger.
"He must be seen as a coward hiding within his fortress. We must ensure everyone thinks so."
At that moment, a messenger approached and knelt before Saladin.
"Commander of brave warriors."
"What is it?"
"Mas'ud the atabeg has sent his mother and sisters outside the gates. He wishes to discuss terms of peace with the Sultan…."
"He has sent his own family as envoys. Bring them to my tent. Treat them with the utmost courtesy."
"Yes."
The messenger withdrew.
Taqi spoke at once.
"It is a clumsy attempt to buy time."
He crossed his arms with a scoff.
"He sent no envoy before, and now suddenly seeks negotiations. Is he not simply trying to delay until we grow weary?"
"Likely so. But I have no reason to turn away envoys. Through conversation, we may learn their situation."
Saladin turned his back.
"Keep a close watch on the amirs. Hold the reins tightly so they entertain no other thoughts."
"I will remember, Uncle."
Taqi bowed his head.
Saladin cast one last look at the walls before walking toward his tent.
***
"Focus!"
Two wooden swords collided in midair.
The dull sound echoed across the training yard.
Aig shook his wrist and muttered,
"No matter how I think about it, this seems unfair. You are the sort who can hit a crossbow target blindfolded, Your Highness. How am I supposed to win against you?"
"Shooting a crossbow and swordsmanship are different matters. Aig, you have practiced archery too much. This is the price of neglecting your sword training."
Garnier said with a laugh.
He looked toward me.
"Your Highness is impressive for your age, but more training is still required."
"When does training ever end?"
"There is no end to swordsmanship. Until the day you die or can no longer lift a sword, you must continue training."
"Perhaps it would be better simply to avoid battle."
I said with a shake of my head.
At this rate, I might die from training alone.
The kinds of training Garnier oversaw were varied.
Horsemanship, spearwork, swordsmanship, grappling, archery.
Even within swordsmanship, there were countless variations.
The style changed entirely depending on whether one faced a spearman or a heavily armored knight.
"Then let us practice spearwork again. When you charge, try to—"
At that moment, a man entered the training yard.
He was breathing heavily and knelt.
Garnier asked,
"What is it?"
"A letter from Jerusalem for His Highness. I was ordered to deliver it to him alone."
The messenger handed me the paper.
"It was said to be urgent and must be delivered as quickly as possible…."
"Very well. I will read it at once."
I looked at the panting messenger.
What could be so urgent?
The seal on the outside was familiar.
Sibylla's seal.
"It is from my mother."
"For what reason would Lady Sibylla…?"
"We shall know when I read it."
A letter from Sibylla.
I broke the seal and read.
The contents…
Hmm.
I could scarcely believe it.
I rubbed my eyes and read again.
But the contents remained unchanged.
An uneasy silence followed.
Aig asked,
"What does it say, Your Highness?"
"You would not believe it even if you heard it. The Knights Templar…."
I threw the letter into the brazier near the wall.
The paper crackled as it burned.
"The Knights Templar are coming to attack."
"The Knights Templar, attack?"
Garnier frowned and stepped closer.
He fastened his scabbard at his waist.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"Exactly what I said."
I told them what had been written.
Guy and the Templars' plan to attack the supply caravans.
Both men blinked.
Garnier muttered,
"The Knights Templar… accepted such an absurd proposal?"
"If the letter is accurate, then yes."
I nodded.
Sibylla had no reason to send me false information.
And even if someone had fabricated it…
There was no benefit to be gained by sending such a thing.
"My mother must have a spy near Guy."
It was fortunate I had asked to be informed of any developments.
Twelfth-century noble marriages were ruthless.
Would Theodora and I become like that one day?
Aig spoke.
"I find it hard to believe. Even if the Templars receive tribute, to go this far…."
"It crosses the line. It is no different from aiding Saladin."
I nodded.
Factions existed within any state.
Japan during the Second World War was a good example.
The Japanese Navy and Army clashed constantly.
The Army even built its own ships and submarines.
They had nearly turned their guns on one another.
The military orders of this era were no different.
Sabotaging one another was not uncommon.
But this went beyond sabotage.
It was sheer stupidity.
How short-sighted must one be to attempt such a thing?
Guy and the Templars alike.
Fools like these would later seize power and bring about the kingdom's fall.
Garnier sighed.
"King Amalric once pursued an alliance with the Assassins. They even sent envoys and responded favorably."
He added,
"Their only condition was a reduction in the tribute paid to the Templars."
"So the Templars must have interfered then as well."
"Yes. Templar knights attacked the returning envoys and slaughtered them. The King arrested the ringleaders and interrogated them…."
He continued,
"But they insisted to the end it was self-defense. That the envoys had attacked first."
Garnier scoffed.
"In the end, only the individuals involved were executed, and the matter was closed. The alliance discussions collapsed."
"Then this is not so surprising."
I looked at the ashes.
The reason was simple.
To maintain the annual tribute from the Assassins.
And Guy must have encouraged them.
The Templars and Guy's faction were closely tied.
Later, when Guy became king, the Templars were among his strongest supporters.
"It is fortunate we learned this in advance."
Garnier said.
"I will order the escort to be doubled at once. If our knights guard the caravans directly—"
"The Templars will find it difficult to attack. They will not have many men to infiltrate the mountains secretly."
I nodded.
The attacking force would be small.
Reinforcing the escort would suffice to stop them.
But was that the best course?
'Reinforce the escort and prevent the attack.'
That would stop them, but not punish them.
One cannot prosecute a crime that never occurred.
Information from a spy was not admissible proof.
That was why Sibylla had sent the letter to me instead of making it public.
Even if I prevented the attack…
Guy and the Templars would suffer no loss.
From their perspective, there was nothing to lose.
That would not do.
If they committed such folly, they must pay for it.
I spoke slowly.
"I have heard the relationship between the Templars and Guy is strong. This time, we will sever it completely."
"Your Highness means…?"
"A man I once knew said something. When your enemy is making a mistake, never interrupt him."
Napoleon was not my friend.
But he would not be born for several centuries, so it hardly mattered.
"We shall lay a trap first. They do not know we are aware…."
I set down the wooden sword and took up a real one.
As I sheathed it at my waist, I continued,
"They will walk straight into it."
And then only one thing would remain.
To end the life of the foolish boar caught in the trap.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Templars' attack on an Assassin delegation mentioned by Garnier is a historical incident. (Reference: The Templars and the Assassins by James Wasserman; The Crusades: It Was the Will of God!)