Masyaf Fortress.
In a deep inner chamber, two figures spoke.
"But, Elder. What he displayed was no falsehood."
The man spoke with his head lowered.
His voice echoed in the empty room.
"If he did not possess the power of an angel, how could he have captured all those knights? Even our chosen fidai could not accomplish such a thing."
"To think even you, Isabah, would be bewitched by an infidel's trick. I am greatly disappointed."
Sinan frowned and stared at the man.
"Chasing down exhausted fugitives at night is something anyone can do. If you speak so highly of it, perhaps our fidai have grown dull."
"But…"
"Have you forgotten the miracles I have shown you?"
Sinan raised his voice.
"Only the Imam's deputies can raise the dead and wield true power. What Baudouin displayed was nothing more than the devil's deception."
"Of course, Elder."
The man bowed his head further.
Sinan asked,
"And how is the atmosphere in the fortress these days?"
"Since the conquest of Hama and Homs, irreverent rumors have been spreading among the faithful."
"Irreverent rumors?"
"That we have become the Franks' puppets…"
"The Franks' puppets? We?"
Sinan burst into loud laughter.
The man lowered his head even further.
"That is amusing. Very amusing. And what do you think?"
"How could I question your will, Elder?"
"Remember this."
Sinan rose to his feet.
As he straightened, his small frame seemed to double in size.
"At Alamut, they still call us traitors. They send warriors daily to take my head."
"They are those who reject the truth."
"You are right. But without Alamut's support, if we are to survive here, we must maintain balance."
Sinan said,
"Let Saladin and the Franks kill each other. If the infidels think we are their subordinates, let them."
"But…"
"For now, it benefits us that Jerusalem remains in infidel hands. That is all that matters."
Sinan glanced at the wine bottle before him.
Steam rose from the pork set beside it.
"Now is the time to discipline our internal enemies, not external ones."
He continued,
"Soon we will be able to reduce the tribute we pay to the Templars. Prepare to increase the number of preachers at once."
"I will obey, Elder."
"Men are moved only by profit and fear. Baudouin has so far presented profit."
Sinan said,
"But he is a man who can draw forth fear at any moment. For now, we quietly gather strength."
"All that is enacted upon this land is the spirit of life…"
"The authority of the Law has vanished and the secret revealed; only the Imam's grace fills the world."
Sinan stood.
"The world is not yet created, and resurrection is but spirit. Go now and carry out Allah's will."
***
"So Saladin truly sent you frozen fruit?"
Count Joscelin laughed in disbelief.
He shook his head.
"He lost Hama and Homs before his eyes, and he sends fruit. I expected curses instead. Surely you didn't eat them?"
"Frozen fruit does help against the heat."
I said with a smile.
Saladin was not the type to send poisoned gifts.
"I sent him something in return, to congratulate him on Aleppo and Mosul."
Commanders exchanging gifts and pleasantries.
A memory surfaced.
King Richard the Lionheart.
During the Third Crusade, when Richard was thrown from his horse in battle, a Saracen soldier appeared leading two horses.
'What are these?!'
'The Sultan saw your horse fall and sent them. Mount and continue!'
Richard mounted one and resumed fighting.
It sounded like something from a martial epic.
I laughed without meaning to.
"What is it, Prince?"
"Nothing. Just a funny thought."
"Did you see the future again?"
"The future…"
It was not entirely wrong.
What would happen?
What could have happened?
Or what happened in some parallel world?
"Well, let's say that."
"And what do you mean, 'again'?"
"When you said we would attack Hama and Homs, you spoke the same way. You said you had already seen them taken."
"I said that?"
"You did. You said you had seen it several times before. And it has now come true."
"No, that was…"
I had meant I had seen the event several times in the game.
There was no way to explain that.
I smiled and took my leave of him.
"For the time being, Saladin will not attack. The two cities are in your hands."
"I will defend them with my life."
Count Joscelin clasped the hand I extended.
I nodded.
"I would like to remain longer, but I doubt I have the luxury."
Saladin now effectively held Aleppo and Mosul.
Mas'ud had become his formal vassal.
When jihad was declared, he would supply troops and funds.
Taking Hama and Homs was merely damming the current for a moment.
"Still better than in the original history."
We needed European support.
Saladin had been right.
The sea of Islam would slowly close in.
Aleppo and Mosul were only the beginning.
Once his grand army was complete, the difference in numbers would be insurmountable.
The only solution was to draw forces from Europe.
"I must find a way to hasten the Third Crusade."
I would have to keep thinking.
And resolve the matter of Guy as well.
There was much to do.
"If trouble arises in the royal court," Joscelin said, "my knights and I will stand by you. Call for us at any time."
"I won't forget."
We shook hands one last time.
Gaining Joscelin felt more reassuring than gaining the two cities.
I turned forward.
Tripoli first.
Three days later, we arrived in Tripoli.
The air here was still cool.
Fresh sea wind.
Lively streets.
"Hey! Hey!"
Aig waved.
Vult snorted and tugged at Aig's sleeve.
There was a ripping sound as Vult tore off a piece of cloth and began chewing it.
The onlookers burst into laughter.
"This horse…!"
"For some reason, he only plays tricks on you."
I said with a smile.
I reached out and stroked Vult's mane.
Sometimes he felt almost human.
Like a mischievous child.
Yet in battle, he obeyed perfectly.
It was impossible to dislike him.
"If we say Vult tore it, even the abbot will understand."
Garnier laughed.
Across the street stood the welcoming party.
Count Raymond himself had come to greet us.
A familiar sight.
He approached with his knights.
"I hear you conquered Hama and Homs, Prince. You accumulate achievements so casually."
"Count Raymond."
I inclined my head slightly.
"It would not have been possible without Tripoli's support. Thank you for responding so swiftly."
"It is I who should thank you."
Raymond laughed.
"The transport invigorated our economy… and we gained merit besides. Unlike a certain count who marched with a great host and achieved nothing."
Guy.
I laughed.
"What of Count Guy and the Grand Master?"
"The Grand Master has already stepped down. He claims he never gave such orders. A council has been convened to select a successor…"
Raymond scoffed.
"But given the circumstances, it won't end there. To attack a convoy while dressed as Hospitallers… Did they truly think they would escape unscathed?"
"They've done similar things before. They must have thought they wouldn't be caught."
I nodded.
Having succeeded in chaos before, they expected success again.
Raymond clicked his tongue.
"Because of such fools, Jerusalem never finds peace. They think only of fighting the Saracens."
"Peace will not come soon. Saladin will not stop until he takes Jerusalem."
I shook my head.
To prevent that, men like Guy and Toroh could not be allowed to roam freely.
"And my adoptive father, Count Guy?"
"The same. He shouted that he had nothing to do with it. For now, he will be punished only for touching the royal treasury."
The treasury.
Baldwin IV must be aiming at something further.
"Then…"
I murmured.
The political initiative had firmly passed to Baldwin IV.
"Guy will attempt something even more foolish to recover his standing."
I smiled.
And in doing so, he would hand me justification and advantage.
Just as with the arrest of the Templars.
The Templars themselves had delivered the grounds for their own prosecution.
Desperation clouds judgment.
"How about we set a trap together before that happens?"
"…."
Raymond looked at me silently.
He shook his head.
"You are not an easy man, my Prince. Very well."
He smiled.
"Come this way. Last time we could not host you properly. This time we have prepared a celebration worthy of victory. Guests from Cyprus will arrive soon as well."
"From Cyprus…?"
"The allied fleet will reach port the day after tomorrow. I hear the Princess accompanies them."
Hugues, Ruaak, and Princess Theodora.
My heart quickened at the thought of seeing them again.
Raymond continued,
"I hear Damietta paid an enormous sum to lift the siege. Hundreds of thousands of dinars."
"Hundreds of thousands?"
The words slipped out.
One would think the city had been looted.
I knew Egypt was wealthy, but not to that extent.
Money would not be a concern for a while.
The funds from Constantinople.
The money taken from Damietta.
I would need to decide how to use them.
Raymond smiled.
"The citizens await the fleet's arrival. It has been decades since imperial royalty visited this port."
"They'll grow used to it."
I looked toward the harbor.
Reinforcements from the Eastern Roman Empire.
I could already see a great army in my mind.
"It will become common."