Baron's Crusade by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2019-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The Emir had been quite clear in his instructions. We had to bring no more than one hundred men in total and that included servants. It was why the King had chosen not to travel to Damascus. He would have needed a larger entourage. It suited me for I enjoyed the company of Duke Peter. He was like my father in so many ways. The men he took were all knights and their squires. We were the ones with the men at arms and archers. There were few of them but they could be used as scouts. As my father said, once we had left the Sea of Galilee and headed through the Muslim controlled land, “If the enemy wish to ambush us then no number of scouts will help us. We have to trust to God and the word of our enemy but I feel more comfortable with our archers ahead of us.” He smiled at Duke Peter, “Perhaps this is a test set by God to see how determined we are to achieve peace.”

The Duke laughed, “Then I am happy to be travelling in your company, my lords, for there are many in the Holy Land who care not about our convictions. I know that the King and I chose to heed the Pope’s call for we wish to serve God. Many of those in Acre serve themselves and seek land. They wish to be King of Jerusalem!” He shook his head, “There was only one King of Jerusalem and he was crucified by the Romans!”

I asked, “What do you know of this Emir of Damascus, As-Salih Ismail?”

“That he is a warrior a little older than your father and that may explain why he is held in such high regard by the other leaders. Even the Egyptians heed his words and deeds. If he says something then it is so. He served with Saladin and is said to be a fine warrior and general. I have hopes for this meeting but they are not high. This is a man who believes in his religion as fervently as any Archbishop. He does not want us here.” He shrugged, “He asked for the meeting and as the alternative is a battle, we will try this first.”

My father had told him about the spy and the prisoners held by the Egyptians. I continued to press the Duke, “But if we cannot get a negotiated peace then where does that leave the captives?”

“That is a most interesting question and one I would love the answer to. The Egyptians do not care for coins. They are fanatical. If we achieve a negotiated peace, they could take it out on the prisoners and slaughter all of them.”

That was not the news I wished to hear. The spy I had killed had been a traitor but I had made a promise, however vague, to try to do something about his brother. One did not break the word given to a dying man.

We were passing through the land upon which Jesus had walked.

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