Volume 2 – Chapter 6 – Preparations Begin …

| Morning of September 8 - 1248 - Castel del Monte - Attila |

This unsolicited interruption of Gaia forced the conclusion of our talk.

Even though Gaia's straight face quickly made me realize that I had to follow her.

<<Princess Costanza, as you see I have to leave her. However "faith" is not the correct answer, I urge you to think about it more >> I said to Costanza.

<< If my father called you it means that it is important, hurry to go to him >>

I bowed my head and went towards Gaia, after having reached her we both walked into the castle, while Constance was still watching.

<< I do not advise you to fall in love with the Princess >> Gaia told me.

<< You know, I don't know how to answer you. Because if I tell you that I am interested you will tell me that I am losing time, while if I tell you that I do not care in the least you could take it as an offense against him or not believe me >>

Gaia seemed bewildered by the answer, perhaps she had understood that to make such a reasoning I didn't have to have amorous feelings towards the Princess.

I resumed speaking: << Having said this, it is the first time that I have the opportunity to speak to you. These days none of the Emperor's advisers have ever called me except you, even if it was a request from the Emperor >>

Gaia replied: << The point is that everything was so fast that we too find it hard to understand the Emperor. Tell me something Attila, why was your investiture so fast, but above all, so secret? >>

<< I don't know >>

<< How do you not know? >>

<< What do you want me to tell you, he did everything >>

Gaia began to look at me like when the FBI can't force a foreign spy to talk.

I took a sigh and said: << Listen Gaia, I don't know why it was all so secret. But, in my opinion, he did it because it is immoral to make a plebeian a knight >>

<< It may be, many eyes are on the Emperor. As soon as he makes a false move he is accused of everything and more >>

Entering the castle, Gaia changed the subject: << Well she will also have made you a knight, but this does not give you the right to make our strongest apprentice mute for a few hours >>

I looked at her with an incredulous look: << If that idiot is among your strongest apprentices, then forget about doing the sixth crusade. They didn't let me train with them because I was a plebeian, I insulted them a little and your "protégé" came out that he wanted a duel and I accepted >>

Lying doesn't hurt anyone, so I put the blame on the soldier with a very likely excuse.

<<I understand>> said Gaia.

Then he asked me something else: << How do you know about the sixth crusade >>

Was it secret information?

<< The Emperor told me >>

Gaia didn't answer.

We both arrived in front of a room, once inside I saw the Emperor and all his advisers, except the Arab, standing with a map on the table.

<< I brought Attila Imperatore >>

<< I see, come here for a moment Attila >>

I went to the table together with Gaia, it was a map that represented a Europe along with part of Africa and the Middle East. From England to Ethiopia.

The Emperor said: << Well, now that you are all here I have to tell you some news >>

All his generals were gathered in that room, it seemed a very important meeting. Why was I, a knight, there too?

<< Excuse your lordship, can I ask you a question before you start? >> I said to the Emperor.

<<Tell me>>

<< I think what you are about to do is an important meeting, why was I also called? >>

<< You have been summoned because before leaving Ferdinando, your teacher, he told me so many things. So I think you should listen too >

<< Thanks for the occasion, your majesty >>

From here on, the Emperor spoke again: << Perfect, as almost all of you know, the Pope is literally forcing me to leave for the sixth crusade and, after several letters with Sultan Al Kamil, we both failed to get an agreement >>

Wait, in what sense? I clearly remember that this crusade ended with an agreement between the two before the battles, and now I come to discover that it did not happen?

It is not possible, or ...

What if the game purposely changed the story to create this situation for me?

It may be, but if you think about it, in the end it is an opportunity. If there had been no war I would not have had a chance to show my skills.

Who knows then why the Sultan refused the agreement with the Emperor.

Federico resumed: << So now the war is inevitable. I, as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, think it god I have the resources to face a war. Am I right Gaia? >>

Gaia replied:<< Yes, Majesty, we have enough men, supplies and ships to start a crusade >> Gaia replied.

<< Perfect, are you willing to stay close to me in this war? >>

Everyone answered in chorus, including me: << Yes, Emperor! >>

<< Well then the plan is this ... >>

The Emperor therefore began the story of his plan.

In short: The Emperor's plan is very simple, gather the troops and food supplies and leave Palermo to go directly to Acre, the only city where I can land other troops and supplies.

The plan itself is not bad, the problem is that it is not efficient.

I was there staring at that map without saying anything, so much so that after the Emperor spoke and asked everyone's opinion, I was the only one who had not yet answered.

<< Ehm Attila? >> tried to call me the Emperor.

<< Yes Your Highness >>

<< You have nothing to say regarding my plan >>

<< Honestly, it's not very efficient >>

An unexpected silence fell, then the advisor for foreign affairs said to me: << You plebeian, how dare you talk to the Emperor like that? >>

I congratulate him, it is the first time I hear a sentence from him and I already want to kill him.

Even if I can't do it, not in the presence of the Emperor.

<< Shut up Vario, I had asked for an honest opinion >> the Emperor silenced him.

<< Ah, sure forgive me Your Majesty >> he replied apologizing.

The Emperor turned to me: << Tell me Attila in what sense "it is not very efficient" >>

I looked at it for a few seconds in silence, then went over to the table where the map was spread.

<< What she wants to do is a direct journey, so she is only saving. I think you all know that not only the number of men is important in warfare, but also secondary things like supplies. If you make the direct trip, a good part of the supplies will go bad. In my opinion, it would be more efficient but more expensive, to go from Palermo to Alexandria and take the supplies from there, so we would arrive in Acre with more fresh supplies and many more, so as to give them to the fighters still there as well. I would also like to say that having fresh supplies is not just a whim. In fact, expired foods can cause pain and even epidemics. Since I think none of us want to have an epidemic during the war, I would have done it this way >>

Everyone looked at me in silence, then the emperor said: << Well, Ferdinand was not wrong. We have so many things to talk about >>