Volume 3 – Chapter 5 – An uncontrollable anger …

| Afternoon of November 18 - 1248 - Near Jerusalem - Attila |

Brrrr, it's starting to get cold.

After 15 days of walking, considering that the first two were of total rest, we arrived a few kilometres from Jerusalem.

Yet we were not alone, we immediately noticed that the Sultan was inside the city. Since the city was much more protected than expected.

Wise decision since, even if he wanted to, he could not take Acre. In addition to being a fortified city, taking it knowing that we would conquer Jerusalem in the meantime would have undermined its image in the eyes of public opinion.

Who we camped nearby waiting for a siege to begin.

After a few hours, we saw a messenger on horseback, with a white flag, approaching.

Once he was close, he decided well to flutter it and deliver us a letter.

The two rulers joined to read it.

It read: "Honorable Kings of France and Holy Roman Emperor. I am Sultan Al-Kamil. I am sending you this letter because I have realized that this is a war between two ways of seeing God, and as strong as our convictions and our faith maybe, I do not think it is worth the life of all our men. Why do they have to die in vain on our whim alone? I, therefore, propose to solve everything with just a fight, so as not to make other victims. One of yours against my champion. I do not wish to continue this war any further. I hope you consider my proposal "

Even a retarded man would understand that this was nothing more than a desperate manoeuvre. We are at the gates of Jerusalem, if we besiege them they will not be able to receive food and water for days. Instead, we always have Acre ready to supply us. So we will force them to surrender, getting everything we want. Furthermore, the Sultan, even if he wishes, cannot attack us because he and his men would die.

This is a reasoning that anyone would have thought, but not the Emperor.

<< I propose to accept, I also do not want to lose other men >>

<< So am I, even if it does not seem to be an advantageous offer what now we were losing >>

But are they both stoned?

<< Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, can I express myself on the matter? >>

<< Sure tell me >> confirmed the Emperor.

<< I strongly advise you not to accept that absurd proposal. We have no reason to accept it. We have victory in hand and by besieging them we could achieve much more >>

<< He is right >> replied the Emperor: << But remember that I was sent here by the Pope and in recent years I have done nothing but try to re-establish our relations with the Arabs. So where can I show them my mercy then I do it, to make them understand that I don't want their evil >>

I understand, but nobody gives a shit about that. Why screw it up just for this whore?

<< Well, at least tell them that they will fight a representative of both of our armies, so at least we are sure not to lose >>

The two agreed with the proposal.

They both wrote a reply letter: "This letter is written by the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of France, intended for reading by Sultan Al-Kamil. We too agree that we do not want further victims and that for this reason we accept his proposal but on one condition. That is to say both that our side will have 2 representatives. One from the imperial army and another from the French army. Having said that, if you are also in favour, raise the blank on the walls of Jerusalem and prepare your champion for the battle, which will take place tomorrow in front of the gates of the sacred city. If only one of these procedures is not respected then we will stop the negotiations and prepare for the siege. We trust in the wisdom of the Sultan "

| Morning of November 19 - 1248 - Near Jerusalem - Attila |

We all gathered, both us and Arabs, to form a circle as if to create an artificial ring.

While the King of France and the Emperor were arriving, I continue to think that accepting that proposal would be decerebrated retarded from all points of view.

But unfortunately, I am forced to submit to the orders of the Emperor.

Yet, in my opinion, he is not stupid enough to accept only on the face of it. He probably has a plan, even if objectively I don't know which plan should be in his choice.

I will try to trust.

Our two rulers were face to face with the Sultan.

The Sultan began to speak: << I welcome you, honourable King of France and Emperor >>

<< Thanks for your welcome, wise Sultan. As promised, we brought our champions with us >> replied the Emperor.

The champion of the French army was Jules. A noble French knight who distinguished himself in the last battle before our arrival. He was very tall, with brown hair and blue eyes covered in gaudy and shiny armour for this event.

The other was me because at the very last second the Emperor saw me that he chose me to fight, given Malik's absence.

While on the opposite side we had the Arab champion Mustafà. He was thin and despite his young age, he had a long beard like few others.

Suddenly he drew his sword and cut his beard, a wise decision since it was quite bulky.

The first meeting was with Jules.

The two stood in the centre of the circle and began to fight.

Honestly, it wasn't very exciting.

Although I must say that I am quite surprised by the speed of the Arabic.

It launched fast and relentless attacks on Jules, who did not even have time to respond.

And it was also clear why Jules had full armour (which therefore weighed him down) and a long sword (which did not allow him to attack quickly).

The fight went on for a few minutes.

In the end, Jules tried to attack in a favourable memento, but in doing so a crack opened for Mustafà who did not hesitate even for a second to stab him in the neck.

That was how Jules died, well not that I gave a damn.

I don't blame him, he was at a disadvantage from the start because of his equipment.

And it's his fault and the King of France's fault that he died in this decidedly non-epic way.

In the ranks of the French few were able to hold back the tears, for them that man was their lifeline during the previous battle.

My time had come. He understood this when, looking at the Emperor, he signalled me to go.

I have to tell the truth, from what I have seen, my opponent (albeit a young one) has great skill, speed and accuracy. Things that also allowed me to kill my opponents, but that will hardly help me against him.

Once I arrived in front of him I said: << If you need time to rest, I'll give you some >>

He looked at me and said: << Don't worry, for someone like you I don't need to rest >>

Ah, I get it, he wants to piss me off. Well, he succeeded.

He went on: << You are part of the Emperor's army, aren't you? Well, then I have news for you. A few weeks ago, we fought against a small group. There was a general there, I don't remember what his name is, but I remember that he did everything to kill as many people as possible. He was an experienced fighter but he couldn't do anything against me. Since he killed so many of us I was forced to kill him myself >>

Wait, is he talking about Malik?

Did he kill Malik?

Well too bad, he was a great man, even if I didn't get to see him in full.

<< Attila! Kill that lousy bastard! >>

The Emperor was yelling at me since he too heard Mustafà's words.

<< Attila! From now on my orders are law! I order you to kill Mustafa in the worst possible way! He must die! I order it! >>

Well, I think the Emperor has gone out of his mind. But there was no need for him to tell me, I already had every intention of dismembering him.

Now I am having fun: << Yes, you hit my Emperor's heart. Now I am forced to kill you. But let me tell you something. When we destroyed half of your army, I also beheaded the general who commanded it. From what the prisoners told me it was called Basel. I don't know if you know him but since he was a loyalist of the Sultan and it is said that he had an amazing son. I think it's your father. Well, now I can tell you. I'm not sorry at all for killing him >>

Mustafa was there motionless, he did not say a word and his face was pale.

<< You are lying ... you are lying! >>

<< I'm not a liar I >> I replied taking his head from a soldier who had brought me under my order. And I threw it beside him.

He turned and took his father's head and hugged him.

What a beautiful scene, too bad he would soon be dead too.

He said with an uncontrollable rage: << I ... I will kill you! I swear to Allah! >>

It lashes out at me at an astonishing speed.

Although he didn't expect that I also had a dagger that I could pull out at will and that I threw it right in his face.

He managed not to catch him in the forehead, but the dagger pierced the pupil of his left eye.

<<AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAH>> were his screams of pain.

I would never want to be in his shoes.

As he writhed in pain I was drawing my sword and approaching him.

Mustafa saw that I was coming and, despite the pain, he pulled the dagger from his eye and threw it far away.

Then he took back his weapons and launched himself at me again.

Too bad for him, I had already drawn my sword.

He began to attack me relentlessly, preventing me from being able to counterattack.

But he, seized by anger, forced a double blow to the other.

Once I pinned it, I kicked them in the gut.

But even so, I couldn't hit it. Since he dodged in time.

He was tired after the barrage of blows he threw at me and I kneel on the ground to rest, while remaining on guard.

<< See, I told you that you needed a little rest >>

He didn't even breathe to answer.

I started walking to go and get the dagger.

Once I got there, I noticed that he noticed the fact that I was uncovered and was a few meters away.

Once he took the dagger he throws it without getting up, he did not expect the dagger from underneath and he could not dodge it, I had caught it in the abdomen.

He was sick on his feet, it was my turn to sprint towards him.

Once next to him I cut off his left leg.

Screams full of pain came from Mustafa's mouth.

Then I cut off his other leg.

Other screams.

<< Jerk, I hope you regret having pissed off my Emperor >>

I cut off his neck, I was sick of his screams.