72 JANNA PROMISE

Inside the lodging of 72 Janna Promise. Knight Yosef was seated on a cloth mat with the squad of Commander Gallo, having supper which was served by the host Mr. Adam.

It was a meal consisting of tender slow-cooked lamb's meat, chicken peas, potatoes, boiled eggs, and crumbs of carrots, flavored with turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin. Topped up with large pieces of wheat bread. Adam and the cook in the kitchen not far away had spent some time preparing it. From the seriousness being shown while eating the food, it could be seen that all the knights were enjoying it deeply having spent two days on the road eating dry rations since it was too cold and wet to find dry wood for lighting a fire more so cook pottage.

"Eehhh, Mr. Adam you have surprised me and delighted my tongue above measure with this meal. God's my witness that I have never tasted anything this good before." John Conti praised the food served.

"Alhamdulillah, that's my humble imitation of a traditional meal enjoyed by my ancestors in Morocco. We call it Cusack, unfortunately, due to the war we are short of many necessary ingredients to bring out its true taste," Adam replied.

"Adam, even without all the ingredients, you have our sincere appreciation. This meal, did you call it Cusack, is worth every silver coin. God knows I have eaten my fair share of awesome meals but this one is a superb Mediterranean dish." Commander Gallo also poured in his appreciation.

"I once heard my teacher Alfonso in Venice say, traveling opens your eyes and tongue to the true beauty of the world outside your home. Today I have come to believe his words. Thanks, Adam this is a great meal." Marino Yosef poured in his thanks.

"Knights, it is the least I could do for you my honored guests, it is a blessing to treat guests well with kindness and honor in our Arabic tradition, and not to do so can bring dishonor. The word for it is 'Karam'.

Also as a businessman, having you knights and other pilgrims is a blessing for me. At least I can now hope and believe that the worst part of the war is behind us. I do not understand why we have to fight because this land is too big for us all the children of our father Abraham; Jews, Muslims, and you Christians." Said Adam.

Clap, clap, clap. Everyone turned to see who was clapping.

"Ooo, am just happy to hear what Adam has said, it makes a lot of sense and I find some wisdom in it. From what I heard, Islam is a religion of peace, and we Christians are taught by Jesus to love our enemies like the Good Samaritan. I feel the Holy Land could be the better for it if all the three religions got along and did not want to solely own everything." The ever reserved Leo Augustin, a member of the Four Cats spoke up and Yosef realized that he had not heard this knight speak since they started their journey in Jaffa.

"I agree with Leo Augustin. We Christians can take over Golgotha, Nazareth as the birth and death places of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Jews the Wailing wall left over after the destruction of the Temple, and the Muslim take the Dome of the Rock mosque." Samson Cyrus, another member of the Four Cats spoke up in support of his fellow knight's suggestion.

"What about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?" Yosef asked while looking at Leo Augustin.

Leo Augustin, took his time, chewing on the piece of meat in his hand, another already in his mouth while licking the soup of the chicken peas stuck to his fingers.

"There's no doubt that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will belong to the Christians, Am told Sultan Saladin instated that the church not be destroyed while in Jerusalem, unlike the Caliph Al-Hakim who destroyed churches in the Holy Land in 1009." Daniel Cyrus spoke up in a thick Polish accent.

"Wow, Commander Gallo, you did not tell me that besides the Four Cats being good fighters they also have such wisdom for their age," Yosef spoke. Impressed to hear such intelligent words from the ever reserved four knights, part of the 'Four Cats' gang.

"Yes Yosef, these young lads have wisdom far beyond their age. Am sure Mr. Adam agrees wholesomely with what they have said." Commander Gallo added in.

Adam put down his cup of tea and spoke. "Of course Commander, I agree with these young knights. They are the ones who personally fight, suffer and die from these wars. No religion should stand for war or fight another religion to show that it is right. Even the Prophet Muhammed, Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When he started preaching Islam, he never forced people to convert or killed those who never believed in Islam instead he preached the message of Allah and Janna."

"War is not good for anything, people or business. As a businessman, I speak from a point of experience. Business serving pilgrims was very good before these wars started. Had built a nice lodging here fit for a prince and other nobility, it could house sixty people in a night, but it was destroyed by King Richard and his troops last year, putting aside that bad episode.

I will never forget the day I received 72 gold coins in the second year of operating my business in Bayt Dajan. That was why I named my place 72 Janna Promise." Adam spoke up.

"Adam, are you serious. All along I thought your 72 Janna Promise were some big breasted virgins you want to meet in the next life, yet here you have already met and caressed them!" Said Marino Yosef sarcastically.

"Hahahaha hahhaha, hahahaha." The whole room erupted into loud, deep laughter from the dozens of men eating the meal.

"I love to hold my virgins in my pockets not next to my bosom good knight. Also, there's no way this skinny chest of mine will manage 72 big-breasted virgins at least I can fit the 72 gold coins in my pockets without running out of breath," Adam added sending the knights into more laughter.

"Please knights, eat your meal before it gets cold," Adam reminded them when he saw that the Janna conversation had distracted them from eating.

***

Past sunset on the road to Casal Maen.

Abu Bin Zayyid rode a horse at breakneck speed, the mount was exhausted and showing all signs of dropping dead from exhaustion. Its breathing rate had increased dramatically until it was now gasping for breath, sweating heavily with spittle coming out of its mouth, eyes drooping without any vigor as if it was about to fall asleep. Occasionally it could slow down to be kicked forcefully and spurred on further by Abu.

"Foolish animal, you won't die on me, not yet. If it means I have to ride your carcass to Bayt Dajan. I will do it. Run faster, faster, damn it you dog!" Abu cursed at the horse.

"You want to die, I have no problem, I can even give you a quick death, but you have to reach Bayt Dajan. There's no way I am missing catching up with those wretched knights of Yosef and Commander Gallo. Hurry up, I said hurry up!" He spoke to the animal and kicked it forcefully to make it go faster.

Abu was hot on the trail of Commander Gallo and Knight Yosef having missed them the day they left Jaffa. These past two days had found him on their trail in hot pursuit. One day ago, he came across the still-warm ashes of their nightly campfire, they had long left but this was the closest he had come to them.

With his keen sense of observation and superb tracking skills. Abu was able to deduce that it was them based on the number of marks on the ground left by the horses. It matched the supposed number of knights the female servant Zainabu Maimouna had told him.

"So she was not lying. Hoho-hoho-hoho, my torture skills have gotten better!" Abu said in his mind while laughing at his sadism.

He could have caught up with them had the weather not turned, it began raining heavily the morning he discovered the remains of the campfire. The road turned muddy, some areas were submerged, turning into fast-flowing streams. Attempting to cross them was suicidal, and Abu saw himself as a sane and logical person who does not do stupid suicidal operations. Unlike the rumors spread that the Assassins Order was a gang of hashish druggies bent on suicide at the command of their masters. Abu only took hashish for medicinal and religious purposes but not for relaxation or entertainment like their enemies had made the world believe.

As Abu was lost in his thoughts. The horse he was riding on reached its breaking point and collapsed suddenly with him on top. He came to his senses when he saw his angle of looking at the ground changing quickly. He landed on top of the horse as it fell with a heavy thud on the muddy and wet road.

Abu's robes became spattered with mud from the impact of the horse clashing into the muddy road.