kingdom of nations

Chapter 74 To Egypt! (5)

As soon as Damara saw the cloak being lifted, she rushed over, hugged Elena's head in her arms, and burst into tears again.

Among the maids serving Princess Sibylle, Elena is one of the older maids. Because her family is related to Gerard by marriage, she takes good care of Damara, and Damara also regards her as her sister. She does not feel fear for the head of her beloved, but only feels extreme pain.

The little girl's crying had completely changed its tone. In the end, it didn't sound like she was crying, but rather like she was roaring. If the Saracen who had ravaged and killed Elena was in front of her at this time, she would use a knife if she had one, but if she didn't have one, she would tear him with her nails or bite him with her teeth to make sure that man died.

In the world and era that Cesar had lived in, an ordinary person would rarely come into contact with such a tragedy, even a piece of paper or a picture.

But since arriving here, he had seen many such cold and stiff relics—those killed by swords, stabbed by spears, stoned to death, burned to death, shot to death by arrows...

Some of them had ferocious faces, some were bewildered, and some were smiling, as if they had already seen heaven...

He was even responsible for many of these deaths.

But he thought he would never get used to it or accept it.

As soon as he saw Elena's body, Prince Baldwin immediately understood why Elena's husband, who loved her so much, let her remain naked like an animal even after her death.

Those parts that were not damaged were like broken marble sculptures that had once been placed in the palaces or temples of ancient Roman emperors. They were snow-white, delicate, and lifelike, with every detail so lovely that one wanted to kiss them. Even if they were stained with dust and blood, they were like works of art worth tens of thousands of gold coins.

And those parts that were damaged, those that had been cut by knives, burned by fire, gnawed, or strangled by ropes, reminded people of a lamb that had been shaved and brushed, and someone had treated it roughly and wastefully, and had discarded with contempt everything that others regarded as treasure.

Baldwin stepped forward, took her husband's cloak, and put it back on the unfortunate lady.

"I'll talk to my father." He gave the husband the answer he wanted most. "Damara," he turned to the little girl who was still holding Elena's head, "let her rest in peace."

Damara just shook her head, "Anoint her with oil... anoint her with oil..." She meant to give Elena the last sacraments to save her from going to hell.

But the monks present couldn't help but look embarrassed. After all, the remains of Elena and several other noble ladies were discovered by patrolling soldiers in broad daylight, and it was difficult for them to prove that someone had performed a sacrament for them before.

"Did anyone perform sacraments for those saints who were unfortunately martyred?" Cesar suddenly asked. After hearing this, Elena's husband and Damara both showed an expression of sudden enlightenment and then great joy in their eyes.

That’s right, up to now, most of the martyred saints have not been able to perform the last sacraments. After all, since they were martyred, it means that when they died, they were surrounded by either guards, executioners, or officials who judged them.

They would not do something that would also bring them trouble.

Before this, there had been many cases of martyrdom, such as Saint Ursula, a princess of Great Britain.

A lord who had migrated from Great Britain to Gaul-Brittany proposed to her, hoping that she would bring some Christian girls as a dowry so that his knights could start families and reproduce.

Ursula readily agreed. Not only did she bring ten maids, but each maid also brought a thousand maids. Unfortunately, after they boarded the ship, they encountered a shipwreck and the ship ran aground on the beach, which was the territory of a group of pagans.

Facing the pagan swords, the girls were not afraid. They got off the boat singing and went to their deaths calmly.

Of course, this kind of legend coming from the mouths of priests is always a bit exaggerated and may not be so true, but it doesn’t matter. If the nature of the death of Elena and these noble ladies can be determined as "martyrdom", they will not only not go to hell, but will go to heaven.

Now even Gérard de Redfort, who was crying beside her, looked at her with gratitude. He was already a member of the Knights Templar. Although Elena had abolished the oath he had made to her, Gérard still had some sincerity towards her.

He absolutely wanted to avenge her, but when it came to martyrdom, his brain was completely inadequate.

Elena's husband knew that Cesar, the prince's closest friend and non-blood brother, was also a student of Patriarch Heraclius. What he said meant that there must be no problem with the Patriarch.

Of course, money is still needed, but having a martyred saint is a good thing for both families, and they will not be stingy with that little bit of gold.

He came forward and shook Cesar's hand tightly.

Cesar sighed softly and went to help Damara up again. The little girl put all her weight on him, and he could feel the heat from her crying through her clothes.

When he reached out to take Elena's head, she was reluctant but did not refuse. Cesar returned the head to Elena's husband, and the next moment he was grabbed by Damara's arm. The tiny fingers could actually prick his flesh through the chain mail.

"You are my knight," Damara whispered. "Now, I want you to do something for me."

"I would have done it even if you didn't tell me."

"No, I want something else," Damara said, her body trembling, her voice as hard as steel. "None of them can live." She looked up at him, her lips pale and her eyes filled with tears. "I know you are a kind person, but when you want to forgive them, think of Elena and me."

"I promise you."

Damara wanted to say, "I believe you," but before she could say it, she fainted in Cesar's arms.

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Cesar sent Damara back to her father. Damara's father originally didn't want Damara to follow him, and now he was even more worried. But Damara insisted that she would never return to Alaska until she saw the heads of those Saracens. He had no choice but to let her stay, but he also went with Cesar to listen to the king's will.

This tragic event attracted the attention of many people. When they arrived at the tent, the Grand Masters of the three major knightly orders, the Holy Sepulchre, the Charity Knights, and the Templars (Amalric I was the Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre) and the High Priests had all arrived. Patriarch Heraclius and the priests had also arrived. There were also lords and dukes from outside and the Holy Land gathered together. All of them had shining armor and solemn expressions, and many of them were willing to fight.

But according to the intelligence they collected, the Saracens did not have a fixed place of residence, no villages, no cities, and no castles.

They were like a pack of roaming hyenas, never clashing with the armies that were obviously difficult to deal with. They only attacked lone pilgrims, or noble ladies and servants who were not cautious enough to stray away from the camp.

"We sent people to look for them, but they were very cunning and knew the local conditions very well. As soon as they saw the glint of armor and swords, they immediately ran away into the dense forests, swamps, or reeds."

Everyone, don’t think that Egypt at that time was a dusty, barren and desolate place. If that were the case, how could it be worth Amalric I’s obsession and reluctance to give up?
From Fustat at the end of the Nile Valley as its apex, to Alexandria and Damietta as its two corners, the Nile Delta has been called the "granary of the Mediterranean" for a thousand years.

The Nile River carries countless silt and deposits it into a fan-shaped fertile land at its estuary. There is a dense network of rivers and channels here. In addition, Egypt has abundant sunshine. The wheat and rice produced here can easily guarantee the survival of tens of millions of people and can also be exported.

Along the way from Gaza Rafa to here, Cesar saw nothing but clear skies and emerald waters, or lush forests. October was the time when dates, figs, and pomegranates were ripening. Although the fresh fruits weren't pickled in honey, they tasted just as sweet. And in this place, which the Egyptians likened to a "lotus," there were countless lakes, large and small, crystal clear, like dewdrops on petals.

The largest Lake Manzare is like a small sea, and the smallest is only as big as a reservoir.

There is both salt water and fresh water. The lakeside is covered with reeds and dense vegetation. White and brown water birds fly up and land from time to time. Occasionally, a piece of "dead wood" rises from the water surface. That is the head and back of the Nile crocodile.

When the Crusaders attacked Fustat before, they preferred to start from Damietta, but to reach Fustat, they had to pass through four tributaries of the Nile.

The Saracens would build fortresses at both ends of the bridge and use a rain of arrows to hinder the army's advance. It was not impossible, but it would be too disadvantageous for the attackers.

Because of such concerns and the fact that he had previously occupied Bilbao, Amalric I still took the expedition route of Alexander the Great, but did not start from Pelusium next to Damietta.

This way they could avoid rivers and bridges, ensure the army's supplies, and ensure there would be no shortage of water. The problem was that these abundant swamps and plants also became shields and hiding places for their enemies.

"Then let's burn down all the villages and kill everyone we see. I don't believe these hiding rats can find enough food!" Walter said in a muffled voice.

This suggestion may sound cruel, but it is a good idea.

Although Amalric I did not completely destroy the Saracens' homes after plundering enough food, these harassing people would not have been able to hold out for so long or avoid the Crusaders' search without the support of the villagers.

This seemed to be the only way. Amalric I's hesitation was not because of his remaining compassion, but because he had to attack Bilbais later.

Of course, the defense of Bilbais could not be compared with that of Fustat, but it was also a big city. He was worried that if he started a massacre here, the residents inside would rise up in resistance when attacking Bilbais.

In addition, this expedition went more smoothly than he expected, but if they were to do as the Templar Walter said, they would spend a long time here.

If winter comes, the Crusaders will face the problem of being unable to keep warm, and the severe cold will also be an obstacle if they want to continue attacking Fustat.

In this combat meeting, Baldwin and Cesar had no say. Baldwin looked at his friend who always had a lot of ideas, wondering if he could come up with any good ideas.

He raised his elbow and touched Cesar.

Walter saw it and grinned, but said nothing.

When the crowd had dispersed and the king had no time to speak to his son, Walter came in again.

Amalric I had no good face for this annoying guy - Walter had embarrassed him before and almost ruined his peace treaty with the "Eagle's Nest", but because the Grand Master and the High Priest of the Knights Templar tried their best to mediate, he had to give up the idea of ​​hanging Walter and his knights.

Although Walter was captured and imprisoned by the king, it did not prevent him from receiving the treatment commensurate with a knight in prison. A year later, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar personally came to the king with his ransom and asked for his redemption. With the expedition imminent, Amalric I had no choice but to agree.

He pranced around in front of the king so proudly... but showed no gratitude at all. If Amalric I could shoot arrows from his eyes, he would have turned into a porcupine long ago.

"What are you doing here?" Amalric I asked coldly.

“Well…” Walter scratched his nose, “To be precise, I’m not here to do anything, but to ask something.”

"What do you want to ask me?"

"No, not you," Walter said. "It's the little fellow behind you. Do you remember me, Cesar?"

"Impressive." Cesar lowered his head slightly. No matter what, it was Walter who agreed to his request, which saved thousands of people from disaster.

"Are you still so kind-hearted?" Walter asked casually. "But those fellows are not Christians. They are Saracens, our natural enemies. Don't deny it, I saw you frown when I made the suggestion."

"I just……"

"Just what?"

Now even the king looked over, and Baldwin nervously moved closer, as if to lend his friend a helping hand.

"Even if we follow your method, we may not be able to find them. The army must continue to advance, and the knights' energy cannot guarantee that they can continue to waste several weeks on searching, arson, and killing.

Although the Saracens deserved their punishment, we were unfamiliar with this place, and the villages were scattered all over the place, both near and far.

We can't find any trustworthy guides or messengers. If they lead our knights into the swamps or dense forests, our losses will be even greater.

Perhaps you would say that they could gather together, but that would likely slow things down even further... Perhaps by the time the army returns victorious, the knights will still be searching aimlessly here...

And they come here more to serve God."

Walter touched his chin: “Then do you have any good ideas?”

"I am not yet a knight," said Cesar modestly.

Amalric I waved his hand. "I know you are a clever child, and Heraclius also said that children can occasionally burst out with sparks that cannot exist in the rigid minds of adults."

"I heard a story..."

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A few days later, a group left the army's camp. According to the merchants, it was Miss Damara of Gerard - because of the tragedy that happened before, her father insisted on sending her back to Alasa Road.

(End of this chapter)