Chapter 75: To Egypt!
A pair of eyes peered out through the dense, overlapping reeds and papyrus leaves.
Not far from this small lake, on a patch of flat ground, those barbaric Franks had set up a temporary camp, lit a bonfire, illuminating the dark sandy land and lake water.
From the voyeur’s perspective, this group had about twenty or thirty people, only three knights in chainmail, twice as many escorts as them, and three times as many armed attendants.
These attendants also served as grooms and laborers. Once the camping spot was determined, they went to fetch water, gather fuel, and forage for food.
Surrounded by them in the center, facing the bonfire, was a noble lady accompanied by two handmaids.
They had all come on horseback. Not to mention those Knight Masters, even the horse the noble lady rode was a rare Arab mare.
It had a broad forehead, a slender muzzle, small ears pricked up straight, large round eyes reflecting the firelight as if burning, long limbs, well-developed tendons, and it was a pure white horse rarely seen among Arab mares, with only a black star on its forehead.
The voyeur reluctantly stared at that horse for a long time before barely shifting his gaze. Among these Franks’ group, there was also a Roman-style carriage, two chariots, but they were all for carrying supplies. After all, from here to Ghazalafa, there were no flat highways to travel.
That noble lady seemed to be in constant sorrow, to the point of great weakness; even dismounting was done by being carried down by a knight. Her handmaids spread thick, soft beaver fur on a box, then added a layer of shiny silk before letting her sit. Even so, she couldn’t sit steadily and needed to lean on a handmaid’s shoulder.
The voyeur watched a little longer, then slowly sank into the water, diving to the lake bottom. Aside from stirring some ripples, he left silently.
————
“Are you sure that was a real noble lady?”
Facing the leader’s stern questioning, the voyeur nodded unwaveringly. “Those knights served her like the most abject slaves serving their mistress. They handed her a golden cup, cut her the best piece of meat. She seemed to have no appetite, her face full of sorrow, which made everyone in the group start to feel sad.”
“That can also be faked,” the leader said. He saw hesitation in the scout he had sent out. He trusted this young man’s loyalty and hatred, but he also knew those barbaric Franks were not without wisdom. They had just lost their wives, sisters, and daughters—how could they dare expose a pigeon to the falcon’s gaze unless this was originally a sweet bait.
“But she…” the voyeur said in a tone that was indescribable, both bitter and unwilling: “She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
The leader was stunned for a moment. “Your sister was once called crushed musk, condensed morning dew. Even after dying at the hands of the Franks, countless people still miss her voice and beauty…”
“I also want to describe her with the most venomous words, just like those Frank prostitutes we abducted,” the voyeur said. “But I cannot deceive my eyes, nor betray my heart.”
The leader’s expression grew serious: “Then has it surpassed your anger?”
“No,” the voyeur placed his hand on his chest, as if to dig it out: “The more beauty like this I see, the more grief and hatred fill my heart. Those Franks took my treasure, so I will take their treasure and tear her to pieces, throw her at their feet, and let them suffer the same pain and regret as I do.”
“Yes,” the leader said: “That’s what we will do. Eye for an eye, blood for blood.”
He walked away from the voyeur to find the elder.
This group, like a sharp thorn in the eyes of the Franks and a dagger in their flesh, did not come from a single village or city. They were the bitter fruit brewed from the sins accumulated by the Franks.
Even though Amalric I had been trying hard to control the knights in the army, just looking at Walter showed he was merely one with a strong voice in the nobles’ military council. He could neither make laws nor punish criminals, only tempt them with hunting, martial arts tournaments, noble ladies, Bilbeis right before their eyes, and Fustat afterward—like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey.
But that meant if these donkeys grew tired of the carrot, or thought fresh fruit tasted better, he had no power over them.
To be honest, Amalric I was not such a brutal monarch, but with the great army marching here, it was impossible to fully rely on Ayyarasa Road, Ghazalafa, or sea fleets for supplies. Those livestock, wheat, barley, palm oil, even cloth and fur, were all plundered from Saracen villages.
Indeed, some knights still retained their kindly nature; they would leave necessary seeds and rations, perhaps a little short, but enough to sustain those farmers through the next few months.
But most knights, on their own territories, could squeeze the last beans from the mouths of serfs who were fellow Christians; on heathen land, it was even more so.
And like the beasts Longinus encountered… as that Saracen said, they were things like aconite, strychnine, cobra poison. Once poured into a wine cup, no matter how rich and sweet the wine was originally, it could only become a terrible poison.
Every night flames rose from villages, and every time it ignited more hatred. This hatred could not be washed away without blood. They sent the women and children who luckily survived to other places, while they stayed behind to bring the same fear and sorrow to those Franks.
But the elder did not support them doing this. “The Prophet never taught us this way. You were once a ‘qaid’（ captain managing fifty soldiers） in the army; you should know…”
“I know. The Prophet told us that even in the most terrible slaughter, we must not lose the heart of believers. He taught us that expedition is only a means to guide people toward truth; bloodshed and wailing have never been our goal.
As long as they are willing to submit and pay tribute, we will not plunder their commoners, kill their women and children and elders, destroy their temples. They can even continue to believe in their god. If we make a contract with them, we will abide by every clause.”
At this point, the leader showed a twisted smile.
“But that’s for people! Not for beasts!”
“So you want to become beasts too!? Let those children become beasts too!? Or do you think I’m showing mercy to those barbarians’ wives and daughters!?”
The elder also shouted in a low voice. He sprang up, gripping the leader’s deep-collared coat tightly with a speed unfit for his age, face to face with him. “No, no, no! Look, look at those young men! They originally just wanted revenge on the enemy, to let them know that the Saracens’ blades are sharper than theirs!
But what have they become now?! They have become as shameless and greedy as their enemies! Please!”
Even at this point, the elder still remembered to keep his voice low, but every word was as if torn from his own heart: “Please, take them to Fustat, to see Caliph Atid. If you despise his Grand Vizier Shawwar and won’t trust him, then take the children to Damascus, find Zengi’s Shirkuh and Saladin!
Join their army, fight your enemies openly and honorably, instead of indulging in Frank women’s bosoms! No matter which knife you stab into their bodies!”
The leader glared at him, eyes nearly splitting. He wanted to deny it and rage at the elder’s humiliation of him, but he only gasped—hadn’t he noticed? At first, they only wanted the Franks to taste the bitterness they had suffered, but since when did those young men become more eager to enjoy plunder and rape?
He trembled in pain.
If this continued, these young warriors would truly be ruined.
“Alright, alright!” He compromisingly dropped his arms: “One last time,” he swore to the elder: “This is the last time. Let us abduct that knight’s daughter, then demand ransom from him. I won’t allow the young men to ruin her chastity or harm her life. Once we get the ransom, we’ll settle our women and children, equip armor and weapons, and go to Damascus!”
The elder slowly exhaled. What the leader said was not entirely unreasonable. “This time, I’m going with you.”
The leader paused. “Why? Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you, but you should know why I’m so fearful.” The elder said: “In my dream, I saw the Prophet Musa whom I follow. He angrily pointed at me, as if pointing at a sinner who would lead you all to a land of death.”
This time, the leader truly hesitated. Among them, only the elder had seen the Prophet in the temple and heard his teachings, and every previous suggestion of his had indeed pointed out the most correct path.
If the elder were just blindly stopping them from revenge on the Franks in kind, he might think it was an old man’s overcaution, but if it was a warning from Prophet Musa…
He almost wanted to call off this action.
——————
Walter let out a snickering laugh.
What’s so funny, Caesar thought with a wooden face. Isn’t this the mess you incited?
Fishing had never been a ploy unique to his world and era. He just gave a slight hint, and Amalric I and Templar Knight Walter immediately saw the light and thought it was a great idea.
But in Caesar’s original plan, the noble lady bait could be played by a young attendant. If he were still nine, he might volunteer—but he was thirteen now!
Thirteen was one thing; he and Baldwin had grown fast. At six feet tall, he was almost as tall as Geoffrey, up to Walter this giant’s shoulder. Though slender from growing, how could a noble lady who could look a knight eye-to-eye not seem unreasonable!
But clearly, Walter hadn’t forgotten the loss he took here three years ago and always wanted petty revenge. This time he seized the chance; not only did he persuade the king himself, but he dragged Geoffrey in too. Geoffrey was a fun-loving type; they sang in harmony and actually convinced Amalric I.
He promised that if Caesar was willing to play the bait, upon return he could be promoted from escort to novice knight—and then, somehow Elena’s husband and her knight Gerard heard about it（ Geoffrey and Walter: No thanks needed!）, rushing over to thank Caesar.
Thanks aside, hearing the king intended to promote Caesar to novice knight, one immediately decided to give him armor worth two hundred gold coins, the other a long sword worth one hundred gold coins…
Caesar didn’t care about that, but: “How can you make those Saracens believe a noble lady could be six feet tall?（ six feet）”
“Oh,” Walter laughed maliciously: “We’ll find a way.”
They first found two tall attendants to be “Miss Damara’s” handmaids, then urgently dressed Caesar in a robe, headscarf, and veil—fortunately, men’s and women’s clothing at this time weren’t too different: inner robe, outer long-sleeved or sleeveless cloak, belted, wrapped headscarf…
And the noble ladies led by Damara added for Caesar a gold belt inlaid with gemstones, ribbons at cuffs and ankles, layered necklaces, rings, and bracelets, until Caesar said it would hinder his actions.
But dressed like this, as long as Caesar sat, he really looked like the “fairest lady” worthy of the strongest knight offering a flower crown at a martial arts tournament.
But since he couldn’t stand, in the following actions, he could only ride or sit.
“I think I just heard some sounds.” Geoffrey came over, half-kneeling to open a broad reed leaf containing some dates and juniper berries. Caesar pinched a few into his mouth and asked: “People?”
“Probably, too big for fish.”
“Crocodile?”
“Crocodiles aren’t that small,” Geoffrey sighed: “The birds here are either shot out or scared off, otherwise they couldn’t get so close to those unfortunate people so easily.”
“Will they come tonight?”
Geoffrey poked Caesar’s finger: “Don’t sit up; sitting up you’d be almost as tall as me half-kneeling!”
Caesar had to keep leaning sideways; the attendant he leaned on shook with laughter.
“They won’t be too far. Once that person goes back to report, they’ll rush over—perfect time for a sneak attack, before dawn when people are drowsy and off guard—wait,” he suddenly smiled: “Looks like not everyone sticks to the rules!”
Geoffrey stood up, his shadow covering Caesar, so Caesar didn’t see the enemies charging out of the dense forest first, but he heard their shout.
“Revenge!”
