"Damn it, damn it, damn it."
Aman ran, gasping for breath.
How many hours had passed?
There was nothing visible ahead.
Only darkness, trees, and rocks.
He hid behind a large boulder.
Sweat streamed down his forehead.
He had long since thrown off his armor.
Aman shivered violently.
The scene from hours earlier still lingered in his mind.
The infidel warriors and Baldwin's knights pursuing them.
Prince Baldwin's blazing eyes.
His commanding voice.
"Could it truly be that the Archangel Michael…."
Aman drew in a sharp breath.
If not, how had they been waiting for them?
Joscelin and the knights of Jerusalem appearing out of nowhere.
The moment Aman and his comrades realized they had fallen into a trap, they fled into the darkness.
They should not have been able to pursue long in such darkness.
Yet even after hours of running, the pursuit did not cease.
Each time he thought they had shaken them, the enemy appeared again.
How many had been captured so far?
Who was still free?
He could not know.
Aman trembled.
Then someone grabbed his shoulder.
He gripped his sword, then sighed in relief upon recognizing the face.
"Brother Pelagius."
"Aman. Are you alone?"
"We scattered along the way. It seems I am the only one not yet captured."
"Captured? In this darkness, how could they possibly…."
Aman looked at his commander.
Pelagius bore clear signs of exhaustion as well.
"I do not know, Brother."
"We cannot remain here. We must move at once."
"Prince Baldwin was waiting for us. He said he had received a revelation from the Archangel Michael."
Aman muttered.
"We raised our swords against such a holy man, and now we are paying for that sin."
He glanced behind him.
"Otherwise, how could they find only us in such darkness? We should surrender now. Better that than continue sinning like this…."
"Do not speak nonsense. The Prince has joined hands with infidels. He has abandoned the noble duty of royalty."
"Then why does the Lord not aid us? All the others have been captured. We are next."
"If you continue this foolish talk, I will knock you unconscious and drag you along. Close your mouth."
Pelagius shouted.
"They must have brought hunting dogs. Enough of your despair—"
"There they are!"
A shout rang out.
Arrows struck the boulder where they hid.
"Draw your sword, Aman!"
"Did I not tell you?! We cannot escape! Even if we fight now—"
"Stop! You are surrounded!"
The voices echoed.
The enemy had already encircled the rock.
Aman looked around.
Knights and Assassin warriors emerged, weapons raised.
"You will not take me alive! Glory to the Lord!"
Pelagius charged out, swinging his sword.
It was meaningless resistance.
Soldiers with shields surrounded him like hunters cornering a boar.
After a brief struggle, they dragged him away, limp.
Aman raised his hands and stepped out from behind the rock.
"I—I surrender! Mercy of God!"
Even the will of God does not last long.
I thought to myself as I looked at the captured Templars.
Morning sunlight stung my weary eyes.
All the Templars kept their heads lowered.
Some fingered their crosses, muttering prayers.
They resembled criminals led to execution.
No— not resembled. They were criminals.
"Attempting to attack a supply caravan was vile enough. But to disguise themselves as Hospitallers…"
Garnier said as he approached.
I matched my pace to his horse.
"It disgraces the name of the Order. When this news spreads, the entire kingdom will be shaken. Even His Holiness the Pope will be angered."
"The evidence is clear. We caught them at the scene. They cannot make excuses."
I said.
They attacked an Assassin caravan.
Disguised as Hospitallers.
Then fled when exposed.
There could hardly be a greater disgrace.
It was as though they had offered their own necks for execution.
"If we had failed to stop the attack…."
I did not wish to imagine it.
Sinan and the Assassins would have protested immediately.
We would have lost the initiative.
The transport would have halted amid demands to capture the culprits.
"And if I had not possessed my sixth sense…."
Naturally, suspicion would have fallen upon the Hospitallers.
We might never have uncovered Guy and the Templars behind it.
"What remains is their punishment."
Garnier said.
"The Templars will claim it was the misconduct of individual members. They will deny responsibility."
"It does not matter what they claim."
I shook my head.
I understood political maneuvering well enough.
With evidence this clear, denial meant little.
"His Majesty will personally pressure the Order. The Grand Master will have no choice but to step down."
The Orders were meant to set an example for the Crusaders.
And now they had attacked a supply caravan and impersonated another Order.
Once the current Grand Master resigned, a chapter would convene to elect a successor.
After such disgrace, the King's influence could not be ignored.
A pro-royalist would be chosen.
And with that, the link between Guy and the Templars would be severed.
Control of the kingdom's politics would pass to Baldwin IV.
All achieved without spilling a drop of blood.
"An obstacle can always become a stepping stone."
A lesson from the academy, applicable even in the twelfth century.
Though blood would be spilled.
I glanced at the bound Templars in the wagon.
"Whatever happens, these men will not escape execution."
"…."
At that moment, Count Joscelin slowed and approached.
"We will reach the fortress soon, Prince Baldwin."
"At last."
I stretched my aching body.
Every muscle cried out.
I had crossed the mountains all night.
Night pursuit was new even to me.
As we passed through the center of the hills, I directed the trackers toward the direction I sensed the fugitives.
The Assassins and my knights competed to capture them.
By the end, I was drenched in sweat.
"Those men seemed greatly shaken after seeing you last night."
Joscelin said, gesturing toward the Assassins.
They glanced at me nervously.
"It is no wonder. You captured them all in utter darkness."
He continued,
"I had heard of Constantinople and Cyprus… but this was the first time I witnessed it myself. Did the Archangel truly guide you?"
"There is nothing easier than capturing sinners. It was the Lord's will."
I said with a smile.
It was no surprise they were astonished.
In truth, it was as though I alone possessed night vision.
The Assassins followed an Imam said to wield extraordinary powers.
Perhaps it unsettled them that an infidel like me possessed similar ability.
Sinan would have much to explain.
I wondered how he would describe my ability to his men.
As the power of a demon, perhaps.
Masyaf Fortress appeared in the distance.
Upon arrival, our knights and soldiers gathered silently around the wagons.
They stared at the bound Templars.
No one spoke, but their emotions were clear.
Confusion and curiosity.
I stood before them.
It was best to be clear.
Morale must not fall.
"These men abandoned their duty as knights and turned their swords against their brothers!"
I explained the situation briefly.
Confusion shifted to shock.
Then anger.
Strong emotions.
"However, not all who belong to the Templar Order will be punished. From now on, I will personally…"
There was no need to treat every knight and soldier as a criminal.
I assembled the Templars and examined them one by one.
It was easy to identify the spies.
Excessive anxiety. Fear.
"These are the ones who leaked the caravan route."
I ordered them confined separately.
There was no material evidence, yet none questioned my decision.
The others returned to their posts.
I thought the matter settled.
Then Garnier approached again, visibly agitated.
"News from the Assassins. They learned it from a pigeon sent from the east."
He frowned.
"Two days ago, Mas'ud and Saladin clashed outside Aleppo's walls. It is now a lull."
"What?"
I stared at him.
Mas'ud did what?
"As I said. Mas'ud led his forces out from the gates…"
The situation was simple.
Saladin had been besieging Aleppo.
Mas'ud marched out to give battle.
"Saladin repelled him, but both sides suffered heavy losses."
"If that is true…"
I thought quickly.
Mas'ud attempted to drive Saladin away, failed, and retreated inside.
If he had simply held the walls, Saladin might have withdrawn first.
Why take such a risk?
Had my support given him confidence?
"With Jerusalem pressuring Damascus and Egypt as well…"
Perhaps he believed he had a chance.
If he had only remained still…
He discarded his opportunity himself.
Garnier continued.
"If Mas'ud becomes Saladin's vassal, everything we have done here will be undone."
He frowned.
"The supplies we transported will fall into Saladin's hands. It would be the worst outcome."
"Perhaps."
I replied absently.
My thoughts were elsewhere.
My mind raced.
"Mas'ud did not surrender immediately after the battle."
That meant it was not a decisive victory for Saladin.
They must now be negotiating the finer terms of an agreement.
Such negotiations took weeks.
An idea formed.
Reckless. Dangerous.
But possible with Assassin cooperation.
"To secure the greatest gain with the safest wager…"
I spoke slowly.
"It may instead be an opportunity."
"An opportunity? What do you mean?"
"When two lions fight over meat and grow weary, does not a vulture gain its chance?"
I smiled.
And I was not the only one who saw it.
The Assassins would surely approach first.
"Why do you think they rushed to deliver this news to us?"
Garnier tilted his head.
I smiled.
"I should wash first. Sinan will soon request a meeting."