Outside Semanud City.
At this mont, the sky was getting dark.
It was a ti when the moon hung in the west, and the sun had set in the west.
The chaotic sound of hooves suddenly arose.
The villagers, who were originally tidying up the farm work, hurriedly went to check in astonishnt.
"What is this commotion?"
"It's the defeated army! Mahri's troops have lost!"
"Run!"
The villagers, terrified, found that the fields and the main road were full of a defeated army. They had discarded their helts and armor, riding all sorts of mounts, fleeing desperately like a herd of migrating animals on the prairie.
Only these cavalry or those who had seized horses could run ahead of Losa's cavalry.
The defeated army frightened the nearby villages into closing their doors, fearing these normally lawless, now disorganized troops might turn into marauders.
However, they were overthinking.
These defeated troops had no intention of lingering, as if pursued by devils from the Fire Prison, rushing straight through the main road in the middle of the village without pause.
In fact, that was precisely the case.
A cavalry unit, holding up a Double-headed Eagle Banner, charged over the hill first. Behind them, a row of Crusader Knights marched at a steady trot, neither chasing the defeated army at arm's length nor dispersing to pillage the villages.
From afar, these defeated troops seed like the vanguard of the Franks, evidently in league with them!
...
Kel was the first to return to Semanud City. This port city now had its gates tightly shut, the drawbridge lifted high, and the originally half-dry moat was filled with water under the power of dozens of laborers turning the waterwheel.
It seed the news of the Governor's army being defeated by the Franks had been relayed back by a falcon.
Fortunately!
Kel breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "I am Kel Rashid Ilede Gulsum Abdul..."
He quickly declared his full na, indicating he was the son of Ilede Gulsum. Just saying Kel Rashid would have found a hundred nasakes in the whole Semanud City.
"Let the Nizar Ulama (a title for clergy) co to see ; I have important matters to discuss with them."
"Shut up, traitor. You were the Lord's attendant. Why have you returned alone?"
A furious roar suddenly echoed from the city top, followed by the twang of a bowstring and an arrow flying toward him.
In his haste, Kel only managed to tilt his head, but the arrow struck him in the shoulder. Poor him, he had discarded his armor for a quicker return; otherwise, even if the arrow hit, it would likely have bounced off.
"Jabri Faris, I am not a traitor. The Governor died in battle. I ca by the Governor's last order to defend Semanud City from Cross Demon invasions, with the Governor's seal as proof!"
Kel endured the excruciating pain and shouted.
This arrowhead might not be poisoned, but it was likely soaked in golden liquid, causing constant burning pain at the wound.
After so whispers atop the city, a basket was lowered, and a Faris nad Jabri shouted, "Send up the Lord's seal; otherwise, it's not credible!"
Kel, by no ans a fool, cursed in rage, "The Franks' iron hooves are about to be at the gates. The tens of thousands of citizens blessed by the Holy Fire in Semanud City are already in dire straits, and you still think of seizing power?"
"You misunderstood, Lord Kel; please first take the basket into the city. I will imdiately send for the Ulama to et you."
Kel grabbed the basket, hesitated for less than a second, then decisively took off the saddlebag and climbed in—his allegiance, even to the greedy, foolish, and short-sighted Governor Mahri, remained unchanged.
He must preserve the legacy left by the Lord and the heritage of the Mahri family.
However, as soon as he stepped onto the city top, he saw Jabri draw a sword and press it to his throat.
"Hand over the Lord's seal!"
"The Lord entrusted this to before dying, and I will only present it to the Young Lord."
Kel was immovable on this matter.
"Then you shall see the Young Lord."
A playful smile appeared on Jabri's face.
A sudden ominous premonition rose in Kel's heart, and the next mont, a Saracen Straight Sword had pierced his throat.
He opened his mouth, emitting a "huff" sound, blood-tinged froth continuously bubbling from his throat, seemingly unable to believe why Jabri would engage in internal strife when the enemy's troops were approaching.
Jabri leaned close to Kel's ear and whispered mockingly, "The Young Lord, and your master, are now waiting for you underground. As soon as I got the news, the entire Governor's Mansion was slaughtered."
Seeing Kel's wide-open eyes, he couldn't help but sneer, "Fool, those Crusaders are all cavalry. How can they siege? Lord Adil will arrive soon, and those Crusaders cannot touch ."
A realization flashed in Kel's eyes.
No wonder, no wonder he would do such a thing.
His expression quickly turned to mockery, fool, utterly foolish fool, you really think that's an ordinary Crusader army? Could an ordinary Crusader army crush the Governor's elite so effortlessly?
He grinned, pain seemingly far from him in that mont.
I await you... in Hell!
Jabri was not intimidated by Kel's expression in his final monts; he rely sneered and said, "n, hang this traitor's body upon the city wall. Such treason against enemies cannot allow being cremated by the Holy Fire after death."
He stepped on Kel's chest, pulled out the Straight Sword piercing his throat, wiped it clean on the corpse, then sheathed it back and took Mahri Governor's seal in his hand—a gem-embedded, gold-plated stamp with sophisticated ornants.
"By Governor Mahri's last command, I am to take over all military affairs in Semanud City. From now on, no one may leave at will. We will firmly hold this city and when Lord Adil arrives, we will attack in unison, both inside and out, to avenge Governor Mahri!"
He shouted orders down the hierarchy, and commands bearing the Governor's stamped seal spread rapidly throughout the city.
"My Lord, look quickly!"
A nearby Guard suddenly shouted.
Below the city, a large group of defeated troops had appeared. They had abandoned their helts and armor, moving swiftly, rushing toward the city.
"Open the gate quickly, let us in!"
"The Crusaders are about to arrive, let us in quickly."
"Valashma, is that you? It's Senmut from across the street. I beg you, open the gate quickly; those Crusader demons are almost here."
The guards on the wall instinctively looked at Jabri.
Unexpectedly, he raised his bow and shot one of the cavalryn who had abandoned their helts and armor: "Get lost. Anyone who dares loiter under the city shall be shot dead. Anyone who suggests opening the city gate from now on will face this man's fate as a traitor colluding with the Crusaders!"
anwhile, Kel's body had already been hoisted into the air.
One nearby Guard softly advised, "My Lord, Governor Mahri took away most of the elites. Now there are only a little over a thousand soldiers left in the city. Even if you issued a Summoning Decree, those militia..."
In the dark, Jabri's erald eyes flashed, startling him.
This new City Lord sneered, "I have my ways to make these militia match the power of the Regular Army. I'm not an idiot like Mahri, still surrounded by staff like Kel."
Most Saracen Militia could barely muster a sword.
Their standard equipnt included only two Long Spears, one for throwing, one for attacking, a Shield; armor was out of the question. In actual combat, they barely added up, like their European counterparts.
He took off his Iron Gloves, supported the city wall, lifted his head, and gazed at the bright moon gradually replacing the sun, his erald eyes filled with a wild and furious hue unlike any human.
"That fool Mahri should have stepped down a long ti ago."
He extended his finger towards the city: "From today onward, Semanud belongs to alone!"
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