Once I learned the terrible news from the knight, I headed to Damascus.
I needed to inform all my "allies" about the state of our military forces.
It's very precarious, given that the Pope keeps interfering.
I could send a simple letter to Sultan Al Kamil, but honestly, I prefer to speak in person.
Certain "concepts" and "ideas" are more convincing face to face.
I still struggle to conceive how a human being "chosen by God to lead the faithful" can go to such lengths to sabotage me in this way.
Considering that Emperor Frederick and I took Jerusalem primarily because we were compelled by the Pope's influence.
There is so much hatred between these religions, but I would also say "entitlement," it's not okay if they willingly give up the holy city through an agreement, but it had to be done brutally with bloodshed.
To annul the agreement between the Emperor and the Sultan, he preferred to let many people die because of the Mongols, who would take the city, and perhaps then launch another futile crusade.
The Pope is no saint, he is the worst of the demons in this world.
However, this will not save him from my wrath at all; no one can think of behaving like this towards me.
Or rather, they can once, but not again.
Because it's his first and last time daring to go against me in this way.
But the Pope is now a problem I will solve in the future; now I must think about the most imminent danger.
|Morning of September 20 - 1249 - Temporary Alliance Room - Damascus - Attila|
I was alone in that large hall. A rare moment when I could reflect in absolute silence.
The last time I was here was to create an alliance against the Mongols.
I would have liked to stay longer in Damascus; it's a splendid city if only I didn't have to make Jerusalem equally if not better.
I had sent a letter to inform the Sultan and to have all the other leaders gathered, but apparently, I arrived too early.
From what I know, all the leaders stayed in Damascus, or nearby.
Also, because it's always better to lead from the outside rather than risk one's skin.
Surely they've had other meetings while I was busy on a "fun and not at all unlucky" trip to Constantinople.
I'm 100% convinced that none of them truly trust me; I think that after the Mongols (if we manage to defeat them), they have already made plans to attack me.
Finally, Sultan Al Kamil presented himself and said:<
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I wonder what happened to the others.
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|Morning of September 20 - 1249 - Sultan's Tea Room - Damascus - Attila|
I followed the Sultan to his tea room; it was a balcony with a canopy overlooking Damascus, truly spectacular.
We sat down and began to talk.
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As he was speaking, a servant had brought the tea and was pouring it for us.
After pouring it for the Sultan first and then for me, I started drinking it immediately:<
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The Sultan laughed and smilingly replied:<>
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We both know they were nothing but extras, especially the aggressive one last time. If it were up to me, I would have cut his tongue from the first second>>
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The Sultan nodded.
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The Sultan was shocked:<
Sighing, I said:<
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If I tell him that all this is a game at the highest difficulty level, he'll think I'm crazy: <
The Sultan looked at me suspiciously and said:<
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The servant passed by again to pour more tea.
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And so we continued to talk about this and that.