"Your Majesty! The messenger is a Hashashin! It's definitely a trap! We mustn't be deceived!"
"Even if what she says is true, the reinforcements number less than 1,700 men. They stand no chance against Saladin's vast army."
On the city wall, a noble from the Jerusalem court was pleading. Baldwin glanced meaningfully at the noisy noble, then looked to the side at a noble with fiery red hair and a wild, unkempt beard.
"Count Renaud, what say you?" Baldwin asked calmly.
"I say," Renaud grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth, "I believe the reinforcements are real. If Saladin wanted to deceive us, he'd at least send one of our lord's faithful to deliver the message."
"My lord, you must think this through! We all know you have a deep-seated grudge against Saladin..." The noble's words died in his throat as if he had been choked.
"Saladin has tormented me for ten years. I swear I'll make him experience everything I've been through," Renaud bared his teeth in a bloodthirsty smile, looking like a mad dog about to bare its fangs. "And before that, I don't mind sending any scum who stand in my way of revenge to meet their maker."
"Your Majesty, Count Renaud..." The noble, who had intended to lodge a complaint, received only a vicious whip lash in return.
"Silence!" Baldwin looked at the incompetent man with disgust, then turned back to the battlefield outside the city walls.
"Renaud, what would you do?"
"What else? With so few men and no knights," Renaud replied nonchalantly, "The boy's full of bravado, but he'll soon be taught a lesson and be crawling on the ground."
"Is that so? I don't see it that way," the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Odo, interjected. "Baron Norn Adler may be young, but his actions are unpredictable. And being favored by the Lord, he always seems to end up with a favorable outcome."
"Unpredictable? Indeed, I didn't expect he'd have connections with the remnants of the Hashashin," Renaud sneered at the Grand Master.
"Enough!" Seeing another argument about to erupt, Baldwin quickly intervened.
"Anyone who can eliminate the enemies of our Lord is acceptable to Him," King Baldwin concluded the matter, effectively closing the chapter.
"But?" Baldwin looked puzzled at the battlefield outside. The wedge-shaped formation that Norn had arranged was incredibly thin, in stark contrast to the thick triple lines of the enemy.
"Ha! Another fool brainwashed by knights! He thinks the infidel army will flee at the sight of his 'army,'" Renaud glanced at it and then lost interest, idly playing with his dagger.
"It's possible he has a hidden plan, confident he can break through..." Even Grand Master Odo couldn't continue his own words.
"Humph! It's not like he has 1,700 knights. What does he think he can fight with, someone's teeth?" Renaud continued to mock.
Boom!!!
A thunderous explosion, like a peal of thunder, interrupted Renaud's speech. Everyone was startled and looked towards the source of the sound.
"God almighty!"
A massive black cloud rose in the center of the battlefield, with occasional bursts of fiery light. The enemy's entire battle line was momentarily stunned.
After a while, people came to their senses, and the accompanying military chaplain fervently sang hymns to the Lord.
"Your Highness!!! While the enemy is in chaos, please send troops quickly!" Renaud took the lead, kneeling on one knee in front of Baldwin, "Please allow me to charge first."
"Give the order, Your Highness! The Knights Templar will immediately support Baron Norn and completely divide the enemy forces," Grand Master Odo also eagerly requested.
"Squire! Bring my horse."
Norn was unaware of the scene on the city wall. He only felt a sharp pain in his right rib, and the immense impact forced him to lurch backward. If it weren't for the high cantle of the saddle, he would have been thrown off. The remaining lance handle in his hand slipped from his grasp, powerless to hold on.
The opponent wasn't in better shape either. Norn's lance had pierced the opponent's abdomen. Although it hadn't penetrated through thanks to the armor, the opponent was now in so much pain that he was curled up on his horse like a shrimp.
Norn caught his breath, glancing at his wound. The chainmail on his right rib had been pierced, but fortunately, the tough leather armor he had bought for 40 gold nomismata held up. Although the leather armor had a large gash and the flesh underneath was a mess of blood, Norn felt that his internal organs were not injured.
However, looking around, Norn saw that William and Patrick were still with him, but of the dozen or so cavalry that had been with him, only half remained. They had charged too far ahead, and the infantry had not yet caught up.
Now, in front of Norn, was the reformed phalanx of the enemy, and behind him was the enemy officer's elite cavalry guard of at least 30 men.
Gritting his teeth, Norn turned his horse, drew his longsword, and his remaining cavalry silently moved closer. Norn placed his longsword diagonally behind him and spurred his horse into motion once more.
The enemy also realized they were trapped between Norn and his infantry. They discarded their broken lances, roared, and charged with their sabers.
With a fierce determination, Norn hurled his longsword. The immense kinetic energy pierced through the armor and the vulnerable flesh of one of the enemy cavalry.
Facing another sharp saber, Norn leaned to the right, hiding behind his horse, and narrowly avoided the blade that almost grazed his scalp.
Having charged through the enemy's line, Norn even retrieved his longsword from the body of a fallen enemy cavalryman.
Having once again faced death, Norn contemptuously glanced at the officer, then led his last few cavalry back to his own ranks.
The insulted cavalryman howled in anger and recklessly pursued.
Now safely surrounded by his guard, Norn finally let out a sigh of relief. Facing the officer, who was furiously raging outside his spear formation, Norn made the most vulgar gestures he could think of to provoke the enemy.
Although the officer didn't know the meaning of the middle finger, he knew it wasn't a friendly gesture and was even more furious, pacing back and forth on the spot.
The officer's cavalry guard caught up, and one of the cavalrymen approached, seemingly trying to dissuade him. But the officer continued to curse and was reluctant to retreat.
Suddenly, the cavalryman leaped, landing directly on the officer's horse and, with a mace in hand, struck the officer's head.
Before Norn could realize what was happening, the cavalryman had seized the reins and was galloping towards Norn's side, with the rest of the cavalry spurring their horses to give chase.
In a flash, Norn finally reacted, "Clear the way! Make way!"
But in the haste, the formation was not easily maneuvered. The densely packed soldiers jostled against each other, unable to create a path.
Norn watched in anxiety as the cavalryman neared the front of the ranks, with the pursuers hot on his heels.
Suddenly, Norn had an idea and shouted, "Lower your spears! Lower your spears!" The soldiers quickly reacted, and the forest of spears was leveled.
The "cavalryman" galloped to the front of the ranks and, using the momentum, leaped up, carrying the officer into the ranks—though it was in the form of a roll to dissipate the force.
Anxious, Norn rushed forward and embraced the "cavalryman."
"Are you alright? Sasan!"
"Yeah!"