It had been three days since the Saracens first attacked the castle. During these days, aside from the daily routine of catapulting stones, the Saracens hadn't launched any further assaults.
Norn had grown indifferent to the seemingly devastating stone attacks.
"Boom!" Another stone projectile smashed into the castle wall and shattered into pieces.
Norn brushed away the dust and looked at the still-standing wall with satisfaction. The castle had been designed to withstand intense bombardments. The 4-meter-thick walls were of high quality, which was why they hadn't cracked after being hit by dozens of stone projectiles.
However, when Norn looked back, although the walls were fine, the facilities inside the castle were in ruins. The houses inside the outer walls had become a mess. Although the important wells and warehouses inside the inner walls were safe, the soldiers and workers had no choice but to sleep on the ground.
Not everyone could be as carefree as Norn and ignore the whistling stone projectiles. In the first two days, most workers could only tightly hold their crosses and hide by the wall when the projectiles came, watching helplessly as their rooms were destroyed. Naturally, by the end of the day, the morale of the workers and other soldiers was low.
But Norn's solution was simple.
"Lunch is ready!"
All the worries of the people in the castle were swept away. Everyone lined up by the wall, licking their lips to get their food.
Since Norn figured the siege wouldn't last long and the castle's supplies were abundant, he decided to go all out with the food—chicken, duck, beef, and mutton, with plenty of spices.
"Today we're having beef stew with onions and black bread without any strange stuff," Norn ate the same thing as the other workers. Although the taste wasn't perfect in Norn's eyes, to everyone else, it was a royal feast they'd never tasted in their lives.
These workers, who labored all year round, rarely saw a piece of meat in their meals. When they were hungry, they could only eat half-satisfied with black bread filled with sand, small stones, and bugs, not to mention expensive spices.
Now, with a plate of stew filled with a large piece of meat and unlimited black bread, they were so happy that they wanted to eat the plate itself, licking every drop of soup clean. Even the stone projectiles falling in front of them and smashing their homes to pieces couldn't dampen their spirits.
"Eat up! When you're full, you won't miss home," Norn looked at the people eating with eyes full of happiness and nodded with satisfaction. If there were morale bars above their heads, Norn was sure they'd be sky-high.
What Norn didn't know was that every time the people in the castle ate, the smell that drifted out for miles made the Saracens feel that their own flatbreads didn't taste as good.
Just after Norn finished eating, the continuous bombardment from the catapults also stopped.
A Saracen messenger holding a white flag rode up to the castle and shouted from a distance, "The Sultan invites the castle commander to meet him below the castle."
Norn poked his head out and saw the Saracens setting up a luxurious tent 300 meters away from the castle, probably the meeting spot.
"Uncle Otto, I'm going with you!" Norn was naturally interested in Saladin and wouldn't miss this opportunity.
"But what if Saladin turns against us? The castle..." Otto hesitated.
"No way!" Norn said firmly, "Saladin, whether he's sincere or just wants a good reputation, wouldn't ruin his name over us two nobodies."
The castle gate slowly opened, and Norn and Otto rode towards the tent at a trot.
A well-dressed middle-aged Saracen was already waiting there, and it was Saladin himself.
Norn carefully observed Saladin. As a Saracen, he had a thick and neatly trimmed beard. Years of warfare had left him looking a bit weathered, but his hawk-like eyes left a deep impression on Norn.
"Good day, Grand Knight Otto," Saladin spoke first. His magnetic voice had a calming effect. Norn had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that the rumor about Saladin being more knightly than a knight was true.
"And this must be Baron Norn Adler, the Windmill Baron, Jerusalem Knight, and the Lord's favored one," Saladin turned to Norn, not minding his age at all, and showered him with compliments.
Norn unconsciously puffed out his chest. It felt great to be praised by a historical figure for the first time. He even felt like Saladin could keep going, and he could take it.
"Good day, Sultan Saladin," Otto gave a simple bow. "What brings you here today?"
"The Almighty has sent me to deliver a message: your reinforcements were annihilated two days ago," Saladin spoke slowly, but the content turned Norn's worst fears into reality.
As if to prove his point, Saladin's men brought out numerous Templar banners and a large number of captives, including Grand Master Odo.
Norn's heart sank when he saw Odo's familiar face: he had been counting on Odo to rescue him, but now Odo was captured instead.
Grand Master Odo's mouth was gagged, and he made muffled noises as if trying to say something, but he was punched in the stomach and dragged away.
Otto and Norn's expressions immediately turned serious.
"For the sake of the lives within the castle, I ask you, Grand Knight, to surrender the castle," Saladin maintained his smile. "Of course, every Christian in the castle can leave with their personal belongings."
"Every Christian!" Saladin emphasized again. It had to be said that under the current circumstances of losing reinforcements, the offer was very generous.
"How do I know that after surrendering, you won't send cavalry to ambush us?" Otto was skeptical. "You know, the Crusaders would massacre the city after breaking through."
"I am not like you. I am Saladin!" Saladin seemed somewhat disdainful, almost enunciating each word as he spoke his name.
Otto was thrown into hesitation, but Norn carefully examined the captives, excluding unfamiliar faces to see if there was anyone he knew.
After a long while.
"If that's the case! Then I..."
"Wait a minute!" Norn interrupted Otto's speech, looking at Saladin with bright eyes, "Your Highness, it seems you haven't captured or killed King Baldwin and Count Raymond."
"Does that mean the royal army, despite being annihilated, has spared its key officials?" Norn's lips curled into a smile. Opportunities to shine in front of historical figures were rare, and he had to seize the moment.
"Does that mean we can expect reinforcements in ten days? Is that right, Your Highness Saladin?"
With Norn's words, Saladin's smile disappeared, and his gaze became deep and inscrutable.
"It seems you are truly as wise as the rumors suggest," Saladin sighed, then looked at Norn with a hint of appreciation. "I believe Tadjuddin really did meet his match in you."
"But does Grand Knight Otto have the confidence to hold the castle for more than ten days with less than a thousand soldiers?" Saladin shifted the focus back to Otto.
Otto looked at Norn and nodded firmly, finally emerging from his gloom and said resolutely, "I think we can!"
"It seems the negotiations have broken down. Then we must meet on the battlefield," Saladin said regretfully and turned to leave.
Norn looked at the Saracen with great composure and thought: If it weren't for our different positions, I'd rather not be enemies with such a tough opponent!
As if thinking of something, Saladin turned to Norn and said, "Lord Norn, if you ever wish, my court will always welcome you."