As the sun dipped below the horizon and the last sliver of light vanished from sight, darkness began to quietly envelop the land. A small campfire flickered to life, and with it, the aroma of food wafted through the air.
"Enno, how much longer do I have to eat this stuff?" Jinn looked at the tough, smoked chicken in his hand and gave Norn a pitiful glance.
"Once you become strong and mighty, then we'll talk," Norn generously ladled a big bowl for Anna first, then scooped a generous portion for himself.
"Oh, no!" Jinn groaned in distress. Despite having been on the "muscle-building diet" for a month, he still couldn't stand the taste.
Gritting his teeth, he took a bite and felt like he was chewing on a piece of old bark, so he quickly changed the subject to distract himself.
"Enno, how much longer until we get to Bordeaux?"
"If we're lucky, we'll be there by tomorrow afternoon."
"But why are we going to Bordeaux?" Jinn finally voiced his confusion.
"To show you the world and see if there's a chance to earn you some fame!" Norn bit into a piece of dried meat, struggling to tear off a chunk.
"Fame?" Jinn was taken aback.
"It's not like the small-scale tournaments we've seen before," Norn mumbled through the dried meat, "Bordeaux, as the capital of the Duchy of Aquitaine and the residence of the Duke of Aquitaine, is much more bustling!"
Before they could finish their conversation, the sound of approaching hooves made the three of them jump. They quickly put down their food and reached for their weapons.
In the distance, three knights were cautiously riding. Although the road was decent, the dim light prevented them from galloping. After noticing the campfire of Norn's group, they hesitated for a moment before heading straight towards them.
This made Norn and his companions extremely nervous. In this era, law and order were in chaos, and bandits were as common as cattle. Even seemingly legitimate caravans and mercenaries might take the opportunity to make a quick buck. Although the three of them hadn't drawn their weapons, their hands were positioned to grab them at a moment's notice.
A young man in red dismounted and approached them in a very outgoing manner, saying, "Sorry to interrupt, but this seems to be the best place to camp. I wonder if you'd be willing to share it?"
The young man was dressed in a bright red robe with gold trim, and the glint of metal could be seen beneath it. The sword at his waist was adorned with a huge ruby.
Moreover, Norn noticed the light blue shirt cuffs peeking out from under the young man's sleeves, his well-fitted breeches, and the high-quality deerskin boots on his feet.
What made Norn even more envious was the magnificent warhorse the young man rode. If Jinn's captured horse was a low-end Mercedes-Benz, then this one was a top-of-the-line Bugatti.
In comparison, Norn and his companions, dressed in plain clothes, looked more like bandits.
Jinn, who couldn't understand how wealthy the young man was, just saw that he didn't look like a bad person and said warmly, "Since we're all travelers, it wouldn't be right for us to monopolize this open space."
"Thank you!" the young man replied with a smile. His two attendants immediately took out supplies from the packhorses to set up a tent.
Seeing the attendants still busy, kind-hearted Jinn simply invited the young man to sit by the campfire.
The young man sat by the campfire, and his nose instinctively twitched as a rich aroma wafted into his nostrils.
Norn noticed the young man staring at his stew and kindly asked, "If you don't mind, why don't you join us for dinner?"
"My lord!" one of the attendants noticed and quickly tried to intervene, "Perhaps I should..."
"No need!" the young man cut off the attendant, looking at the still-steaming stew and Norn's half-eaten plate, and said to Norn, "I appreciate it!"
Norn handed the young man a steaming bowl of stew. After savoring the first bite and pondering for a moment, the young man couldn't stop moving his spoon.
"You're right! Enno's cooking is really good!" Jinn looked enviously at the young man, wishing he was the one eating.
"Your cooking is quite impressive!" the young man finished his dinner in a few quick bites and then praised.
"Almost forgot to introduce myself. I'm Charlie! From Richemont in Aquitaine. And you are?"
"My name is Jinn, from the Duchy of Mecklenburg in the Holy Roman Empire," Jinn replied according to the script he and Norn had prepared.
"Oh?" the young man glanced at the emblem on Jinn's chest—a blue-hilted longsword standing upright with the tip pointing to the sky—without changing his expression. He then looked questioningly at his attendant. After a moment of silence, the attendant also shook his head subtly.
No thorns, no crown, and no other decorations. It seemed either a minor knight with a lineage of no more than three generations or a newly ennobled second son of a family. Charlie made his judgment.
"So it seems you're heading to Bordeaux to seek opportunities." Charlie probed.
"Yes! Enno says that's where you can earn fame." Jinn nodded.
"Hahaha!" Charlie burst into hearty laughter, "Then maybe we'll soon cross swords on the tournament field."
"Bring the wine!"
The attendant immediately handed out several wineskins to everyone.
Charlie took a hearty swig and said with a sigh, "I hope this tournament attracts more formidable opponents so I can have a real contest."
Norn looked at the spirited young man in front of him and couldn't help but say, "If you want to test yourself, you should go to Jerusalem! There you'll find the most terrifying enemy of the Christian world—Saladin!"
The young man's interest was piqued, "You know Saladin?"
"Not personally, but I've heard stories from Genoese merchants who've been to the Holy Land," Norn said calmly.
"Tell me more! What's Saladin like?" The young man leaned in curiously, sitting next to Norn. Jinn also looked over.
"Saladin!" Norn pondered for a moment, recalling the middle-aged man who had caused him several major crises, yet somehow he couldn't bring himself to hate him. He could only sigh and say, "He is truly the most outstanding leader of the Saracens."
"Merciful! Generous! Brave! He can both nurture his people and rest them and also plan battles and lead on the battlefield. Moreover, he is extremely pious, praying five times a day and even making a pilgrimage to Mecca himself. This has given him immense prestige among the Saracens, with countless armored soldiers under his command."
"Is that so? But I heard that he was defeated consecutively by King Baldwin and Baron Norn, both young men under 20. Doesn't seem that impressive to me," the young man retorted.
Norn reflected on those thrilling battles and couldn't help but marvel, "The Kingdom of Jerusalem took great risks to achieve victory. But Saladin, after all, controls Egypt, Damascus, and Aleppo, with vast territories and a large population. A few defeats don't affect the big picture. Moreover, King Baldwin is frail, and Baron Norn has reportedly returned to his fief. In a few years, when he makes a comeback, the Kingdom of Jerusalem might be defenseless."
"Wouldn't that be great!" Charlie's excited words interrupted Norn's worries, "Then the Pope will surely call for another Crusade, and we'll have the chance to face Saladin."
"That day does sound exciting!" Charlie gazed towards the east, murmuring to himself.