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:<<Forgive the delay, honourable Attila, have you been waiting for me for a long time?>>

<<Don't worry, Sultan Al Kamil. I understand everything; it's normal since I arrived here at short notice. Do you know if the other leaders are coming here?>>

<<For a series of reasons that I will explain shortly, the other leaders cannot attend. Therefore, I will speak and decide on behalf of all>>

I wonder what happened to the others.

<<Well, then I propose we have a nice cup of tea and chat calmly. What do you think, Sultan?>>

<<I think it's a great idea, follow me>>

|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.

<<I apologize again for my sudden visit, but as you may have guessed, there are important matters we need to discuss>>

<<Of course, I understand perfectly, let's say the spies didn't give me very 'concrete and positive' reports>>

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:<<You know, you're very brave, Attila; you drank the tea without batting an eyelid. You couldn't have known if there was poison in it>>

<<You're right, but I'm more than convinced that at this moment, you have no interest in wanting me dead. So, since I was very thirsty, I didn't even think twice>>

The Sultan laughed and smilingly replied:<<I understand, but I advise you to be careful in the future>>

<<Certainly, rather why don't you tell me what happened to those human leftovers?>>

<<You even call them "human leftovers"?>>

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>>

<<Well, you're not entirely wrong. Let's say that over time, their kingdoms have progressively lost ground to the Mongols. So they have progressively lost more political power, considering that their people have become refugees and migrated to my kingdom, but also to yours and beyond. A week ago, I managed to 'take over' the place of the "last Arab Sultan worth anything">>

<<In other words, as soon as you noticed that the others had lost their power and popular support, you took advantage and took their place>>

<<Excellent summary... even if it sounds brutal>>

<<True, but I don't blame you. I would have done the same thing in your place. After all, in tragic times like these, it's always best to have one, if not a few people making all the decisions. So I suppose we shouldn't worry about them anymore in the future>>

<<Formally, they have delegated everything to me until the Mongol issue is resolved, but I believe I should be able to "absorb" their power, territories, and people>>

<<That's good news>>

<<You, on the other hand, honourable Attila, what urgent reason forced you to come to me in such a hurry?>>

<<Remember when I said that by taking control of the alliance, we would also receive the support of the Byzantine Empire and Emperor Frederick?>>

The Sultan nodded.

<<Well, I actually managed to reach an agreement with the Byzantine Emperor. He sent us troops...>>

<<But?>>

<<Given the facts, we have 15,000 troops from the Byzantine side; 25,000 from Frederick II; and 10,000 from me (considering 4,000 as regular army and the other 6,000 as enlisted refugees). A total of 50,000 troops on our side.>>

<<Why only 25,000 from Frederick II? I mean, it's a lot, but it seemed like he could send more>>

<<And indeed, he could have sent more. But that damn Pope, since he considers our agreement heresy, did everything to prevent as many people as possible from leaving. Essentially sabotaging us just because he considers Jerusalem 'no longer holy' since you gave it up without further unnecessary deaths>>

The Sultan was shocked:<<Do you know this is absurd and paradoxical? At what point did it make sense to take Jerusalem in the first place?>>

Sighing, I said:<<Look, I don't know. But rest assured that as soon as this is over (if we survive), I will focus all my attention on the papal state. There's no way he can get away with it like this. People like him deserve only to die in atrocious suffering>>

<<On this, I can only agree. If I were in a similar situation right now, I would have gone mad. How do you manage to remain so calm?>>

<<Mine is only apparent calm; I am furious. But I know that I must now focus my attention on the Mongols. Anyway, we have 50,000 troops on our side, what do you say?>>

<<If I consider the regular army plus the voluntary refugees and the available troops from other leaders... we're more or less at 35,000 if we want to be generous>>

<<So a total of 85,000... it would be a very powerful army. But we both know that all these men are not easy to manage and still might not be enough against the entire army of the Mongol Empire>>

<<Why do you say we're against the entire Empire? From the information I have, their Empire is so vast that they had to divide it, and each of those parts fights their independent wars. But you said we'll be facing their ENTIRE army, how do you know?>>

If I tell him that all this is a game at the highest difficulty level, he'll think I'm crazy: <<Unfortunately, I can't tell you how I know, but it's true. I ask you to trust me, also because if it's really about me, it's always better for us, right?>>

The Sultan looked at me suspiciously and said:<<Hmm, alright. I'll try to trust you>>

<<By the way, did you follow my advice from the meeting at the beginning of the year? I mean: how are you doing with armaments? Did you have the blacksmiths make mostly lances?>>

<<Yes, I followed your advice, I checked, and you were right, the Mongols mostly use horses. So lances were almost the only possible solution. What about you?>>

<<I not only had them produced as soon as I heard the news, but I also imported from abroad almost everything I could. As for the sentiments of the people regarding the war?>>

<<Obviously, there is enormous concern among the population, but now that the moment of reckoning is approaching, many are just waiting to exact revenge for everything they have suffered>>

<<Well, more or less the same goes for my area>>

The servant passed by again to pour more tea.

<<So, the real moment is coming?>> said the Sultan.

<<Yes, when I return, I will make a speech to the nation for general mobilization. If I mobilize my army and come towards Damascus, do you think the city can hold, at least for a few days, our joint armies?>>

<<I don't think so, I already have to take care of my army, but also of the refugees. At most, you can camp outside the city>>

<<Alright, I'll create a line of supplies. Or at least I'll try>>

<<Tell me the truth. Do you think we'll come out of all this alive?>>

<<I don't know, I just know it will be very difficult>>

And so we continued to talk about this and that.