| Night of October 22 - 1248 - Acre - Attila |
Once we arrived in the city, the Emperor ordered us to go and immediately help those who tried to put out the fire.
We all rushed to the port, but the situation was worse than expected.
The Arabs set fire to the ships in the central row, to divide the ships into two large groups: the first was the one that, in one way or another, was attached to the port and therefore reachable; the second either burned or broke off and empty ships ended up in the open sea.
But those were bastards to the core.
When a ship detached and ended up in the open sea, the Saracens boarded it and in fact “stole” it.
While those who tried to put out the fire their archers tried to kill them.
Panic was unleashed, those few people who had the courage to go and save the ships once they saw their comrades die from the arrows they pulled back.
No one came forward from that moment on, we were forced to wait and see how this disaster and this indomitable fire unfolded.
| Morning of October 23 - 1248 - Acre - Attila |
At dawn, the archers inside the enemy ships finally stopped shooting and left.
It must be said that they too had losses since that night someone had proposed to return enemy fire with our archers. That, someone, was me.
Sure, the scene was incredibly dramatic but at that moment everyone was panicking and no one was thinking well with their heads.
It was at that moment when I proposed that we should at least answer with our bows at least.
Thus, while the Arab bastards were still shooting flaming arrows on the ships, they were taken by surprise when 5,000 archers (1,800 already present in Acre and 3,200 by the Emperor's army) were shooting their arrows full of anger from the castle.
So we also managed to kill many of them and recover some of our ships, but the result was still a disaster.
In a single night, without our being able to do anything, we lost 126 ships and the ones that remained are the least performing or slightly damaged.
When I was told that I was going on the crusade, I always thought it was not a walk in the park. But I never thought I'd be "forced" to stay here since it was clear to everyone that in this way we were all stuck in Acre with no way out.
The Emperor, who was already unable to sleep at night, immediately summoned me and his advisers to his tent.
Certainly, there was a large table with a map covering the geography of all modern Israel and part of today's West Bank.
The emperor, with his dark circles visible, before moving on to the floor held a speech with us: << As you have seen last night, almost all of our ships have sunk, stolen or burned. I warn you immediately that we are stuck here, unable to obtain reinforcements and supplies in the short term. We are forced to attack before their probable siege. What I ask of you is the maximum collaboration, because if we do not think of something then we will not come out alive >>
His advisers were all silent, but resolute in wanting to follow him.
They bowed before the Emperor they bowed and shouted: << Your Highness we will follow you everywhere! >>
The scene was very cringing, meaning it looked like the Power Rangers.
Yet for them, it was an important moment when, seeing the Emperor in that state, they had to give him all possible support.
Seeing this scene, the Emperor said: << Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you >>
Then he looked at me.
He saw that I was not on my knees too, he said nothing to me.
I didn't want to be part of this ginew team pose.
From that moment on the Emperor asked us to all approach the map and began to summarize the situation: << We are here in Acre >> indicating it on the map: << Here is Jerusalem and in Nazareth is the army of the Sultan. Malik, what do you propose to do? >>
Malik went even closer to the map and after a few seconds of silence, he said: << From what I see, we are forced to fight. We can not go anywhere, since the ships are all burned: I, therefore, propose to take them by surprise >>
<< I understand Malik, what do you think? >> the Emperor said to the other councillors.
All of them were indecisive and hesitant to speak.
I was there leaning against the wall with the ships folded listening to a plan that would lead us to death.
The Emperor, seeing me in a grey mood, said to me: << What do you think about it Attila? >>
Well, apparently I must always be the one to design these plans: << I have a plan to get us out of here whole, but to tell you I would like to ask you something Your Highness >>
<< What is it about? >>
<< While I expose the plan I want the right to say everything I think without consequences >>
The Emperor was a bit undecided but in the end, he nodded.
I approached the map and said: << Malik, you are a good person but this plan is so disgusting that I don't even know how you came up with it! >>
Then looking at the Emperor I said: << You are a very intelligent Emperor, but it is stupid to call all the advisers to ask him for an opinion on what to do with the army. It is not their job >>
Everyone was shocked for a while by my words, I knew I was tough but in this situation, you have to be.
I resumed: << The plan is this. If the Sultan is in Nazareth it means that he thinks he has a better army than ours, and most likely it is. So a battle against them is not an option, it would be suicide. That said, remember that in Alexandria we have a potential ally, the King of France. Also, I'm pretty sure the Sultan has a much larger army, and it's split in two. One part is in Nazareth and the other is going to take back Alexandria >>
Of course, that's what I know from the true story. Since I did some research while I was in the real world because I did not remember the invasion of the King of France in Alexandria.
He discovered with great surprise that the occupation of Alexandria by the French really took place but that after a few months the Arabs wiped out the French army.
However, there remains one thing I know, not Malik or the Emperor, so I know how to act accordingly.
I continued: << Since one of the two Arab armies is going to Alexandria we must intercept it and attack it together with the French, while the army under the command of the Sultan must decide whether to take Acre or to pursue us. To make this work, the other councillors must also collaborate. Gaia must keep Acre under control, in short, make sure she recognizes the Arab spies and does not circulate sensitive information on the attack plan. The foreign adviser and the Emperor must urgently write a letter to the King of France informing him of the Arab army that will soon arrive at him and persuade him to join us in closing the infidels from two fronts. We aim to leave without the Sultan noticing, so Malik and his men should make a bit of a fuss further north, to attract the attention of the enemy >>
Everyone was amazed by this plan pulled up from nothing.
The Emperor wasted no time: << Did you hear guys? Let's get to work! >>
