Emissary (Book 1)

Dimyata

It was a beautiful spring day. Birds were singing, wild flowers were sprouting and we were riding towards our doom. More than fifty of us rode out of the school that day not knowing that less than half will come back alive. At first we were excited to be part of this expedition but as the days went by our excitement turned to dread. We were all surprised to see the state to which the caliphate had deteriorated in the past years due to famine and unrest. We had heard rumors but seeing was an entirely different story. Complete villages were abandoned, fields were barren and people were starving in their homes. We saw soldiers which turned into bands of marooning thieves and cutthroats roaming the countryside. But no one dared to challenge us. We were very well armed, our training was the best in the Fatimid empire and the weapons we openly wielded were proof of that.

Master Badr al-Jamali was at the head of our contingent as we rode north along the banks of the Nile river. By all military standards we were not considered a large army division merely a small platoon. The master had divided us into four squads with eight to ten soldiers each and corporal Ali was put in command of our squad.

"Corporal," master Badr called to Ali, "I need to send you on a mission. Pick one of your troops and meet me in my tent in an hour."

I don't know why Ali picked me, maybe he thought I was the best swordsman in his squad. I should have abstained however I was a soldier and I had to follow my commanders orders. We entered the master's tent and stood in attention waiting.

"So you chose John to go with you on this mission," Badr said, "that is good," and I smiled proudly. If I had known what was to come I would not have been grinning like a stupid idiot. How foolish I was then and I how foolish I still am now.

"I have not told anyone about our destination and neither shall you two  understand," Badr commanded.

"Yes sir," Ali and I both answered.

Master Badr began to explained, "we are going north to Dimyata on the Mediterranean Sea. We have heard rumors about some strange troop movements in the city which we need to investigate. We have also been told that some nearby Arab tribes are making trouble in the region so we are here to help the governor establish order in his city."

"But what do you want us to do sir?" Ali asked.

"I do not like to go into a place without knowing what is going on first," Badr said, "you are to go to Dimyata and see what is really happening if anything. Then you are to report to me in three days. Meanwhile we will maintaining a distance of ten miles from the city waiting for you to come back."

"But sir I am a squad leader. Isn't this a task suitable for a spy," Ali tried to convey his objections on the mission believing he was more useful  commanding his squad then snooping around in a strange city.

"SOLDIER," master Badr shouted out and Ali sprang to full attention knowing he made a mistake voicing his opinion like that.

"You will follow my orders with out questions UNDERSTOOD," Badr snapped at Ali.

"I am sorry sir," Ali said, "we will."

"But now that you did I will tell you why I chose you," Badr explained, "You know that Dimyata is a strategic town. It is located at the entrance to the Nile river. It is also one of the main ports on the cost and the gate to the Sinai desert. Therefore whoever controls that city can cut off Egypt from Palestine and they could stage an all out occupation of Egypt. I am the governor of Acre in Palestine and I would hate to be cut off from the rest of the Fatimid empire if anyone thinks of occupying this city."
Badr stopped to let the information sink into our heads, "so I need a soldier who is trained in arms and military strategy to understand the situation and report back with troop movements, military strength, wall fortifications, ships in the harbor and the rest. I do not want to send a mere spy to look around and see how the city's population are fucking one another. DO YOU UNDERSTAND. This is why I am sending you. This is why I have been trying you for."