Emissary (Book 1)

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Less than half of the young men who had ridden out from the school a week ago remained standing. We gathered in front of the gate of the fort of Dimyata waiting for the master to come out. We were sitting ducks out there. I was praying he was successful in convincing the governor to join our fight. The gate opened and master Badr strolled out.

He came over to me and asked, "did you complete the mission?" as he looked in sorrow at what remained of his troops.

"Yes Sir." I replied.

"See that your men get some rest then follow me inside," and he returned from where he came from.

I made sure everyone was safe and the wounded were taken care off and I returned to the fort as the master requested. I was led into a room to wait for him.

"You did good John," Badr congratulated me then he asked for a report. As I was giving him a brief summary of what we had done to the Seljuk soldiers a man burst into the room shouting.

"BADR, I have just been told that the Seljuks in the city are all dead, how did you...." and he froze the moment he saw me. I was still covered in blood. My daggers must have still been dripping wet and I looked like an animal who just finished his kill. I probably was.

"Governor Alaa. Allow me to introduce you to lieutenant John," Badr said, "he and his men are the ones responsible for helping you get rid of the Seljuk threat in your city."

"But there were more than five hundred Seljuks out there," the governor said, "and my men are telling me that most of them have been killed in bed. How did you ?....." he stopped and looked at my blood covered hands once again.

"How many men do you have young man?" The governor asked. He was curious but mainly afraid that his city was now swarming with Badr's troops. He didn't want to eliminate the Seljuk threat to be replaced by another. I guess he didn't trust the master. I didn't blame him. I wouldn't in his place. He was probably going to regret his decision very soon.

"We were forty seven when we started out but now only twenty three still remain alive," I explained.

"You are telling me that you killed more than five hundred Seljuk soldiers with only fifty men? That is impossible." Of course he didn't believe me.

"No Sir," I said, "only forty seven," I had to correct him. He was more afraid of me now then he was before.

"Oh My God. Who the hell are you people?..." He wanted to ask more questions only Badr interjected.

"Ok John. Go and rest now. Report to me here tomorrow at noon." I snapped to attention and left.

My work in Dimyata was over. Or so I had thought. I wanted to check on Manna and rest after all the horrors I had just done and witnessed. Only Peter didn't want to let me go by myself. He wanted to stay at my side. I guess he was also curious to know what I had been doing in a brothel of all places.

We walked into Jawhar's place to see him sitting with all his girls talking about the nights events. Screams of men and women were still being heard all around the city. No one knew what was going on except that the city had just witnessed a massacre and hundreds of bodies of dead Seljuk soldiers were being collected by the city guards and taken away.

As we entered the establishment some of the girls screamed out. Jawhar jumped and stood in front of us clumsily holding an old sword. He thought he was protecting the girls. "Did you come here to finish the job?" he asked in fear. He knew I had something to do with what was going on. I was still covered in blood and Manna must have told him what had happened to her earlier.

"No," I replied, "I just want to check that you are all safe. I also need to take a bath and a place to sleep with my friend here if you can still spare a room."