Emissary (Book 1)

Failure

"The Seljuk Turks will kill all Christians and Jews in the city."

"The Seljuk Turks will enslave all Christian and Jews in the city."

"The Seljuk Turks will kick all Christians and Jews out of Jerusalem."

"The Seljuk Turks aren't as tolerant as the Fatimids to other faiths."

"The Seljuk Turks will not allow Christian and Jewish Pilgrims to enter Jerusalem."

"The Seljuk Turks will destroy all Christian and Jewish holy sites."

"OH MY GOD... you are a Devil!" Zuran exclaimed, "there is nothing you wouldn't do. Isn't there?!" Unfortunately he was right. I had a task to do; save the city, save the girl and get back home. That was my mission and I was willing to do all it took to finish it.

We were all gathered up in the great mosque, as we did everyday before sunset prayers since we set foot in this city. Zuran and the rest of my men looked at me is utter bewilderment as I explained to them what they had to do. "I want you to spread all these rumors around the city especially in the Christian and Jewish quarters," I said.

"But you know these are not TRUE," Zuran wasn't so thrilled about it. As a Turk himself he didn't believe all that nonsense. The Seljuk Turks weren't as bad as I made them out to be. Half of the Fatimid army were Turks. It was one thing to fight the Seljuks but branding a whole race as uncivilized murdering hoards wasn't something he was keen on.

"Of course that's not true," I replied.

"And what would that accomplish?" Zuran wanted to know before he went along with my dire plan.

"I'm hoping to convince those few Christians and Jews who are still left in Jerusalem to help Governor Hassan defend his city against the Seljuks and they would not do that unless they feel threatened by that army out there," I explained.

If my plan was to work I needed the help of all five of my men, especially Zuran. He was a good soldier but more importantly he was a good manipulator of men and I knew he would do as he was ordered. Of course he wasn't very happy about it but he did it anyway.

Unfortunately most of the Christian and Jewish residents weren't happy about it either. They weren't interested in fighting nor were they interested in dying. The brothers at the abbey of Saint Mary weren't interested in taking up arms against anyone either. Brother Gérard was especially against my plan and he adamantly argued, "This could have disastrous consequences on all the Christians living in the city." Of course he was right but I didn't listen. I had a task to do.

Fortunately for the city everyone was against my plan! Well, except for Master Adolph Du Puy and his companions most of whom were carpenters and builders sent by the Count of Toulouse to help restore the church of the Holy Sepulcher. They didn't know one end of a sword from another, but they were young, stupid and this was the perfect opportunity for them to make a name for themselves. Defending the city of God.

"There are more than two hundred men willing to fight," Adolph was proud of himself. After a couple of weeks of haggling and maneuvering he managed to convince his friends on the merit of our cause. "Fighting to save Jerusalem. What could be better than that?!" He was as stupid as I was and if my plan had worked it would had been a massacre.

Of course Master Adolph grew to become a fine leader of men, a great commander, but then again that was years later. In Jerusalem, that day, he didn't have that chance. The only thing that came out of all that was that the Seljuk's reputation as occupiers was beyond repair. History would tell that they besieged Jerusalem and didn't treat its Christian inhabitants very well when that was never the case. They did enter the city without much bloodshed. Well, maybe a little blood shed, but then again that blood was also on my hand. My plan crumbled like a piece of stale old shit and it was all my fault.