Episode 133
“So, you’re telling me that young upstart dares to summon me directly?”
“Yes, he insisted that you must come in person, my lord.”
The audacity of anyone to speak like that to Nur al-Din Muhammad, the fifth leader of the Assassins, was almost laughable. Given his influence over the underworld of Islam, it was a wonder anyone would risk their life with such a demand.
Of course, the one who summoned him was of a similar stature to Muhammad II, which complicated matters. And this time, it wasn’t as if Alamut was in a position to bow its head.
“It’s almost as if they’re asking me to go and show them how desperate we are. It’s like they’re telling me to go and beg.”
“Normally, that might be the case, but this time it’s different. They want to meet in a neutral zone, not in Syria, to greet the Sultan of Khwarezm together.”
“I see. So, the stiff-necked ones prefer Khwarezm over Syria.”
He never expected Khwarezm to take their word at face value. It seemed they had sent someone to Syria to verify a few things. Normally, he would have scoffed and ignored it, but for the greater good, he was willing to endure the humiliation… even if he didn’t like it.
“By the way, isn’t the heir of Khwarezm also named Muhammad? If he ascends to the throne, he’ll be called Muhammad II, just like me.”
“The one who insisted on meeting you in person is that very heir. They claim it’s unprecedented and that the leaders of both sides need to coordinate perfectly.”
“The logic is sound, which makes it all the more irritating.”
In truth, there was no need for him to go personally if it was just about aligning their plans. The reason for summoning both him and Nasr from Syria was obvious. They didn’t trust them and wanted to ensure they couldn’t betray them.
Of course, they wouldn’t openly demand they stay as hostages, but bowing to the Sultan of Khwarezm was humiliating enough. For the Sultan, having the leaders of both major assassin organizations kneel would be a significant achievement, enhancing his prestige.
His subordinates, aware of this, were furious and condemned Khwarezm.
“Do we really have to cater to them like this?”
“Without our help, they wouldn’t stand a chance in the war. They should be the ones begging us!”
“My lord, let’s just refuse and be done with it.”
Nur al-Din Muhammad felt the same way. If Alamut hadn’t fallen and his power was as it once was, he wouldn’t have to stoop to this.
“Though it angers me, let’s go along with their plan for now. In the end, we’ll be the ones laughing. Let them have their moment of superiority.”
“You’re right, my lord.”
“In the long run, it’s the right move…”
“I’m surprised the leader of Syria accepted Khwarezm’s demands. I didn’t expect them to be so eager to be part of this plan.”
If he were Nasr, he would have beheaded the messenger the moment he heard Khwarezm’s arrogant demands. Syria was under Ayyubid control, so what could Khwarezm do if they got angry?
Yet, they accepted so easily?
Sensing his confusion, a subordinate quickly added an explanation.
“It seems Syria is promised substantial rewards from Khwarezm if the plan succeeds. They might also see this as a chance to elevate their status to equal ours.”
“Traitors, trying to overstep their bounds.”
The Syrian Assassins were merely offshoots that had broken away from Alamut. The true lineage of the Assassins, founded by Hassan-i Sabbah, was Alamut, not Syria. Even at their best, they were nothing more than a branch.
Yet, they dared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the main line? Such arrogance.
“I suppose I should see this brazen leader for myself. I need to understand how someone could think themselves my equal.”
“Does that mean you’ll go to the Sultan of Khwarezm?”
“I have no choice. If bowing once can solidify our position, it’s worth it. Besides, I need to assess the leader of Syria. Once this is over, everything will be reshaped.”
When that time comes, the current boundaries between Syria and Alamut might not hold. Alamut had no intention of maintaining the status quo. Whether in his time or in the future, a clash between Syria and Alamut was inevitable.
The outcome would depend on the leaders’ capabilities. Rashid, the old man who led Syria, was frighteningly competent. It was because of him that the fledgling Syrian organization grew to rival Alamut.
But there was no information on Nasr, who succeeded Rashid. He had taken control of Syria at a young age, so underestimating him would be unwise.
‘If he possesses Rashid’s abilities, I’ll do whatever it takes to eliminate him. I can’t repeat past mistakes.’
Had they successfully assassinated Rashid when he sought independence, Alamut’s power would be unmatched. To rectify that painful mistake, Nur al-Din Muhammad was prepared to risk everything this time.
Anyone who stood in his way would not be spared.
After killing the Marshal, the symbol of the Crusaders’ unity, they planned to dismantle the disoriented forces one by one. It sounded simple, but in reality, it was nearly impossible. Yet, if successful, the impact would be absolute.
Frankly, if they could assassinate the enemy commander before battle, victory would be almost guaranteed. Anyone capable of such feats could win any war.
By eliminating key figures before the battle, they could ensure victory. This was what Sultan Tekish of Khwarezm wanted to confirm.
Could the assassins of Syria and Alamut truly kill the Marshal? And if they succeeded, how would they confirm it and time their attack?
Without verifying everything in advance, something was bound to go wrong.
“Thank you both for coming such a long way. I am the Sultan of Khwarezm.”
“I am Nasr, a humble servant of Allah, leading a modest organization in Syria. It is a great honor to meet the Sultan of Khwarezm.”
“I am Nur al-Din Muhammad, successor to Hassan II, leading Alamut. I greet the master of Khwarezm.”
“Hahaha! To see the leaders of the two organizations that dominate the night of Islam together is a rare occasion. It shows how serious you both are about this war, and I am pleased.”
Tekish glanced at Nur al-Din, who was bowing calmly, and added, “Though there have been unfortunate incidents between us, for the greater good, let’s put them aside for now. If successful, I’ll reward you enough to forget any grievances.”
“Is that so?”
Tekish nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the side.
“And you, Nasr? It couldn’t have been easy to decide to come all the way from Syria. Aren’t you worried I might not keep my promise?”
“What reason would the Sultan of Khwarezm have to deceive humble men like us? We are here to faithfully carry out our task and gladly receive the reward you bestow upon us.”
“Good. I promise once more. If your plan succeeds, I’ll give you more than you desire. But because of that, I believe I have the right to know the full details of this plan. If you have any objections, speak now.”
“I have none. I came here intending to share everything with the Sultan.”
Unlike Alamut, the Syrians were polite, which was pleasing. But business was business.
Tekish had no intention of leaving Alamut and Syria alone if they succeeded in assassinating the Marshal. It was a logical and sensible decision.
If the two organizations could unite to kill the Marshal, it meant they could threaten anyone’s life if they put their minds to it. Even though the Crusaders were outside their territory, they had the capability to assassinate key figures.
How should one interpret such power? At best, it was a dire threat to those in power.
No one in their right mind would leave them unchecked. Of course, he would fulfill his promise and grant them their requested rewards. He even planned to recognize Alamut officially.
After all, he had sworn in the name of God, leaving him no choice.
‘But crushing you afterward wouldn’t be a breach of our agreement.’
To prevent any potential threats to power from becoming a problem, it’s best to nip them in the bud.
Summoning the two individuals to confirm their identities was part of the groundwork for dealing with them later if necessary.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that these two are decoys. In that case, it would be a convenient excuse to break any promises made to them.
No matter how things played out, Tekish had nothing to lose.
“So, let’s hear it. How do you plan to kill Marshal?”
“To be honest, it’s difficult to act when Marshal is surrounded by his army. If we had the capability to do so, there wouldn’t be anyone left to oppose us.”
“That’s true.”
“But it’s a different story within the city. We’ve been preparing in Antioch, where the Crusaders have their base, for a long time. The Byzantine Empire placed great importance on Antioch, so we figured it would be useful to have a foothold there someday.”
Hearing this much, Tekish could guess their plan.
“So, you intend to lure Marshal back to Antioch and take him out there.”
“Exactly.”
“Alright. We’ll discuss the specifics later. For now, let’s think about how to get him back to Antioch.”
At that moment, Tekish resolved to eliminate the two assassins no matter what.
The fact that they had set up assassination bases in key cities meant that such a threat could arise in his own territory at any time.
Or perhaps it already existed.
As soon as this war ended, he would sweep away those despicable assassins and feed them to the fish in the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Muhammad, the leader of Alamut, was having similar thoughts.
“As expected of someone who succeeded Rashid, he’s a meticulous one. As soon as this war is over, I must find a way to assassinate him.”
Nasr would later recall that everyone gathered there was looking in different directions, and this fantastical assembly was finally beginning to move in earnest.