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Watching Alberic’s face change in real-time was quite the spectacle.
Confusion, shock, and finally, a hint of fear.
“I-I-I don’t… understand what you’re saying.”
“Of course, you’re confused. You’ve never told anyone, so how does this guy know? And did he tell anyone else? A million thoughts must be racing through your mind.”
“No, I mean, I don’t like men…!”
Sure, sure, if you say so.
Unfortunately for him, even the most basic status window has proven its accuracy time and again.
The guy labeled as gluttonous was indeed a glutton, and the one marked as balding was watching his forehead recede at an alarming rate.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to judge you, Quartermaster. If I intended to, God wouldn’t have revealed this to me.”
“But it’s a misunderstanding…”
“It must be frustrating. The Bible condemns same-sex relations as a grave sin, yet here you are, born this way.”
Alberic wasn’t just indulging in a passing fancy.
If it were that simple, he wouldn’t be praying for forgiveness every day.
As my deductions continued, Alberic could no longer argue and hung his head low.
“You couldn’t tell your family, could you? Not when you’re from the prestigious House of Dammartin in the Kingdom of France. It’s not just a little dalliance; you genuinely prefer men. It’s a disgrace that could get you disowned.”
“Right. Not even my family knows… How on earth did you…?”
At this time, the church considered homosexuality a sin worthy of damnation.
It’s understandable why Alberic kept it to himself, suffering in silence.
In a way, he’s a truly pitiable man.
Being born a homosexual wouldn’t be a crime in modern times, but in this era, it is.
A living testament to the original sin humans are said to carry.
Especially for someone like Alberic, a devout Christian, the self-loathing must be immense.
Perhaps he came to Jerusalem, leaving his family behind, hoping daily repentance would earn him forgiveness.
From a modern perspective, it’s honestly a mix of pity and compassion.
“Sir Alberic may not have told anyone, but he didn’t keep it from everyone.”
I slowly raised a finger to the sky with a solemn gesture.
“The Father in Heaven has heard all your confessions, Sir Alberic. He knows how much you’ve suffered.”
“Did you really… hear His words?”
“If not, how could I know the secret you’ve never shared with anyone? In a few days, we’ll see if my prophecy holds true.”
Alberic stammered slightly.
“Then shouldn’t we inform His Majesty the King?”
“That’s not His will. We’re being judged for our sins. Trying to avoid it will only bring harsher judgment. We must humbly accept and repent.”
“Did He tell you exactly what sins we’ve committed and what we must repent for?”
“Of course. What sparked this war? Renaud de Châtillon attacked a peaceful Muslim caravan, slaughtering them mercilessly. Yes, they were infidels, but killing them without offering a chance to convert goes against Christ’s teachings.”
Considering the extreme conflict between Christianity and Islam, it might sound insane, but Renaud’s actions did provoke Saladin’s wrath.
Before Alberic could say more, I quickly added an explanation.
“If it were just once, maybe, but Renaud has committed such massacres too often. So God has decided to deliver us into the hands of the Muslim Sultan.”
“Huh…”
“And the biggest issue is the corruption of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Under the guise of reclaiming the Holy Land, we’ve strayed far from His word.”
“Like Christ driving out the money changers from the temple, He’s wielding the rod to chastise us.”
“Yes. So tomorrow’s defeat and the fall of Jerusalem are inevitable. God is saying we are unworthy of holding the Holy Land.”
Even if I told the king, he wouldn’t believe me, and if he did, it would be problematic.
For my future standing, I needed to show that my prophecy was accurate.
Besides, the area is already surrounded by the massive Islamic army.
Sneaking out with a few people might be possible, but escaping with the entire army was impossible from the start.
“So, Marshal, are you suggesting…”
“Yes. I’ll seal this revelation and take measures to prove it was written before the battle. The Quartermaster and I must leave now to bear witness to His words.”
“That’s all well and good, but isn’t that just running away with the enemy at our doorstep? You know that’s a grave offense, punishable by death under military law, right?”
“Earthly laws cannot take precedence over the word of Heaven!”
Imitating the fervor of religious leaders from movies, my act seemed to work well.
I have no idea what nonsense I’m spouting, but I must stay resolute.
I am the prophet and seer descended upon this era.
“I understand your concerns. But don’t worry. Even if I’m wrong, the Quartermaster won’t suffer. I’ll say I forced him out of desperation.”
“Are you really that certain?”
“Quartermaster, this is also an opportunity given to you by God. If our words reach Europe and prompt reflection among Christians, your inner sins won’t matter. You can enter Heaven with your head held high!”
Alberic let out a quiet sigh.
I could see his inner conflict.
For devout believers of this era, the greatest fear is not entering Heaven, so it’s understandable.
For someone with faith strong enough to embrace martyrdom, the fear must be even greater.
“The revelation I received will come to pass tomorrow. Whether you like it or not, we’ll know soon enough, so let’s discuss it then.”
“If… if what you say is true…”
“Quartermaster, it’s natural to have doubts. Even Thomas, a disciple of Christ, only believed after seeing and touching the evidence. But Christ said such an attitude is also precious.”
“Alright. You knew my secret, which I never told anyone, so I’ll take a chance. We’ll know in a few days anyway.”
He didn’t fully trust me yet, but this was enough.
As Alberic said, in a few days, he’ll be kneeling before me, praying for forgiveness.
“Good decision. Let’s set out in about an hour.”
“Are we heading back to Jerusalem first?”
“Yes. We need to resupply with food and water before returning to Europe.”
“News, huh…”
Alberic watched with a complex expression as I sealed the paper with wax and stamped it.
If everything written there comes true, the Kingdom of Jerusalem is essentially finished.
It means the efforts of nearly a century since the First Crusade will be in vain.
Of course, I was just relieved to have saved my own skin.
But considering Alberic’s troubled mind, I’ll give him five seconds of my patience.
I am truly a compassionate and empathetic person.
As planned, the camp fell into a silent slumber past midnight, into the early hours.
Except for a few awake sentries, everyone was in a deep sleep.
With dehydration starting to take its toll, even the sentries barely paid attention to us.
As we led our horses out of the camp, they only asked a few perfunctory questions.
“Where are you going?”
“The Quartermaster wants to inspect the area outside the camp, so we’re heading out.”
“Alright. Be careful; the Muslims are still surrounding us.”
“Thank you, take care.”
Even with the siege, the Islamic army at the Battle of Hattin numbered around 30,000.
The difference in numbers wasn’t overwhelming, and it was late at night, so there was enough opportunity for two people to slip away.
Just as Alberic and I, fully equipped, were about to mount our horses, a deep voice called out from behind.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Turning around, I saw a middle-aged knight, appearing to be in his mid-forties, watching us intently.
Recognizing his face, Alberic cleared his throat and bowed slightly.
“Lord of Ibelin, you’re awake?”
“The situation doesn’t seem easy, so I’ve been pondering… But where are you two headed at this hour?”
“Ah, yes. We have some matters to attend to outside…”
A seasoned commander, his presence alone exuded an aura of authority.
The late 12th to 13th century could easily be called an era of star-studded wars. From the heart of Europe to Jerusalem, and even as far as Asia, legendary heroes emerged one after another.
The man standing before me might just make it to the tail end of that list of heroes, if we’re being generous.
Balian d’Ibelin.
He was one of the finest knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, even chosen as the protagonist in that famous movie, “Kingdom of Something-or-Other.” Despite being stationed at the rear during the Battle of Hattin, where he faced relentless enemy attacks, he managed to break through and lead a successful retreat. In terms of tactical prowess, he was arguably the best among the current commanders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
“The one beside Alberic must be Marshal. I’ve heard tales of a knight in the order whose prowess rivals that of the Knights of the Round Table.”
“Haha… those stories are exaggerated.”
“Smoke doesn’t rise without a fire. There must be some truth to those tales. But heading out at this hour? That’s a risky move.”
Perhaps due to the reputation Alberic and I had built, Balian didn’t seem to suspect that we might be planning to flee. It just goes to show how important one’s usual conduct is.
I quickly concocted a plausible excuse on the spot, covering for the stammering Alberic.
“Most of the enemy will be asleep at this hour. We thought it would be a good opportunity to scout their camp.”
“Just the two of you? That’s quite dangerous.”
“Moving in a larger group would draw more attention. Two is just right.”
Finally regaining his composure, Alberic chimed in.
“With Marshal by my side, it’s more reassuring than having ten heavily armored knights. There’s no need to worry. In fact, my lord, you should get some rest.”
“If that’s your decision, I won’t stop you. But don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, sir!”
Alberic and I bowed to Balian as he walked away. After all, history tells us he survives, so there’s no need to complicate things by getting further involved.
“Alright, let’s get moving.”
“Yes, since we’ve decided to make a run for it, let’s not look back.”
“Running away”—what a choice of words.
It’s true, but it makes it feel like we’re doing something wrong.
“Let’s say we’re ‘forging a path to freedom’ instead.”
Language shapes perception, after all. Using more refined words might just make us feel a bit more dignified.