Episode 66
Saladin studied the young man before him with a curious gaze.
His faith was celebrated wherever he went, and everyone respected and followed him.
The Sultan was known for his extraordinary generosity.
Even those who criticized him for showing unnecessary mercy never doubted his devotion.
Even the Caliph of Islam never hesitated to praise the Sultan’s faith.
”…”
The Sultan tapped his fingers lightly on the empty plate.
He prided himself on his ability to read people, yet he couldn’t discern the true intentions of the young man before him.
He tried probing with questions, testing from different angles, but…
Even amidst the intense exchange, the young man named Marshall remained unruffled.
No matter how much he pretended not to know, there was a certainty in his demeanor that suggested he knew everything.
His inexplicable actions piqued the Sultan’s curiosity.
”…You won’t tell me the basis of your certainty, will you?”
Saladin’s life had not been a smooth journey to reach this point.
He had suppressed, eliminated, and sometimes persuaded countless rivals to become the highest authority in Islam.
Thus, he was confident in his ability to judge people.
Marshall, in his eyes, was not just a braggart.
In fact, he had known that even before meeting him.
The deep-rooted enmity between Catholics and Orthodox Christians was well-known even among Muslims.
Yet, the fact that he had managed to unite the two suggested there was something more.
He didn’t believe in conspiracy theories that Catholics and Orthodox Christians were plotting to pressure Islam.
“But if you want to hear my answer, you’ll need to provide some evidence. My lips aren’t loose enough to be swayed by mere probing.”
Saladin chuckled softly.
Marshall mirrored his smile and nodded.
“You may find it hard to believe, but the basis of my words aligns with the very reason I’m here.”
“Are you claiming divine revelation?”
“You could say that. Of course, as a ‘devout’ believer, you might not trust my words. So feel free to dismiss them as nonsense.”
Marshall answered Saladin’s question, pushing the Bible and Quran to the corner of the table.
“Your Majesty might wonder how someone who claims to hear God’s voice could share the same perspective on religion as you do.”
”…”
“But precisely because of that, I can hold a perspective different from Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
Saladin rested his chin on his hand and closed his eyes slightly.
It was fascinating to hear such words from someone claiming to be a Christian prophet.
“Go on.”
“In short, if things continue as they are, the conflicts will never be resolved. Even 500 or 1000 years from now, tragedies like the Crusades will engulf this land.”
“You speak with certainty, yet you haven’t lived through such a long time.”
“This isn’t a prediction or a guess. I’m merely stating what will happen.”
Marshall’s voice was calm and unwavering.
He didn’t even ask to be believed, yet there was an inexplicable trust in his words.
As if he had truly seen a thousand years into the future.
“So, to avoid that tragedy, are you suggesting we should yield and acknowledge you?”
“That’s not the solution either. The conflict is too deep-rooted to change in an instant, which is why I call it a tragedy. If it were as simple as someone saying ‘get along from now on,’ the previous wars wouldn’t have happened.”
Marshall paused, then slowly wrote something on a piece of parchment.
”…Can you write in Arabic?”
“I learned just enough from someone I know.”
The parchment Marshall handed over contained nothing problematic, just a few simple words.
“This is…”
“Please read it and then burn it.”
“Though hard to believe, as you said, I have nothing to lose by doing as you ask.”
Saladin’s assessment of Edward Marshall underwent a significant revision.
Whether this man was genuine or not remained uncertain, but it was clear that the Islamic perception of him had been mistaken.
Contrary to many people’s fears, this man was not a harbinger of doom for Islam.
In fact, it seemed more likely that Christianity might be the one to suffer.
Whether that would ultimately benefit them was unknown, but it was clear that the current strategy needed a major overhaul.
“In truth, I’ve conducted a thorough investigation into you. Here, it details everything from your childhood to the present.”
Saladin gestured to a stack of documents beside him.
He picked one at random and read it aloud.
”…It’s hard to categorize him as either conservative or progressive. He doesn’t seem to calculate deeply and is not yet accustomed to central politics, often blending in with his surroundings. Surprisingly, none of this is accurate. Should I assume they fed me false information to mock me?”
“I’m sure they did their best. Please don’t be too harsh on them.”
“The investigators claimed you were a loyal servant of the Pope and a manifestation of Satan aiming to destroy Islam. Yet, speaking with you directly, you seem entirely different.”
Saladin gazed intently at Marshall.
But once again, he couldn’t read any reaction, so he leaned back with a soft chuckle.
“Enough. I’ve gained more than enough information from today’s conversation. As long as your actions don’t harm me, I’ll grant your request to remain uninvolved this time.”
“Thank you.”
“But you can’t deceive my eyes. I sense you still have secrets you’re not sharing. Will I ever hear them?”
Most would have nodded, but Marshall was different.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t reveal all my secrets.”
“Is that so? What a pity.”
“Still, if my predictions are correct, we’ll have a deeper conversation in a few years. Until then, please take care of your health and don’t overexert yourself.”
Saladin couldn’t help but chuckle at the unexpected advice from a Christian figure.
“Very well. I’ll heed your advice and take care of my health. It would be a shame to miss out on your hidden stories.”
“Yes. Please stay healthy and remain in your position.”
Marshall’s eyes showed genuine concern as he bowed.
Aside from his closest aides, had anyone ever cared so much about his well-being?
He wondered if there was some hidden agenda, but the sincerity in Marshall’s demeanor was so genuine it was confusing.
Saladin felt a rare sense of amusement at the unique experience of the day.
”…Unlike me, others won’t be so willing to stand by, so you’ll have to handle that yourself.”
With those parting words, I left the palace after the banquet.
“Is everything concluded?”
As I was about to board the waiting carriage, a familiar voice called out.
Turning around, I saw Qadi Al-Fadil, who had greeted me upon my arrival at the palace.
“Was your private audience with His Majesty satisfactory?”
It’s not common for a king to dismiss everyone and have a private audience with a foreigner.
Even for an open-minded ruler like Saladin, this was unprecedented.
It was no wonder the Sultan’s confidant was so curious.
“There were some gains.”
“Does that mean the Sultan agreed to your request?”
“It could mean that, or the opposite. If you’re curious, why not ask His Majesty yourself?”
“Ah, yes… I suppose I should.”
Al-Fadil raised an eyebrow slightly.
I turned my gaze away from him and climbed into the carriage.
Though more moderate than Al-Adil, he wasn’t someone I could trust.
Even if they were at odds, they’d unite against an alien invader.
And to most devout Muslims, I was akin to an alien invader.
Before closing the door, I asked him quietly.
“I heard you’re one of the Sultan’s most trusted aides…?”
“Did His Majesty say that?”
“Yes. That’s why he summoned you from Egypt.”
“Haha. That’s quite flattering. Though it might be challenging to say such things in front of you, Count.”
“I hope for a constructive debate.”
Nodding with a smile, I closed the carriage door.
Judging by his subtle confidence, I could guess who Al-Fadil had brought along.
For managing the Jews efficiently, the choices in this era were obvious.
With the conversation with Saladin going well, the groundwork was mostly laid.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the curtain to rise on the stage.
Christianity, Islam, Judaism.
Among the Abrahamic religions, the three most famous and influential ones all hold Jerusalem as sacred.
For Jews, in particular, Jerusalem holds a special significance.
Muslims have other holy cities like Mecca and Medina.
While Christians also revere Jerusalem, they place importance on Rome with the Vatican, Constantinople with the Hagia Sophia, and Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus.
Of course, Judaism has its roots in places like Hebron and Safed, but the deep emotional connection they have with Jerusalem is something truly unique.
“Whew… You can feel the tension in the air, even from here.”
Maimonides, the personal physician to Sultan Saladin’s advisor Qadi al-Fadil and a leading figure in Cairo’s Jewish community, sat quietly with his eyes closed inside the swaying carriage. Born on the Iberian Peninsula and having spent most of his life in Egypt, opportunities to visit Jerusalem were rare for him.
He longed to explore every corner of this sacred city and soak in its profound atmosphere, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it.
“Maimonides.”
He opened his eyes slowly at the sound of his name. It was his gracious patron, al-Fadil, calling him.
“Yes, you called for me?”
“What are the other Jews up to?”
“They’re full of enthusiasm. At least for the first day, I think we can leave things in their hands.”
“Good. If we succeed this time, I’ll be able to surpass al-Adil. Naturally, that means your position, and that of the Jews, will be significantly elevated.”
Maimonides had heard this many times before, yet each time it left his mouth dry. The implication was clear: a failure at this council would mean a disastrous setback for the Jews.
”…I’ll do my utmost.”
He felt a sigh rising but quickly composed himself. After all, Edward Marshall was surely a liar and a fraud.
‘This is my chance to unmask him completely. It’s for the sake of our people, so don’t hold it against me.’
As he steeled himself, the imposing structure where the council would take place came into view.
Christianity, Judaism, Islam.
Amidst the swirling thoughts and hidden agendas of each faith, the historic first session of the Great Council of Jerusalem was about to begin.