Well besides the clear plot of going to the east and establishing an Outremer Empire, there are other smaller plots in place that will be revealed at a certain point in the story, and what i mean by that you will see soon enough.Originally Posted by [b
Chapter II part ii
The War continues
The serenity of the night was shattered by the pounding hooves of the thousands of knights thundering through the lowlands in a land that had been called Cordoba. The sky was clouded over and no light shone from the moon above, and the stars were blockaded from looking down upon the world. The crusaders rode on, the sound of their horses broke the fragile silence that was about. All eyes, be they of beast or man, woke and looked to them as they raced by without so much of a glance. With the warrior prince Alfonso still at their lead, they dared not look back.
Alfonso dug his heels into his horse, forcing it to move faster, the beast below gave a heavy grunt and galloped on trying to expedite it's movement. Sweat was falling from the prince now, and his ears were filled by the sounds of his men ridding as fast as he was, no other sound could be heard for miles around, it was clear that stealth was not their plan this night. These men were ridding terrified, as the look in their eyes would tell any who had the chance to see them. For countless hours they rode, not letting up on their horses who were just as freighted as their masters, and were actually running more of terror then command. Behind the force, Alfonso caught a sight of a great light rising up from the hills. The red glare shot from the hills and sank into the dark above like ripples in a great lake. Soon the great fire itself peeked over the horizon, and the light changed from a red glare to a bright golden haze that covered the land with warmth.
Alfonso threw his arms up and with all his might shouted his men to come to a halt. All units halt he cried, louder then he had ever shouted in his entire life. His right arm waved back and forth as he repeated his cry. The warriors behind pulled their horses to a stop and let their exhausted animals rest. By now they were all tired, both man and beast, the ride had lasted the entire length of the night and they were racing as fast as they possibly could not letting their horses stop to break or catch a breath. Alfonso jumped from his horse and threw down his helm in anger, the metal jumped off the ground and rolled for a time as the prince himself fell to his knees with his head held low. It was at this time he realized that his brother Enrique was not among them. Damn them he cried as he pounded his fist into the earth. His men didn't notice his grief and proceeded to set up a camp to rest for the day.
He rose from the ground as one of his cavalry commanders came running to him. Alfonso Lord he shouted as he hurried over to his commander, the man's armor rattled as he ran. Alfonso lifted his head and looked upon him Rodrigo, what is it? he asked, his eyes then went back to the brown earth searching for something that wasn't there
I would ask of you the same thing my liege. Rodrigo replied with a half smile on his face. The prince only looked toward the rising sun and said; Enrique has been taken he tried to sound as if he had expected such a thing to happen, but the grief could not be hidden within his voice.
Rodrigo could not believe what he had just heard, Enrique captured? The loss of two of the three men who commanded this crusade inside a week was unthinkable. his eyes wandered but he found the words and asked What shall become of him?
What do you think? cried the prince. He will die by the hands of torture, if he is fortunate
Can we not save him? pleaded Rodrigo, who was desperate to go back and make an attempt at a rescue. His voice trembled, for he was beginning to lose hope but he tried to hide it as he spoke on. I will lead the men back, if you wish. Alfonso looked into his friend's eyes and saw fear, and a great amount of it.
Maybe we were wrong Alfonso said as he looked into the sky that was by now blue with the rising of the sun. Garc and Enrique are gone, and it falls to me to lead you to the East.
We still follow you Prince replied Rodrigo, but Alfonso rose from his feet and shouted, his voice filled with an anger that was misplaced but he couldn't stop himself.
And at what cost? was his cry. We are exiles Banished from Aragon to live a life of Nomads until we find what we search for Set out only to find that the way is bared and our prize hidden, death awaits us in the desert. The Mamlukes guard the way. Alfonso looked into the sun that was rising ever higher as the day went on. he listened for a moment and heard his warriors behind, setting up a defensive position and a place to spend the day in rest. Then a single sentence passed into his mind 'But i will not go back.' his eyes turned to the left and right then back to Rodrigo, then to the sky. Suddenly he let out a great laugh and smiled. I understand now he whispered to himself.
What was that? Rodrigo asked not actually hearing what was said.
Hah It is nothing laughed Alfonso. Make sure the men are all accounted for. And make sure they rest easy, for tomorrow we go back to war He then grabbed the reigns of his horse and walked away to settle down for a while, Rodrigo watched him and he too laughed and said No longer a prince, he shall be a King. he then simply walked away to a nearby stream and gathered some water, the sun rose high as the Crusaders rested. As Alfonso had said, they would march to war the following day, and they themselves could feel that battle was not far off. For unknown to them, an Egyptian force of two thousand was marching toward them, and would arrive by the time the moon had risen.
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