The Vizier smirks openly.

And so it comes to pass that the Christians turn on one another..

I wonder, does the leprous 'King' Baldwin now regret that he scorned the Caliph's protection?

With a sneer, he turns to the Roman delegation and adopts a more humble demeanor.

Sirs, the Caliph is greatly concerned at the Roman incursion into the Levant, a domain he feels is squarely within his sphere of influence.

Under the auspices of our recently negotiated peace, he respectfully requests of the Basileos that his chastisement of the former Protectorate of Acre is limited to securing an equitable peace between Baldwin and the new rulers of Egypt.

A land grab will not be viewed positively - neither will a permanent Roman presence in the region.