All was right in the Sultanate. For a time at least. The fading glory of the Byzantine Empire was being beaten back with the help of the Turks. The legendary El Cid had joined the Sultan's armies. Though El Cid's home province of Valencia had been lost, a Jihad was declared and El Cid led a brave contingent of men to reclaim it. Many faithful Almohads joined the quest and the great deed was accomplished...at a price. Many died at the hands of the Spaniards and a small force was all that remained to defend it.
And then disaster struck. It came in the form of the coronation of Sultan Al Mustali. A dull witted man, Al Mustali was not equal to the challenges of governing a vast empire. The Byzantines regained lost territories. The economy was in shambles and all the Sultan could think to do was to paint his servants blue. El Cid recieved disturbing reports from his castle in Valencia and was most displeased. He had grown to love Egypt and venerated the old Sultan who had brought him into its warm embrace. He could not stand to see it fall into such disrepair.
The breaking point came when an emissary arrived to strip El Cid of his title (and paint him blue). Al Mustali had become a paranoid man and no longer trusted anyone save a few rotating court favorites. Without a title, El Cid knew he was vulnerable. He saw the future and knew it would not long include him with Al Mustali on the throne. He saw his son's face in his mind and knew what must be done. His life, his son's and the greatness of Egypt depended on a single course of action. El Cid must come to lead the Empire.
To be continued
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Originally Posted by [b
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